# Patent

## Title
Digital condenser microphone having preamplifier with variable input impedance and method of controlling variable input impedance of preamplifier

## Abstract

Provided are a digital condenser microphone having a preamplifier with variable input impedance and a method of controlling the variable input impedance of the preamplifier. The preamplifier includes a bias terminal for applying a bias voltage to an input signal when the input signal is output from a microphone condenser. An impedance unit includes at least one variable input impedance element which is connected to the bias terminal and to which the bias voltage is applied via the bias terminal. An operational amplifier receives the input signal, converts the input signal into an output signal, and outputs the output signal. A control block determines whether a DC voltage level of the output signal output from the operational amplifier has reached a reference value, and controls a total impedance of the impedance unit based on a result of the determination.

## Background
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates, in general, to a digital condenser microphone and, more particularly, to a digital condenser microphone having a preamplifier with variable input impedance and a method of controlling the variable input impedance of the preamplifier.
BACKGROUND ART
Generally, condenser microphones are parts that convert the sound pressure of externally input acoustic signals into a voltage signal. One such condenser microphone is a digital condenser microphone (Electret Condenser Microphone: ECM) which is characterized in that an existing post-processing stage is remarkably simplified and the noise interference of analog signals is eliminated. However, such a digital condenser microphone must be essentially provided with a preamplifier for amplifying input signals and eliminating noise from the input signals because detection sensitivity to externally input acoustic signals is low. In particular, in recent condenser microphones, as condensers are gradually becoming small in size and integrated, active capacitance (typically, about 1 pF to 10 pF) greatly decreases, and then drop in sensitivity is greater.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a conventional digital condenser microphone.
Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional digital condenser microphone includes a microphone sensor unit 1, a high-impedance interface unit 2, a Direct Current (DC) cut-off condenser 3, a preamplifier 4, and an Analog to Digital (A/D) converter 5.
The microphone sensor unit 1 includes an input power source Vs and a condenser Cmic for a microphone, and is configured to detect an acoustic signal Vs from the outside of the microphone and output the detected acoustic signal as a voltage V1.
The high-impedance interface unit 2 includes a resistor R1 having a high-input impedance at the input terminal of a Junction gate Field-Effect Transistor (JFET). The high-impedance interface unit 2 receives the voltage V1 output from the microphone sensor unit 1 and then outputs a voltage V2 via current control.
The DC voltage cut-off condenser 3 cuts off a DC voltage and only an acoustic signal is converted into current by a resistor R2.
The acoustic signal is converted into the current by the resistors R2 and R4 of the preamplifier 4 and is output as a voltage V3 by resistors R3 and R5 in a subsequent stage, and the voltage V3 is input to the A/D converter 5. In this case, the gain of the preamplifier 4 is determined by R3/R2 (R5/R4).
As described above, the conventional preamplifier is configured such that the input voltage V1 undergoes several stages of voltage/current and current/voltage conversion via the impedance interface unit 2 and the input resistors R2 and R4 of the preamplifier 4 and then the amplified voltage signal V3 is output.
However, the conventional digital condenser microphone in which the preamplifier is implemented using the JFET is vulnerable to noise generated by the input power source. Further, disadvantages of the conventional digital condenser microphone are that it requires an individual element, such as the JFET, and that it is inappropriate to integrate the microphone interface, the preamplifier, and the A/D converter into a single chip due to an increase in area attributable to the high-impedance resistor at the input terminal and the DC voltage cut-off condenser.
DISCLOSURE
Technical Problem
Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a digital condenser microphone having a preamplifier with variable input impedance and a method of controlling the variable input impedance of the preamplifier.
Technical Solution
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a preamplifier for a digital condenser microphone, including a bias terminal for applying a bias voltage to an input signal when the input signal is output from a microphone condenser, an impedance unit including at least one variable input impedance element which is connected to the bias terminal and to which the bias voltage is applied via the bias terminal, an operational amplifier for receiving the input signal, converting the input signal into an output signal, and outputting the output signal, and a control block for determining whether a Direct Current (DC) voltage level of the output signal output from the operational amplifier has reached a reference value, and controlling a total impedance of the impedance unit based on a result of the determination.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital condenser microphone including a preamplifier provided with a bias terminal for applying a bias voltage to an input signal when the input signal is output from a microphone condenser, an impedance unit including at least one variable input impedance element which is connected to the bias terminal and to which the bias voltage is applied via the bias terminal, an operational amplifier for receiving the input signal, converting the input signal into an output signal, and outputting the output signal, and a control block for determining whether a Direct Current (DC) voltage level of the output signal output from the operational amplifier has reached a reference value, and controlling a total impedance of the impedance unit based on a result of the determination, a microphone sensor unit provided with the microphone condenser and configured to convert an externally input acoustic signal into the input signal using the microphone condenser and output the input signal to the preamplifier, and an Analog to Digital (A/D) converter configured to receive an output signal from the preamplifier and convert the output signal into a digital signal.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling a variable input impedance of a preamplifier for a digital condenser microphone, including detecting a Direct Current (DC) voltage level of an output signal output from an operational amplifier, determining whether the DC voltage level has reached a reference value, and if the DC voltage level has not reached the reference value, sequentially one by one turning on switches being in an OFF state, among a plurality of switches respectively corresponding to a plurality of transistors included in an impedance unit.
Advantageous Effects
In accordance with the present invention, there can be provided a digital condenser microphone having a preamplifier with variable input impedance and a method of controlling the variable input impedance of the preamplifier.
In accordance with the present invention, the total impedance of an impedance unit is controlled, so that the DC voltage level of an input signal output from a microphone sensor unit can rapidly converge on an operating region.
Further, after the input signal has converged on the operating region, the total impedance of the impedance unit is increased, thus enabling the DC voltage level and the sensitivity of the input signal to be kept constant.
Furthermore, since the preamplifier of the digital condenser microphone according to the present invention has a compact structure, thermal noise generated by transistors can be reduced. Furthermore, since the preamplifier uses a correction circuit having a feedback structure for adjusting the voltage level of the input signal using the voltage level of the output signal, the start-up time caused by the input impedance can be shortened.



DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a conventional digital condenser microphone;
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the schematic construction of a digital condenser microphone according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing in detail the impedance of the digital condenser microphone of FIG. 2; and
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an impedance control method performed by the control block of FIG. 3.



BEST MODE
The present invention may make various changes and have various forms, and specific embodiments will be illustrated in drawings and will be described in detail in the present specification. However, these are not intended to limit the present invention to specific disclosure forms, and it should be understood that the present invention includes all changes, equivalents, or substitutions falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
The terms such as “first” and “second” may be used to describe various components, but those components should not be limited by the terms. The terms are merely used to distinguish one component from other components, and a first component may be designated as a second component and a second component may be designated as a first component in a similar manner, without departing from the scope of the present invention.
The terms used in the present specification are merely used to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. A singular expression includes a plural expression unless a description to the contrary is specifically made in context. In the present specification, it should be understood that such terms as “include” or “have” are merely intended to indicate that features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof are present, and are not intended to exclude a possibility that one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof will be present or added.
Unless differently defined, all terms used here including technical or scientific terms have the same meanings as the terms generally understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains.
The terms identical to those defined in generally used dictionaries should be interpreted as having meanings identical to contextual meanings of the related art, and are not interpreted as being ideal or excessively formal meanings unless they are definitely defined in the present specification.
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the schematic construction of a digital condenser microphone according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 2, a digital condenser microphone 100 includes a microphone sensor unit 10, a preamplifier 20, an Analog to Digital Converter (A/D converter) 30, and a control block 40.
The microphone sensor unit 10 includes an external signal Vs and a condenser Cmic for a microphone (hereinafter referred to as a “microphone condenser Cmic”). The external signal Vs may be an externally input signal, that is, an audio signal or an acoustic signal that can be collected and combined from the outside of the digital condenser microphone 100. The external signal Vs refers to an electrical signal caused by vibrations that occur due to an audio signal or an acoustic signal when the audio signal or the acoustic signal is received using the digital condenser microphone 100.
When the external signal Vs is applied to the microphone condenser Cmic, the capacitance of the microphone condenser Cmic changes according to the sound pressure of the external signal Vs. An input signal Vin is a signal generated while the capacitance of the microphone condenser Cmic changes according to the sound pressure of the external signal Vs.
According to an embodiment, the microphone sensor unit 10 may be a sensor implemented as an individual element using an electret, or may be implemented as a condenser-type silicon Micro Electro Mechanical System (MEMS) microphone integrated into a semiconductor substrate.
The preamplifier 20 includes an impedance unit Z, a bias terminal Bias, and an operational amplifier Amp.
The impedance unit Z is a high-impedance element, and a bias voltage VBIAS is applied to the impedance unit Z via the bias terminal Bias. The impedance unit Z is at least one variable input impedance element, and the total impedance of the impedance unit Z is controlled by the control block 40. In an embodiment, the impedance unit Z may be a variable input impedance element which is an active element.
