Recently, Counterpoint Research released a report on the global true wireless headset (TWS) market, which expects the TWS headset market to reach 310 million units in 2021, a growth of 33% from 2020. The report shows that in 2020, under the haze of the new crown epidemic, the low-priced headset brands are still strong performance, and Apple's "dominant" position caused a fierce impact. It is understood that in 2018 occupied 60% of the global TWS headset market share of Apple, in 2020 the market share appeared cliff decline, down to 31%; later Xiaomi with 10% market share rushed to the world's second; Samsung 6% in hand, ranked third; and then there are national brands QCY on the list, the market accounted for 3%.
Counterpoint Research based on the brand performance in the first half of the year predicted that in 2021 Apple TWS headset sales share will continue to decline to 27%, other brands change little. For manufacturers outside the list, 54% of the market share will have the opportunity to compete.
After the first policy blackout Q3, to the real test of the ability to ship Q4, how can we break out in the melee? Choose a wise and advanced pressure-sensitive touch program, will be injected into the white label manufacturers and the list of brands on the same stage with the high ability to become a must-have weapon in their battlefield.
Summary of Pressure Sensing Solutions
MEMS pressure sensing
Pressure-sensitive materials or structures with the MEMS process into a chip-level, this process exists MEMS structure patents, is currently only mastered by a small number of companies, his MEMS structure patents are difficult to be circumvented.
Resistance pressure sensing
Using the principle of flexible thin film pressure sensor, when the sensing area is pressurized, the lines disconnected from each other in the electrode layer will be connected through the pressure-sensitive layer of the sensing area, the entire output resistance value with the pressure nonlinear changes. No pressure when pressed, the output resistance value of 2MΩ or more; in the pressure when pressed, the resistance value according to the nonlinear rapid decrease.
Resistance bridge pressure sensing
The essence of the same resistive pressure sensing, but only with the differential principle of resistive bridge to solve the temperature drift or other accuracy issues.
Capacitance pressure sensing
The use of capacitance principle, change the spacing between the upper and lower boards, resulting in changes in output capacitance is sensed by the conditioning chip.
Inductive pressure sensing
The inductor layout on the PCB, through the conductive metal near the coil, change the inductance of the coil, so as to be sensed by the conditioning chip.
Piezoelectric pressure sensing
Piezoelectric sensor is a sensor based on the piezoelectric effect, is a self-generating and electromechanical conversion sensor. Its sensitive element is made of piezoelectric material, piezoelectric material after the force generated by the surface charge, this charge by the charge amplifier and measurement circuit amplification and transformation impedance becomes proportional to the external force of the power output.
Although there are many pressure-sensitive programs, but not every one is suitable for use. So far, on the market, in addition to Apple, there is no other company to pressure-sensitive to the degree of mass production. Xiaomi, which has just run into the scene this year, has only used pressure sensing in its flagship headset model for limited sale. Why is it difficult for the pressure-sensitive TWS headphone industry to take off? Let's break it down:
The cost is too high
High-cost echelon led by the MEMS solution, the cost is often calculated in dollars, even higher than the cost of Bluetooth master control, white label manufacturers are difficult to afford; in addition, some manufacturers are constrained by the choice of pressure-sensitive solution manufacturing process, the yield is difficult to improve, its own meager profits by heavy industry, material waste or after-sales swallowed up, "more than enough power! "It is difficult to start the quantity.
Materials need to be manually welded resulting in low efficiency, yield double value
Such as FPC resistance program can only be manufactured through the soldering iron hand manual welding, gold finger welding difficulty is particularly high, manual work seriously affects the production capacity and yield, quality is difficult to ensure.
The consistency of the use of the environment can not be guaranteed
Due to the consistency of the use of the environment can not be guaranteed, such as the impact of ambient temperature, etc., will make part of the program for the headset to bring great differences in the pressure experience. For example, the resistance program often has temperature drift problems, there will be people in the hot weather, running from indoor to outdoor, there are pressure sensing misuse.
