IP Library Granted Patent US 8,488,817
Granted Patent B2
US 8,488,817 · App. 13/288,386 · Granted Jul 16, 2013

Acoustic systems for electronic devices

Inventors: Adam D. Mittleman (San Francisco, CA); Richard P. Howarth (San Francisco, CA); Chad Seguin (Morgan Hill, CA)
Assignee: Apple Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,488,817
App. No.
13/288,386
Granted
Jul 16, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A portable electronic device may have acoustic ports such as microphone and speaker ports. Acoustic devices such as microphones and speakers may be associated with the acoustic ports. An acoustic port may have an opening between an interior and exterior of the portable electronic device. The opening may be covered by a metal mesh. An acoustic fabric may be interposed between the metal mesh and the opening. The opening may be formed from a hole in a glass member having outer and inner chamfers. A microphone boot may be provided that forms front and rear radial seals with a housing of the device and a microphone unit respectively. The microphone boot may also form multiple face seals with the microphone unit. A speaker for the speaker port may be enclosed in a sealed speaker enclosure. The speaker enclosure may have a pressure-equalizing vent slit covered with an acoustic mesh.

Claims (34)

1. An acoustic port in a portable electronic device, comprising:

a first mesh; and

a second mesh, wherein the first mesh is exposed to an exterior portion of the portable electronic device and wherein the second mesh is exposed to an interior portion of the portable electronic device.

2. The acoustic port defined in claim 1 wherein the first mesh has first mesh openings, wherein the second mesh has second mesh openings, and wherein the first mesh openings are larger than the second mesh openings.

3. The acoustic port defined in claim 2 wherein the first mesh comprises a metal mesh.

4. The acoustic port defined in claim 3 wherein the second mesh comprises a nonconductive fabric.

5. The acoustic port defined in claim 4 further comprising a first layer of adhesive film between portions of the first mesh and a housing wall in the portable electronic device.

6. The acoustic port defined in claim 5 further comprising a second layer of adhesive film between portions of the second mesh and the first mesh.

7. The acoustic port defined in claim 6 wherein the acoustic port comprises a microphone port and wherein the second mesh comprises woven polyester.

8. The acoustic port defined in claim 4 wherein the acoustic port comprises a speaker port and wherein the second mesh comprises woven polyester.

9. The acoustic port defined in claim 1 wherein the portable electronic device includes a cover glass over a display, wherein the cover glass has an opening, and wherein the acoustic port is aligned with the opening in the cover glass.

10. The acoustic port defined in claim 1 wherein the portable electronic device includes a cover glass over a display, wherein the cover glass has an opening with outer and inner chamfers, and wherein the acoustic port is aligned with the opening in the cover glass.

11. A portable electronic device, comprising:

an acoustic port, wherein the acoustic port comprises:

a first mesh; and

a second mesh, wherein the first mesh is exposed to an exterior portion of the portable electronic device and wherein the second mesh is exposed to an interior portion of the portable electronic device.

12. The portable electronic device defined in claim 11 further comprising:

a display; and

a cover glass over the display, wherein the cover glass has an opening with outer and inner chamfers and wherein the acoustic port is adjacent to the opening in the cover glass.

13. The portable electronic device defined in claim 12 further comprising:

an acoustic component adjacent to the opening, wherein the acoustic port is disposed between the acoustic component and the opening; and

adhesive that connects the acoustic component to the cover glass and that forms a space between the first mesh and the cover glass.

14. The portable electronic device defined in claim 13 wherein the acoustic component comprises:

a speaker; and

a sealed speaker enclosure that houses the speaker.

15. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a display;

a cover glass over the display, wherein the cover glass has an opening with outer and inner chamfers;

an acoustic port adjacent to the opening in the cover glass, wherein the acoustic port comprises a first mesh and a second mesh.

16. The portable electronic device defined in claim 15 wherein the first mesh has first mesh openings, wherein the second mesh has second mesh openings, and wherein the first mesh openings are larger than the second mesh openings.

17. The portable electronic device defined in claim 16 wherein the first mesh comprises a metal mesh.

18. The portable electronic device defined in claim 17 wherein the second mesh comprises a nonconductive fabric.

19. The portable electronic device defined in claim 15 wherein the outer chamfers are larger than the inner chamfers.

20. The portable electronic device defined in claim 15 wherein the outer chamfers are deeper than the inner chamfers.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 8, 2012
From: MITTLEMAN, ADAM D.; HOWARTH, RICHARD P.; SEGUIN, CHAD
To: APPLE INC.
Reel/Frame 029092/0255 →
Continuity (5)
Division 12119995 · May 13, 2008
Provisional Application 61044347 · Apr 11, 2008
Provisional Application 61041522 · Apr 1, 2008
Provisional Application 61041532 · Apr 1, 2008
Related Publication 20120045081A1 · Feb 23, 2012