Piezo sound components offer low profile, low current solution for automotive and consumer applications

Fleet, UK: Murata's piezo sound components are available in low-profile SMD packaging for automotive and consumer electronics. Compared to magnetic/dynamic sound components, piezo sounders and buzzers consume very little current, are lightweight and reduce the amount of components needed in the drive circuit as they can be driven directly from an IC. There is no magnetic noise interference from piezo parts as the sound component is based on a piezoelectric ceramic diaphragm. The RoHS compliant parts are high impedance (1 to 5kOhm) and are available in SMD packages to help keep assembly costs low.

For consumer electronics and medical equipment, Murata's low profile piezo sounder PKLCS1212E4002 is available with height of just 2mm (dimensions 12 x 12 x 2mm). Typical SPL (sound pressure level) is 65 dB minimum at 4kHz, with a maximum input voltage of 25Vp-p. There is also a lower frequency version available, 2kHz (part number -E2000) which is suitable for equipment used by the elderly. Sounders like this one are also commonly used in home appliances/white goods.

In automotive applications, piezo sounders are widely used for 'beep' tones in the RKE transmitter, car alarm, instrument cluster and navigation systems. As an example, Murata part number PKM17EPP-2002-B0 is ideal for the two-tone sound when the indicators are operating. This 2kHz part can be driven with alternating 1.9 and 2.1kHz pulses to create the two-tone sound required.