Device for clearing liquid from an audio transducer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10601970-B2
Application number	US-201715822808-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 27, 2017
Priority date	Nov 27, 2017
Publication date	Mar 24, 2020
Grant date	Mar 24, 2020

Abstract

A device for clearing liquid from an audio transducer is provided. The device comprises an audio transducer and a port from an external surface of the device to the audio transducer. The device further comprises a liquid clearing mechanism for pushing liquid, trapped in the port, out of the port to clear a path for sound between the audio transducer and the external surface, and an actuator for operating the liquid clearing mechanism.

First claim

We claim:

1. A device comprising:
an audio transducer;
a port from an external surface to the audio transducer;
an aperture for evacuating liquid from the port, the aperture being different from the port;
a flexible depressible button;
an air volume inside the flexible depressible button; and
a one-way valve between the air volume, and the port and the aperture, wherein, when the flexible depressible button is depressed, air from the air volume moves through the one-way valve to the port and pushes liquid out through the aperture, the one-way valve closing when the flexible depressible button relaxes back to a rest position.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the aperture is located along an airflow path, and the port is about perpendicular to the airflow path.

3. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a liquid sensor in the port and a notification device, the notification device providing a notification of the liquid in the port when sensed by the liquid sensor.

4. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a second one-way valve between the air volume and an air-permeable membrane, the second one-way valve being closed when the flexible depressible button is depressed, and open when the flexible depressible button relaxes to the rest position, such that replacement air moves through the air-permeable membrane to fill the air volume.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the air-permeable membrane is water-impermeable and is between an interior of the device and an exterior of the device.

6. The device of claim 4 , wherein the air-permeable membrane is between an interior of the device and an internal volume of a housing of the device.

7. The device of claim 4 , wherein the air-permeable membrane comprises one or more of an air-breathable waterproof membrane material and GORE-TEX.

8. A portable communication device comprising:
an audio transducer configured to convert sound to a sound signal;
a radio in communication with the audio transducer, the radio configured to wirelessly transmit the sound signal;
a port from an external surface to the audio transducer;
an aperture for evacuating liquid from the port, the aperture being different from the port;
a flexible depressible button;
an air volume inside the flexible depressible button; and
a one-way valve between the air volume, and the port and the aperture, wherein, when the flexible depressible button is depressed, air from the air volume moves through the one-way valve to the port and pushes liquid out through the aperture, the one-way valve closing when the flexible depressible button relaxes back to a rest position.

9. The portable communication device of claim 8 , further comprising an actuator for operating the radio, the actuator positioned for actuation when the flexible depressible button is depressed.

10. The portable communication device of claim 9 , wherein the actuator is further for operating a push-to-talk feature of the radio.

11. The portable communication device of claim 8 , further comprising a liquid sensor in the port and a notification device, the notification device providing a notification of the liquid in the port when sensed by the liquid sensor.

12. The device of claim 8 , further comprising a second one-way valve between the air volume and an air-permeable membrane, the second one-way valve being closed when the flexible depressible button is depressed, and open when the flexible depressible button relaxes to the rest position, such that replacement air moves through the air-permeable membrane to fill the air volume.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the air-permeable membrane is water-impermeable and is between an interior of the device and an exterior of the device.

14. The device of claim 12 , wherein the air-permeable membrane is between an interior of the device and an internal volume of a housing of the device.

15. The device of claim 12 , wherein the air-permeable membrane comprises one or more of an air-breathable waterproof membrane material and GORE-TEX.

16. The device of claim 8 , wherein the aperture is located along an airflow path, and the port is about perpendicular to the airflow path.

Assignees

• Motorola Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Gilmore Peter
• Potter Scott G
• Kline Charles
• Hunt Stephen D
• Gilmore Steven

Classifications

• H04M1/18

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

• H04R1/086

  Protective screens, e.g. all weather or wind screens · CPC title

• H04M1/03 Primary

  Constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. telephone hand-sets · CPC title