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Calibration of sound calibrators: an overview

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2016 J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 733 012055

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8th Brazilian Congress on Metrology (Metrologia 2015) IOP Publishing
Journal of Physics: Conference Series 733 (2016) 012055 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/733/1/012055

Calibration of sound calibrators: an overview

T A B Milhomem and Z M D Soares

Electroacoustics Laboratory; Acoustics and Vibration Metrology Division; Scientific
and Industrial Metrology Directory; National Institute of Metrology, Quality and
Technology; Avenida Nossa Senhora das Graças, 50, Prédio 1, Xerém, Duque de
Caxias, RJ, 25.250-020, Brazil

E-mail: tbmilhomem@inmetro.gov.br

Abstract. This paper presents an overview of calibration of sound calibrators. Initially,

traditional calibration methods are presented. Following, the international standard IEC 60942
is discussed emphasizing parameters, target measurement uncertainty and criteria for
conformance to the requirements of the standard. Last, Regional Metrology Organizations
comparisons are summarized.

1. Introduction
Sound calibrators are devices that generate a known sound pressure level in a known frequency. They
are mainly used for adjustment of sound pressure level measurement systems, but they are also used
for calibration of measurement microphones by the electrostatic actuator method. They are calibrated
according to the international standard IEC 60942 [1-3]. This calibration comprises in measuring
sound pressure level, frequency and total harmonic distortion (THD) or total distortion (TD) according
to the edition of standard used in their project. This is an interesting point: sound calibrators are
calibrated according to edition of standard used in their project no matter which is the current edition.

2. Calibration
Sound pressure level calibration can be performed by different methods being the more traditional the
microphone method (using the insert voltage technique) and the sound calibrator comparison method.
In the microphone method, sound calibrator is coupled to a microphone, turned on and then it is
measured the system output voltage. After that, sound calibrator is turned off and a voltage is inserted
on preamplifier input (microphone output). This requires an insertion voltage unit and a preamplifier
with insert voltage facility. When the inserted voltage is adjusted to give the same system output
voltage as results from sound pressure level on microphone, this insert voltage is equal to the
microphone output voltage (when the sound calibrator is turned on). Knowing the microphone open
circuit sensitivity (determined from its calibration [4]), sound pressure and sound pressure level are
calculated. Alternatively, from the inserted voltage and the system output voltage (measured when the
voltage is inserted), system gain is calculated. From the system gain and system output voltage as
results from sound pressure level on microphone, the microphone output voltage is calculated. Again,
knowing the microphone open circuit sensitivity, sound pressure and sound pressure level are
calculated.

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8th Brazilian Congress on Metrology (Metrologia 2015) IOP Publishing
Journal of Physics: Conference Series 733 (2016) 012055 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/733/1/012055

In the sound calibration comparison method, sound calibrator under test is compared with a
reference sound calibrator previously calibrated, usually by the microphone method. Sound calibrator
under test is coupled to a microphone and it is measured the system output voltage. After that,
reference sound calibrator is coupled to the same microphone and it is also measured the system
output voltage. From measured voltages and knowing the sound pressure level of the reference sound
calibrator, sound pressure level of the device under test is calculate. It should be paid attention to
possible corrections for non-linearity of system if sound calibrators (reference and under test) generate
sound pressure level at different frequencies i.e., for different microphone sensitivity or different
preamplifier gain at each frequency.
Frequency and THD or TD (THD + noise) calibration is performed directly, measuring frequency
in a frequency meter and THD or TD in a distortion meter. However, traceability for (low amplitude)
distortion measurements is a global challenge [5].

