Sensitivity (electronics)

The sensitivity of an electronic device, e.g., a communications system receiver, or detection device, e.g., PIN diode, is the minimum input signal required to produce a specified output signal having a specified signal-to-noise ratio, or other specified criteria.

Note 1: The sensitivity of a microphone is usually expressed as field strength in decibels (dB) re 1 V/Pa (Pa = N/m²) or as millivolts per pascal (mV/Pa) into an open circuit or into a 1 kiloohm load.

Note 2: "Sensitivity" is sometimes improperly used as a synonym for "responsivity."

Source: from Federal Standard 1037C and from MIL-STD-188

External links

• Microphone sensitivity conversion from dB re 1 V/Pa to transfer factor in mV/Pa