In the previous post we discussed a piezo transducer element and learned how to use it with electronic circuits. In this article we will see how a piezo tranducer can be driven or operated using a simple circuit.
As discussed earlier a piezo transducer basically requires a frequency to vibrate and reproduce the required sound.
This property makes these devices typically suitable for buzzer related applications and in warning alarm devices.
So does this mean that if we apply a frequency across the terminals of a piezo transducer, it will start generating the intended sound outputs?
Partially this may be correct but might not be as easy as that.
How to Operate a Piezo with Maximum Sound
The applied frequency will be required to be amplified very sharply or strongly before it can actually produce the intended effects in the piezo.
However the amplification procedure is not by using conventional amplifying circuits as used in systems incorporating speakers, but rather it is simply implemented through an inexpensive inductor.
The low power frequency which may be available from a relevant circuit or an IC is first amplified using a transistor, and further more the transistor output is pumped up using an inductor. The use of a inductor becomes the most crucial stage for driving a piezo electric transducer.
The used inductor might not be critical with its value, but the value should as high as possible, the higher the sharper the reproduction from the piezo.
A simple piezo transducer driver circuit or a simple piezo alarm circuit is shown in the following circuit using a NAND gate.
Please note: The junction of the 0.01uF capacitor and the 33 K resistor needs to be connected to ground, which is mistakenly not indicated in the diagram. So please make sure to do this otherwise the circuit will not work.
