Compact housing for portable electronic device with internal speaker

• US 8,265,329 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2008
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lin, Gloria, Barrentine, Derek B., Rosenblatt, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): TRINH, MICHAEL MANH
• Application Number:
  US12/240,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20100061584A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,443 Days
• Field of Search: 381/386, 381/388, 381/189, 381/396, 381/345, 381/332, 361/800, 361/816, 361/818, 174/350
• US Class Current: 381/386
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/02 Casings; Cabinets ; Supports therefor; Mountings therein H04R1/28 takes precedence ; attachments for microphones H04R1/08; mounting of transducers in earpieces H04R1/1075
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 17/00 Piezoelectric transducers; Electrostrictive transducers piezoelectric or electrostrictive elements in general H10N30/00; details of piezoelectric or electrostrictive motors, generators or positioners H10N30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 9/0037 Housings with compartments containing a PCB, e.g. partitioning walls
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49005 Acoustic transducer

Abstract

Improved approaches for providing a speaker within a housing of a portable electronic device are disclosed. The housing of the portable electronic device can be compact, such as a low profile housing. In one embodiment, an acoustic chamber for a speaker can be formed internal to a housing for a portable electronic device using non-dedicated space. In another embodiment, irregular surfaces can be sealed so that an acoustic chamber for a speaker can be formed internal to a housing for a portable electronic device.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device, comprising

a printed circuit board;

electrical components mounted on said printed circuit board;

an EMI shielding structure attached to said printed circuit board, said EMI shielding structure be provided over one of more of said electrical components;

a speaker attached to said EMI shielding structure; and

a form-in-place seal used to at least in part form an acoustic chamber for said speaker,

wherein said EMI shielding structure comprises a EMI shielding can, and wherein said EMI shielding can includes one or more first openings in a top surface, and includes one or more second openings in at least one side surface, and

wherein at least one of the one or more second openings is substantially sealed with said form-in-place seal.

2. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the acoustic chamber includes a substantially isolated volume of air.

3. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein one or more of said electrical components are provided within the acoustic chamber.

4. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 1,

wherein said portable electronic device further comprises a housing, and

wherein said housing includes at least said printed circuit board, said electrical components, said EMI shielding structure, said speaker and said form-in-place seal.

5. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 4, wherein said speaker is configured within said housing of said portable electronic device to have a front volume and a back volume, with the back volume being isolated from the front volume.

6. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 4, wherein said form-in-place seal is arranged to isolate at least a part of the back volume from the front volume.

7. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 5, wherein said back volume is greater than the front volume.

8. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein said form-in-place seal has a low viscosity when placed within said housing and is thereafter cured to a higher viscosity.

9. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein said speaker is a flat speaker.

10. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein said speaker is attached on the top surface of said EMI shielding can such that the one or more first openings are covered by said speaker.

11. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein an interface between the front volume and the back volume is provided in part by said EMI shielding can.

12. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein said portable electronic device further comprises at least one gasket to assist with forming the acoustic chamber for said speaker.

13. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 12, wherein said speaker is configured within said portable electronic device to have a front volume and a back volume, with the back volume being isolated from the front volume.

14. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 13, wherein an interface between the front volume and the back volume is provided by said EMI shielding structure, said at least one gasket and said form-in-place seal.

15. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein said speaker is a piezoelectric speaker.

16. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein said portable electronic device is a handheld electronic device.

17. A portable electronic device, comprising

a housing;

electrical components provided within said housing;

an internal structure provided within said housing;

a speaker provided within said housing and attached to said internal structure; and

a form-in-place seal provided within said housing, said form-in-place seal being used to at least in part form an acoustic chamber for said speaker,

wherein said internal structure comprises a EMI shielding structure, and wherein said EMI shielding structure includes one or more first openings in a top surface, and includes one or more second openings in at least one side surface, and

wherein at least one of the one or more second openings is substantially sealed with said form-in-place seal.

18. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 17, wherein the acoustic chamber includes a substantially isolated volume of air.

19. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 17, wherein one or more of said electrical components are provided within the acoustic chamber.

20. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 17, wherein said speaker is configured within said housing of said portable electronic device to have a front volume and a back volume, with the back volume being isolated from the front volume.

21. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 20, wherein an interface between the front volume and the back volume is provided in part by said EMI shielding structure.

22. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 20, wherein said form-in-place seal is arranged to isolate at least a part of the back volume from the front volume.

23. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 17, wherein said speaker is attached on the top surface of said EMI shielding structure such that the one or more first openings are covered by said speaker.

24. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 17, wherein said portable electronic device further comprises at least one gasket to assist with forming the acoustic chamber for said speaker.

25. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 24, wherein said speaker is configured within said portable electronic device to have a front volume and a back volume, with the back volume being isolated from the front volume.

26. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 25, wherein an interface between the front volume and the back volume is provided by said EMI shielding structure, said at least one gasket and said form-in-place seal.

27. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 26, wherein said speaker is a piezoelectric speaker.

28. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 17, wherein said portable electronic device is a handheld electronic device.

29. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 17, wherein said form-in-place seal has a low viscosity when placed within said housing and is thereafter cured to a higher viscosity.

30. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 17, wherein said speaker is a flat speaker.