IP Library Granted Patent US 8,976,992
Granted Patent B2
US 8,976,992 · App. 13/473,514 · Granted Mar 10, 2015

Speaker porting around backlit keyboard

Inventors: Kenneth Ryan Loo (San Jose, CA); Leng Ooi (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: Google Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,976,992
App. No.
13/473,514
Granted
Mar 10, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for porting a speaker through a keyboard module and a backlight module is provided. The system includes an enclosure, the enclosure configured to mount the keyboard module, the backlight module, and the speaker thereto, wherein the speaker is disposed under a portion of the keyboard module and the backlight module. The system also includes a port path for porting the speaker through the keyboard module and the backlight module, the port path extending from the speaker to an outer surface of the keyboard module, wherein a first portion of the port path includes a passage in the enclosure, the passage disposed adjacent to an edge of the keyboard module and the backlight module, and wherein a second portion of the port path includes a periphery of a key of the keyboard module.

Claims (29)

1. A system for porting a speaker through a keyboard module and a backlight module, the system comprising:

an enclosure, the enclosure configured to mount the keyboard module, the backlight module, and the speaker thereto, wherein the speaker is disposed under a portion of the keyboard module and the backlight module; and

a port path for porting the speaker through the keyboard module and the backlight module, the port path extending from the speaker to an outer surface of the keyboard module, wherein a first portion of the port path comprises a passage in the enclosure, the passage disposed adjacent to an edge of the keyboard module and the backlight module, and wherein a second portion of the port path comprises a periphery of a key of the keyboard module.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the passage comprises an area of the enclosure having a reduced thickness.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the port path further comprises a cutout on the keyboard module and the backlight module.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the cutout is disposed adjacent to the passage.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the port path comprises a first and a second passage in the enclosure.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the first passage is disposed adjacent to a first edge of the keyboard module and the backlight module, and the second passage is disposed adjacent to a second edge of the keyboard module and the backlight module.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the first and the second passage comprise an area of the enclosure having a reduced thickness.

8. The system of claim 5 , wherein the first portion of the port path further comprises a first and a second cutout on the keyboard module and the backlight module.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first cutout is disposed adjacent to the first passage and the second cutout is disposed adjacent to the second passage.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the port path comprises a periphery of at least two keys of the keyboard module.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the port path further comprises a gap formed between the enclosure and the key.

12. A method for porting a speaker through a keyboard module and a backlight module, the method comprising:

disposing the speaker within an enclosure under a portion of the keyboard module and the backlight module; and

porting the speaker through the keyboard module and the backlight module using a port path, the port path extending from the speaker to an outer surface of the keyboard module, the port path comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion comprises a passage in the enclosure, the passage disposed adjacent to an edge of the keyboard module and the backlight module, and wherein the second portion comprises a periphery of a key of the keyboard module.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the passage comprises an area of the enclosure having a reduced thickness.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first portion further comprises a cutout on the keyboard module and the backlight module.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the cutout is disposed adjacent to the passage.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first portion comprises a first and a second passage in the enclosure.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first passage is disposed adjacent to a first edge of the keyboard module and the backlight module, and the second passage is disposed adjacent to a second edge of the keyboard module and the backlight module.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first and the second passage comprise an area of the enclosure having a reduced thickness.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first portion further comprises a first and a second cutout on the keyboard module and the backlight module.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the first cutout is disposed adjacent to the first passage and the second cutout is disposed adjacent to the second passage.

21. The method of claim 12 , wherein the second portion comprises a periphery of at least two keys of the keyboard module.

22. The method of claim 12 , wherein the second portion of the port path further comprises a gap formed between the enclosure and the key.

23. A system for porting a speaker through a keyboard module and a backlight module, the system comprising:

an enclosure, the enclosure configured to mount the keyboard module, the backlight module, and the speaker thereto, wherein the speaker is disposed underneath a portion of the keyboard module and the backlight module; and

a port path for porting the speaker, the port path having a proximal end at the speaker and a distal end at an outer surface of the keyboard module, wherein a proximal portion of the port path comprises a portion of the enclosure adjacent to an edge of the keyboard module and the backlight module, and wherein a distal portion of the port path comprises a periphery of a key of the keyboard module.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 2, 2017
From: GOOGLE INC.
To: GOOGLE LLC
Reel/Frame 044334/0466 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 18, 2012
From: LOO, KENNETH RYAN; OOI, LENG
To: GOOGLE INC.
Reel/Frame 028236/0943 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130308814A1 · Nov 21, 2013