Loudspeaker analysis: a radar based approach

Recently, radar based micro-Doppler signature analysis has been successfully applied in various sectors including defence, biomedical, and automotive. This article presents the novel use of radar micro-Doppler for loudspeaker analysis. The approach offers the potential benefits of characterizing the mechanical motion of a loudspeaker in order to identify defects and design issues. Compared with acoustic based approaches, the use of radar allows reliable measurements in an acoustically noisy end of a production line. In addition, when compared with a laser vibrometric approach, the use of radar micro-Doppler reduces the number of measurements required and provides direct access to the information of the metallic components of the loudspeaker.In the paper experimental results and analysis of the micro-Doppler signatures of loudspeakers using low cost radar systems are presented. Based on Thiele&Small parameters, the voice coil displacement is modelled and micro-Dopplersignatures for a single tone and a sine sweep stimulus are presented. Furthermore, in order to characterise the speaker with a single radar measurement, a methodology to measure mechanical frequency response of loudspeakers is also shown.