AES San Francisco 2008
Acoustics Event T16
Sunday, October 5, 11:30 am — 1:00 pmT16 - Latest Advances in Ceramic Loudspeakers and Their Drivers
Presenters:
Mark Cherry, Maxim, Inc. - Sunnyvale, CA, USA
Robert Polleros, Maxim Integrated Products - Austria
Peter Tiller, Murata - Atlanta, GA, USA
Abstract:
New cell phone designs demand small form factor while maintaining audio sound-pressure level. Speakers have typically been the component that limits the thinness of the design. New developments in ceramic, or piezoelectric, loudspeakers have opened the door for new sleek designs. Due to the capacitive nature of these ceramic speakers, special considerations need to be taken into account when choosing an audio amplifier to drive them. Today’s portable devices need smaller, thinner, more power-efficient electronic components. Cellular phones have become so thin that the dynamic speaker is typically the limiting factor in how thin manufacturers can make their handsets. The ceramic, or piezoelectric, speaker is quickly emerging as a viable alternative to the dynamic speaker. These ceramic speakers can deliver competitive sound-pressure levels (SPL) in a thin and compact package, thus potentially replacing traditional voice-coil dynamic speakers.