Buzzer

A buzzer or beeper is an audio signalling device,[1] which may be mechanical, electromechanical, or

piezoelectric (piezo for short). Typical uses of buzzers and beepers include alarm devices, timers, and
confirmation of user input such as a mouse click or keystroke.

Contents
History
Electromechanical
Piezoelectric
Types
Electromechanical
Mechanical
Piezoelectric
Modern applications
See also
References

History

Electromechanical

The electric buzzer was invented in 1831 by Joseph Henry. They were mainly used in early doorbells until
they were phased out in the early 1930s in favor of musical chimes, which had a softer tone.[2]

Piezoelectric

Piezoelectric buzzers, or piezo buzzers, as they are sometimes called, were invented by Japanese
manufacturers and fitted into a wide array of products during the 1970s to 1980s. This advancement mainly
came about because of cooperative efforts by Japanese manufacturing companies. In 1951, they established
the Barium Titanate Application Research Committee, which allowed the companies to be "competitively
cooperative" and bring about several piezoelectric innovations and inventions.[3]

Types

Electromechanical

Early devices were based on an electromechanical system identical to an electric bell without the metal
gong. Similarly, a relay may be connected to interrupt its own actuating current, causing the contacts to
buzz. Often these units were anchored to a wall or ceiling to use it as a sounding board. The word "buzzer"
comes from the rasping noise that electromechanical buzzers made.

Mechanical

A joy buzzer is an example of a purely mechanical buzzer and they require drivers. Other examples of them
are doorbells.

Piezoelectric

A piezoelectric element may be driven by an oscillating electronic

circuit or other audio signal source, driven with a piezoelectric audio
amplifier. Sounds commonly used to indicate that a button has been
pressed are a click, a ring or a beep.

A piezoelectric buzzer/beeper also depends on acoustic cavity

resonance or Helmholtz resonance to produce an audible beep[4]

Modern applications Piezoelectric disk beeper

While technological advancements have caused buzzers to be

impractical and undesirable, there are still instances in which
buzzers and similar circuits may be used. Present day applications
include:

Novelty uses
Judging panels
Educational purposes
Interior of a readymade
Annunciator panels loudspeaker, showing a
Electronic metronomes piezoelectric-disk-beeper (With 3
Game show lock-out device electrodes ... including 1 feedback-
electrode ( the central, small
Microwave ovens and other household appliances
electrode joined with red wire in this
Sporting events such as basketball games photo), and an oscillator to self-drive
Electrical alarms the buzzer.
Joy buzzer (mechanical buzzer used for pranks)

See also
Alarm clock
Alarm management
Klaxon
Vibrator (mechanical)
Electric bell
Joy buzzers

References
 1. "buzzer - definition of buzzer by The Free Dictionary" (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/buzze
r). Retrieved 22 May 2015.
2. "The History of the Doorbell by 1800doorbell.com" (http://www.1800doorbell.com/who-invented
-the-doorbell-history.htm). www.1800doorbell.com. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
3. "Piezo Systems: History of Piezoelectricity" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131011004641/htt
p://www.piezo.com/tech4history.html). www.piezo.com. Archived from the original (http://www.p
iezo.com/tech4history.html) on 2013-10-11. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
4. "Design of a Helmholtz Chamber - PUI Audio | A Projects Unlimited Company located in
Dayton, Ohio" (http://www.puiaudio.com/resources-white-papers-helmholtz.aspx).

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This page was last edited on 10 July 2020, at 01:44 (UTC).

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