Issue

The client required design verification on the acoustic properties of a microphone chamber for speech intelligibility. The client was concerned with standing waves and acoustic modes within the geometry which could interfere with the performance of the microphone, rendering voice activation of the device ineffectual.

Solution

Xi modelled the geometry of the acoustic chamber, taking into account the surface properties of the component. Due to the relatively small volume of the microphone chamber the thermoviscous effects near the boundaries of the chamber were also considered. A multiphysics model was created to quantify the thermo and viscous losses within the model geometry, as well as the pressure wave analysis.

Xi’s Role

Xi verified the acoustic properties of the device’s microphone chamber. Work was completed to identify both resonances and thermoviscous effects. Thermoviscous effects are typically more pronounced at resonances, and accurately identifying these resonances was crucial to this analysis.

Skill Set Used

• Eigen frequency analysis (acoustic resonance analysis)
• Modelling thermo-viscous effects
• Acoustic theory and understanding
• Identifying underlying physics phenomenon relating to the model

Client Benefits

• Verified design allowing client to commit to tooling
• Prevented delay in production schedule
• Saved costs and time in prototyping and testing