Internal venting mechanisms for audio system with non-porous membrane

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12212906-B2
Application number	US-202318545669-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2023
Priority date	Sep 24, 2020
Publication date	Jan 28, 2025
Grant date	Jan 28, 2025

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 and comprising:
a first fluid impermeable layer defining a first channel;
a second fluid impermeable layer defining a second channel at least partially overlapping the first channel; and
a fluid permeable layer between the first fluid impermeable layer and the second fluid impermeable layer;

wherein the fluid path extends from the first internal volume to the second internal volume.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first channel extends into the first fluid impermeable layer a first distance, and the second channel extends into the second fluid impermeable layer a second distance.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein a sum of the first distance and the second distance is greater than a third distance measured between a periphery of the first and second fluid impermeable layers and a central aperture of the first and second fluid impermeable layers.

4. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein an overlapping region of the first channel and the second channel is positioned closer to the periphery than the central aperture.

5. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the first distance and the second distance are equivalent.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first channel comprises a first channel width and the second channel comprises a second channel width.

7. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein at least one of the first channel width or the second channel width varies along a channel length.

8. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein:
the first channel width is wider at a periphery of the first and second fluid impermeable layers and narrows toward a central aperture of the first and second fluid impermeable layers; and
the second channel width is wider at the central aperture and narrows toward the periphery.

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, and the venting element comprising:
a first fluid impermeable layer;
a second fluid impermeable layer; and
a coiled tube between the first fluid impermeable layer and the second fluid impermeable layer, wherein the fluid path extends through a conduit of the coiled tube.

10. The audio component of claim 9 , wherein the coiled tube comprises at least one of a metal material, a metal alloy material, a polymer material, or a ceramic material.

11. The audio component of claim 9 , wherein the fluid path comprises a spiral pattern at least partially encircling a central aperture of the venting element.

12. The audio component of claim 9 , wherein;
the coiled tube is a first coiled tube and the conduit is a first conduit; and
the venting element comprises a second coiled tube adjacent to the first coiled tube, the fluid path extending through a second conduit of the second coiled tube.

13. The audio component of claim 9 , wherein the first fluid impermeable layer and the second fluid impermeable layer comprise a resin material or a curable adhesive forming a singular material enveloping the coiled tube.

14. The audio component of claim 9 , wherein the first fluid impermeable layer and the second fluid impermeable layer comprise distinct material segments adhered to the coiled tube.

15. The audio component of claim 9 , wherein the venting element is configured to attenuate acoustic waves.

16. The audio component of claim 15 , wherein the acoustic waves filterable by the venting element comprise wavelengths above 20 Hertz.

17. The audio component of claim 9 , further comprising a membrane support positioned adjacent to the venting element.

18. 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 opposite the first surface; and
a fluid permeable layer comprising a coil disposed adjacent the first fluid impermeable layer and the second fluid impermeable layer, the fluid permeable layer defining a fluid path extending from a central portion of the venting element to a periphery of the venting element along gaps between the first fluid impermeable layer, the second fluid impermeable layer, and the coil.

19. The venting element of claim 18 , wherein;
the coil is a first coil, and the fluid permeable layer comprises a second coil positioned adjacent to the first coil; and
the second coil further defines the gaps between the first fluid impermeable layer, the second fluid impermeable layer, and the first coil.

20. The venting element of claim 18 , wherein the first fluid impermeable layer and the second fluid impermeable layer include discrete layers comprising at least one of a heat-activated film, a pressure sensitive adhesive tape, or a thermoplastic elastomer.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• H04R1/028

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

• H04R2201/023

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

• H04R2499/11

  Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's · CPC title

• H04R2400/11

  Aspects regarding the frame of loudspeaker transducers · CPC title

• H04R9/06

  Loudspeakers · CPC title