Filename, 1

Acoustic Calibration Technique

and basics of Sound Measurement
Erling Frederiksen
ef-consult
erlingfred@gmail.com
Filename, 2
Who am I?
Brel & Kjaer 1958 2010
Microphone Development Engineer and Production Manager 1958 1969
Development Manager for microphones and calibration products 1969 1995
Development and Product Managing of Microphone Calibration Systems
1995 2010
Manager of DPLA Microphone Calibration Department B&K branch
DPLA: Danish Primary Laboratory of Acoustics 1990 2010
Member of IEC/TC29
WGs for microphones, calibration, calibrators, sound intensity, ..
Technical Specialist of CCAUV (BIPM)
Filename, 3
Who are you?
I guess that some of you
- work with acoustic calibration or measurements
- are responsible for acoustic activities
- intend to start up acoustic activities
- make products to be tested acoustically
- deal with related topics vibration?
Filename, 4
Contents
- Measurement Microphones
- Principles of operation
- Interaction with the sound fields
- Acoustic Calibration
- Primary Calibration (NMIs and High-tech Units)
- Secondary Calibration (Test and Service Centers)
- Field Calibration (Users)
- Additional Calibration Techniques
Filename, 5
Places where sound is measured
Electro-acoustic
Testing Lab
Car Testing Lane
Construction Site
Machine Building Hall
Filename, 6
Car Cabin Crash Test
Rocket Launch Ramp Very High Levels and Infrasound
Wind Mill
Site
Places of Extreme Conditions
Filename, 7
Units and Levels
Sound Pressure Unit: Pa or N/m
2
Sound Pressure Level: dB
where: Pa
(threshold of hearing at 1000 Hz)
ref
p
p
p
L log 20 =
6
10 20

=
ref
p
Filename, 8
Audible Range
Pressure: 20 Pa 60 Pa
Level: 0 dB 130 dB
Frequency: 20 Hz 20 kHz
Full Measurement Range
Pressure: 3 Pa 60 kPa
Level: -16 dB 190 dB
Frequency: 0.1 Hz 150 kHz
200 dB
160 dB
120 dB
80 dB
40 dB
0 dB
-40 dB
0.01 Hz 1 Hz 100 Hz 10 kHz 1000 kHz
Dynamic - and Frequency
Ranges
Filename, 9
Well-suited for calibration (reciprocity, actuator)
Well-suited for theoretical analysis
Highly stable
Essentially flat frequency response
Interaction with sound fields can be measured
and calculated
Low vibration sensitivity
Some reasons:
Condenser Microphones are dominating
Filename, 10
Traditional Condenser Measurement Microphone
Diaphragm
Backplate
Insulator
Electrical Terminals
Static Pressure
Equalization Tube
Airgap 20 m
Rear Cavity
Diameter: 23.77 mm
Filename, 11

u
out
d
d
o
R
C
R C >> 1sec
U C Q
U C U C Q
U U
C
C
U U
S
d
d d
S
U U
d
d
u U
d
d
o
out
=
= =
=
=


+

= +
|
\

|
.
|
=
0 0 0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1

U
0
S
Transduction Principle of Condenser Microphone
Filename, 12
Pre-polarised Measurement Microphones
and
Today this principle is used in a large fraction of measurement microphones
Polarisation
Principle
More complex
More expensive
Very reliable
Electret
Filename, 13
Damping of Microphone Diaphragm
Q=10
Q=1
Q=0.316
Diaphragm Damping
depends on
distance to back-plate
and number of holes
Pressure Field Microphone
Q = 1
Filename, 14
Typical Line of Microphone Types

3.175 mm

12.7 mm

6.35 mm

23.77 mm
Filename, 15
Effects of Scaling Microphone Diameter
Responses of Pressure Microphones
Filename, 16
Principal Types of Sound Field
Free-field
open space
with no reflecting surfaces
Diffuse-field
rooms with hard surfaces
rooms with many sources
Pressure-field
small enclosures
with uniform pressure
Lawn Mover
Workshop
with two
noise sources
Hearing Aid and
Test Coupler
Filename, 17
Microphone Body in Propagating Sound Wave
Measurement Point
Undesturbed Sound Field
Desturbed Sound Field
Direction of Sound
Propagation
Direction of Sound
Propagation
Microphone Body
Filename, 18
Microphone Size and Influence on Pressure Level

