FIVE STAR: PRODUCT OF THE MONTH

Hot Sounds

Micro speakers resist reflow heat

Tough problem in design and manufacturing — how does one create an electronics package that provides the greatest throughput in production? Automated systems can stuff PC boards at rates of 500 components a minute, then whisk the assemblies down conveyors to a reflow station, soldering everything into place at one time. Plus, the fewer components that have to be manually installed and soldered, the less chance there is for human error to further slow production.

Into the parts bin of reflow-tolerant devices arrives the NCT series of dynamic micro speakers from Star Micronics. They conform to the EIAJ ED-4702 industry standard (“Mechanical stress test methods for semiconductor surface mounting devices”), making them suited to PC boards already using surface-mount components. Patterned after the company’s NAT and NBT audio transducers’ surface-mount design, this series provides a flatter, wider frequency response over tranducers that allows for the clear reproduction of spoken words.

The form factor of the NCT micro speakers is a package just 0.6- x 0.6- x 0.16-in., or an occupied space of just 0.0576 in.³, occupying a minimum of space on a crowded PC board. The sound port can be specified for side or top direction, lending additional flexibility to placement constraints. Resonant frequency is a low 1700 Hz, and flat frequency response produces greater sound volume of 95 dB, ±5 dB, at 10 cm. Maximum power of the NCT series is 0.4W, with a coil impedance of 8, ±1.2.

The surface-mount devices are well-suited to high-volume production products such as intelligent terminals, car navigation systems and personal communication products.

—RM

For more information:
Star Micronics America Inc, or connect directly to their website via the Online Reader Service Program at www.rsleads.com/207df-155