The new design could be used in applications ranging from hearing aids and cell phones to surveillance and acoustic noise control systems
Using the sensitive ears of a parasitic fly for inspiration, a group of researchers has created a new type of microphone that achieves better acoustical performance than what is currently available in hearing aids.
The scientists will present their results at the 21st International Congress on Acoustics, held June 2-7 in Montreal.
Ronald Miles, Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Binghamton University, studies the hearing of Ormia ochracea, a house fly-sized insect that is native to the southeast United States and Central America. Unlike most other flies, Ormia ochracea has eardrums that sense sound pressure, as do our ears, and they can hear “quite well,” says Miles. The female flies use their “remarkable” directional hearing to locate singing male crickets, on which they deposit their larvae.
Previously, Miles and colleagues Daniel Robert and Ronald Hoy described the mechanism by which the fly achieves its directional hearing, despite its small size. Now Miles and his group have designed a new microphone inspired by the fly’s ears.
The new design uses a microelectromechanical microphone with a 1 mm by 3 mm diaphragm that is designed to rotate about a central pivot in response to sound pressure gradients. The motion of the diaphragm is detected using optical sensors. To minimize the adverse effects of resonances on the response, Miles and his colleagues used a feedback system to achieve so-called active Q control.
“Q control basically is an electronic feedback control system to introduce electronic damping,” Miles explains. “You don’t want a microphone diaphragm to ring like a bell. It turns out that in order to achieve a very low noise floor – which is the quietest sound that can be detected without the signal being buried in the microphone’s noise – it is important to minimize any passive damping in these sensors. If you do that, the diaphragm will resonate at its natural frequency. We are the first group to show that you can use this sort of electronic damping in a microphone without adversely affecting the noise floor of the microphone.”
Indeed, the noise floor of the fly-inspired microphone is about 17 decibels lower than what can be achieved using a pair of low-noise hearing aid microphones to create a directional hearing aid. The new design could be used in applications ranging from hearing aids and cell phones to surveillance and acoustic noise control systems, Miles says, and “could easily be made as small as the fly’s ear.”
The Latest Bing News on:
New type of microphone
- Next-generation architecture array microphone enables pre-configured audio captureon August 5, 2022 at 5:10 am
Technology is essential for efficient and painless workplace collaboration. But how many times has one said (or heard another party ...
- Open Mic opens opportunities and cooperation in Sierra Vistaon August 5, 2022 at 1:29 am
Orozco teaches at the college, but she volunteers for Open Mic with the goal of providing an outlet for artists. The effort is leading to increased communication, friendships and alliances between ...
- Kendall Jenner, Ariana Grande and other Hollywood stars are waiting for their new caron August 3, 2022 at 4:50 pm
Range Rover has pulled back the curtains, unveiling the third generation of the Range Rover Sport, and in America, It’s a big hit. Range Rover has sold 300,000 ...
- Professional Microphone Market Size 2022, Trends, Growth Insight, Share, Competitive, Regional, And Global Industry Forecast to 2028on August 1, 2022 at 10:46 pm
Global "Professional Microphone Market” (2022-2028) research report represents a detailed overview of the current ...
- Introducing the TONOR ORCA-001, a USB Condenser Noise-canceling Microphone for Starters and Professionalson July 28, 2022 at 12:00 am
TONOR ORCA-001 comes with Zero Latency Monitoring, One-tap Mute cardioid pick-up pattern for an awesome experience. RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA, July 28, 2022 /24-7PressRelease/ -- TONOR, a trusted brand in ...
- Microphone Market by Technology, MEMS Type, Communication Technology, Application & Geography - Global Forecast to 2027on July 25, 2022 at 3:04 am
The microphone market is estimated to grow from USD 2. 3 billion in 2022 to reach. USD 3. 4 billion by 2027; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8. 2% from 2022 to 2027. The growth of the microphone ...