24 mm

12 mm

6 mm
Free-field
Filename, 19
Influence of Microphone Protection Grid
Typical Influence
0
o
Incidence

12 mm
Filename, 20
0
5
10
15
0.1 1 10 100
frequency [kHz]
dB
3
Direction of Sound Incidence (0
o
)
Combined Influence of Microphone Body and Grid
Free-field conditions and body with protection grid
Filename, 21
Response of Microphone optimized for Free-field
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
5
0.1 1 10 100
frequency [kHz]
dB
1
2
3
Frequency response of diaphragm system
Increase of pressure
on the diaphragm
Resulting Microphone Response
Filename, 22
Principal Types of Sound Field
Free-field
open space
with no reflecting surfaces
Diffuse-field
rooms with hard surfaces
rooms with many sources
Pressure-field
small enclosures
with uniform pressure
Lawn Mover
Workshop
with two
noise sources
Hearing Aid and
Test Coupler
Filename, 23
Microphone Size and Influence on Pressure Level
0.1 k 1 k 10 k Frequency 100 k

24 mm

12 mm

6 mm
Diffuse-field
Filename, 24
Microphones are Optimized for Types of Sound Field
Filename, 25
Other Microphones and Parts to be Calibrated (1)
Microphone
for permanent
outdoor use
(probe mic.)
Turbulence Suppression Screen
Rain
Cover
Nose
Cones
Wind
Screens
Probe Microphone
with tiny tube (

1.25mm)
Microphone
with very low
Inherent Noise
(0 dB SPL)
Filename, 26
For Noise and Turbulence Measurements
in Wind Tunnels and during driving or flying
Microphones on
aircraft wing
Other Microphones and Parts to be Calibrated (2)
Surface Microphones
Filename, 27
Microphones with nearly identical Phase Responses are required
- especially for Sound Intensity Measurements
Other Microphones and Parts to be Calibrated (3)
Filename, 28
Examples of Microphone Preamplifiers
12.7 mm 6.35 mm
Input Impedance: up to15 G in parallel with 0.3 pF
Output Resistance: down to 50
Gain: 0 dB
Filename, 29
Contents
- Measurement Microphones
- Principles of operation
- Influence on sound fields
- Acoustic Calibration
- Primary Calibration (NMIs and High-tech Units)
- Secondary Calibration (Test and Service Centers)
- Field Calibration (Users)
- Additional Calibration Techniques
Filename, 30
Calibration Hierarchy
National Metrology Institute
Country B
National Metrology Institute
Country A
National Metrology Institute
Country C
Calibration Service
Center A
Calibration Service
Center B
Calibration Service
Center C
User A
User B
User C
User X
User A
User B
User C
User X
User A
User B
User C
User X
Filename, 31
Methods for Primary Calibration Laboratories
IEC 61094 1 Laboratory Standard Microphones
IEC 61094 2 Primary Method for Pressure Calibration
IEC 61094 3 Primary Method for Free-field Calibration
IEC 61094 7 Free-field Corrections, LS1/LS2 Microphones
Low-frequency Microphone Calibration
High-level Microphone Calibration
IEC 61043 Sound Intensity Instruments
Measurement of Inherent Microphone Noise
IEC 61094-8 Free-field Comparison Calibration (draft)
Diffuse-field Calibration
Note: The standard titles are not fully correct they are shortened
Filename, 32
Laboratory Standard Microphones IEC 61094-1
LS1
LS2a

23.77 mm

12.7 mm

18.6 mm

9.3 mm

13.2 mm
Filename, 33
Pressure Reciprocity Calibration
IEC 60194-2
Filename, 34
Reciprocal Transducers
Reciprocity calibration requires reciprocal transducers
Sound Receiver Sound Transmitter
The condenser microphone is a reciprocal transducer
u
oc
q
i
p
oc
i
p
q
u
oc oc
=
Filename, 35
Principle of Pressure Reciprocity Calibration (1)
i
in
u
out
mic(A)
mic(B)
air-filled coupler
u
out
i
in
where
Z
e
=
M
p
(A) x M
p
(B) =
Z
e
Z
a
Z
a
= acoustical transfer impedance
of the air-filled coupler terminated
by the microphones (A and B)
(acoustic transmission line)
Sensitivity Product (IEC61094-2)
(measured)
Coupled Pair of Microphone
Filename, 36
Principle of Pressure Reciprocity Calibration (2)
C
A
u
C
i
T
u
R