The bias terminal Bias applies the bias voltage VBIAS that is a DC voltage to the input signal Vin that is input to the operational amplifier Amp. The input signal Vin is a voltage output from the microphone sensor unit 10 and is detected at a first node N1. The input signal Vin is input to the operational amplifier Amp and is converted into current by a resistor R1. The current is output as an output signal Vout by a resistor R2 in a subsequent stage, and the output signal Vout is input to the A/D converter 30. In this case, the gain of the operational amplifier Amp may be determined by 1+(R2/R1).
The operational amplifier Amp may be implemented in a mixed form of a folded-cascode structure and a two-stage structure so as to increase the gain. Further, according to an embodiment, the operational amplifier Amp may be implemented in a single output structure in which a common-mode feedback circuit is omitted in order to reduce the number of transistors included in the operational amplifier Amp.
The A/D converter 30 may be implemented as a delta-sigma modulator. Further, the delta-sigma modulator may be implemented as a switched capacitor or a continuous-time structure.
The control block 40 controls the total impedance of the impedance unit Z. In the early stage of operation of the digital condenser microphone 100, the control block 40 activates the bias terminal Bias within a short period of time by decreasing the total impedance of the impedance unit Z, thus enabling the bias voltage VBIAS to be applied to the input signal Vin. Further, if the bias terminal Bias has already been activated, the control block 40 maintains the bias voltage VBIAS applied to the input signal Vin by increasing the total impedance of the impedance unit Z. Accordingly, the input signal Vin that is input to the operational amplifier Amp may be transferred unchanged to the A/D converter 30.
In the present embodiment, the preamplifier 20 and the control block 40 are described as being separately implemented, but, in other embodiments, the control block 40 may be included in the preamplifier 20.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing in detail the impedance unit of the digital condenser microphone of FIG. 2.
The impedance unit Z of the digital condenser microphone 100 may include a plurality of transistors Tr1, Tr2, . . . , Trn and a plurality of switches SW1, SW2, . . . , SWn connected in a one-to-one correspondence with the transistors Tr1, Tr2, . . . , Trn. In this case, the transistors Tr1 to Trn and the switches SW1 to SWn are connected in series with each other. For example, the first transistor Tr1 and the first switch SW1 are connected in series with each other, and the second transistor Tr2 and the second switch SW2 are connected in series with each other.
Further, the transistors Tr1 to Trn are connected in parallel with one another. The switches SW1 to SWn are also connected in parallel with one another, similarly to the transistors Tr1 to Trn. For example, the first transistor Tr1 and the first switch SW1 are connected in series, but the first and second transistors Tr1 and Tr2 are connected in parallel and the first and second switches SW1 and SW2 are connected in parallel.
In the present embodiment, the transistors Tr1 to Trn and the switches SW1 to SWn respectively corresponding to the transistors Tr1 to Trn function as a variable resistor. As shown in FIG. 2, the impedance unit Z is connected in series with the bias terminal Bias and the bias voltage VBIAS is applied to the impedance unit Z. That is, the bias voltage VBIAS is applied both to the transistors Tr1 to Trn and to the switches SW1 to SWn respectively corresponding thereto. Each of the switches SW1 to SWn may function to turn on/off a connection between a corresponding one of the transistors Tr1 to Trn connected in series with the switches SW1 to SWn and the bias terminal Bias.
The digital condenser microphone 100 according to the present embodiment decreases the total impedance of the impedance unit Z to activate the microphone sensor unit 10. In the state in which the bias voltage VBIAS− is applied via the bias terminal Bias, as the number of switches SW1 to SWn being in an ON state, among the plurality of switches SW1 to SWn, is larger, the total impedance of the impedance unit Z becomes lower.
When the total impedance of the impedance unit Z becomes lower, the DC voltage level of the input signal Vin can rapidly converge on an operating region. That is, the voltage level of the input signal Vin transferred from the microphone sensor unit 10 of the digital condenser microphone 100 reaches the bias voltage VBIAS, thus enabling the input signal Vin to be rapidly and effectively transferred to the A/D converter 30.
