Air sensor with air flow control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9664660-B2
Application number	US-201514595903-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 13, 2015
Priority date	Jan 13, 2015
Publication date	May 30, 2017
Grant date	May 30, 2017

Abstract

A system and method for providing and/or controlling air flow to an air sensor. As a non-limiting example, an air sensor system may include mechanical and/or electromechanical features (e.g., MEMS features) to control air flow to an air sensor. Various aspects of the disclosure may, for example, be implemented in a personal electronic device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An air sensor system comprising:
a speaker cavity;
a speaker positioned in the speaker cavity;
an air channel through which air flows to and/or from the speaker cavity;
a valve in the air channel; and
an air sensor positioned in the air channel.

2. The air sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the valve is an active valve.

3. The air sensor system of claim 2 , wherein the valve is electrostatically actuated.

4. The air sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the valve is a passive valve.

5. The air sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the air channel is a one-way air channel.

6. The air sensor system of claim 5 , wherein the air channel passes air to the speaker cavity, but not from the speaker cavity.

7. The air sensor system of claim 1 , further comprising a sound port.

8. The air sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the air sensor is one of a temperature sensor or a humidity sensor.

9. An air sensor system comprising:
a speaker cavity;
a speaker positioned in the speaker cavity;
an air channel in flow communication with the speaker cavity;
a valve in the air channel; and
an air sensor positioned in the speaker cavity.

10. The air sensor system of claim 9 , wherein:
the speaker package comprises a port; and
the air sensor is positioned adjacent to the port.

11. The air sensor system of claim 10 , wherein the air sensor surrounds the port.

12. The air sensor system of claim 10 , wherein the port is a back-cavity port.

13. The air sensor system of claim 10 , wherein the port is a primary sound hole for the speaker package.

14. The air sensor system of claim 9 , wherein the speaker cavity is a back cavity.

15. A personal electronic device comprising:
an air sensor system comprising:
an electromechanical device operable to cause an airflow;
an air channel through which at least a portion of the airflow flows;
a valve in the air channel; and
an air sensor positioned in the air channel.

16. The personal electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the personal electronic device comprises a handheld and/or wearable electronic device.

17. The personal electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the valve is electrostatically actuated.

18. The personal electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the air channel is a one-way air channel.

19. The personal electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the electromechanical device comprises a speaker.

Assignees

• Invensense Inc

Inventors

• Lloyd Stephen

Classifications

• G05D7/01

  without auxiliary power · CPC title

• H04R2201/003

  Mems transducers or their use · CPC title

• H04R2499/11

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

• G01K2013/024

  Physics · mapped topic

• G01N33/0016 Primary

  by regulating a physical variable, e.g. pressure or temperature · CPC title