IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,262,161
Granted Patent B2
US 12,262,161 · App. 17/809,556 · Granted Mar 25, 2025

Electronic device port

Inventors: Jiahui Liang (San Francisco, CA); Andrew L. Doyle (San Francisco, CA); Yingyi Wang (Jiangsu, CN); Yu Song (Shanghai, CN)
Assignee: APPLE INC.
H04R1/023H04R1/086H05K5/0214H05K5/0215H04R2499/11
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,262,161
App. No.
17/809,556
Granted
Mar 25, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic device can include a housing defining an aperture, a membrane extending across the aperture, and a non-metallic woven support mesh disposed parallel to the flexible membrane and extending across the aperture. In at least one example, the membrane is acoustically transparent and the membrane is air permeable and water impermeable. In addition, the support mesh can be less flexible than the membrane such that the support mesh structurally supports the membrane.

Claims (37)

1. An electronic device comprising:

a housing defining an aperture;

a membrane extending across the aperture; and

a non-metallic woven support mesh disposed parallel to the membrane and extending across the aperture;

wherein:

the support mesh defines a plurality of perforations; and

a micro-texture feature disposed on a surface of the support mesh facing the membrane, the micro-texture feature disposed between adjacent perforations of the plurality of perforations and within the aperture.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the membrane is acoustically transparent.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the membrane is air permeable and water impermeable.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the support mesh comprises a monofilament string mesh.

5. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the support mesh comprises a fabric.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the support mesh is less flexible than the membrane.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:

the support mesh is a first support mesh;

the electronic device further comprises a second support mesh extending across the aperture parallel to the membrane; and

the membrane is disposed between the first support mesh and the second support mesh.

8. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the second support mesh comprises a cosmetic mesh.

9. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the second support mesh comprises a non-metallic woven material.

10. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the cosmetic mesh comprises a metal or a plastic.

11. An electronic device port, comprising:

an aperture defined by a housing;

a support mesh;

a cosmetic mesh spaced apart from the support mesh; and

a water impermeable membrane occluding the aperture and disposed between the support mesh and the cosmetic mesh;

wherein a surface of the support mesh facing the water impermeable membrane comprises a dimple protruding toward the water impermeable membrane and aligned with the aperture.

12. The electronic device port of claim 11 , wherein the support mesh comprises a flexible woven mesh.

13. The electronic device port of claim 11 , wherein the support mesh includes a rigid perforated mesh comprising metal or plastic.

14. The electronic device port of claim 11 , wherein the contact area reduction feature comprises a dimple.

15. The electronic device port of claim 11 , wherein the contact area reduction feature comprises a micro-texture surface feature.

16. An electronic port assembly defining a port, the assembly comprising:

a first woven support mesh extending across the port;

a second woven support mesh extending across the port and spaced apart from the support mesh; and

a water impermeable membrane extending between the first woven support mesh and the second woven support mesh;

wherein a surface of the first woven support mesh facing the water impermeable membrane comprises a plurality of perforations and at least one of a micro-groove, a micro-notch, or a micro-valley disposed between adjacent perforations of the plurality of perforations and extending into a thickness of the first woven support mesh and aligned with the port and configured to reduce a contact area between the first woven support mesh and the water impermeable membrane.

17. The electronic port assembly of claim 16 , wherein the water impermeable membrane is more flexible than the first woven support mesh and the second woven support mesh.

18. The electronic port assembly of claim 16 , wherein the second woven support mesh is a cosmetic mesh.

19. The electronic port assembly of claim 16 , further comprising a mesh cap over-molded around a periphery of the first woven support mesh.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 28, 2022
From: LIANG, JIAHUI; WANG, YINGYI; DOYLE, ANDREW L.; SONG, YU
To: APPLE INC.
Reel/Frame 060343/0426 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63267374 · Jan 31, 2022
Related Publication 20230247336A1 · Aug 3, 2023
References Cited (3)
US 10165694B1 · Werner · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20170181303A1 · Li · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 20210407748A1 · Wang · 2021 [cited by examiner]