C
s
A
B
u
C
i
T
u
R
C
s
B
C
u
C
i
T
u
R
C
s
coupler coupler coupler
Receiver
Source
The 3 unknown microphone sensitivities are found by solving
the 3 equations, which are related to the above 3 pairs of microphone
Filename, 37
Impedance of 'Plane Wave Coupler'
'Plane Wave Coupler'
l
x
y
l
xy
< 0.4
.
d = d
diaphragm
mic.x mic.y
( ) ( )
(
(

|
|
.
|

\
|
+ +
|
|
.
|

\
|
+ =
xy
y a
o a
x a
o a
xy
y a
o a
x a
o a
o a xy a
l
Z
Z
Z
Z
l
Z
Z
Z
Z
Z Z
sinh 1 cosh
1 1
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
, ,
is determined by the transmission line theory
Z
a,x
y
Dimension requirements:
d
Z
a,x
Z
a,y
Z
a,o
Model of Acoustic Transfer Impedance
(IEC 1094-2)
Filename, 38
B&K Type 9699 Pressure Reciprocity Calibration System
based on PULSE Multi-Analyzer Type 3560 C
Measurement Chamber
for pressurization and
noise suppression
Automated Reciprocity Calibration System
Filename, 39
Magnitude and Phase Pressure Responses
Filename, 40
Repeatability History
0
1.5
1
-
1
-
9
1
1
-
1
-
9
2
1
-
1
-
9
3
1
-
1
-
9
4
1
-
1
-
9
5
1
-
1
-
9
6
1
-
1
-
9
7
1
-
1
-
9
8
1
-
1
-
9
9
1
-
1
-
0
0
1
-
1
-
0
1
1
-
1
-
0
2
1
-
1
-
0
3
years
0
.
1

d
B

p
e
r

d
i
v
i
s
i
o
n
n

n
250 Hz
25 kHz
1 kHz
16 kHz
8 kHz
4 kHz
2 kHz
12.5 kHz
63 Hz
31.5 Hz
500 Hz
125 Hz
20 kHz
20 Hz
Type 4180 No. 1124043
DPLA Standard Microphone
Type 4180 No.1124043
0
.
1

d
B

p
e
r

d
i
v
i
s
i
o
n
half-inch
Period: 1991 2002
Pressure Reciprocity Calibration
Results normalised with Average
Sensitivity of last 5 years
Filename, 41
Uncertainty Calculation Type 4180 LS2 - DPLA
Filename, 42
0.00
0.02
0.04
0.06
0.08
0.10
0.12
0.14
0.16
10 100 1000 10000 100000
Hz
dB
DPLA Client Calibrations
Uncertainty (k=2) for Type 4180
calculated
specified
Resulting Uncertainty Type 4180 LS2 - DPLA
Filename, 43
DPLA Calibration Uncertainty, Type 4160 and 4180
0.00
0.04
0.08
0.12
0.16
0.20
10 100 1000 10000 100000
Hz
dB
4160
4180
Specified DPLA Uncertainties (k=2)
October 2000
Filename, 44
Free-field Reciprocity Calibration
IEC 60194-3
Filename, 45
Free-field Reciprocity Calibration Set-up, Half-inch
Transmitter Microphone Receiver Microphone
Anechoic Room with cubical glass-wool absorbers
Typical Distance
200 mm
Filename, 46
Expression for Free-field Sensitivity Calculation
12
1
2 12
2 , 1 ,
2
d v
f f
e
i
U
f
d
j M M

=

Symbol Parameter
M
f,1
, M
f,2
Sensitivities of microphones 1 and 2
d
12
Distance between acoustic centers of microphones 1 and 2

Density of air
f Frequency
v Complex sound propagation coefficient
U
2
Output voltage of receiver microphone
i
1
Input current of source microphone

) 2 (
1
2
1
2
C f j
U
U
i
U
=
Symbol Parameter
Z
12
Transfer impedance of microphones 1 and 2 valid for the parameters of equation (4)
U
1
Voltage across the series capacitor of source microphone 1
C Capacitance of series capacitor of the source microphones

Current is determined by measuring
voltage across a series capacitor
Symbol Parameter
Filename, 47
Typical Measured Free-field Transfer Function
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
1 10 100




d
B

r
e
.

