Internal venting mechanisms for audio system with non-porous membrane

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11889249-B2
Application number	US-202117445931-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 25, 2021
Priority date	Sep 24, 2020
Publication date	Jan 30, 2024
Grant date	Jan 30, 2024

Abstract

An electronic device can include a housing, an audio component, and a gasket. The housing can define a first internal volume and the audio component can define a second internal volume. The audio component can include membrane and a venting element having a fluid impermeable layer. The venting element can define a fluid path placing the first internal volume and the second internal volume in fluid communication. At least a portion of the fluid path can extend parallel to the fluid impermeable layer. The gasket can define a seal between the first internal volume and an ambient environment adjacent the housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device, comprising:
a housing at least partially defining a first internal volume; and
an audio component defining a second internal volume, the audio component comprising:
a membrane; and
a venting element defining a fluid path, the fluid path extends from the first internal volume to the second internal volume, the venting element comprising:
a first layer at least partially defining a first channel;
a second layer at least partially defining a second channel; and
a fluid permeable intermediate layer disposed between the first layer and the second layer.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the first channel extends from a central portion of the venting element; and
the second channel extends from a periphery of the venting element.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein:
a length of the first channel is greater than half of a distance between the central portion and the periphery; and
a length of the second channel is greater than half of the distance.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the fluid permeable intermediate layer comprises a region disposed between the first and second channels, the region placing the first and second channels in fluid communication.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the audio component comprises a microphone.

6. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein:
a width of the first channel narrows as the first channel extends from the central portion; and
a width of the second channel narrows as the second channel extends from the periphery.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the fluid permeable intermediate layer further comprises a porous metal.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising an enclosure disposed within the housing and at least partially surrounding the audio component, the enclosure defining a third internal volume, the fluid path placing the first internal volume, the second internal volume, and the third internal volume in fluid communication.

9. An audio component, comprising:
a case at least partially defining an internal volume;
a membrane at least partially defining the internal volume; and
a venting element in fluid communication with the internal volume, the venting element defining a fluid path extending from the internal volume to an environment external to the case, the venting element comprising:
a first fluid impermeable layer;
a second fluid impermeable layer; and
a porous layer disposed between the first fluid impermeable layer and the second fluid impermeable layer, the porous layer defining at least a portion of the fluid path.

10. The audio component of claim 9 , wherein the fluid path extends from a central portion of the venting element to a periphery of the venting element.

11. The audio component of claim 9 , wherein the venting element comprises:
a first layer at least partially defining a first channel;
a second layer at least partially defining a second channel; and
a fluid permeable intermediate layer disposed between the first layer and the second layer.

12. The audio component of claim 11 , wherein:
the first channel and the second channel extend parallel to the fluid permeable intermediate layer;
a width of the first channel varies along a length of the first channel;
a width of the second channel varies along a length of the second channel; and
a region of the fluid permeable intermediate layer is disposed between the first channel and the second channel.

13. The audio component of claim 9 , wherein the porous layer comprises a metal foam.

14. The audio component of claim 9 , wherein the venting element further comprises
a coiled member coupled to the fluid impermeable layer, at least a portion of the fluid path being defined by the fluid impermeable layer and the coiled member.

15. The audio component of claim 9 , wherein the venting element further comprises:
a fluid impermeable layer; and
a coiled member coupled to the fluid impermeable layer, the coiled member defining a conduit, and at least a portion of the fluid path being formed by the conduit.

16. The audio component of claim 9 , wherein the audio component comprises at least one of a speaker or a microphone.

17. A venting element for a portable electronic device, comprising:
a first fluid impermeable layer defining a first surface of the venting element;
a second fluid impermeable layer defining a second surface of the venting element; and
a coiled member disposed between the first fluid impermeable layer and the second fluid impermeable layer, the coiled member defining a conduit defining a fluid path extending to an external environment.

18. The venting element of claim 17 , wherein the conduit extends from a central portion of the venting element toward a periphery of the venting element.

19. The venting element of claim 17 , wherein the fluid impermeable layer comprises a polymer.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Liang Jiahui
• Doyle Andrew L
• Vitt Nikolas T
• Wang Yingyi
• Robison David W

Classifications

• H04R1/023 Primary

  Screens for loudspeakers · CPC title

• H04R1/44 Primary

  Special adaptations for subaqueous use, e.g. for hydrophone · CPC title

• H04R1/028

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

• H04R9/06

  Loudspeakers · CPC title

• H04R2201/023

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