Method for clearing water from acoustic port and membrane
A sealed acoustic port in the housing of an electronic device facilitating the elimination of liquid within the port. The acoustic port may include a heating element that when actuated can expedite the evaporation process of liquids accumulated within the port.
1. An apparatus for evaporating a liquid accumulated in an acoustic port, the apparatus comprising:
a housing having an exterior surface and an interior surface and defining a cavity;
an aperture extending from the exterior surface to the interior surface of the housing;
an acoustic membrane positioned within the cavity and covering the aperture;
a seal positioned around the aperture and configured to isolate the aperture from the cavity; and
an electrical element positioned within the cavity and coupled to the acoustic membrane,
the electrical element configured to increase a temperature of the acoustic membrane and evaporate the liquid accumulated in the acoustic port.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electrical element comprises an electrically conductive mesh.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the electrically conductive mesh is positioned on a side of the acoustic membrane facing the exterior surface.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the electrically conductive mesh is positioned within the housing.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electrical element comprises an electrically conductive trace disposed on a face of the acoustic membrane.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the face comprises a surface of the membrane oriented toward an interior of the housing.
7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the face comprises a surface of the membrane oriented toward the aperture.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electrical element comprises an electrically conductive ring disposed on a portion of the acoustic membrane.
9. A method of removing liquid from an acoustic cavity in a housing of an electronic device comprising:
detecting, using a sensor of the electronic device, the presence of liquid within the acoustic cavity;
increasing, by the electronic device, a temperature of a heating element within the electronic device and thermally coupled to the acoustic cavity to evaporate the liquid in the acoustic cavity; and
decreasing, by the electronic device, the temperature of the heating element.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the heating element comprises an electrically conductive mesh.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein heating element comprises an electrically conductive trace.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein heating element comprises an electrically conductive ring surrounding the acoustic cavity.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the temperature of the heating element is electrically controlled.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein increasing the temperature of the heating element comprises increasing an electrical current supplied to the heating element.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein decreasing the temperature of the heating element comprises decreasing or terminating an electrical current supplied to the heating element.
16. An electronic device comprising:
a housing having an exterior surface and an interior surface that defines an interior volume;
a port extending from the exterior surface to the interior surface of the housing;
a mesh grating covering the port and positioned adjacent the exterior surface of the housing;
an electronic element positioned within the interior volume and defining a cavity that at least partially surrounds the port;
a liquid-impermeable film having a drum portion and a seal portion, the drum portion covering the port and the seal portion forming a seal between the electronic element and the housing; and
a heating element disposed at least partially within the cavity and thermally coupled to a surface of the liquid-impermeable film, the heating element operable to evaporate liquid in the port.
17. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the heating element is positioned adjacent to the seal portion of the liquid-impermeable film.
18. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the heating element is disposed on a face of the drum portion of the liquid-impermeable film at least partially within the cavity.
19. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the heating element comprises an electrically conductive mesh.
20. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the heating element comprises an electrically conductive trace disposed on a surface of the liquid-impermeable film.
21. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the heating element comprises an electrically conductive coil.
22. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the heating element comprises an electrically conductive ring.
23. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the electronic element comprises a microphone.
24. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the electronic element comprises a speaker.
25. A method of removing liquid from an acoustic cavity in a housing of an electronic device comprising:
detecting, using a sensor of the electronic device, immersion of the electronic device within a liquid;
increasing a temperature of a heating element within the electronic device and thermally coupled to the acoustic cavity for a period of time to evaporate the liquid in the acoustic cavity; and
decreasing the temperature of the heating element.
26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the heating element comprises an electrically conductive mesh.
27. The method of claim 25 , wherein heating element comprises an electrically conductive trace.
28. The method of claim 25 , wherein heating element comprises an electrically conductive ring surrounding the acoustic cavity.
29. The method of claim 25 , wherein the temperature of the heating element is electrically controlled.
30. The method of claim 29 , wherein increasing the temperature of the heating element comprises increasing an electrical current supplied to the heating element.