Posted - Feb 23, 2026
Aalter, Belgium, February 23 – Sofics bv, a leading provider of specialty I/O circuits and unique on-chip electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection solutions for integrated circuits (ICs), today announced that sensiBel, the pioneer in optical MEMS sensing, has licensed Sofics’ proven technology for its industry-leading MEMS microphone technology.
sensiBel is the first microelectronics company to advance significantly the acoustic performance of MEMS microphones through the application of optical MEMS IP. Incorporating a sophisticated silicon photonics circuit and an ASIC developed in a standard CMOS process, sensiBel is setting a new standard for audio performance. Its SBM100B MEMS microphone delivers crystal-clear sound quality, achieving 80 dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), 146 dB SPL acoustic overload point (AOP,) and 132 dB dynamic range -- with support for three digital output formats: PDM, I2S and TDM8 in a small surface-mount package.
sensiBel’s SBM100B is a fusion of high-precision technologies, all orchestrated to elevate sound capture to unprecedented levels of accuracy. By leveraging Sofics' silicon-proven ESD IP, sensiBel also ensures the reliability of its MEMS microphones, protecting them from the potential hazards of electrostatic discharge.
"At sensiBel, our mission is to push the boundaries of audio technology,” said Kieran Harney, CEO, sensiBel “We appreciate the contribution of Sofics' ESD solutions in helping us to achieve this goal. Sofics’ technology enhances the reliability and performance of the SBM100B – and we look forward to further exploring our collaboration in the years ahead.”
Sofics' technology is renowned for its flexibility and customization, essential for meeting the unique requirements of sensiBel’s innovative designs. "IC designers working on pioneering projects like the novel microphone from sensiBel often require I/O cells that are not included in the foundry GPIO library. Sofics' IP is perfectly suited for these tasks," said Koen Verhaege, CEO of Sofics. "Our solutions are designed to be adaptable and reliable, ensuring that cutting-edge products can perform optimally in real-world conditions."
About sensiBel
sensiBel is a Norwegian deep-tech company commercializing its optical MEMS microphone technology to achieve studio-quality acoustic performance in compact form factors. With a strong R&D foundation and a growing network of industrial partners, sensiBel is poised to transform the audio experience across industries.
For more information, visit: https://sensibel.com, email: sales@sensibel.com
About Sofics
Sofics (www.sofics.com) is a semiconductor IP provider that has supported 100+ companies worldwide. Sofics provides specialty I/Os and ESD protection that safeguard and leverage the core performance of your ICs. Fabless companies using Sofics IP can enable higher performance, higher robustness and reduce design time and cost.
For more information, please visit www.sofics.com or contact:
Sofics Media Relations Email: info@sofics.com Phone: +32 9 216 83 33
sensiBel Media Contact Email: anna.stray.rongve@sensibel.com
