New chips that boosts Smartphone Micro Speakers by 5x

NXP Semiconductors, formally Philips Semiconductors, has announced that it has created a new solution using hearing aid technology that it states can boost micro speakers by up to 5 times.  The new chips will apparently allow the designer to turn up the volume and also increase the current 0.5 watts of RMS output to 2.6 and beyond.

Part of their solution includes more monitoring technology, using adaptive excursion control, to track how much the micro speaker’s cone is physically moving to make sure that it’s within design limits.  They will also monitor temperature to keep the metaphorical eye on the voice coil to prevent it from overheating.

The chip is also capable of adapting to aging factors and damage.

As cellphone and tablet computers have gotten small and thinner, the sound quality of micro speakers has been compromised.  But now this advancement may change this.  Samples are now available, but there are no specifics on when production quantities will become available.