Patent ID: 8073167

Claim:
A miniature microphone, comprising: a) a diaphragm, supported for displacement in response to acoustic waves over a cavity; b) a plurality of projections extending from the diaphragm, said plurality of projections being electrically interconnected, and having a portion sufficiently conductive to act as a first plate of an electrostatic displacement sensor, and having a first electrical connection; c) a plurality of concavities in a surface, said plurality of concavities being electrically interconnected, and having a portion sufficiently conductive to act as a second plate of an electrostatic displacement sensor, and having a second electrical connection; and d) a body, supporting said surface and being adapted to position said plurality of concavities proximate to said plurality of projections in a configuration adapted to electrostatically interact with each other, said diaphragm being displaceable with respect to said body in response to acoustic waves, to thereby cause a change in relative position between said plurality of projections and said plurality of concavities, and produce an electrical signal responsive to a displacement of said diaphragm with respect to said body at the first and second electrical connections, said body being further adapted to maintain an electrical isolation of said first electrical connection and said second electrical connection.