Combined microphone and lighting device and computing device having same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10028045-B1
Application number	US-201715634222-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jun 27, 2017
Priority date	Jun 27, 2017
Publication date	Jul 17, 2018
Grant date	Jul 17, 2018

Abstract

A computing device may include a multi-functional port in a base housing of the device. The multi-functional port may include an audio input device that can receive and process external audio input signals through an opening in the base housing. The multi-functional port may include a light source that can output light through the opening in the base housing. The multi-functional port may include a microphone boot. The microphone boot may guide external audio input signals into to the audio input device for processing. The microphone boot may also guide light, emitted by the light source, out of the base housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A combination port for a computing device, the combination port including:
a microphone boot;
a microphone coupled to a printed circuit board (PCB);
a light source coupled to the PCB;
a first cavity defined in a first end portion of the microphone boot, the first cavity defining a first opening at the first end portion of the microphone boot, and a second opening in a wall of the first cavity, the first opening being in fluid communication with the second opening, and the microphone being coupled to a side portion of the microphone boot such that a microphone port of the microphone is aligned with the second opening in the wall of the first cavity;
a second cavity defined in a second end portion of the microphone boot, the light source being disposed in the second cavity; and
a body portion of the microphone boot positioned between the first cavity and the second cavity,
wherein the first end portion of the microphone boot is configured to be positioned adjacent to an opening in a housing of a computing device, with the first opening aligned with the opening in the housing.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the opening in the housing of the computing device is an input/output opening.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the microphone boot also includes:
a first flange portion at the first end portion of the microphone boot, surrounding the first opening into the first cavity; and
a second flange portion at the second end portion of the microphone boot, surrounding the second cavity.

4. The device of claim 3 , further comprising:
a first panel supporting the coupling of the microphone to the PCB;
a second panel supporting the coupling of the light source to the PCB;
a first compressible seal at an outer surface of the first end portion of the microphone boot, and configured to be positioned between the first flange and the input/output opening in the housing;
a second compressible seal configured to be positioned between the first panel and the housing; and
an adhesive layer between the microphone and the microphone boot.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the first compressible seal includes an opening, configured to be positioned corresponding to the input/output opening in the housing, and configured to be positioned corresponding to the first opening into the first cavity.

6. The device of claim 4 , further comprising an acoustic mesh panel positioned between the first compressible seal and the first flange of the microphone boot.

7. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
an attachment bracket extending outward from a side portion of the body portion of the microphone boot; and
a fastener extending through the attachment bracket, wherein the fastener is configured to extend into the housing to couple the combination port in the housing.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the body portion of the microphone boot is configured to guide light, emitted by the light source installed in the second cavity, into the first cavity, and
wherein the first cavity is configured to guide light out of the combination port through the first opening in the first cavity and out of the computing device through the input/output opening in the housing.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the microphone boot is made of a translucent material having greater than 50% transmissivity.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first cavity is configured to receive external audio inputs through the input/output opening in the housing and the first opening of the first cavity, and to guide the received external audio inputs to the microphone through the second opening of the first cavity and the microphone port of the microphone.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first cavity includes:
a distal end at which the first opening is formed;
a closed proximal end; and
the wall defining a periphery of the first cavity, extending between the proximal end and the distal end.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the first cavity has a substantially circular cross section.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein a cross sectional area of the first cavity at the proximal end of the first cavity is less than a cross sectional area of the first cavity at the distal end.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the peripheral wall of the first cavity is tapered such that the first cavity becomes gradually wider from the proximal end to the distal end of the first cavity.

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein the taper of the first cavity is substantially linear from the proximal end of the first cavity to the distal end of the first cavity.

16. A multi-functional port for a computing device, comprising:
a microphone boot, including:
a body portion;
a first cavity at a first end portion of the body portion, the first cavity being defined by a closed proximal end, an open distal end, and a peripheral wall extending between the closed proximal end and the open distal end, wherein the peripheral wall of the first cavity is tapered such that the first cavity becomes gradually wider from the proximal end to the distal end of the first cavity;
a second cavity at a second end portion of the body portion;
a first flange extending outward from the open distal end of the first cavity;
a second flange surrounding an open end of the second cavity; and
an attachment bracket extending outward from a side portion of the body portion;

a microphone attached to a bottom portion of the microphone boot; and
a light source installed in the second cavity.

17. The port of claim 16 , wherein
the body portion of the microphone boot is configured to guide light, emitted by the light source installed in the second cavity, into the first cavity, and
wherein the first cavity is configured to guide light out of the multi-functional port through the open distal end of the first cavity.

18. The port of claim 16 , wherein the first cavity is configured to receive external audio inputs through the open distal end of the first cavity, and to guide the received external audio inputs to the microphone through an opening in the peripheral wall of the first cavity, the opening in the peripheral wall of the first cavity being aligned with a microphone port of the microphone.

19. The port of claim 16 , wherein the first cavity has a substantially circular cross section, and wherein a cross sectional area of the first cavity at the proximal end of the first cavity is less than a cross sectional area of the first cavity at the distal end.

20. The port of claim 16 , wherein the peripheral wall of the first cavity is substantially linear.

21. A combination port for a computing device, the combination port including:
a microphone boot;
a microphone coupled to a printed circuit board (PCB);
a light source coupled to the PCB;
a first cavity defined in a first end portion of the microphone boot, the first cavity defining a first opening at the first end portion of the microphone boot, and a second opening in a wall of the first cavity, the first opening being in fluid communication with the second opening, and the microphone being coupled to a side portion of the microphone boot such that a microphone port of the microphone is aligned with the second opening in the wall of the first cavity, the first cavity including:
a distal end at which the first opening is formed;
a closed proximal end, and the wall defining a periphery of the first cavity, extending between the proximal end and the distal end; and
a second

Assignees

• Google Inc
• Google Llc

Inventors

• Saini Vivek
• Asfaw Michael
• Ooi Leng
• Lam Lawrence

Classifications

• H04R1/028 Primary

  associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles · CPC title

• H04R2499/15

  Transducers incorporated in visual displaying devices, e.g. televisions, computer displays, laptops · CPC title

• G06F1/1658

  related to the mounting of internal components, e.g. disc drive or any other functional module · CPC title

• H04R1/08

  Mouthpieces; {Microphones;} Attachments therefor · CPC title

• H04M1/0277

  for a printed circuit board assembly · CPC title