HYBRID ACOUSTIC EMI FOAM FOR USE IN A PERSONAL COMPUTER

• US 20160212892A1
• Filed: 01/15/2016
• Published: 07/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: SWEET, Edward T., GUTERMAN, Jerzy S., CROSBY, Justin D., BOOTHE, Daniel K., FARAHANI, Houtan R.
• Granted Patent: US 10,162,390 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1688 the I/O peripheral being integrated loudspeakers

Abstract

The described embodiments relate to an electronic assembly that includes multiple varied electrical components. In some embodiments, the electronic assembly can include electrical components susceptible to electromagnetic interference (EMI). In one particular embodiment, an antenna can be positioned along an exterior surface of an enclosure of the electronic assembly and another electrical component can be disposed within the enclosure. When the other electrical component is a speaker component, a port or opening for emitting audio output can be protected from EMI by surrounding the port with a conductive gasket that includes a closed cell foam substrate wrapped in an electrically conductive fabric. In some embodiments, the closed cell foam substrate defines a number of perforations that are plated with an electrically conductive material.

Claims

1. An audio assembly, comprising:

an assembly housing defining an interior volume and comprising an audio port that opens to an audio transducer;

a gasket comprising an electrically conductive material, the gasket surrounding the audio port; and

an antenna disposed along a wall of the assembly housing, wherein the gasket blocks electromagnetic interference (EMI) emitted by the antenna from passing through the gasket and entering the audio port.

2. The audio assembly of claim 1, wherein the gasket comprises:

a substrate comprising an acoustic foam material; and

an electrically conductive fabric at least partially surrounding the substrate.

3. The audio assembly of claim 2, wherein the substrate comprises:

a hole extending through the substrate; and

a plated surface defining an inner surface of the hole, the plated surface formed from an electrically conductive material, the plated surface preventing the EMI from passing through the hole.

4. The audio assembly of claim 3, wherein a portion of the substrate remains uncovered to define an uncovered portion of the substrate, and wherein the hole and the plated surface are positioned in the uncovered portion.

5. The audio assembly of claim 1, wherein the assembly housing comprises a top wall having an electrically conductive layer that prevents EMI from passing through the top wall.

6. The audio assembly of claim 1, wherein the assembly housing is formed of non-conductive material and wherein portions of the assembly housing are covered with conductive material that shields portions of the assembly housing from the EMI emitted by the antenna.

7. The audio assembly of claim 1, wherein the audio transducer further comprises a magnet that emits a magnetic field, and wherein the gasket blocks the magnetic field emitted by the magnet from passing through the gasket and interfering with the antenna when the antenna is active.

8. The audio assembly of claim 1, wherein the audio transducer comprises an acoustic membrane covering the audio port, and wherein the acoustic membrane is non-electrically conductive.

9. A portable electronic device, comprising:

an enclosure formed from a metal and comprising a plurality of openings;

an assembly housing disposed in the enclosure and comprising an audio transducer positioned to emit sound through the plurality of openings;

an antenna disposed on the assembly housing; and

a gasket disposed on the assembly housing and engaging the enclosure, the gasket defining an acoustic pathway from the audio transducer to the plurality of openings, wherein the gasket further defines a shield from electromagnetic interference (EMI) emitted by the antenna.

10. The portable electronic device of claim 9, wherein the gasket comprises:

a substrate comprising an acoustic foam material; and

an electrically conductive fabric at least partially surrounding the substrate, the electrically conductive fabric engaged with an interior surface of the enclosure.

11. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein the substrate comprises:

a hole extending through the substrate; and

a plated surface defining an inner surface of the

hole, the plated surface formed from an electrically conductive material, the plated surface preventing the EMI from passing through the hole.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 9, wherein:

the enclosure comprises a top case and a bottom case,

the top case comprises the plurality of openings, and

the bottom case comprises internal walls that receive the assembly housing.

13. The portable electronic device of claim 12, further comprising a mask extending from the top case, wherein the top case and the bottom case define an opening that allows the antenna to communicate with a device external with respect to the enclosure, and wherein the mask at least partially hides the antenna.

14. The portable electronic device of claim 13, wherein the mask is formed from a radio transparent material.

15. A method for forming a portable electronic device having an enclosure and an antenna, the method comprising:

wrapping a foam substrate with an electrically conductive fabric to form a conductive gasket;

securing the conductive gasket to an audio assembly disposed in the portable electronic device, the audio assembly comprising an assembly housing; and

engaging the conductive gasket with the enclosure, wherein the conductive gasket blocks electromagnetic interference (EMI) emitted by the antenna from passing through the conductive gasket.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising securing the antenna to the assembly housing.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the audio assembly comprises a magnet that emits a magnetic field, and wherein the conductive gasket blocks the magnetic field emitted by the magnet from passing through the conductive gasket and interfering with the antenna when the antenna is active.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein wrapping the foam substrate with the electrically conductive fabric comprises covering only a portion of the foam substrate with the electrically conductive fabric to defined an exposed end of the foam substrate that is free of the electrically conductive fabric.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the foam substrate comprises a hole, and wherein the hole comprises a plated surface formed from an electrically conductive material.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the hole is positioned in the exposed end of the foam substrate.