After the input signal Vin has converged on the operating region, the digital condenser microphone 100 increases the total impedance of the impedance unit Z. In the state in which the bias voltage VBIAS has been applied via the bias terminal Bias, as the number of switches SW1 to SWn being in an OFF state among the plurality of switches SW1 to SWn is larger, the total impedance of the impedance unit Z becomes higher, and the impedance unit Z may have a total impedance of several gigaohms.
When the total impedance of the impedance unit Z approximates several gigaohms, current leaked through the impedance unit Z becomes considerably small, so that the DC voltage level of the input signal Vin can be kept constant.
As described above, the number of switches being in an ON state, among the plurality of switches SW1 to SWn included in the impedance unit Z, is inversely proportional to the total impedance of the impedance unit Z. Further, in the present embodiment, the plurality of transistors Tr1 to Trn included in the impedance unit Z may be transistors Tr1 to Trn having the same characteristics. Similarly, the plurality of switches SW1 to SWn included in the impedance unit Z may be switches SW1 to SWn having the same characteristics.
The control block 40 controls the total impedance of the impedance unit Z by controlling the ON/OFF operations of the respective switches SW1 to SWn included in the impedance unit Z. The control block 40 determines whether to turn on or off the plurality of switches SW1 to SWn on the basis of the level of the output signal Vout output from the operational amplifier Amp.
The digital condenser microphone according to the present embodiment may further include a level detection unit 45 to measure the level of the output signal Vout output from the operational amplifier Amp. The level detection unit 45 detects the level of the voltage output from the operational amplifier Amp, that is, the DC voltage level of the output signal Vout at a second node N2, and transfers the detected DC voltage level to the control block 40.
The control block 40 may determine the DC voltage level of the input signal Vin on the basis of the DC voltage level of the output signal Vout. In this case, the DC voltage level that is a reference value may be a bias voltage VBIAS at which the input signal Vin converges on the operating region. If the DC voltage level of the input signal Vin has not reached the reference value VBIAS, that is, when the DC voltage level of the input signal Vin is less than the reference value VBIAS, the control block 4 decreases the total impedance of the impedance unit Z by sequentially turning on the switches SW1 to SWn of the impedance unit Z one by one. That is, the total impedance of the impedance unit Z gradually decreases by sequentially turning on the switches SW1 to SWn of the impedance unit Z.
In contrast, when the DC voltage level of the input signal Vin reaches the reference value VBIAS, that is, when the DC voltage level of the input signal Vin is the reference value VBIAS, the control block 4 may increase the total impedance of the impedance unit Z by turning off the switches SW1 to SWn of the impedance unit Z. When the switches SW1 to SWn of the impedance unit Z are turned off, the input impedance, that is, the total impedance of the impedance unit Z, increases, so that the DC voltage level of the input signal Vin may be kept constant.
In an embodiment, when the DC voltage level of the input signal Vin is the reference value VBIAS, the control block 40 may sequentially turn off the switches SW1 to SWn of the impedance unit Z one by one.
Although, in the present embodiment, the control block 40 and the level detection unit 45 have been described as being separately implemented, the level detection unit 45 may be included in the control block 40 in other embodiments.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an impedance control method performed by the control block of FIG. 3.
Referring to FIG. 4, the control block 40 receives the DC voltage level of the output signal Vout from the level detection unit 45 in step S102. For this operation, the level detection unit 45 may detect the output signal Vout output from the operational amplifier Amp and then determine the DC voltage level of the output signal Vout.
The control block 40 determines whether the DC voltage level of the input signal Vin has reached the reference value VBIAS, with reference to the DC voltage level of the output signal Vout, received in step S102, in step S104. According to an embodiment, the reference value VBIAS may be a value previously stored in the control block 40.
