How Does a Buzzer Work?
A buzzer takes some sort of input and emits a sound in response to it. They may use various means to produce the sound; everything from metal clappers to electromechanical devices.
A buzzer needs to have some way of taking in energy and converting it to acoustic energy. Many buzzers are part of a larger circuit and take their power directly from the device’s power source. In other cases, however, the buzzer may be battery powered so that it will go off in the event of a mains outage. Some devices that provide emergency power have buzzers on them so that the user knows that they are running on backup power and not on mains pow
What Are Buzzers Used For?
Buzzers are very widespread in usage and are found on an incredible number of different devices.
Buzzers are frequently employed to give a user or operator an audio indication of the stage of a mechanical device. For instance, “buzzing someone in” refers to opening an electromechanical lock on a door, which emits a buzz, indicating that the lock has been moved to the open position.
A use for buzzers with which most people are likely familiar is on alarm clocks. When the clock reaches a particular state—a time, in this case—the buzzer sounds to alert the user that it’s time to wake up.
Buzzers are used on computers, most often to indicate error conditions. These buzzers may go off if there is a faulty component on the device. Computers usually use beepers for this purpose, as well. These are usually piezoelectric buzzers.
Buzzers are used for recreational purposes, as well. For instance, on most game shows, the players use a buzzer to indicate that they are ready to offer an answer or to signal the host, audience and other participants that they want to make some sort of a move in the context of the game.
Buzzers are also used in appliance. Most microwave ovens and many regular ovens and other appliances have a buzzer installed on them that lets the user know when the cooking time they’ve set has expired. In fact, buzzers are nearly universal where timing devices are concerned. In sporting events and other events where a time limit is set for some sort or action, a buzzer is used to indicate when the time has passed.
Buzzers are also used for alarm systems. These may be simple alarm systems, such as the alarms that indicate when a seatbelt in an auto isn’t fastened or that indicates the keys are in the ignition when the door is opened. They may also be more sophisticated, up to and including the very loud buzzers that ring when house and store alarms are tripped.
What Types of Buzzers Exist?
Buzzers include many different types, which are further available in different sizes and configurations to make them compatible with the builds of various devices and products.
Magnetic Buzzers
A magnetic buzzer emits sound by way of a coil. An influx of electricity causes the coil to activate, sounding the buzzer.
Electromechanical Buzzers
Electromechanical buzzers can incorporate many different parts in their designs. What differentiates them from other types of buzzers is that a pair of contacts is activated when current is run through the device. These devices can use a bell, but frequently do not. These types of buzzers actually make the buzzing sound that most people associate with electrical buzzers in general.
Mechanical Buzzers
Mechanical buzzers are differentiated from other types by the fact that there is no electrical current required to activate them. The buzzer uses some sort of stored energy, usually a spring that is wound tightly. When a mechanical device is tripped, that stored energy is released into the other parts of the mechanism that actually emit the buzzing noise. The hand buzzers that some people use as practical jokes are examples of these types of buzzers. Old alarm clocks that had no batteries or power connections also employed these types of buzzers.
Piezo Buzzers
Piezo buzzers are the types found in most desktop computers, though their low expense and good performance makes them popular in other applications, as well. The heart of the device is a piezoelectric amplifier, which is tripped when the circuit is completed. These buzzers can make many different noises, making them particularly versatile. They can emit the hard-to-ignore beep that warns of a failure when booting a computer, the ping that indicates that a car door is open or a simple buzz, depending upon what is needed.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buzzer