1

V
kHz
Filename, 48
System Instrumentation
Insert Voltage
Switch Box
WB3551
Generator
Ch.1 Ch.2
Analyzer
PULSE
Type
3560C
(100 kHz)
Conditioning
Amplifier
Type 2690-
W-008
Reciprocity
Calibration
Apparatus
Type 5998
LAN
Preamplifier
Type 2673-W-001
(20 dB gain)
Transmitter Unit
ZE0796 with
built-in series
capacitor
PC
Microphones
IEEE AUX
Free-field Reciprocity
Calibration System
DFM-B&K
Receiver
Transmitter
Filename, 49
Removal of Sound Reflections
1)
4) 3)
2)
Filename, 50
Responses valid for the three pairs of microphone (AB, AC and BC)
are displayed for evaluation of the operator prior to the calculation
of the microphone sensitivities
The distance between the fronts of microphones (LS1) is 320 mm
Calculated Impulse Responses for one Distance
Filename, 51
Resulting Sensitivity (magnitude)
19-aug-09 Lin1453799 4160.1453799
-45
-35
-25
-15
100 1000 10000 100000
Average
Hz
dB
Type 4160 No. 1453799
Average of results obtained
with 4 measurement distances

23.77 mm
Filename, 52
Resulting Sensitivity (phase)
19-aug-09 Lin1453799 4160.1453799
-90
-60
-30
0
30
60
90
120
150
180
210
100 1000 10000 100000
Average
Hz
dB
Type 4160 No. 1453799
Average of results obtained
with 4 measurement distances
deg

23.77 mm
Filename, 53
19-aug-09 Lin1503933 4180.1503933
-0.12
-0.08
-0.04
0.00
0.04
0.08
0.12
100 1000 10000 100000
d 170
d 200
d 240
d 300
Hz
dB
Type 4180 No. 1503933
The results for the 4 measurement distances
are shown relative to their common mean value
Comparison of Sensitivity Results (magnitude)

12.7 mm
Filename, 54
DFM chamber and general criteria
DFM chamber
- volume: 6.0 m
3
- free volume: 1.7 m
3
- mineral wool: 90 kg/m
3
(not especially critical)
General requirements:
- Good sound isolation
- Large enough for
delaying reflexions
Small-room features:
- short cables (lower cross-talk)
- precise and stable
microphone mounting
- convenient operation
Knud Rasmussen in front of the DFM room
Filename, 55
System Properties
The system operates with a repeatability better than +- 0.03 dB
and an accuracy better than +- 0.1 dB up to 20 kHz (k=2)
Three one-inch and half-inch microphones may be thoroughly
calibrated (4 distances) in about 4 and 8 hours respectively
The method is time-selective. Therefore, only a small an-echoic
room is required
PhD Thesis by Salvador Barrera Figueroa
Filename, 56
Free-field Calibration Uncertainty (k=2)
WS microphones may also be calibrated, but in general the uncertainty becomes
Larger for less known types and for microphones of complex shapes
0.04
0.06
0.08
0.10
0.12
0.14
1 10 100
0.04
0.06
0.08
0.10
0.12
0.14
1 10 100
LS1
LS2
kHz
kHz
dB
dB
k = 2 k = 2
Filename, 57
BIPM CCAUV Key Comparisons
Regional Organizations
- AFRIMETS
- APMP
- COOMET
- EURAMET
- SIM
Filename, 58
Free-field Response Determination
of
LS Microphones
by
Pressure Reciprocity (IEC 60194-2)
and
Free-field Corrections (IEC 61094-7)
Filename, 59
An Alternative to Free-field Reciprocity Calibration
0
2
4
6
8
10
0.1 1 10 100
dB
kHz
Free-field Corrections
Difference between
Free-field and Pressure Responses
Type 4160 Type 4180
0
o
Incidence
IEC 61094-7
states
Free-field
Corrections
for
LS1 and LS2
Microphones
Perform a Pressure Reciprocity Calibration and add corrections
calculated by the polynomial of IEC 61094-7
Filename, 60
Uncertainty of Free-field Calibrations LS2a
DPLA Calibration by Free-field
Reciprocity IEC 61094-3
DPLA Calibration by Pressure
Reciprocity IEC 61094-3
and
Standardized Free-field corrections
IEC 61094-7
LS2a

