Analogue Sound Preasure dB-Meter Circuit


Posted on Aug 28, 2017

The best human ear can capture sounds from 20Hz to 20KHz. These limits are known to be the broadest that can exist. Normally the normal limits range from 100Hz to about 13KHz and depend on the age and health of the individual. We for our measurements and to have a good accuracy we will get the limits of 20Hz to 20KHz. A sound to be heard does not need to be only in the audio frequency range, it must have the appropriate volume at the corresponding frequency. In order for the two sounds to have the same intensity in our ear, we must in fact practice very different pressures on the ear drum, For 100Hz, we need much more pressure to `listen` to the sound with the same intensity, comparing it to the 1KHz sound. This is because our ear has different sensitivity at different frequencies.


Analogue Sound Preasure dB-Meter Circuit
Click here to download the full size of the above Circuit.

The highest sensitivity is between 500Hz and 5KHz. All this is clearly shown in the following figure.

 

db meter graph 1

 

The lower dashed line shows the hearing limits. Sounds below this level are not heard. From the figure we see the hearing limits at 1000Hz is 0dB while at 50Hz it is 40dB. The curves of the diagram are formed by the sound pressure levels that give our ears the impression of the same intensity at the various frequencies (isotonic). The curve at the top of the chart is also called "pain thresholds." This does not mean that all the sounds below it are harmless. Our hearing loss can also be at a much lower level if we are exposed to noise for a long time (eg. 100dB for 30 minutes). The only thing that characterizes this curve is that we really have a feeling of pain at these levels, and hearing loss can happen in a very short space of time.

The following figure shows the levels of some dBA sounds. DBA is a relative size that depends on ear features.

 

db meter limits graph

 

Thus, a "real" 60dB at 100Hz should give the same acoustic intensity as a 50dB at 1KHz. Constructing circuits for comparison with such features is not at all easy. However, according to international standards, such precision is not necessary and the curve of the next compensation graph is enough.

 

db meter graph 2

 

This curve is known by the curve name A. To measure dBA sounds we have nothing else to do by connecting a microfilter with a characteristic curve A.


Measure sound in dBA

To measure the sound, we need first of all a good microphone with a straightforward feature. A microphone of capacity would be ideal. The microphone follows a preamplifier. Between the preamplifier and the amplifier we place the filter with the characteristic curve A. The output of the filter is connected to the amplifier which together with the bridge and the resistors is an alternating current measuring circuit with reading in dB.

The instrument area is from 50dB to 110dB. The lower levels are not as interesting as the higher ones.

 

The circuit

As a microphone at the entrance, a Philips LBC1055/00 can be installed. This type is a microphone of capacity, that does not need a high operating voltage. It has a built-in amplifier with FET and its characteristic is linear from 100Hz to 14KHz, it also has the advantage that up to 134dB is not overloaded.

The FET of the microphone is powered by a positive voltage via R8 and C3. The microphone signal is amplified by T1 and T2. The amplification is about 20 times and depends on the ratio of R7 to R3. The input impedance of the amplifier depends on R1 which, along with amplification, has been calculated for this type of microphone. If another type is used then some changes have to be made.

The signal passes through the T3 whose emitter is connected to the filter A consisting of R10, R11, R12 and C5, C6, C7. This filter gives a good approximation of the curve. The final step is a standard measuring circuit for 1mA powered moving coil instruments. The IC1 bridge and feedback resistors are a very good AC voltmeter circuit. Diode D1 is used to protect it from large currents.

The measuring range is selected with switch S1. The voltage on the divider R14-R18 is proportional to the current flowing through the instrument. That is, if the feedback is taken from the bottom of the divider, this corresponds to a low input voltage and therefore also to a low scale.

As a moving coil instrument we use one 1mA high vibration damping. We can use a more sensitive instrument as long as we have a resistance at the same time that it consumes 1mA in full. To print the scale, we can use the following figure.

 

db-meter analog scale print layout

 

The PCB design shows the printed circuit board on which almost all the materials are placed.

 

db-meter pcb and parts

 


Adjusting circuit

There are two settings in the circuit. One with P1 to compensate the input voltage of IC1 to offset and the other to P2 to calibrate the instrument. The first setting is a zeroing which means that if there is no signal at the input, the instrument display must be zero. The procedure is as follows: Disconnect the microphone because there is a risk of damage, then short circuit R1 and turn the S1 switch to the most sensitive area (70dB). By taking the center P2 at the center we set P1 so that the instrument shows 0.

The best way to calibrate the instrument is to use a standard sound source, or calibrate it with another high-precision sound pressure gauge. However, since such instruments are scarce, we will describe here another calibration method that is not as good as the previous ones, but gives us a fairly good precision.

Manufacturers of microphones always give a reference level. For LBC1055/00 it can be calculated from the manufacturer's data that for 110dB, the output will be 40mV active value (RMS). This voltage is applied to the input of the circuit by using an auxiliary device as in the following figure for more precisely.

 

db-meter analog scale help circuit

 

This device will be connected to R1 while the microphone will be disconnected. If the generator is at 4.04V at 1KHz then the output of the device will have a reference level of 40mV. With switch S1 in the 110dB scale we set P2 so that the instrument shows 0dB. The power supply of the circuit was chosen by batteries, because the consumption is too small and because a power supply from the grid would make the instrument very difficult.


List of Components

Resistances:
R1 = 2k2
R2 = 10k
R3 = 47Ω
R4, R11 = 6k8
R5, R6 = 39k
R7 = 1k2
RB = 8k2
R9 = 470Ω
R10, R14 = 680Ω
R12, R13 = 100k
R15 = 220Ω
R16 = 68Ω
R17 = 22Ω
R18 = 10Ω
R19 = 330Ω
P1 = 10k adjustable
P2 = 5k adjustable

Capacitors:
C1, C2 = 2μF2 / 16V
C3, C4 = 47μF / 16V
C5, C6 = 47nF
C7 = 3n3

Semiconductors:
T1 = BC549C
T2 = BC559C
T3 = BC547B
D1-D5 = 1N4148
IC1 = 741

Other:
Electret LBC1055/00 Philips Microphone or similar
M = 1mA movable coil
S1 = Monopolar switch of five positions
S2 = Bipolar switch





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