Types Of

Microphones

Presented By:
Chirag Solanki(130200111096)

Capacitor Microphone
Capacitor microphones are able to respond to very high audio

frequencies
They require less amplification than dynamic models to produce

the same output level from the same signal source, making them
more suitable for distant sound sources.
The capacitor microphones have such a good frequency response

because their diaphragms can be made much thinner and lighter

than those of dynamic models.
A typical capacitor mic diaphragm is just a few microns thick

fabricated from mylar, with a thin gold coating to make it

electrically conductive.

Working Principle

A capacitor microphone works on the

principle of Q=CV.
The diaphragm of the microphone forms
one of the plates of a capacitor. The other
plate is the backplate, which is close to and
parallel to the diaphragm.
In any capacitor, Q = C x V - more
appropriately represented here as V = Q/C
Q represents electrical charge. When a
capacitor is charged, there is an imbalance
between the quantity of electrons on one
plate compared to the other. C represents
capacitance, which is the ability of the
capacitor
to
store
charge.
V is voltage.

Working Principle
(Contd)
Because V = Q/C, a capacitor with a low value of

capacitance will measure a greater voltage across the

plates than a capacitor with a high capacitance, for the
same value of charge.
The diaphragm and backplate of the microphone are
charged up to a voltage of 48 V (typically). This is
done through a high-value resistor so the audio signal
is not affected.
The capacitance of any capacitor is governed in part
by the separation between the plates. The closer the
plates, the higher the capacitance.

Working Principle
(Contd)
Because V = Q/C, if the capacitance changes, then the

voltage changes inversely in proportion.

Since one of the plates of the capacitor in the
capacitor microphone is the diaphragm, which moves
in response to sound, then as the separation between
the plates changes in response to that sound, the
capacitance changes and so does the voltage across
the plates.
The AC component of this changing voltage is the
signal produced by the microphone in response to
sound.

Carbon Microphone
The carbon microphone converts sound to an electrical audio

signal.
It consists of two metal plates separated by granules of carbon.
One plate is very thin and faces toward the speaking person,
acting as a diaphragm. Sound waves striking the diaphragm
cause it to vibrate, exerting a varying pressure on the granules,
which in turn changes the electrical resistance between the
plates.
Higher pressure lowers the resistance as the granules are
pushed closer together. A steady direct current is passed
between the plates through the granules. The varying resistance
results in a modulation of the current, creating a varying
electric current that reproduces the varying pressure of the
sound wave.

Carbon Microphone
(Contd)

Advantages &
Disadvantages
The frequency

response of the carbon

microphone, however, is limited to a
narrow range, and the device produces
significant electrical noise.
Carbon microphones were widely used in
early AM radio broadcasting systems, but
their limited frequency response, as well as
a fairly high noise level, led to their
rejection in those applications.
Carbon microphones can be used
as amplifiers.
Carbon microphones are still used today in
certain applications in the developed world.
An example is the Shure 104c, which is still
in demand because of its wide compatibility
with existing equipment.

Electret Microphone
An electret microphone is a type of electrostatic capacitor-

based microphone, which eliminates the need for a polarizing

power supply by using a permanently charged material.
An electret is a stable dielectric material with a permanently

embedded static electric charge.

The name comes from electrostatic and magnet
Electrets are commonly made by first melting a suitable

dielectric material such as a plastic or wax, and then allowing it

to re-solidify in a powerful electrostatic field.

Electret Microphone
(Contd)

A typical electret microphone

preampcircuit uses anFETin a
common sourceconfiguration. The
two-terminal electret capsule contains
a FET which must be externally
powered by supply voltage V+. The
resistor sets the gain andoutput
impedance. The audio signal appears

Types Of Electret
Microphone
There are three major types of electret microphone, differing in the way

the electret material is used:

Foil-type or diaphragm-type : A film of electret material is used as the
diaphragm itself. This is the most common type, but also the lowest
quality, since the electret material does not make a particularly good
diaphragm.
Back electret : An electret film is applied to the back plate of the
microphone capsule and the diaphragm is made of an uncharged material,
which may be mechanically more suitable for the transducer design being
realized.
Front electret : In this newer type, the back plate is eliminated from the
design, and the condenser is formed by the diaphragm and the inside
surface of the capsule. The electret film is adhered to the inside front
cover and the metalized diaphragm is connected to the input of the FET. It
is equivalent to the back electret in that any conductive film may be used
for the diaphragm.