Piezoelectric sounder launched for the automotive market

The automotive market continues to develop and implement ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) for use in the operation of next gen automobiles. An increase in volume for sounders used within the man-machine interface has been needed for effective warnings and notifications during driving. Additionally, previous generations of pin type piezoelectric sounders had problems with mounting defects and poor sound quality. This has prompted the demand for reflow-capable parts with the high degree of reliability required in the automotive market.

Meeting this challenge, Murata applied its materials technology and high level manufacturing processes to produce a surface mount piezoelectric sounder specifically for the automotive market, resulting in a new sounder that yields higher sound pressure level than that of previous Murata products — an increase of 10-12dB. It is expected that these louder, more reliable sounders will be adopted in instrument cluster, control panel, power slide door, power tailgates, parking assist systems, and other automobile technologies.

Dubbed the PKMCS1818E20A0-R1, the sounder has typically 100dB at 100mm (Input Signal：+12Vo-p, 2.0kHz, Square wave) of sound pressure level and measures a diminutive 18x18x8mm. It’s wide operational temperature range means that it can operate in automobile cabin temperatures from -40 to 105 °C.

Weighing in at just one gram, the sounder uses a simple structure having no magnet or coil, reducing the impact of electromagnetic noise on surrounding circuits and contributing to its extremely light weight. It consumes less than a tenth of the power consumed by comparable electromagnetic components, and for manufacturing speed and efficiency, the sounders are available in tape reel packaging.