3. IEC 60942
Standard that deals with calibration of sound calibrator is IEC 60942 [1-3]. It is in its third edition,
being the first dated of 1988, the second one of 1997 and the newest of 2003. Nevertheless, a new
edition is already under analyses by a technical committee of the International Electrotechnical
Commission (IEC) [6]. Regards the measured parameters, 1988 edition indicates calibration of sound
pressure level, frequency and THD while 1997 and 2003 editions replace THD by TD. Relative to the
target measurement uncertainty, 1988 edition does not present anything about it, 1997 edition
indicates different limits depending on microphone calibration and 2003 edition indicates an unique
limit (independent on microphone calibration). Concerning to the criteria for conformance with the
requirements of the standard, 1988 edition indicates that the measured deviations from designed goals
do not exceed the applicable maximum permissible measurement error. The 1997 edition indicates that
the measured deviations from designed goals extended by the expanded uncertainties of measurement
do not exceed the applicable maximum permissible measurement error extended by the applicable
target measurement uncertainties, and that the expanded uncertainties of measurement do not exceed
the corresponding target measurement uncertainties. The 2003 edition indicates that the measured
deviations from designed goals extended by the expanded uncertainties of measurement do not exceed
the applicable maximum permissible measurement error that already includes the applicable target
measurement uncertainties, and that the expanded uncertainties of measurement do not exceed the
corresponding target measurement uncertainties [1-3].
The new edition under discussion uses the newest policy on conformance assessment of the
technical committee number 29 of IEC. According to this policy, the conformance will be
demonstrated when the measured deviations from design goals do not exceed the applicable maximum
permissible measurement error not including the target measurement uncertainties, and that the
uncertainties of measurement do not exceed the corresponding target measurement uncertainties.

4. Comparisons
According to International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM), thirty four National Metrology
Institutes (NMIs) are recognized for accomplishment of calibration of sound calibrator [7], but no
comparison was performed under the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM), just
under the Regional Metrology Organizations (RMO): the APMP.AUV.A-S1 in Asia Pacific
Metrology Program (APMP) and the SIM.AUV.A-S1 in Inter-American Metrology System (SIM) [8].
The regional supplementary comparison APMP.AUV.A-S1 has been carried out for the
measurement of sound pressure level, frequency, THD and TD of a multi-frequency sound calibrator.
The pilot laboratory was the NMI of Thailand and a multi-frequency sound calibrator was circulated
through thirteen NMIs. The measurements took place between September 2008 - July 2010 and the
final report was presented in March 2014. Deviations from supplementary comparison reference
values (SCRVs) for sound pressure level and frequency are mostly within declared expanded

2
8th Brazilian Congress on Metrology (Metrologia 2015) IOP Publishing
Journal of Physics: Conference Series 733 (2016) 012055 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/733/1/012055

uncertainties. For THD and TD it was not possible to calculate a SCRV because the absence of any
consistency in the approach to calculating uncertainty which varied a lot, e.g. for 1 kHz at 94 dB, THD
reported expanded uncertainties varied from 0.00938 to 0.5% [9].
SIM.AUV.A-S1 has been carried out for the measurement of sound pressure level, frequency and
THD of two pistonphones. Cenam, NMI from Mexico, was the pilot laboratory and five NMIs
participated on this comparison. The measurements took place between July 2001 - February 2002 and
the preliminary report (Draft A) was finished in April 2004. Final report was not presented yet.
Brazil, through Inmetro, is recognized for its accomplishment to perform the calibration of sound
calibrator and participated in the comparison SIM.AUV.A-S1 [7,8].

5. Conclusions
There is a request for traceability for (low amplitude) distortion measurements.
The new edition of IEC 60942 under discussion proposes a significant change with regard to the
criteria for conformance to the requirements of the standard.
The absence of a comparison performed under CIPM and the existence of only two regional
comparisons carried out for the measurement of sound pressure level, frequency and distortion (TD
and/or THD) argument the need of more comparisons.

References
[1] IEC 1988 IEC 60942 Sound calibrators
[2] IEC 1997 IEC 60942 Electroacoustics: Sound calibrators
[3] IEC 2003 IEC 60942 Electroacoustics: Sound calibrators
[4] IEC 2009 IEC 61094-2 Electroacoustics - Measurement microphones - Part 2: Primary method
for pressure calibration of laboratory standard microphones by the reciprocity technique
[5] Soares Z M D 2011 Electroacoustic devices: Traceability of distortion measurements 18th
International Congress on Sound and Vibration – ICSV18
[6] Webstore IEC Available in: www.iec.ch Access in: August 2015
[7] BIPM Calibration and measurement capabilities Available: www.bipm.org Access in: July 2015
[8] BIPM Key comparison database Available in: www.bipm.org Access in: July 2015
[9] Plangsangmas V, Leeudomwong S, Scott A, Zhong B and Huang Y 2014 Report on regional
supplementary comparison APMP.AUV.A-S1 - Final report Available in: www.bipm.org
Access in: July 2015