Sound Acquisition

Sound Beyond Barriers

Introduction

Conventional microphones fail where sound must be captured through solid barriers. Walls, windows, and sealed enclosures block or distort airborne sound, rendering traditional methods ineffective. Alango has devised a system that enables high‑fidelity vibration capture — and subsequent sound acquisition — through materials like glass, metal, and plastic, even amidst local acoustic interference.

Technology Overview

Vibrozio™ is a patent-pending digital signal processing (DSP) technology and the core innovation that enables effective use of vibration sensors for sound acquisition through barriers such as walls, glass, or enclosures. Instead of relying on conventional microphones that detect airborne sound, Vibrozio utilizes compact, surface-mounted MEMS vibration sensors to detect the mechanical vibrations that occur as sound energy travels through solid materials.

Each Vibrozio sensor module also includes a built-in reference microphone that captures airborne sound on the same side of the surface as the sensor. Vibrozio’s adaptive filtering algorithms process signals from both sources—the vibration sensors and the co-located microphone. This dual-input approach enables the system to distinguish between airborne and structure-borne sound originating from opposite sides of the barrier, allowing application-specific emphasis or suppression of each as needed.

A key strength of Vibrozio is its ability to determine where a sound comes from—whether it originates on the same side as the sensor or from across the barrier. This zonal awareness makes Vibrozio far more reliable than traditional vibration sensors, which cannot make this distinction and often capture nearby sound indiscriminately.

By combining vibration sensing, a reference microphone, and intelligent signal processing, Vibrozio delivers clear and focused audio capture through solid surfaces—even in acoustically complex environments.

Alango Sound Acquisition Module (ASAM™)

To bring Vibrozio to life, Alango developed compact, surface-mounted ASAM™ modules. Just 40 mm x 35 mm (1.575 in x 13.77 in), they include:

• Three MEMS vibration sensors

• One reference microphone

• A²B digital interface for power and communication

ASAM modules are easily attached using adhesive or hardware and can be daisy-chained for extended surface coverage for larger areas. All signal processing happens in a central unit, enabling centralized control, signal recording, and future algorithm upgrades.

			ASAM™ Module 40 mm x 35 mm 1.575 in x 13.77 in

Core Technology – Vibrozio™ DSP

The heart of the system is Vibrozio™, a patent-pending digital signal processing platform. It addresses a long-standing challenge: conventional vibration sensors detect all mechanical activity at the mounting point, regardless of its origin. Vibrozio uses input from a co-located reference microphone to help distinguish between airborne sound on the sensor side and structure-borne vibrations traveling through the surface.

Key Applications

Automotive (ADAS & Safety)

• Detect emergency sirens or worker alerts through glass without external mics.

• Detect internal cries or movement (e.g. forgotten children or pets) while filtering outside noise.

Industrial Monitoring

• Monitor vibrations and acoustic signatures inside sealed machinery or pipelines.

• Enable predictive maintenance without intrusion, reducing failures.

Medical & Clinical

• Capture patient sounds from incubators or isolation rooms, maintaining sterility.

• Passively monitor crying, breathing, or distress in sensitive settings.

Smart Buildings & Voice Interfaces

• Isolate voice commands within a room, avoiding triggers from outside.

• Improve voice interface reliability; mitigating against unintentional activations.

Security & Tactical

• Covert listening through walls, windows, or doors in rescue or intelligence operations.

• Differentiate internal vs. external sounds for situational awareness.

Future Outlook

• Application-Specific ASAM Modules: Automotive, medical, industrial-grade variants.

• Onboard Signal Processing: Embedded AI for event detection at the edge.

• Wireless Audio Streaming: Real-time remote monitoring and battery-powered operation.

Learn More

Vibrozio™:
Hearing Beoynd Barriers

Contact Alango about Sound Beyond Barriers