The digital condenser microphone 100 according to the present invention functions as a kind of high-pass filter. When the condenser Cmic of the microphone sensor unit 10 has a capacitance of, for example, 1 pF to 10 pF, an input resistor having several hundreds of megaohms to several-gigaohms is required so as to process signals ranging from 20 Hz to 20 kHz in an audio frequency band. When the input resistor is implemented, a Metal Oxide Semiconductor (MOS) transistor in a cut-off region or a diode has been used in consideration of the area, noise, etc. In the present embodiment, the bias voltage VBIAS is applied to the input signal Vin, which has been received from the microphone sensor unit 10 via the first node N1, through the MOS transistor or the diode.
Since the amount of current leaked from a transistor in a cut-off region or a reverse diode is considerably small, it is difficult to measure such a current. Due thereto, it is not easy to form a resistor suitable for the digital condenser microphone 100. Further, the impedance measured at the first node N1 is not constant due to environmental circuit situations, such as a connection to the microphone sensor unit 10, the layout, a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), temperature, and humidity. In this case, when the impedance is excessively high, the time required for the DC voltage level of the input signal Vin, transferred from the microphone sensor unit 10, to converge on the operating region is lengthened due to an increase in time constant.
The fact that the DC voltage level of the input signal Vin has not reached the reference value VBIAS means that the bias voltage VBIAS is not applied to the first node N1, that is, the input signal Vin, due to the impedance of the impedance unit Z. That is, it means that the total impedance of the impedance unit Z increases, and then the time required for the DC voltage level of the input signal Vin, output from the microphone sensor unit 10, to converge on the operating region is lengthened.
If it is determined that the DC voltage level has not reached the reference value VBIAS (in the case of “No” in step S104), the control block 40 turns on any one of the switches SW1 to SWn included in the impedance unit Z in step S106. Until the DC voltage level of the input signal Vin reaches the reference value VBIAS, the control block 40 repeatedly performs steps S102 to S106. That is, the control block 40 receives the DC voltage level of the output signal Vout from the level detection unit 45 in step S102 until the DC voltage level of the input signal Vin reaches the reference value VBIAS, and determines whether the DC voltage level of the input signal Vin has reached the reference value VBIAS in step S104. If it is determined that the DC voltage level has not reached the reference value VBIAS, the control block 40 turns on any one switch being in an OFF state among the switches SW1 to SWn included in the impedance unit Z in step S106.
In contrast, if it is determined that the DC voltage level of the input signal has reached the reference value VBIAS (in the case of “Yes” in step S104), the control block 40 turns off the switches SW1 to SWn included in the impedance unit Z in step S108. In this way, the switches SW1 to SWn are turned off, so that the control block 40 increases the total impedance of the impedance unit Z. That is, the control block 40 maintains the DC voltage level of the input signal Vin at the reference value VBIAS.
Meanwhile, when the operation in step S108 is continuously performed, the total impedance of the impedance unit Z momentarily or continuously increases. When the total impedance of the impedance unit Z momentarily or continuously increases, the DC voltage level may differ from the reference value VBIAS. When the DC voltage level differs from the reference value VBIAS, the control block 40 may decrease the total impedance by turning on the switches that have been turned off in step S108, either sequentially one by one or simultaneously.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
A digital condenser microphone having a preamplifier with variable input impedance and a method of controlling the variable input impedance of the preamplifier according to the present invention may be effectively used in the field of digital microphones.
Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. Therefore, the above descriptions and the attached drawings should be interpreted as exemplifying the present invention rather than limiting the spirit of the present invention.

