KDT-prosjekt Listen2Future - Acoustic sensor solutions integrated with digital technologies as key enablers for emerging applications

Listen2Future will boost the potential of piezoelectric acoustic transducers to provide new solutions in the key application areas of Health & Wellbeing and Digital Industry & Energy. Acoustic transducer solutions and the key underlying technologies are addressing many of the challenges in emerging applications towards a more digitalized society. Indeed, growing demand for MEMS-based acoustic transducers (microphones, ultrasonic transducers) in medical and industrial devices are creating a new high demand for miniaturized low power sensors. In combination with an intelligent signal processing system, algorithms and customized packaging, these technologies will be the key to achieve performant, low power consuming, miniaturized and cost-saving systems. The demonstrators will address 14 use-cases in LISTEN2FUTURE with their benchmark in low power consumption, small size and low cost to open the door for disruptive acoustic applications. The technical contribution of the Norwegian partners are new ultrasound based systems and algorithms (Elliptic Labs, Sonitor), new ultrasound transducers and more reliable piezoelectric technology (SINTEF) as well as demonstration of the technologies for room measurements (Sonitor, SINTEF) and activity detection (Elliptic, SINTEF). In the first 18 months the partners have worked on the specifications for their respective applications. Both Sonitor and Elliptic Labs have described their use cases in detail and made tests with off-the-shelf components to be able to provide minute specifications for the components of the use case demonstrators among others the ultrasound transducers from SINTEF. Sonitor and EllipticLabs have also started to develop algorithms for their use cases. Elliptic Labs is also involved with the German partner CodaSIP to evaluate the possible use of their Risc V hardware platform for the developed algorithms. Both partners have also worked on test set ups for their use case demonstrator systems. SINTEF has worked on further development of their piezoMEMS platform to be able manufacture industrial relevant transducers. At the same time SINTEF has also updated their analytical model for piezoMEMS devices regarding ultrasound transducers. An updated set-up of thin film parameters has been used to design new ultrasound transducers and they have been manufactured by SINTEF. These are characterized at the moment and the first measurements indicate that these transducers meet the specifications regarding the eigenfrequency and this confirms also that the new analytical models work as intended for the usage. SINTEF has also work on a new metallization platform that will ease the packaging of the devices in an industrial environment. Both Sonitor and SINTEF have held conference presentations and Elliptic Labs has prioritized patenting of project results.

I Listen2Future prosjektet utvikles det nye tekniske løsninger basert på nye piezoelektriske akustiske transdusere. Prosjektet utvikler mikromaskinerte akustiske elementer som mikrofoner og ultraydtransdusere. Disse skal brukes sammen med nye systemer og metoder for signalprossering som maskinlæring/AI og anvendelsesalgoritmer samt pakkerprosesser og konsepter for anvendelser. I prosjektet er det planlagt 14 forskjellige anvendelsesdemonstratorer som viser lav effektforbruk, liten størrelse og potensiale for kostnadsbesparelser. Områdene for anvendelsene er helse, digital industri og energi. De norske partneres tekniske bidrag er nye ultralydsystemer og -algoritmer (Elliptic Labs, Sonitor), nye ultralydtransdusere og mer pålitelig piezoelektrisk teknologi (SINTEF) og demonstrasjon av teknologiene for anvendelsene rommåling (Sonitor, SINTEF) og aktivitetsdeteksjon (Elliptic, SINTEF).