This Award recognises a collaboration between QinetiQ Ltd and Cardiff University’s School of Engineering for an investigation into precision measurement methods for microphone non-linear distortion.
In 2005, Cardiff University and QinetiQ entered into a
strategic partnership, highlighting Cardiff’s position at the forefront of technological innovation. This Partnership is now beginning to bear fruit across a number of areas, such as the
Gas Turbine Research Centre, a major facility based in Port Talbot.
This particular project with QinetiQ was carried out under the Ministry of Defence-backed MEAD consortium, which brings together world-class organisations with the remit of taking a new approach to developing Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) technology for defence purposes.
One of the MoD’s requirements was for small, lightweight, minimal-cost, military grade sensors. Typically, these sensors fall into four groups, one of which is robust, low noise, high sensitivity acoustic microphones, an area in which QinetiQ was working.
The collaboration with Professor Allan Belcher of Cardiff University’s School of Engineering concentrated on techniques for self calibration and distortion correction of QinetiQ’s miniature prototype silicon measurement microphones.
Traditionally, measuring and compensating for microphone performance requires the use of a reference measurement microphone. However, there are limitations to this type of testing as the resulting data not only covers the unit being tested but also the performance of the reference microphone.
Through the use of novel test and measurement methods, a low-cost, experimental measurement system was developed to verify analytic models of the microphones. The project team developed a solution which effectively removed the need for a reference microphone and which could measure performance with precision.
Additionally, the application of Cardiff’s method succeeded in extending the dynamic range over which precision measurements of sound could be made. The opportunity to both precisely measure and make corrections in a room with reverberation was an unexpected and innovative aspect of the project.
QinetiQ is now investigating the potential to combine this work with other MEMS-based transducers in future research and development projects. It is anticipated that this could lead to new exciting market areas such as environmental monitoring.
Further InformationQinetiqSchool of Engineering