High assembly difficulty, low Sensor calibration accuracy
Part of the program's Sensor needs to be affixed to the shell and welded to the PCBA to form a three-dimensional structure. Since the PCBA as a whole can not be assembled, the three-dimensional structure will be pushed into the narrow headset shell channel in the process, easy to be torn; even if the installation is successful, it may also be pressed in the middle of the pressure medium is loose or not accurately aligned to the sensor resulting in poor key effect.
Occupy a large space, resulting in insufficient headset space capacity
Such as mushroom head capacitance program, mushroom head volume at least to ensure the effectiveness of the key, all mushroom head space occupied in the PCBA all materials inside appears to be very large. Relative to the headset PCB space, 0201 package capacitors are too large, and noise reduction programs, the need for more MIC, more other sensors such as bone, etc., is bound to cause the headset space resources are very tight.
Production consistency can not be guaranteed
Such as the tightness of the middle media, sensor with the PCB material, components of the characteristics of the performance differences, etc., will affect the pressure effect of the keys. Therefore, it is difficult to ensure the consistency of the production of pressure sensing, and even a pair of headphones in the left and right ears are not the same pressure.
To address the above pain points, AUDIOWELL has launched a complete solution including sensor, which has obvious advantages in cost, production efficiency and yield, anti-interference, sensor calibration accuracy and production consistency, etc. It helps the TWS industry to improve the yield, ensure consistency, and retain sufficient space for integrating and upgrading the noise reduction function to improve the user experience.
Advantages of AUDIOWELL's piezoelectric pressure sensing solution
Low cost
The unit cost of AUDIOWELL's piezoelectric pressure sensing solution is much lower than other voltage sensing solutions.
High Efficiency and Yield Rate
The sensor and conditioning chip in the solution can be assembled through the SMD process, which effectively ensures the one-time production yield and ESD requirements.
Self-contained environmental parameters calibration function, anti-interference strong
Theoretically, different use of the environment will cause a variety of sensor parameter differences, resulting in headset control errors. AUDIOWELL's piezoelectric pressure sensing solution specially designed for this purpose, DSP processing module, fundamentally solve the problem of pressure sensing differences arising from the use of the environment.
Easy to assemble, high accuracy of Sensor calibration
AUDIOWELL's piezoelectric pressure sensing solution's sensor and conditioning chip is a whole SOC, which can be directly used for assembly, effectively guaranteeing higher calibration accuracy of the sensor.
Small size, reserving space for headphone function expansion
The overall volume of the SOC of AUDIOWELL's piezoelectric pressure sensing solution is less than 2.5*2.5mm, occupying a small space, which is able to retain sufficient space for the upgrading and iteration of the headset, for example, optimizing the noise reduction program, which can leave more space for placing components such as the MIC, bone sensor and so on.
DSP+sensor, double calibration to ensure the consistency of the product experience
PCBA parameter calibration DSP: theoretically the same batch of PCBA have material and component parameter differences, resulting in the conditioning chip on the voltage and capacitance and other parameters of the detection of the base point is not the same, thus affecting the sensitivity or misoperation. AUDIOWELL's piezoelectric pressure sensing solution design targeted DSP processing module.
Automatic calibration function of piezoelectric sensor: Theoretically, all kinds of sensors have the consistency problem, and most of the chips have no processing solution at present. AUDIOWELL's piezoelectric pressure sensing solution is specifically designed to deal with this issue, so that the piezoelectric sensor with automatic calibration function, in the production process can be automatically inspected to ensure the consistency of the product experience.
Recommended Products:AUDIOWELL Piezo Haptic Actuator
The Piezo Haptic Actuator applied in the solution is a kind of operation and interaction sensor based on pressure-touch technology. The product realizes advanced seamless design, which makes it easier to be dustproof and waterproof, with longer service life and better experience.
High precision in-ear
Recognition sensitivity is very high, and pressure sensitivity can reach milligram level, ensuring that high precision in-ear requirements are met.
High Accuracy
Different sensitivities can be designed within a reasonable range according to application requirements to ensure the accuracy of user operation.
Low Power Consumption
With the characteristic of reversible self-generated charge, low operating current, low power consumption and safer.
Good consistency
Strictly made in accordance with the requirements of performance, process and specifications, with good consistency.
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