12.7 mm
LS2a

12.7 mm
k=2
k=2
Filename, 61
Infra-sound and Low-frequency Calibration
Various non-standardized principles
Filename, 62
Low Frequency Calibration of Reference Microphone
Laser-pistonphone
0.1 Hz 100 Hz
Uncertainty 0.25 dB at 1 Hz
| |
V
S d
P rms p
o

=
2

: ratio of specific heats

d: displacement of piston
S: area of piston
V: volume of cavity
Filename, 63
Low Frequency Calibration of Reference Microphone
Laser-pistonphone
0.1 Hz 100 Hz
Uncertainty 0.25 dB at 1 Hz
Pressure Reciprocity
2 Hz 30 kHz
Uncertainty 0.5 dB at 2 Hz
Filename, 64
Low Frequency Calibration of Reference Microphone
Laser-pistonphone
0.1 Hz 100 Hz
Uncertainty 0.25 dB at 1 Hz
Pressure Reciprocity
2 Hz 30 kHz
Uncertainty 0.5 dB at 2 Hz
Related Microphones Method
0.1 Hz 250 Hz
Uncertainty 0.08 dB at 0.1 Hz
New B&K
Method
B&K Technical
Review
No. 1 - 2008
Equal Microphones
with different
Diaphragm Tension
Filename, 65
Low-frequency Comparison Calibration
WB3570
Coupler designed for :
1) exposure of diaphragm and vent
2) diaphragm only
Filename, 67
High-level Microphone Calibration
Filename, 68
Pistonphone Principle for High Pressure Calibration
Filename, 69
High-pressure Calibration System Type 9719
B&K PULSE
Multi-Analyzer System
Type 3560
with
High-pressure Unit
Type 4298
and
Linearity-measurement
Software
WT9643
Operation frequency: 500 Hz
Filename, 70
System of Coupled Tubes
Microphones
M1 and M2
T3 T2 T1 Loudspeaker
Loudspeaker
~
T1
T3
T2
M1 M2
C R L
Equivalent Circuit Model
Physical Model
Loudspeaker
Filename, 71
Generation of High Pressure with Low Distortion
Operation at lowest system resonance (500 Hz)
Relatively high input power (25 W)
Transfer function minimizes distortion from source
-120
-110
-100
-90
-80
-70
-60
-50
-40
0 1000 2000 3000 4000
L
p
for constant Input Voltage
10
0
-10
-20
-30
-40
-50
-60
-70
Operation Frequency
Filename, 72
Dynamic Linearity Reference Microphones
B&K Condenser Microphone Type 4941 (

6.3 mm)
ENDEVCO Ceramic
Microphone Type 2510 (

19 mm)
Heat-protector
Filename, 73
Operation Range of High-pressure System
180
dB
160
140
120
100
80
S
P
L

(
R
M
S
)
S
P
L

P
e
a
k

(
+
)
S
P
L

P
e
a
k

(
-
)
2
n
d

H
a
r
m
o
n
i
c
3
r
d

H
a
r
m
o
n
i
c
T
o
t
a
l

H
a
r
m
o
n
i
c
1 Pascal (94 dB)
10000 Pascal (174 dB)
S
o
u
n
d

P
r
e
s
s
u
r
e

L
e
v
e
l

r
e
.

