Water-resistant mobile phones are coming.
Murata has tackled the problem of designing a waterproof mobile loud speaker and has created a piezoelectric loudspeaker that is only 0.9mm thick.
According to Murata, almost one in four of mobile phones launched in Japan this year will be waterproof.
“Given there are so many different areas that require waterproofing, there were many technical challenges and cost issues to overcome when developing the waterproof speaker,” said the supplier.
Murata said that conventional methods of waterproofing dynamic speakers using waterproof sheets which covered the output sound holes can reduce sound quality.
Its design incorporates a rubber film into the speaker itself, leaving the output sound holes open. The width of the metal frame housing the speaker has been increased to improve the seal between the metal frame and the chassis, preventing water penetration.
Based on the company’s proprietary piezoelectric technology, the speaker is waterproof to IPX5/IPX7.
The speaker, part number VSLBG1914E1400-T0, measures 19.5 by 14.1 by 0.9mm.
“The rectangular shape reduces dead-space from designs,” said Murata.
Its average sound pressure level (SPL) is 92.0±3.0dB (1500Hz/2000Hz/2500Hz/3000Hz average) with a resonant frequency of 1400Hz±20%.
www.murata.eu