## Claims

1. A preamplifier for a digital condenser microphone, comprising:
a bias terminal for applying a bias voltage to an input signal when the input signal is output from a microphone condenser;
an impedance unit connected to the bias terminal and to which the bias voltage is applied via the bias terminal; and
an operational amplifier for receiving the input signal, converting the input signal into an output signal, and outputting the output signal;

wherein the impedance unit comprises a plurality of transistors and a plurality of switches corresponding to the transistors and the total impedance of the impedance unit is adjusted by controlling ON/OFF operations of the plurality of switches based on a result of whether the detected directed current (DC) voltage level of the output signal from the operational amplifier has reached a reference value.

2. The preamplifier according to claim 1, wherein the total impedance of the impedance unit is adjusted by gradually decreasing the total impedance of the impedance unit until the DC voltage level of the output signal reaches the reference value.

3. The preamplifier according to claim 1, wherein the total impedance of the impedance unit is adjusted by maintaining or increasing the total impedance of the impedance unit if the DC voltage level of the output signal has reached the reference value.

4. The preamplifier according to claim 1, wherein:
the switches are connected in series with the corresponding transistors, respectively, and
the transistors are connected in parallel with one another and the switches are connected in parallel with one another.

5. A digital condenser microphone comprising:
a bias terminal for applying a bias voltage to an input signal when the input signal is output from a microphone condenser;
an impedance unit connected to the bias terminal and to which the bias voltage is applied via the bias terminal;
an operational amplifier for receiving the input signal, converting the input signal into an output signal, and outputting the output signal; and
an Analog to Digital (A/D) converter for receiving an output signal from the preamplifier and converting the output signal into a digital signal;

wherein the impedance unit comprises a plurality of transistors and a plurality of switches corresponding to the transistors and the total impedance of the impedance unit is adjusted by controlling ON/OFF operations of the plurality of switches based on a result of whether the detected directed current (DC) voltage level of the output signal from the operational amplifier has reached a reference value.

6. The digital condenser microphone according to claim 5, wherein the total impedance of the impedance unit is adjusted by gradually decreasing the total impedance of the impedance unit until the DC voltage level of the output signal reaches the reference value.

7. The digital condenser microphone according to claim 5, wherein the total impedance of the impedance unit is adjusted by maintaining or increasing the total impedance of the impedance unit if the DC voltage level of the output signal has reached the reference value.

8. The digital condenser microphone according to claim 5, wherein:
the switches are connected in series with the corresponding transistors, respectively, and
the transistors are connected in parallel with one another and the switches are connected in parallel with one another.

9. A method of controlling a variable input impedance of a preamplifier for a digital condenser microphone, wherein the preamplifier comprising an impedance unit and an operational amplifier, the method comprising:
applying a bias voltage to an input signal of the preamplifier when the input signal is output from a microphone condenser;
detecting a Direct Current (DC) voltage level of an output signal output from the operational amplifier;

determining whether the DC voltage level has reached a reference value; and if the DC voltage level has not reached the reference value, sequentially one by one turning on switches that have been turned off, among a plurality of switches respectively corresponding to a plurality of transistors included in the impedance unit.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising, if the DC voltage level has reached the reference value, turning off the plurality of switches respectively corresponding to the plurality of transistors included in the impedance unit, either sequentially one by one or simultaneously.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising, if a comparison between the DC voltage level and the reference value reveals that the DC voltage level has become different from the reference value, turning on the switches that have been turned off, either sequentially one by one or simultaneously.