Patent ID: 9609439
Date: 2017-03-28
CPC Classifications: B81C,G01N,H04R

Claim:
1. A method of detecting sound using a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) optical microphone, the method comprising: providing the MEMS optical microphone having a compliant membrane with a reflective portion configured to vibrate in response to an acoustic wave, a back plate having a grating, a base plate, a light emitter, a light detector and circuitry; applying a voltage, using the circuitry, to tilt the compliant membrane and the back plate with respect to the base plate; illuminating the reflective portion of the compliant membrane with a light emitted from the light emitter; and detecting, using the light detector, a diffracted pattern of the light from the light emitter after reflection from the reflective portion to provide an indication of sound.