Speakers maintain front-panel sealing

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Feb 10, 2003

Sonitron's latest flat piezoelectric speakers now feature shock, water and dustproof front panels, making them suitable for industrial applications where harsh environments are encountered.

Sonitron's latest flat piezoelectric speakers now feature shock, water and dustproof front panels, making them suitable for industrial applications where harsh environments are encountered.

Available from electromechanical component specialists, Radiatron, SPS speakers are based on a sandwich construction using a specially shaped piezoceramic disk and composite polymer membrane.

The membrane reduces unwanted resonance peaks to provide a more even frequency response than can be achieved with conventional designs.

They also feature low weight, low distortion and low energy consumption relative to their sound output levels.

The rugged front panel has achieved the BS EN60529, IP67 rating for protection against water and the SP03 version is rated to IP68.

Compared with electrodynamic speakers, the new devices typically produce 60% higher sound output for a given input current and the speakers deliver consistent performance over a temperature range of -20 to +60C.

SPS speakers have input impedances from 103 to 574ohm at 1kHz, depending on size, enabling them to be driven directly from an integrated circuit without the need for matching networks or transformers.

Peak-to-peak output is 5 to 30 or 5 to 60V, depending on the model and size selected.

The devices are offered in a choice of sizes: 46.9 x 40.8 x 5.5, 87.25 x 70 x 6.8, or 100 x 80 x 6.8mm, and they can be used as both speakers and microphones.

A further advantage of piezoelectric speakers over traditional types is that no electromagnetic field is generated, making it easier for designers to ensure that their products meet EMC requirements and regulations.

In addition to industrial applications, SPS speakers are ideal for use in mobile communications and computing products where they are easily integrated into the housings of flat panel displays and other compact enclosures.