Bone Conduction Voice Pick-Up: SISTC’s MEMS Mic Solution for Next-Gen Wearables

As True Wireless Stereo (TWS) earbuds and smart wearable devices continue to evolve, one challenge persists—capturing clear voice input in noisy environments. Silicon Source Technology (SISTC) introduces a high-performance solution: a MEMS microphone bone conduction voice pick-up system that redefines voice capture accuracy and noise resilience in compact consumer devices.

🔗 Browse SISTC MEMS microphones:
👉 https://sistc.com/product-category/mems-microphone/

What Is Bone Conduction Voice Pick-Up?

Unlike traditional microphones that detect airborne sound waves, bone conduction technology captures vocal cord vibrations via contact with the skin or bone near the throat. This method filters out ambient noise and enhances voice clarity for speech recognition.

Introducing VPU (Voice Pick-Up Sensor)

SISTC’s VPU sensor is a compact, single-axis piezoelectric accelerometer designed to detect throat vibrations. Its key benefits:

  • Outstanding noise immunity: Signal derived from skin-conducted vibration, not air-transmitted sound
  • Ultra-low power: Operates at 1.8V / 55μA, perfect for always-on wearable scenarios
  • High sensitivity: Captures minute vibrations for crystal-clear voice commands

How Does It Compare?

STMicroelectronics’ LIS25BA is another MEMS-based voice vibration sensor on the market. It’s fully digital, supports TDM interface, and also targets voice-interaction applications. SISTC’s VPU offers a power-saving, analog alternative that simplifies integration in resource-constrained designs.

Real-World Application: Huawei FreeBuds 3

The Huawei FreeBuds 3 showcases the real-world success of SISTC’s bone conduction solution. By integrating VPU technology, the device achieves:

  • Clear voice capture in urban or outdoor noise
  • Accurate command recognition
  • Better user experience during calls and voice assistant interaction

Core Technical Features

FeatureDescription
✅ High-Quality Voice ExtractionWorks reliably even in high-noise environments
🔒 Voice AuthenticationEnables user identification via bone vibration signature
💤 Low-Power Wake Word SupportSmart standby mode with energy-efficient wake-up
🔧 Miniaturized DesignCompact enough for earbuds, glasses, and wearables
🎤 High Signal-to-Noise RatioEnsures speech clarity in small form factors
🌧️ Fully Sealed HousingDust and water resistant, ideal for mobile use

Wake Word Detection Workflow

SISTC’s bone conduction solution supports full on-device wake word recognition through the following pipeline:

  1. MIC: Captures vocal vibrations
  2. LPSD / VAD: Low-power sound detection / Voice activity detection
  3. BF: Beamforming (in multi-mic designs)
  4. NS / NR: Noise suppression
  5. KWD: Keyword detection (e.g., “Hey Siri”, “OK Google”)

🔗 For processors with built-in KWD capability, such as the Qualcomm QCC5100 Series, SISTC’s VPU is a natural fit.

Recommended Chipset Combinations

SISTC’s VPU can be paired with smart audio processors for wake-word functionality, even on MCUs with limited compute power. Recommended pairings include:

  • QuickLogic S3
  • Ambiq Apollo2 / Apollo3
  • Knowles IA-610 / IA-611 Smart Mics

These combinations enable ultra-low-power local processing for voice-first interaction without relying on the cloud.

Conclusion

The bone conduction MEMS microphone solution from Silicon Source Technology is a breakthrough in wearable voice technology. By shifting from air-based sound to skin-transmitted vibration, it dramatically improves both privacy and voice clarity—even in crowded spaces.

As wearables evolve toward more intelligent, context-aware audio, SISTC is helping brands lead the future of low-power, high-performance voice interfaces.

📢 Want to integrate VPU into your next-gen audio device?
👉 Contact our engineering team

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