Although noise cancellation technology is becoming more popular and there are models that deliver what they promise with surprising efficiency, ANC still has a lot of room for improvement and much of the blame lies with its performance. And it is that noise cancellation technology does not eliminate noise, but generates another signal that neutralizes it, which is effective in some scenarios, but not in all. But that could change with the latest innovation carried out in the sector: there is no neutralizing signal, but it is possible to truly isolate the noise.
The invention comes from the École Polytechnique de Lausanne in Switzerland, where it has been developed a noise reduction technology that aims to revolutionarynot only considering its mechanics, but also the results, since it is capable of canceling both high and low frequencies.
How current noise cancellation technology works and its limitations
Until now, when a headset has ANC, what it actually does is integrate a set of microphones capable of picking up the sound from around it and it is an algorithm that interprets it to produce a sound signal as opposed to noise in order to neutralize it through its integrated speakers.
This technology works especially well with monotonous and low-frequency noisessuch as traffic, but it falters more when faced with unexpected noises, especially if they occur at high frequencies.
The second limitation has to do with space to neutralize noise. The ideal scenario for this ANC is its application in headphones, since the sound reaches our ears directly. In predetermined, reduced places and with an adequate sound system, such as the interior of the passenger compartment of a car, it also offers moderately convincing results. However, applied to a room it is more complicated, since it would take more speakers arranged in different planes to have a convincing effect.
Well, the new noise cancellation technology does not need the membrane of the speakers and is based on the pressure variations of the ionized air plasma.
The new noise cancellation system, explained
The idea is based on a point common to both ANC technologies: the existence of integrated microphones to capture the sound waves of the environment and thus generate other opposing waves that neutralize them.
The result of the research is plasma ion speakers prepared to eliminate sounds extremely thin, light and more affordable than current.
This set of speakers uses an ionized air plasma by means of an electric field to generate sound waves, so they do not need cones or diaphragms like the usual speakers. Inside the speaker is a parallel wiring system responsible for creating SamaGametrical field that ionizes the particles. Because of this ionization, the ions generate pressure waves against the environment. So, the more volts applied changes the amount of air in which they operate. This point is important to act in large spaces, for example on walls.
According to the research results, this ANC system is effective in neutralizing both low and high frequencies. In fact, this 17mm loudspeaker with this technology serves to cancel waves below 20Hz (with a wavelength of 17 meters), lower than the threshold of human hearing.
The applicability of this new technology is wide, since it can be used for clubs, concert halls, recording studios. Due to its effectiveness, lower cost than current technology and lightness, it is possible to think that this technology is a candidate for also revolutionize the world of speakers with ANC. For the moment, the company in charge of commercializing the technology will be Sonexos.
