Mobile electronic device and method for waterproofing mobile electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9843659-B2
Application number	US-201414170717-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 3, 2014
Priority date	Mar 29, 2013
Publication date	Dec 12, 2017
Grant date	Dec 12, 2017

Abstract

A mobile electronic device includes: a housing; an acoustic-component contained in the housing; a sound hole formed in the housing, the sound hole being configured to allow communication between an inside and an outside of the housing; a non-breathable waterproof film disposed inside the housing, the waterproof film being configured to cover the sound hole; a compressible member compressed by being pressed against the housing during assembly of the acoustic-component to the housing, the compressible member being configured to form an acoustic-component chamber together with at least the waterproof film, the acoustic-component chamber being configured to hermetically seal the acoustic-component; and an opening configured to allow communication between an inside and an outside of the acoustic-component chamber within the housing, the opening being configured to allow air in the acoustic-component chamber to escape to the outside before the opening is closed in the process of compressing the compressible member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mobile electronic device comprising:
a housing;
an acoustic component disposed inside the housing;
a cover attached to the acoustic component and disposed inside the housing;
a sound hole formed in the housing, the sound hole being configured to allow communication between an inside and an outside of the housing;
a non-breathable waterproof film disposed inside the housing, the non-breathable waterproof film being configured to cover the sound hole and being disposed between the sound hole and the cover; and
a compressible member disposed within the housing, and disposed between the non-breathable waterproof film and the cover,
wherein the compressible member is configured to be compressed by being pressed against the cover during assembly of the acoustic component to the housing,
wherein the non-breathable waterproof film, the cover and the compressible member define an acoustic component chamber, the acoustic component chamber being configured to hermetically seal the acoustic component, and
wherein the compressible member includes a communication groove at an end of the compressible member that is closest to the cover, the communication groove being configured to allow communication between the inside of the acoustic component chamber and a space defined by the housing.

2. A method for waterproofing a mobile electronic device including
a housing;
an acoustic component disposed inside the housing;
a cover attached to the acoustic component and disposed inside the housing;
a sound hole formed in the housing, the sound hole being configured to allow communication between an inside and an outside of the housing;
a non-breathable waterproof film disposed inside the housing, the non-breathable waterproof film being configured to cover the sound hole and being disposed between the sound hole and the cover; and
a compressible member disposed within the housing, and disposed between the non-breathable waterproof film and the cover,
wherein the compressible member is configured to be compressed by being pressed against the cover during assembly of the acoustic component to the housing,
wherein the non-breathable waterproof film, the cover and the compressible member define an acoustic component chamber, the acoustic component chamber being configured to hermetically seal the acoustic component, and
wherein the compressible member includes a communication groove at an end of the compressible member that is closest to the cover, communication groove being configured to allow communication between an inside of the acoustic component chamber and a space defined by the housing,
the method comprising:
during a first process of compressing the compressible member, compressing the compressible member while allowing air in the acoustic component chamber to escape through the communication groove to the space defined by the housing, and
in a second process of compressing the compressible member after the first process, closing the
communication groove while compressing the compressible member thereby creating an airtight seal,
wherein air flow from the space within the mobile electronic device to the inside of the acoustic component chamber through the communication groove is blocked.

Assignees

• Fujitsu Ltd

Inventors

• Yamaguchi Atsushi
• Yamaguchi Shingo

Classifications

• H04R2499/11

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

• H04M1/18

  Telephone sets specially adapted for use in ships, mines, or other places exposed to adverse environment (H04M1/19 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04M1/035 Primary

  Improving the acoustic characteristics by means of constructional features of the housing, e.g. ribs, walls, resonating chambers or cavities · CPC title

• H04R1/02

  Casings; Cabinets {; Supports therefor;} Mountings therein (H04R1/28 takes precedence {; attachments for microphones H04R1/08; mounting of transducers in earpieces H04R1/1075}) · CPC title

• H04R1/00 Primary

  Details of transducers, {loudspeakers or microphones} · CPC title