A Simplified Method for Calibrating a Sound-Level Meter for Use With a Brüel & Kjær Artificial Mastoid

The standard method for calibrating a sound-level meter for use with the Brüel & Kjær Artificial Mastoid for bone vibrator tests entails the use of a signal generator, a precision voltmeter, and possibly a frequency counter. This equipment should be certified annually and traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and its use generally restricts calibration to a laboratory environment and requires a considerable amount of time. We have developed a simplified method for calibrating the sound-level meter by using a sound-level calibrator and microphone. Using the known sensitivities of the microphone and the artificial mastoid, the sound-level calibrator used for calibration of the microphone may also be used for calibration of the sound-level meter to measure force levels with the artificial mastoid.