Shielded microphone for mobile communications device

• US 20070237348A1
• Filed: 04/07/2006
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Phillips, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,213,660 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/355
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/086 Protective screens, e.g. all weather or wind screens
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 19/013 for loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 9/002 with localised screening

Abstract

A shielded microphone, and method for shielding a microphone, are provided for use in a communications device having a circuit board and a microphone, especially where the device also has an antenna in close proximity to the microphone. The microphone is provided in an electromagnetic shield (e.g. formed as a shielding can) and a resilient separator (e.g. o-ring or disk) is provided over the shield. The device housing is stacked over the separator and shield, while the latter are stacked over the circuit board so that the separator and shield, with microphone there under, are sandwiched between the housing and the circuit board. By this sandwiching the separator is loaded onto the shield to drive the shield directly against the circuit board to make an electrical ground connection therewith, the microphone also being electrically connected to the printed circuit board. The microphone is thereby enclosed between the circuit board and the shield, such that the shield shields the microphone against electromagnetic energy radiated by the proximate antenna. The resilience of the separator accommodates the variation in the stacking of the components.

Claims

1. A shielded microphone assembly for use in a communications device having a circuit board and a housing, and in use being proximate to an antenna, said microphone assembly comprising:

a. a microphone;

b. a conductive, electromagnetic shield over said microphone; and

,

c. a resilient separator over said electromagnetic shield;

wherein said assembly is configured to co-operate with said housing and said circuit board to electrically connect each of said microphone and said electromagnetic shield to said circuit board, said electromagnetic shield being thereby grounded, upon loading said housing onto said separator and said electromagnetic shield onto said circuit board, thereby enclosing said microphone between said circuit board and said electromagnetic shield.

2. A shielded microphone assembly according to claim 1 wherein said electromagnetic shield is formed as a shielding can having a lip, said shielding can electrically connecting to said circuit board by means of said lip.

3. A shielded microphone assembly according to claim 2 wherein said separator is a resilient o-ring surrounding an outside perimeter of said shielding can over said lip.

4. A shielded microphone assembly according to claim 1 wherein said electromagnetic shield is formed as a shielding can and said separator is a resilient disk positioned over a ceiling of said shielding can, said ceiling configured for positioning adjacent said housing upon said loading of said housing.

5. A shielded microphone assembly according to claim 4 wherein said disk is aligned over said shielding can, upon said loading of said housing, by means of a channel formed in said housing.

6. A shielded microphone assembly according to claim 1, wherein said separator is comprised of an electrically insulating material.

7. A shielded microphone assembly according to claim 1, wherein said circuit board is a printed circuit board.

8. A shielded microphone assembly according to claim 1, wherein said electromagnetic shield includes an outlet for communication of sound waves to said microphone.

9. A shielded microphone assembly according to claim 4, wherein said disk comprises a central aperture for communication of sound waves to said microphone.

10. A mobile communications device comprising an antenna and a shielded microphone assembly in accordance with claim 1.

11. A mobile communications device comprising an antenna and a shielded microphone assembly in accordance with claim 3.

12. A mobile communications device comprising an antenna and a shielded microphone assembly in accordance with claim 4.

13. A method of shielding a microphone in a communications device having a circuit board and a housing, said device being used with an antenna either as part of said device or in proximity to said device, the method comprising:

a. shielding said microphone with a conductive, electromagnetic shield over said microphone;

b. providing a resilient separator over said electromagnetic shield; and

,

c. sandwiching said shielded microphone and separator between said housing and said circuit board;

whereby said shielded microphone and separator are configured to co-operate with said housing and said circuit board to electrically connect each of said microphone and said electromagnetic shield to said circuit board, said electromagnetic shield being thereby grounded, said sandwiching producing a loading of said housing onto said separator and said electromagnetic shield onto said circuit board, thereby enclosing said microphone between said circuit board and said electromagnetic shield.

14. A method according to claim 13 whereby said electromagnetic shield is formed as a shielding can having a lip, said shielding can electrically connecting to said circuit board by means of said lip.

15. A method according to claim 14 whereby said separator is a resilient o-ring provided to surround an outside perimeter of said shielding can.

16. A method according to claim 15 whereby said electromagnetic shield is formed as a shielding can and said separator is a resilient disk provided over a ceiling of said shielding can, said ceiling being positioned adjacent said housing upon said loading of said housing.

17. A method according to claim 13 whereby said separator is comprised of an electrically insulating material.

18. A method according to claim 13 whereby said electromagnetic shield includes an outlet for communication of sound waves to said microphone.

19. A method according to claim 13 whereby said microphone is fixed to said circuit board and said circuit board is a printed circuit board.

20. A method according to claim 13 whereby said microphone is held against said circuit board by said electromagnetic shield.