2
0

P
a
Filename, 74
Capability of High-pressure Calibration System
Range: 94 dB (RMS) and 174 dB (Peak):
RMS-linearity +- 0.02 dB
Peak-linearity (+ and -) +- 0.04 dB
Harmonic Distortion
- Sound Pressure < 0.3 %
- Reference Microphones < 0.5%
Vibration Excitation < 2.5
.
10
-4
m/s
2
per Pa
Filename, 75
Phase Response Comparison Calibration
for
Microphone Arrays and Sound Intensity Probes
Filename, 76
Arrays for Sound Mapping, Beamforming and STSF
60 200 mics
36 108 mics
36 64 mics
36 50 mics
64 114 mics
(12 cameras)
Filename, 77
Intensity Probes and Dedicated Microphones
Method is described in IEC 61043
Filename, 78
Intensity Microphones B&K Type 4197
0,001
0,01
0,1
1
10
10 100 1000 10000
deg
Hz
Intensity Microphones - B&K Type 4197
Tolerances
Probe (Mics + PAs)
Mics
Required Measurement Capability
Tolerances are from IEC 61043
Filename, 79
New Wide-band Phase Comparison Couplers
WA1544
Half-inch
Phase Response
Comparison Coupler
WA1545
Quarter-inch
Phase Response
Comparison Coupler
WA0817
Broard-band
Sound Source
for the couplers
Filename, 80
Phase Comparison Result - Type 4197 (Intensity Pair)
Measured with the
Calibration System
Type 9721
Blue and Red
indicate
negative and
positive
deviations
respectively
Filename, 81
Array Microphone Type 4958 (batch A)
-12
-6
0
6
12
10 100 1000 10000 100000
1234567
1234568
2581554
2581830
2592624
2592625
2592626
2592628
2592629
2592631
2592632
2592633
2592634
2592635
2592636
2592637
2611371
2611372
2611373
2611374
2611375
2611376
2611377
2611378
2611379
2611380
2611381
2611382
2611383
2611384
2611385
2611386
Phase Response Spread within batch (A)
(microphones for selection to arrays)
The responses are displayed relative to their average
deg
Hz
Filename, 82
Test Tube for Intensity Probes
Length: 6.2 m
Inner Diameter: 288 mm
Sledge for Intensity Probe
S.W.R.:
24 dB from
40 to 500 Hz
Filename, 83
Measurement of Inherent Microphone Noise
Filename, 84
Brownian Noise of Condenser Microphone
e
s
n
n
V
p T k
p
C
T k
p

=

2
k : Boltzmanns Constant
T : absolute temperature
: ratio of specific heats
p
s
: static pressure
V
e
: equivalent diaphragm volume
V
e
= 148 mm
3
6 . 62
10 148
10 013 . 1 4 . 1 296 10 38 . 1
9
5 23
=

n
p
Pa
or 9.9 dB SPL
Filename, 85
Noise Spectra of Type 4160/44 and Preamp
Filename, 86
Noise Spectra of Microphone and Preamplifier
dB SPL
Filename, 87
-10
0
10
20
30
40
50
dB (A)
1/2"
1/1"
1/4"
12.5 mV/Pa
50 mV/Pa
5
0

m
V
/
P
a
5
0

m
V
/
P
a
4

m
V
/
P
a
1
.
6

m
V
/
P
a
Noise Levels of Microphones
and of Microphones combined
with Preamplifiers
Equivalent A-weighted
Sound Pressure Level
1
0
0

