Analog Noise Cancelling Headphone
Overview
| Role: | I was in charge of the entire electronic system for the analog noise-cancelling headphones. This involved everything from the initial schematic design to PCB layout, component sourcing, and final assembly and testing. |
| Outcome: | Delivered a fully functional prototype of analog noise-cancelling headphones. The project provided a deep understanding of analog signal processing, operational amplifier circuits, and high-precision PCB design using Altium Designer. |
| Skills Applied: | Altium DesignerAnalog ElectronicsPCB DesignComponent SelectionPCB AssemblySignal Processing |
Electronic Design & Engineering
- Analog Circuit Design
- Designed a fully analog noise-cancellation circuit using op-amp based inverting amplifiers and filters to phase-invert ambient noise.
- Designed a all pass filter with a group delay in order to delay the electronically modified signal to compensate for the different speed travel of light and sound.
- Implemented precision gain control and frequency compensation to ensure stable noise cancellation across the audible spectrum.
- Headphones were capable of cancelling noises in each ear independantly of each other causing a far greater effect of cancelling noise.
- PCB Design with Altium Designer
- Developed a multi-layer PCB layout in Altium Designer, focusing on signal integrity and noise isolation between the audio and power sections.
- Optimized component placement for a compact form factor that fits seamlessly within the headphone enclosure.
- Component Selection & Assembly
- Conducted thorough research to select high-quality low-noise operational amplifiers and passive components to maintain audio fidelity.
- Hand-soldered and assembled the prototype PCBs, performing rigorous testing and debugging of the analog stages.
Conclusion
Developing these analog noise-cancelling headphones was a transformative experience in my electronics engineering journey. It pushed me to delve deep into the nuances of analog electronics, where every component choice and trace layout can significantly impact performance. Mastering Altium Designer for this project was a major milestone, allowing me to transition from simple breadboard prototypes to professional-grade PCB designs. The project successfully demonstrated that effective noise cancellation can be achieved through pure analog means, providing a rich, immersive audio experience while teaching me the intricacies of high-fidelity signal processing.
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