- How a wireless lavalier microphone for android Can Enhance Your Performance Onstageon July 23, 2022 at 1:03 pm
Microphones that are designed for performances usually have special characteristics or devices built into them to complement the needs of performers. For instance, consider the needs of a performer ...
- The best microphone for streaming, gaming, and podcastingon July 20, 2022 at 11:52 am
The USB Type-B Micro/XLR connection will be the ... an amalgam of the better bits of both. Even as new microphones enter the space, the Yeti X continues to be a reliable recommendation for anyone ...
- Asia-Pacific Wireless Microphone Market Latest Innovation, Upcoming Trends, Top Companies, Growth and Forecast by 2029on July 20, 2022 at 8:41 am
Clients can explore new possibilities which are made feasible ... sector has increased the demand for various types of wireless microphone related products, which are used in driver assistance ...
- A Microphone (or Four) Fit for a King—The Vintage Mics Used by Elvis Presleyon July 19, 2022 at 1:58 pm
[Shure is the Wireless Choice at the 2022 CMT Awards] (opens in new tab) While there are a variety used in the movie, here are just a sampling of the different types of Shure microphones Elvis used ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
New type of microphone
The Latest Bing News on:
Fly-inspired microphone
- Exclusive Interview – How ‘We Met in Virtual Reality’ director Joe Hunting filmed a documentary in VRon August 4, 2022 at 3:01 pm
Flickering Myth had the opportunity to speak with filmmaker Joe Hunting, whose documentary We Met in Virtual Reality is currently available to stream on HBO Max… While plenty has been written about ...
- Jordan drawn to microphones like iron is to magnets. No shock he said no to bill| Suddeson July 31, 2022 at 2:30 am
The US House passed a bill to protect marriage equality just 25 days after Roe fell — a lightning-fast move for Capitol Hill, Thomas Suddes writes.
- Tyler, the Creator exudes mix of danger and excitement in Sydney showon July 30, 2022 at 12:46 am
There are not many solo artists on the planet capable of commanding a stage with nothing more than a microphone and a ... Coupled with Tyler’s 1960s-inspired outfit – puffer jacket, furry ...
- Country singer Amy Grant, 61, postpones tour dates to have 'additional recovery time' after bicycle accident landed her in hospitalon July 29, 2022 at 8:02 pm
Amy Grant is on the mend after landing in the hospital following a bicycle accident earlier this week. A statement was posted to the 61-year-old Queen of Christian Pop's Instagram page describing ...
- Tyler, The Creator exudes mix of danger and excitement in Sydney showon July 29, 2022 at 2:46 am
From the moment he appears on stage, the effortlessly charismatic 31-year-old rapper is like a powder keg that could go off at any second.
- Today’s Premium Storieson July 28, 2022 at 9:00 pm
Reducing news to hard lines and side-taking leaves a lot of the story untold. Progress comes from challenging what we hear and considering different views.
- Cringeworthy moment two Americans think Christmas Day is in June or Julyon July 26, 2022 at 10:30 pm
Tweedie approached the pair on the world famous Venice boardwalk in Los Angeles with a microphone in hand to ask ‘What date is Christmas in Australia?’ Both confused locals thought long and ...
- Last minute deal: Epos Sennheiser Game Zero Gaming Headset, Save 50%on July 13, 2022 at 4:03 am
A microphone with a flexible lift-to-mute boom arm ensures game chat that is crystal-clear for on-the-fly strategy discussions ... The aviation-inspired split headband of the GSP 500 features ...
- At Bob's Barn Jamboree in Lake Odessa everything is old fashioned — especially the musicon July 11, 2022 at 10:04 pm
host Bob Warner said into the microphone at the front of the stage ... but after seeing a friend make a bass out of a washtub, he was inspired to turn the pelvis into a drum using animal hides ...
- Best Prime Day laptop deals 2022on June 15, 2022 at 9:35 pm
15.6-inch FHD IPS display Built-in microphone and webcam Up to 10 hours ... The good design continues with its Alienware-inspired thermal design. It incorporates a dual air intake from the top ...