Product Description & Technical Details
Product Description
The INMP441 is a high-performance, ultra-low power, digital output MEMS microphone with a bottom port. Unlike standard analog microphones that require a pre-amplifier and an ADC, the INMP441 features a built-in I2S (Inter-IC Sound) interface. This allows the microphone to transmit high-quality 24-bit digital audio data directly to a microcontroller like the ESP32 without any signal degradation or electrical noise interference. It is a preferred choice at Robogears for voice recognition projects, smart home assistants (like Alexa/Google Home clones), and high-fidelity environmental audio logging.
Key Highlights
Digital I2S Output: Provides a direct digital stream to your MCU, eliminating the need for an external Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) and reducing circuit complexity.
Omnidirectional Sensing: Uniformly sensitive to sound from all directions, making it ideal for capturing room-filling audio or 360-degree environmental monitoring.
High SNR & Sensitivity: With a 61 dBA Signal-to-Noise Ratio and -26 dBFS sensitivity, it captures clear audio even in relatively noisy environments.
Compact Low-Profile Design: The tiny MEMS footprint on a breakout board is perfect for wearable electronics and compact IoT devices.
L/R Channel Selection: Features a Left/Right (L/R) pin that allows you to connect two INMP441 microphones to the same I2S bus for true stereo audio recording.
Technical Specifications
Digital Output: 24-bit I2S data
Current Consumption: 1.4 mA (Typical)
Sensitivity: -26 dBFS
PSRR (Power Supply Rejection): -75 dBFS
Dimensions: ~14mm x 14mm
Operating Temperature: -40°C to +85°C
Installation Tip from Robogears
This microphone is strictly a 3.3V device. Connecting it to the 5V rail of an Arduino Uno will damage the sensor. For the best performance with an ESP32, use the ESP32-S3 or standard ESP32 boards which have excellent I2S support. When wiring, keep the signal traces as short as possible to prevent clock jitter. If you are getting "clicking" or silent audio, verify that your I2S configuration (Sample Rate and Bits per Sample) matches the INMP441 datasheet requirements.
Note: This product is the INMP441 Breakout Module ONLY. Header pins may require soldering. Product images are for illustration purposes only.