Electronic watch with barometric vent

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11334032-B2
Application number	US-201916291216-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 4, 2019
Priority date	Aug 30, 2018
Publication date	May 17, 2022
Grant date	May 17, 2022

Abstract

An electronic watch may include a housing at least partially defining an interior cavity divided into at least a first volume and a second volume, a pressure-sensing component positioned within the first volume, a speaker positioned within the first volume, a processor positioned within the second volume, a battery positioned within the second volume, and a barometric vent that allows air pressure equalization between the first volume and an external environment.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic watch comprising:
a housing at least partially defining an interior cavity divided into at least a first volume and a second volume;
a pressure-sensing component positioned within the first volume;
a speaker positioned within the first volume and comprising a speaker diaphragm;
a processor positioned within the second volume;
a battery positioned within the second volume; and
a barometric vent that allows air pressure equalization between the second volume and an external environment, the speaker diaphragm defining an air-permeable membrane of the barometric vent.

2. The electronic watch of claim 1 , further comprising:
a band coupled to the housing and configured to couple the electronic watch to a wearer;
a transparent cover coupled to the housing;
a touch sensor positioned below the transparent cover and configured to detect touch inputs applied to the transparent cover; and
a crown positioned along a side surface of the housing and configured to receive rotational inputs.

3. The electronic watch of claim 1 , wherein:
the speaker diaphragm further defines a first opening;
the electronic watch further comprises an internal member that divides the interior cavity into the first volume and the second volume and defines a second opening fluidly coupling the first volume and the second volume;
the speaker diaphragm is positioned over the second opening; and
the first opening and the second opening define the barometric vent.

4. The electronic watch of claim 3 , wherein the speaker diaphragm is waterproof.

5. The electronic watch of claim 3 , wherein:
the housing defines a third opening fluidly coupling the first volume to the external environment; and
the speaker is configured to produce a sound to eject liquid from the first volume through the third opening.

6. The electronic watch of claim 1 , wherein:
the electronic watch further comprises an internal member that divides the interior cavity into the first volume and the second volume and defines an opening fluidly coupling the first volume and the second volume; and
the air-permeable membrane is positioned over the opening.

7. An electronic watch comprising:
a housing at least partially defining an interior cavity;
a display positioned at least partially within the housing and configured to display a graphical output;
a transparent cover coupled to the housing;
a touch sensor positioned below the transparent cover and configured to detect touch inputs applied to the transparent cover;
an internal member that divides the interior cavity into a first volume and a second volume; and
a speaker comprising an air-permeable diaphragm and positioned within the first volume, wherein:
a first opening in the housing exposes the first volume to an external environment;
a second opening in the internal member allows gases to pass between the first volume and the second volume; and
the air-permeable diaphragm extends over the second opening.

8. The electronic watch of claim 7 , further comprising a pressure-sensing component positioned within the first volume.

9. The electronic watch of claim 8 , wherein the air-permeable diaphragm is waterproof.

10. The electronic watch of claim 9 , wherein the air-permeable diaphragm is configured to produce sound output.

11. The electronic watch of claim 10 , wherein the air-permeable diaphragm defines a third opening that allows passage of air while preventing passage of water.

12. The electronic watch of claim 7 , further comprising a liquid sensing element positioned within the first volume and configured to detect liquid within the first volume.

13. The electronic watch of claim 12 , wherein, after the liquid sensing element detects the liquid within the first volume, the speaker produces a sound to eject the liquid from the first volume.

14. A wearable electronic device comprising:
a housing at least partially defining:
an interior cavity divided into a first volume and a second volume; and
a capillary passage fluidly coupling the first volume to an external environment and configured to draw a liquid out of the first volume;

a processor positioned within the second volume;
a pressure-sensing component positioned within the first volume; and
a speaker positioned within the first volume, wherein the housing further defines an opening that allows air pressure equalization between the first volume and the external environment.

15. The wearable electronic device of claim 14 , further comprising:
a band coupled to the housing and configured to couple the wearable electronic device to a wearer;
a transparent cover coupled to the housing;
a touch sensor positioned below the transparent cover and configured to detect touch inputs applied to the transparent cover; and
a crown positioned along a side surface of the housing and configured to receive rotational inputs.

16. The wearable electronic device of claim 14 , wherein:
the housing further defines a channel configured to receive at least a portion of a band; and
the capillary passage extends from a surface of the channel to a surface of the first volume.

17. The wearable electronic device of claim 14 , wherein:
the wearable electronic device further comprises:
a transparent cover coupled to a front of the housing;
a display positioned below the transparent cover and configured to display a graphical output; and
a back cover coupled to a back of the housing and at least partially defining an interstitial space between a portion of the back cover and a portion of a surface of the housing; and

the capillary passage extends from the first volume to the portion of the surface of the housing.

18. The wearable electronic device of claim 14 , wherein:
the opening is a first opening;
the first opening allows sound output from the speaker to exit the housing and allows the pressure-sensing component to determine a barometric pressure of the external environment;
the wearable electronic device further comprises an internal member that divides the housing into the first volume and the second volume; and
the internal member defines a second opening that allows air pressure equalization between the first volume and the second volume.

19. The wearable electronic device of claim 18 , wherein:
the speaker comprises a diaphragm that is positioned over the second opening;
the diaphragm defines a third opening; and
the second opening and the third opening cooperate to define an air passage between the first volume and the second volume.

20. The wearable electronic device of claim 14 , further comprising an internal member that divides the housing into the first volume and the second volume, wherein:
the opening is a first opening;
the internal member defines a second opening; and
the speaker comprises an air-permeable diaphragm positioned over the second opening.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Liang Jiahui
• Yang Shannon X
• Lukens William C
• Gill Mandeep
• Wang Jeanny
• Lee William S
• Jackson Stephen P
• Ehman Rex T
• Ely Colin M
• Vitt Nikolas T
• Ness Trevor J

Classifications

• H04R2201/023

  Transducers incorporated in garment, rucksacks or the like · CPC title

• H04R1/2842

  for loudspeaker transducers · CPC title

• G04G21/02 Primary

  Detectors of external physical values, e.g. temperature · CPC title

• G04G17/04

  Mounting of electronic components · CPC title

• G04G17/08

  Housings · CPC title