Date: 19/01/2009

Pulse launches new production platform for micro-acoustic speakers

The Technitrol company, Pulse has introduces a new platform for the design and production of micro-acoustic speakers. With this platform, Pulse is capable to quickly meet market demand for innovative, small, high-performance, price-competitive receivers and loudspeakers. Pulse's acoustic products are used in mobile phones, laptops, GPS systems, cameras, MP3 players, portable gaming consoles, DVD players, and hands-free devices.

Pulse HVT Division's new flexible platform enables the design and manufacture of smaller and thinner components. A wide array of component sizes and widths can be made on a single production line because it is easy to make production changes between the different products. The platform currently adapts to lengths from 10 to 25mm with widths of 5 to 18mm. Because multiple, dedicated lines are unnecessary, development costs for each product can be reduced significantly. Parts can be made cost-effectively in smaller volumes because they use a common core and fewer dedicated parts are needed for each new product.
"It used to take months to design and produce these micro-acoustics products, but now, with our new platform, it takes only a few weeks," said Jesper Stenbaek, sales manager Pulse HVT Division. "We can meet requirements for odd sizes and customized dimensions and can produce more than one type of component on a line. Quality is high because it's a proven part on a proven platform."

"Through an intensive design and process study we have achieved a solid and robust platform," explained Andreas Eberhardt Sørensen, manager, application engineering, Pulse HVT Division. "Materials, part designs, and assembly processes have been benchmarked towards several earlier designs and chosen from a best practice philosophy. All our research and development is done to ensure that quality is implemented in the product from the start, that the components have the built-in benefits of robust design and mature mechanics, and that the line offers a stable workflow process for consistent production."

The first product launched on the new platform was Pulse's 711ST, a high-quality leak-tolerant electro-dynamic receiver of the moving-coil type. It was designed as a receiver in mobile and cordless phones. The receiver has an expanded air pump capacity for more sound at low frequencies and delivers high sound pressure and low total harmonic distortion (THD). The front resonator volume can be tailored to fit the customer's application. In developing the receiver, Pulse focused on the harsh environment to which a mobile phone is exposed, both during assembly and in the end-user market. The performance is consistent in the most environmentally stressing situations.