Hardware Specifications¶

PCB Overview¶

The Kaush Sound Sensor v1.0 is built on a compact, professionally designed PCB that integrates all necessary components for high-quality audio signal processing.

Physical Dimensions¶

PCB Dimensions

Note that all dimensions are in mm

Size Specifications¶

Length: [Insert measurement] mm
Width: [Insert measurement] mm
Height: [Insert measurement] mm (including components)
Weight: [Insert weight] grams
PCB Thickness: 1.6mm (standard)

Size Comparison¶

Size Comparison

Kaush Sound Sensor compared to Arduino Nano

Component Breakdown¶

Primary Components¶

1. LM386 Audio Amplifier IC¶

Function: Low voltage audio power amplifier
Gain Range: 20x to 200x (adjustable)
Supply Voltage: 4V to 12V
Output Power: Up to 325mW
Features:
Low quiescent current (4mA)
Wide supply voltage range
High input impedance
Excellent signal-to-noise ratio

2. Electret Microphone¶

Type: Omnidirectional electret condenser microphone
Frequency Response: Optimized for human voice (300Hz - 3.4kHz)
Sensitivity: High sensitivity for distant sound detection
Power Requirements: Low power consumption
Mounting: PCB surface mount

3. Dual Potentiometer System¶

Coarse Adjustment (200K Potentiometer)¶

200K Potentiometer

Value: 200kΩ
Function: Pre-amplification signal adjustment
Location: Near microphone input
Adjustment Range: Input signal attenuation/boost
Usage: Set baseline sensitivity level

Fine Gain Control (10K Potentiometer)¶

10K Potentiometer

Value: 10kΩ
Function: LM386 gain adjustment
Gain Range: 20x to 200x amplification
Location: Connected to LM386 gain pins
Usage: Fine-tune output amplitude

4. Signal Conditioning Circuit¶

Input Filtering: High-pass filter for noise reduction
Output Filtering: RC low-pass filter option
Coupling Capacitors: DC blocking for clean signal transfer
Bias Network: Proper DC biasing for optimal performance

PCB Layout Analysis¶

Front Side (Component Side)¶

PCB Front View

Front side showing component placement

Key Features: - Optimized component placement for minimal noise - Short signal paths for better performance - Ground plane for EMI shielding - Clear component labeling

Back Side (Solder Side)¶

PCB Back View

Back side showing traces and ground plane

Key Features: - Continuous ground plane - Minimal via usage - Clean trace routing - Proper isolation between analog and digital sections

Pin Configuration¶

Pin Layout Diagram

Detailed pin configuration with labels

Power Pins¶

VCC: Positive power supply (4V - 12V)
GND: Ground reference (0V)

Signal Output Pins¶

FILTERED_OUT: RC filtered analog output
RAW_OUT: Unfiltered analog output
PRE_AMP: Signal before LM386 amplification

Pin Specifications Table¶

Pin Name	Type	Voltage Range	Function	Notes
VCC	Power	4V - 12V	Positive supply	Current: ~10mA typical
GND	Power	0V	Ground reference	Connect to system ground
FILTERED_OUT	Analog Output	0V - VCC	RC filtered signal	Recommended for most applications
RAW_OUT	Analog Output	0V - VCC	Unfiltered signal	Maximum bandwidth
PRE_AMP	Analog Output	0V - VCC	Pre-amplification signal	Lower amplitude

Power Supply Requirements¶

Power Supply Connection

Proper power supply connection methods

Voltage Specifications¶

Operating Range: 4V to 12V DC
Recommended: 5V (USB) or 9V (battery)
Current Consumption:
Quiescent: 4mA
Peak: 15mA (during loud signals)
Ripple: <100mV peak-to-peak recommended

Power Supply Options¶

USB Power (5V): Direct connection from USB port
Battery Power: 4x AA (6V) or 9V battery
Wall Adapter: Regulated DC adapter (6V-12V)
Microcontroller Supply: Share power with Arduino/ESP8266

Signal Flow Diagram¶

graph TD
    A[Sound Waves] --> B[Electret Microphone]
    B --> C[200K Potentiometer<br/>Coarse Adjustment]
    C --> D[Pre-Amplification Circuit]
    D --> E[PRE_AMP Output]
    D --> F[LM386 Amplifier]
    F --> G[10K Potentiometer<br/>Gain Control]
    G --> H[Output Buffer]
    H --> I[RAW_OUT]
    H --> J[RC Filter]
    J --> K[FILTERED_OUT]

Signal Characteristics¶

Output Signal Properties¶

Baseline: VCC/2 (Half supply voltage)
Peak-to-Peak Amplitude:
Close range (<10cm): Up to 3V
Medium range (10-30cm): 1.5-2V
Long range (>30cm): 0.5-1.5V
Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >60dB

Waveform Characteristics¶

Signal Waveform Example

Typical output waveform showing baseline and amplitude

Adjustment Guide¶

Initial Setup Procedure¶

Power Connection: Apply 5V-9V to VCC/GND
Coarse Adjustment: Set 200K pot to middle position
Fine Adjustment: Set 10K pot to minimum gain
Testing: Gradually increase gain while monitoring output
Optimization: Adjust both pots for desired sensitivity

Optimization Tips¶

For distant sounds: Increase both potentiometers
For close sounds: Reduce gain to prevent saturation
For noisy environments: Use filtered output
For maximum response: Use raw output

Environmental Specifications¶

Operating Conditions¶

Temperature: -10°C to +70°C
Humidity: 0% to 95% (non-condensing)
Storage Temperature: -40°C to +85°C

Mechanical Properties¶

Vibration Resistance: Good (solid PCB mounting)
Shock Resistance: Standard electronic component levels
Connector Type: Standard 0.1" pitch headers

Quality & Compliance¶

Manufacturing Standards¶

PCB Standard: IPC-A-610 Class 2
Component Quality: Industrial grade
Testing: 100% functional testing
RoHS Compliance: Lead-free manufacturing

Next Steps¶

Now that you understand the hardware specifications, let's move on to: - Getting Started Guide - Step-by-step setup - Pin Configuration Details - Wiring diagrams

Need help with hardware setup? Check our video tutorials or visit the troubleshooting section.