Electronic watch with barometric vent

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12099331-B2
Application number	US-202318217992-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 3, 2023
Priority date	Aug 30, 2018
Publication date	Sep 24, 2024
Grant date	Sep 24, 2024

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, the interior cavity having:
a first volume fluidly coupled to an external environment via an opening of the housing, the first volume configured to be exposed to a liquid from the external environment; and
a second volume separated from the first volume by a barrier;

a battery positioned within the second volume;
a processor positioned within the second volume; and
a speaker positioned within the first volume and at least partially defining an air-permeable membrane between the first volume and the second volume, the air-permeable membrane configured to equalize a barometric pressure between the first volume and the second volume.

2. The electronic watch of claim 1 , wherein:
the electronic watch further comprises a mesh positioned over the opening; and
the mesh is configured to block contaminants from entering in the first volume from the opening.

3. The electronic watch of claim 2 , wherein:
the speaker is further configured to produce a sound output; and
the sound output is configured to eject the liquid via the opening.

4. The electronic watch of claim 3 , wherein the sound output has a variable pitch.

5. The electronic watch of claim 1 , wherein:
the electronic watch further comprises:
a pressure-sensing component;
a temperature-sensing component; and
a liquid-sensing component; and

the pressure-sensing component, the temperature-sensing component, and the liquid-sensing component are positioned within the first volume.

6. The electronic watch of claim 1 , wherein:
the opening is a first opening;
the barrier defines a second opening that fluidly couples the first volume and the second volume; and
the air-permeable membrane is positioned over the second opening.

7. The electronic watch of claim 1 , wherein the speaker comprises a diaphragm that inhibits the passage of water.

8. A wearable electronic device comprising:
a housing at least partially defining an interior cavity divided into a first volume and a second volume, the first volume configured to receive water therein;
a processor positioned within the second volume;
an internal member dividing the first volume and the second volume and defining an opening; and
a speaker positioned within the first volume and at least partially over the opening in the internal member, the speaker and the opening cooperating to define an air-permeable water-blocking passage between the first volume and the second volume.

9. The wearable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein:
the opening is a first opening;
the housing defines a second opening; and
the second opening fluidly couples the first volume to an external environment.

10. The wearable electronic device of claim 9 , wherein:
the wearable electronic device comprises a mesh positioned over the second opening; and the mesh is configured to block contaminants from the external environment.

11. The wearable electronic device of claim 9 , wherein:
the housing defines a capillary passage fluidly coupling the first volume to the external environment;
the capillary passage is configured to draw liquid out of the first volume; and
a size of the second opening is larger than a size of the capillary passage.

12. The wearable electronic device of claim 11 , wherein:
the wearable electronic device comprises a band;
the housing defines a channel configured to couple to the band; and
the capillary passage extends from a first surface of the channel to a first internal surface of the first volume.

13. The wearable electronic device of claim 8 , comprising:
a transparent cover coupled to the housing;
a touch sensor positioned below the transparent cover and configured to detect touch inputs to the transparent cover; and
a crown positioned along a side region of the housing and configured to receive at least one of a translational input or a rotational input.

14. The wearable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein:
the wearable electronic device comprises a pressure-sensing component positioned in the first volume; and
the pressure-sensing component comprises:
a substrate;
a body coupled to the substrate, the substrate and the body cooperating to define a cavity; and
a force-sensitive element positioned on the substrate and within the cavity.

15. An electronic watch comprising:
a housing at least partially defining a cavity;
a display positioned within the cavity;
a barrier positioned within the cavity and separating the cavity into a first volume and a second volume; and
a speaker positioned within the first volume and defining an air-permeable water-blocking passage between the first volume and the second volume, the speaker configured to produce a sound output.

16. The electronic watch of claim 15 , wherein:
the speaker comprises:
a body;
a driver assembly; and
a diaphragm;

the driver assembly is configured to move the diaphragm to produce the sound output; and
the diaphragm is positioned over the air-permeable water-blocking passage and is configured to allow air pressure equalization between the first volume and the second volume.

17. The electronic watch of claim 15 , wherein:
the electronic watch further comprises a porous drain structure positioned within the first volume;
the porous drain structure fluidly couples the first volume to an external environment; and
the porous drain structure is configured to draw liquid from the first volume to the external environment.

18. The electronic watch of claim 15 , wherein:
the housing defines an opening fluidly coupling the first volume to an external environment; and
the electronic watch comprises a screen positioned over the opening and configured to block contaminants from entering the first volume.

19. The electronic watch of claim 15 , wherein:
the electronic watch comprises a liquid-sensing element; and
in response to detecting liquid, by the liquid-sensing element, the speaker is configured to produce the sound output.

20. The electronic watch of claim 19 wherein the sound output is configured to eject liquid from the first volume to an external environment.

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

• H04R1/028

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

• G04G21/08

  Touch switches specially adapted for time-pieces · CPC title

• G04G17/08

  Housings · CPC title

• H04R1/2842

  for loudspeaker transducers · CPC title