this post was submitted on 17 Aug 2023
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Solid-state driver earbuds are real and they're going to change portable audio (www.techradar.com)
submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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Thank you xMEMS Labs and thank you Creative Technologies

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Unclear why these are called "solid state". The main innovation here seems to be bonding the piezoelectric elements to a membrane to serve as the speaker.

Piezoelectric earphones have been around for a long time; they were popular back in the old days because a crystal radio could drive them at a listenable volume without any external power source, using only the power received from the radio antenna.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

How does it work? Well, instead of the coil and magnet system that's been used for over a century, MEMS drivers rely on a voltage-driven monolithic piezo drive that convert signals into sound. This design sees a silicon diaphragm used for the speaker, with the piezo layer distributed evenly under the diaphragm surface.

I'm no engineer, but that sounds different than normal speakers to me.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

But it doesn't imply solid state. There are ways to move air without moving parts, but this device clearly has moving parts.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Interesting concept. Would wanna try first.

As far as Apple incorporating this tech into their gear, all that’s needed is a licensing agreement; however, Apple’s notorious for wanting people to sign their licensing agreements, not so much for the reverse.

[–] who8mydamnoreos 4 points 1 year ago

I feel like we are going to be seeing many applications of Piezoelectric devices, with the energy efficiency they offer we could soon see them as prevalent as LEDs are today.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

What’s people’s thoughts on these and do you think they could possibly be in upcoming AirPods ?