Robust audio device design

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017019727-A1
Application number	US-201615134165-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 20, 2016
Priority date	Jul 16, 2015
Publication date	Jan 19, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Embodiments of the disclosure provided herein are configured to desirably distribute and thus withstand forces that are applied to an audio device assembly during regular use. The configurations discussed herein can be used to prevent the various device related components from becoming damaged during use. The application of these forces can cause immediate failure of the electrical connections in extreme cases, or more typically cause eventual failure of the electrical connections and device due to repetitive application of the applied force. Therefore, it is desirable to minimize the stress applied to the various electrical connection points during use, such as the electrical connection points.

First claim

1 . An audio device, comprising:
an audio assembly comprising a first device load support and a first electrical input connection that is in electrical communication with a first speaker, wherein the first device load support is configured to support the first speaker; an electrical interface assembly comprising an interface connection and an interface load support, wherein the interface connection is in electrical communication with interface control electronics; and a cable assembly comprising:
a wiring harness comprising a plurality of wires that electrically connect the first electrical input connection to the interface connection; and
a first load supporting element that is coupled to the first device load support and the interface load support.

2 . The audio device of claim 1 , wherein
the wiring harness further comprises a bend that is disposed in a first position between the first electrical input connection and the interface connection, and the bend includes a first radius of curvature, and the first load supporting element does not contain a bend at the first position.

3 . The audio device of claim 1 , wherein
the audio assembly further comprises:
a second device load support; and
a second electrical input connection that is in electrical communication with a second speaker, wherein the second device load support is configured to support the second speaker, and
the cable assembly further comprises:
a second load supporting element that is coupled to the second device load support and the interface load support.

4 . The audio device of claim 1 , wherein the interface control electronics further comprise a printed circuit board that includes the interface connection, wherein the printed circuit board is positioned adjacent to the interface load support and is free to move in at least one direction relative to the interface load support.

5 . The audio device of claim 4 , wherein the interface control electronics further comprises a computer device connector that is in electrical communication with the printed circuit board.

6 . The audio device of claim 1 , further comprising a molded feature that is coupled to the interface load support and the wiring harness.

7 . The audio device of claim 1 , wherein the wiring harness and the first load supporting element are spaced apart and are disposed in a parallel relationship between the audio assembly and the electrical interface assembly.

8 . The audio device of claim 1 , wherein
the plurality of wires comprise two or more wires, and the first load supporting element comprises two or more load supporting members that are coupled to the first device load support and the interface load support.

9 . The audio device of claim 8 , wherein
the two or more wires are aligned parallel to a first plane, and two or more load supporting members are aligned parallel to the first plane.

10 . The audio device of claim 1 , wherein the first load supporting element comprises a first material and the plurality of wires comprise a copper material.

11 . The audio device of claim 10 , wherein the first material comprises an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene material or an aramid fiber.

12 . The audio device of claim 1 , wherein the cable assembly further comprises:
a flexible wall having a domed feature that has an inner surface; a supporting wall; a supporting element that is sealably bonded to a portion of the flexible wall, and is disposed between the flexible wall and the supporting wall; a switch that is disposed on a support surface of the supporting element, wherein a first connection point and a second connection point of the switch are each in electrical communication with one of the plurality of wires of the wiring harness; and a sealed region at least partially defined by the inner surface and the support surface, wherein at least a portion of the switch is disposed within the sealed region.

13 . An audio device, comprising:
a first audio assembly comprising:
a first device load support; and
a first electronic assembly comprising a first electrical input connection that is in electrical communication with a first speaker;
an electrical interface assembly comprising:
a first interface connection and a second interface connection that are each coupled to an interface printed circuit board; and
an interface load support; and
a first cable assembly comprising:
a wiring harness comprising a plurality of wires that electrically connect the first electrical input connection to the first interface connection; and
a first load supporting element that is coupled to the first device load support and the interface load support.

14 . The audio device of claim 13 , further comprising:
a second audio assembly comprising:
a second device load support; and
a second electronic assembly comprising a second electrical input connection that is in electrical communication with a second speaker; and
a second cable assembly comprising:
a wiring harness comprising a plurality of wires that electrically connect the second electrical input connection to the second interface connection; and
a second load supporting element that is coupled to the second device load support and the interface load support.

15 . The audio device of claim 13 , wherein
the wiring harness further comprises a bend that is disposed in a first position between the first electrical input connection and first interface connection, and the bend includes a first radius of curvature, and the first load supporting element does not contain a bend at the first position.

16 . The audio device of claim 13 , wherein the electrical interface assembly further comprises a computer device connector that is in electrical communication with the interface printed circuit board.

17 . The audio device of claim 13 , further comprising a molded feature that is coupled to the interface load support and the wiring harness.

18 . The audio device of claim 13 , wherein the wiring harness and the first load supporting element are disposed in a parallel relationship between the audio assembly and the electrical interface assembly.

19 . The audio device of claim 13 , wherein
the plurality of wires comprise two or more wires, and the first load supporting element comprises two or more load supporting members that are coupled to the first device load support and the wiring harness mount.

20 . The audio device of claim 19 , wherein the two or more load supporting members comprises an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene material or an aramid fiber.

Assignees

• Logitech Europe Sa

Inventors

• Mcgarry Steve
• Carmichael William Christopher
• Danielson Alexander Samuel
• Anderson Jeffrey

Classifications

• H04R1/1066 Primary

  Constructional aspects of the interconnection between earpiece and earpiece support (earpiece support for monophonic headphones H04R1/105; earpiece support for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335) · CPC title

• H04R1/1041 Primary

  Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements (switches in general H01H) · CPC title

• H04R1/1033

  Cables or cables storage, e.g. cable reels (cord reels per se H02G11/02; arrangements for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of conductors or cables B65H75/34; extensible conductors or cables, e.g. self-coiling cords H01B7/06) · CPC title

• H04R5/04

  Circuit arrangements, {e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments (combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S)} · CPC title