Electronic device including water repellent structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10531586-B2
Application number	US-201815866740-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 10, 2018
Priority date	Jan 19, 2017
Publication date	Jan 7, 2020
Grant date	Jan 7, 2020

Abstract

An electronic device and method are disclosed. The electronic device includes a housing comprising at least one electronic component disposed within the electronic device, a first separation member configured to separate a first cavity at least partially exposed to an exterior of the electronic device through the housing from a second cavity in which the at least one electronic component is disposed; and a driver disposed in a third cavity spatially coupled with the second cavity in an interior of the housing, the driver configured to generate an air pressure differential between the second cavity and the first cavity. The method operates the device responsive to detecting a water immersion condition by outputting a sound by a speaker device, detecting the outputted sound through a microphone device, determining whether the detected sound matches a predetermined reference value and if so, operating a driver device to discharge the residual water.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a speaker module including a front surface for outputting sound, and a side surface adjacent to the front surface; and
a speaker housing at least partially enclosing the speaker module,
wherein the speaker housing includes:
a first separation member configured to separate a first cavity at least partially open to an exterior of the speaker housing from a second cavity formed on the front surface of the speaker module, and
a driver separate from the speaker module and disposed in a third cavity extending from the second cavity to generate an air pressure differential between the second cavity and the first cavity by discharging an air in the third cavity to the first cavity through the second cavity.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a second separation member disposed between the second cavity and the driver at least partially separating the second cavity from the driver.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the second separation member comprises expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein residual water disposed on a periphery of the second cavity or the first separation member is discharged toward the first cavity by a flow of air generated by the air pressure differential.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first separation member comprises a mesh.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a detector configured to detect whether the electronic device is in a first environment or a second environment; and
at least one processor functionally connected with the detector, configured to:
responsive to detecting a change from the first environment to the second environment by the detector, activate the driver to generate the air pressure differential between the second cavity and the first cavity.

7. The electronic device of claim 6 , further comprising:
a touch panel; and
a microphone device,
wherein the first environment includes immersion of the electronic device in water and the second environment includes disposition of water on a periphery of the second cavity or the first separate member,
wherein the processor is further configured to:
detect the first environment indicating immersion in water through the touch panel,
detect a sound generated at the speaker module and through the microphone device, and
responsive to determining that the detected sound falls within a predetermined threshold range, detect the second environment indicating the disposition of water on the periphery or the first separation member.

8. The electronic device of claim 6 , further comprising:
a microphone device; and
a gyroscopic sensor,
wherein the first environment includes disposition of water on a periphery of the second cavity or the first separate member,
wherein the second environment indicates the first cavity is oriented to have a slope greater than a predetermined angle relative to a direction of gravity,
wherein the processor is configured to:
responsive to detecting a sound generated at the speaker module through the microphone device and determining the sound falls within a predetermined threshold range, detect that the electronic device is in the first environment, and
responsive to detecting an orientation of the electronic device through the gyroscopic sensor indicating the first cavity is oriented at the slope greater than the predetermined angle, detect that the electronic device is in the second environment.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the driver comprises:
a motor housing;
a vibrator configured to reciprocate with reference to a driving shaft within a cavity of the motor housing;
a member configured to generate the air pressure differential by affecting a flow of air generated by reciprocation of the vibrator; and
a blocking member configured to obstruct sound originating from at least the second cavity.

10. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the member generating the air pressure differential comprises:
a first plate film member configured to selectively seal a first opening of the motor housing; and
a second plate film member configured to selectively seal a second opening of the motor housing, and
wherein, when the vibrator is moved to a first position, air flows into the cavity of the motor housing by operation of the first plate film member, and, when the vibrator is moved to a second position, air in the cavity of the motor housing is discharged to the exterior by operation of the second plate film member.

11. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the member generating the air pressure differential comprises:
a plurality of air inlets formed in the motor housing having a first taper such that an upper cross section larger than a lower cross section for each air inlet; and
a plurality of air outlets formed in the motor housing and having a second taper such that an upper cross section smaller than a lower cross section for each air outlet,
wherein, when the vibrator is moved to a first position, air flows into the cavity of the motor housing due to the first taper of each of the air inlets, and, when the vibrator is moved to a second position, air in the cavity of the motor housing is discharged to the outside due to the second taper of each of the air outlets.

12. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the blocking member is configured to at least partially separate a region through which air of the motor housing is drawn and a region through which air is discharged.

13. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the driver comprises a vibrator configured to provide a tactile haptic feedback.

14. An electronic device comprising:
a housing;
a first separation member configured to separate a first cavity at least partially exposed to an exterior of the electronic device through the housing from a second cavity in which at least one electronic component is disposed; and
a driver disposed in a third cavity spatially coupled with the second cavity in an interior of the housing, the driver configured to generate an air pressure differential between the second cavity and the first cavity by discharging an air in the third cavity to the first cavity through the second cavity.

15. The electronic device of claim 14 , further comprising a second separation member disposed between the second cavity and the driver to at least partially separate the second cavity from the driver.

16. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein residual water disposed on a periphery of the second cavity or the first separation member is discharged towards the first cavity by a flow of air generated by the air pressure differential.

17. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the driver comprises:
a motor housing;
a vibrator configured to reciprocate relative to a driving shaft disposed in an interior of the motor housing;
a first plate film member configured to selectively seal a first opening of the motor housing;
a second plate film member configured to selectively seal a second opening of the motor housing; and
a blocking member disposed to at least partially separate the first opening from the second opening, and
wherein, when the vibrator is moved to a first position, air flows into the interior by operation of the first plate film, and, when the vibrator is moved to a second position, air in the interior is discharged to the exterior by operation of the second plate film.

18. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the elec

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yoon Doosun
• Kim Joohyun
• Park Soo-Hyun
• CHOI Seungbum
• YOO Min-Woo
• Choi Jong-Chul

Classifications

• H05K5/0017

  with operator interface units · CPC title

• H05K5/065 Primary

  sealed by encapsulation, e.g. waterproof resin forming an integral casing, injection moulding · CPC title

• H04M1/18

  Telephone sets specially adapted for use in ships, mines, or other places exposed to adverse environment (H04M1/19 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F1/1656 Primary

  Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories (mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203) · CPC title

• H05K5/0095

  hermetically-sealed · CPC title