unsigned int dell_automute;
        unsigned int port_d_mode;
+       unsigned char ext_mic_bias;
 };
 
 static int conexant_playback_pcm_open(struct hda_pcm_stream *hinfo,
 static hda_nid_t cxt5066_capsrc_nids[1] = { 0x17 };
 #define CXT5066_SPDIF_OUT      0x21
 
+/* OLPC's microphone port is DC coupled for use with external sensors,
+ * therefore we use a 50% mic bias in order to center the input signal with
+ * the DC input range of the codec. */
+#define CXT5066_OLPC_EXT_MIC_BIAS PIN_VREF50
+
 static struct hda_channel_mode cxt5066_modes[1] = {
        { 2, NULL },
 };
 /* toggle input of built-in and mic jack appropriately */
 static void cxt5066_automic(struct hda_codec *codec)
 {
-       static struct hda_verb ext_mic_present[] = {
+       struct conexant_spec *spec = codec->spec;
+       struct hda_verb ext_mic_present[] = {
                /* enable external mic, port B */
-               {0x1a, AC_VERB_SET_PIN_WIDGET_CONTROL, PIN_VREF80},
+               {0x1a, AC_VERB_SET_PIN_WIDGET_CONTROL, spec->ext_mic_bias},
 
                /* switch to external mic input */
                {0x17, AC_VERB_SET_CONNECT_SEL, 0},
        {0x19, AC_VERB_SET_CONNECT_SEL, 0x00}, /* DAC1 */
 
        /* Port B: external microphone */
-       {0x1a, AC_VERB_SET_PIN_WIDGET_CONTROL, PIN_VREF80},
+       {0x1a, AC_VERB_SET_PIN_WIDGET_CONTROL, CXT5066_OLPC_EXT_MIC_BIAS},
 
        /* Port C: internal microphone */
        {0x1b, AC_VERB_SET_PIN_WIDGET_CONTROL, PIN_VREF80},
        spec->input_mux = &cxt5066_capture_source;
 
        spec->port_d_mode = PIN_HP;
+       spec->ext_mic_bias = PIN_VREF80;
 
        spec->num_init_verbs = 1;
        spec->init_verbs[0] = cxt5066_init_verbs;
                spec->mixers[spec->num_mixers++] = cxt5066_mixer_master_olpc;
                spec->mixers[spec->num_mixers++] = cxt5066_mixers;
                spec->port_d_mode = 0;
+               spec->ext_mic_bias = CXT5066_OLPC_EXT_MIC_BIAS;
 
                /* no S/PDIF out */
                spec->multiout.dig_out_nid = 0;