Granted Patent B2

US 12,663,762 · App. 18/892,330 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Inventors: Jiahui Liang (Sunnyvale, CA); Shannon X Yang (Santa Clara, CA); William C. Lukens (San Francisco, CA); Mandeep Gill (Cupertino, CA); Jeanny Wang (Palo Alto, CA); William S. Lee (Fremont, CA); Stephen P. Jackson (San Francisco, CA); Rex T. Ehman (Cupertino, CA); Colin M. Ely (Sunnyvale, CA); Nikolas T Vitt (Sunnyvale, CA); Trevor J. Ness (Santa Cruz, CA)

Assignee: APPLE INC.

G04G21/02G04G17/08G04G21/08H04R1/028H04R2201/023

Abstract

Claims (73)

1 . An electronic watch comprising:

a housing defining:

an internal cavity of the electronic watch, the internal cavity divided into a first volume and a second volume, the first volume configured to receive liquid therein; and

at least one opening fluidly coupling the first volume and an external environment;

a speaker positioned within the first volume;

an internal member coupled to the speaker and at least partially separating the first volume from the second volume; and

a battery positioned within the second volume.

2 . The electronic watch of claim 1 , wherein the housing further defines a capillary passage configured to draw liquid from the first volume to the external environment, a size of an opening of the capillary passage smaller than a size of the at least one opening.

3 . The electronic watch of claim 2 , wherein:

the housing defines:

an interior surface; and

an exterior channel configured to receive a band;

the capillary passage defines a first portion of a capillary volume extending from the interior surface to the exterior channel; and

a space between the exterior channel and the band defines a second portion of the capillary volume fluidly coupled to the first portion of the capillary volume.

4 . The electronic watch of claim 1 , wherein the speaker further comprises a speaker diaphragm, the speaker diaphragm defining two or more openings configured to operate as a barometric vent between the first volume and the second volume.

5 . The electronic watch of claim 1 , wherein:

the internal member defines a barometric vent fluidly coupling the first volume and the second volume; and

the electronic watch further comprises an air-permeable membrane positioned at least partially along the barometric vent, the air-permeable membrane configured to inhibit liquid from entering the second volume.

6 . The electronic watch of claim 1 , further comprising:

a liquid-sensing element positioned within the first volume; and

a processing system communicably coupled to the liquid-sensing element, the processing system configured to cause ejection of liquid from the first volume in response to a signal from the liquid-sensing element detecting liquid.

7 . The electronic watch of claim 1 , wherein the speaker is positioned opposite the at least one opening such that sound output from the speaker causes liquid to be ejected from the first volume via the at least one opening.

8 . An electronic watch comprising:

a processing system;

a battery operably coupled to the processing system;

a housing defining:

an internal cavity, the internal cavity having a first volume and a second volume separated from the first volume;

an exterior surface of the electronic watch; and

an opening positioned along the exterior surface, the opening fluidly coupling the first volume to an external environment; and

a speaker operably coupled to the processing system, the speaker defining an interface between the first volume and the second volume, the speaker configured to equalize a pressure between the first volume and the second volume.

9 . The electronic watch of claim 8 , wherein the housing further defines a capillary passage configured to draw liquid from the first volume to the exterior surface.

10 . The electronic watch of claim 9 , wherein:

the exterior surface of the housing defines a recess;

the electronic watch comprises a wristband defining an end configured to be positioned in the recess;

an interstitial volume is defined between the recess and the end of the wristband;

a capillary volume is defined by the capillary passage; and

the interstitial volume and the capillary volume together define a substantially uninterrupted drain volume.

11 . The electronic watch of claim 8 , wherein:

the exterior surface of the electronic watch is a peripheral side surface of the electronic watch; and

the opening is formed through the peripheral side surface of the watch.

12 . The electronic watch of claim 8 , wherein:

the electronic watch comprises an internal member positioned between the first volume and the second volume, the internal member defining an opening fluidly coupling the first volume to the second volume;

the speaker comprises a diaphragm;

the speaker is coupled to the internal member; and

the diaphragm and the internal opening define an air-permeable passage between the first volume and the second volume, the air-permeable passage configured to equalize pressure between the first volume and the second volume.

13 . The electronic watch of claim 8 , wherein the electronic watch further comprises a mesh spanning the opening and configured to block contaminants from entering the first volume.

14 . The electronic watch of claim 8 , wherein:

the speaker is configured to produce a sound output; and

the sound output is configured to eject liquid from the first volume via the opening.

15 . A wearable electronic device comprising:

a display;

a housing coupled to the display, the housing comprising a sidewall, the sidewall defining:

an opening having a first diameter;

a capillary passage having a second diameter less than the first diameter; and

an internal cavity fluidly coupled to an external environment via the opening and the capillary passage; and

a speaker at least partially defining a sub-chamber within the internal cavity, the sub- chamber liquidly sealed from the internal cavity.

16 . The wearable electronic device of claim 15 , wherein:

the speaker comprises:

a body;

a driver assembly; and

a diaphragm;

the driver assembly is configured to move the diaphragm to produce a sound output; and

the diaphragm is positioned over an air-permeable membrane that is configured to allow air pressure equalization between the sub-chamber and the internal cavity.

17 . The wearable electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the capillary passage is configured to draw liquid from the internal cavity to the external environment via capillary action.

18 . The wearable electronic device of claim 15 , further comprising a porous drain structure configured to draw liquid from the internal cavity to the external environment.

19 . The wearable electronic device of claim 15 , further comprising:

a pressure-sensing component positioned outside the sub-chamber, the pressure- sensing component comprising:

a substrate;

a body coupled to the substrate, the substrate and the body cooperating to define a sensor cavity; and

a force-sensitive element positioned on the substrate and within the sensor cavity.

20 . The wearable electronic device of claim 15 , wherein

the speaker is configured to produce a sound output; and

the sound output is configured to eject liquid from the internal cavity via the opening.

Continuity (5)

References Cited (236)