m
V
/
P
a
Filename, 88
Chamber for Measurement of Inherent Microphone Noise
Volume: about 1.5 liter
Weight: about 5 kg
Covered with vibration
damping material
Damping material inside
Filename, 89
Free-field Comparison Calibration
of
LS and WS Microphones
IEC 60194 - 8
(draft)
Filename, 90
Free-field Comparison Calibration IEC 61094-8 (Draft)
Non-critical Reflection
Critical Reflection
Direct
Sound
Sound
Source
Microphone
Calibration requires:
1) a very good and
large an-echoic room
or
2) a time-selective or
post processing
measurement technique
to eliminate influence
of reflections
Many an-echoic rooms are good enough for testing purposes,
but few are good enough for calibration !
Reflections and measurement distance are main topics of the IEC draft
Filename, 91
Diffuse-field Comparison Calibration
of
LS and WS Microphones
IEC 60194 - 8
(draft)
Filename, 92
Reference
Microphone
Unknown
Microphone
Diffuse-field Comparison Calibration
Room with hard Sound Reflecting Walls
Filename, 93
Obtaining Diffuse-field response by FF-measurements
v
Microphone Body
v = 0
o
is perpendicular
incidence on the diaphragm
12
8
4
0
- 4
- 8
- 12
-16
1 kHz 10 kHz 100 kHz
0
o
0
o
180
o
in 5
o
steps
Diffuse
Sound
Field
Curve for Diffuse Field is
calculated in accordance
with IEC 61183
Microphone (12.7 mm)
without Protection Grid
Filename, 94
Methods for Service Centers and Test Laboratories
IEC 61094 4 Working Standard Microphones
IEC 61094 5 Pressure-field Comparison Calibration
IEC 61094 6 Electrostatic Actuator Calibration
IEC 61672 1 SLM Specifications (Class 1 and 2)
IEC 61672 2 SLM Pattern Evaluation Tests
IEC 61672 3 SLM Periodic Tests
IEC 61183 Diffuse-field Calibration of SLM
IEC 60942 Sound Level Calibrators
IEC 62585 Calibration Corrections for SLM (draft)
Note: The standard titles are not fully correct they are shortened
Filename, 95
Secondary Microphone Calibration
by
Comparison Couplers (IEC61094-5)
and
Electrostatic Actuators (IEC61094-6)
Filename, 96
System for calibration of various brands of microphone
Reference
Standard
Type 4180
Type 9721
Diameter
1/8 to 1/1
Filename, 97
Type 9721 Microphone Calibration
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
5
0.1 1 10 100
frequency [kHz]
dB
1
2
3
1. Sensitivity at 250 Hz
2. Electrostatic Actuator Response
3. Sound-field Correction
Filename, 98
Comparison Calibration Method IEC61094-5
9.3
16
8.0 1.8
0.5
18
Microphone
Interfaces
Source
Cavity
Source
Diaphragm
Comparison Coupler
with built-in Sound Source
20 Hz 16 kHz
Source
Cavity
Interfaces to
Microphones
Cylindrical
Diaphragm
of
Source
WA0817
Filename, 99
Active Comparison
Coupler WA0817
(90 dB SPL for 1V)
Calibration Fixture
WA0852
Monitor
Microphone
Type 4192
Coupler and fixture mounted
for calibration of half-inch
and smaller microphones
Microphone Fixture and Active Coupler WA0817
For microphones
Filename, 100
One-inch Coupler
UA1609
Calibration Couplers and Fixture for microphones
Active Coupler
WA0817
The active coupler WA0817 supplies the
sound for the passive one-inch coupler
For 1/1 and smaller microphones by adapters
Filename, 101
Chart for
calculation
of sensitivity
uncertainty
Type 9721 Sensitivity Uncertainty Calculation Sheet
Filename, 102
0
0.04
0.08
0.12
0.16
4
1
8
0
4
1
9
2
4
1
9
3
4
1
3
3
4
1
3
4
4
1
4
9
4
1
9
1
4
1
9
7
4
1
9
0
4
1
4
5
4
1
6
1
4
1
4
4
4
1
6
0
4
1
7
6
4
1
8
8
4
9
3
8
4
9
3
9
4
1
8
9
4
1
3
6
4
1
6
5
4
1
6
6
4
1
3
5
4
1
5
5
Calculated Uncertainty
Specified Uncertainty
Valid at Reference Conditions
Type 9721 Uncertainty of Sensitivity Calibration (250 Hz) dB
Type of Microphone
Type 9721 Sensitivity Uncertainty (k=2)
Filename, 103
Electrostatic Actuator
Glass legs Metal Plate
Insulator
Electrostatic Actuator
for half-inch and
smaller microphones
Filename, 104
PULSE Analyser
Preamplifier
Actuator Voltage
Supply
Actuator
Microphone
800 V DC + 100 V AC
Setup for Electrostatic Actuator Calibration
Filename, 105
C
U
d F =
2
2
d
S
U
d F
act gas

=

2
2
dia
act
gas
dia
S
S
d
U
S
F

=
2
2
2

2
2
2
U
d
a
p
gas

=

Electrostatic
actuator
d
U
F S
dia
S
act
Microphone
housing
Holes
( ) ( ) ( )
2
0
2
sin
2
t u U
d
a
t p
p
gas

=
( ) ( )
( )
|
.
|

\
|

+ +

=
2
2 cos 1
sin 2
2
2
0
2
0
2
t
u t u U U
d
a
t p
p p
gas

Equivalent Sound Pressure of Electrostatic Actuator
Filename, 106
Microphone Calibration Module Type 5001
Driver unit for
Active Coupler
and Electrostatic
Actuator
Filename, 107
Type 9721 Microphone Calibration
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
5
0.1 1 10 100
frequency [kHz]
dB
1
2
3
1. Sensitivity at 250 Hz
2. Electrostatic Actuator Response
3. Sound-field Correction
Filename, 108
-0.4
-0.2
0
0.2
0.4
10 100 1000 10000 100000
Uncertainty of Type 9721
Valid for One- and Half-inch Microphones (S > 25 mV/Pa)
Calculated
Specified dB
Hz
Type 9721 Uncertainty of Actuator Response (2)
Filename, 109
Sound Level Meter Calibration
Pattern Evaluation Tests
Acoustic Test Laboratories
Periodical Tests
Calibration Service Centres
Field Calibration
Users
Filename, 110
Pattern Evaluation Tests Acoustic Test Laboratories
IEC 61672-2 prescribes:
Checking of mandatory facilities and general requirements ( 23 points)
Environmental, electrostatic and radio-frequency tests (17)
Electrical performance tests (16)
Acoustical performance tests (5):
- Measurement of Directional Responses
- Measurement of Frequency Response of Reference Direction
- Verification/determination of Free-field Correction Values
- Verification/determination of Adjustment Value(s)
- Measurement of Self-generated Noise
Filename, 111
Periodical Tests Calibration Service Centers
IEC 61672-3 prescribes:
- General Inspection
- Electrical Performance Tests (7)
- Acoustical Performance Tests (3):
- Check of Indication at the reference frequency (1 kHz)
- Check of Frequency Response (calibrator, actuator or sound field)
- Check of Self-generated Noise
B&K SLM
Calibration System
Type 3630
Filename, 112
Remarks about SLM Testing
Pattern Evaluation Test
- is a very thorough, time consuming and costly test
- requires advanced equipment for environmental testing
- requires a good and large an-echoic room
- ensures proper design quality
- provides proved correction data for simple Periodic Testing
Periodic Test
- intended to be cheap and widely used
- requires no specific acoustic facilities
- checks critical parameters
- ensures proper performance - considering approval of Pattern
Filename, 113
SLM
Soft Spring
Noise
isolated
Cavity
Vibration Isolation Table
Rear port sound isolator
Test Table for Self-generated Noise of SLM
SLM Microphone
Low-noise Monitor
Microphone
Filename, 114
Sound Calibrators
for
Field and Laboratory Use
IEC 60942
Filename, 115
Pistonphone Type 4228
Precision Calibrator
and
Reference Standard
Sound Source
Frequency 250 Hz
124 dB at 1013.25 hPa
SPL is proportional to ambient
pressure, but essentially
independent of temperature
and humidity.
Filename, 116
Design Details of Pistonphone Type 4228
( ) 8 cos 4 sin + = C B A r
Retaining Spring
Cam Disc
Coupler Cavity
Pistons
Ruby Bushing
Filename, 117
Principle of Feed-back Calibrator
- Significantly Improved Stability
- Essentially independent of Static Pressure
- Essentially independent of Loading Microphone
Type 4226
Multi-frequencyCalibrator
First feed-back Calibrator
1988
Type 4230 1000 Hz, 94 dB
Filename, 118
Multi-frequency Calibrator
Calibrators produce Pressure-fields, but may
calibrate SLMs and Instruments for free-field use.
They generate a level higher than the nominal to
compensate for the lack of pressure-increase that
occurs on the microphone in a free-field.
Filename, 119
Hint about use of Calibrators
Calibrating an Instrument with a Calibrator is very easy
However, just connecting the calibrator and adjusting the instrument to
proper reading imply a risk of
overlooking microphone, analyzer or calibrator defects
Therefore,
- read the microphone sensitivity on its calibration chart
- set the system parameter for sensitivity accordingly
- connect and start the calibrator
- notice the deviation between display reading and calibrator level
- if > 0.4 dB look for the reason
- if < 0.4 dB adjust the reading (or leave the settings)
Filename, 120
An Introduction has been given to:
- Principal Types of Sound Field, Measurement Microphones
and the need for many models
- Calibration and Test Methods applied at Hierarchical Levels
- SLM Calibration and Testing
- Acoustic Calibrators
- Acoustic Standards
- Uncertainties of Methods
- Uncertainty Budgets and Accreditation
Thanks for your attention