Microphone seal

• US 9,380,369 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2013
• Issued: 06/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Utterman, Erik, Kuna, Melody
• Primary Examiner(s): Huber, Paul
• Application Number:
  US13/767,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20140226826A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,230 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/086 Protective screens, e.g. all weather or wind screens
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's

Abstract

A microphone includes elements to protect against overpressure, such as from sudden physical shock. A cavity between ambient atmosphere and the microphone diaphragm includes a movable seal, which blocks overpressure from reaching the diaphragm when closed, and allows ordinary pressure to reach the diaphragm when open. The cavity can also have an entrance from ambient atmosphere offset from an exit to the diaphragm, and can include a valve which vents overpressure, or balloons in response to overpressure, so that overpressure does not directly reach the diaphragm. The seal or valve can be kept open or kept closed, and moved between states in response to whether the microphone should be in use or protected.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a microphone port positioned to admit sound waves to a microphone;

a cavity offset from the microphone port and operative to direct pressure away from the microphone port; and

an expandable element associated with the cavity, the expandable element having a first state that reduces an effect of sound pressure on the microphone port and a second state that does not reduce an effect of sound pressure on the microphone port.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the cavity includes an input port.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein

the sound pressure entering the input port is applied to the expandable element before reaching the microphone port, and wherein the sound pressure entering the input port alters a size or shape of the cavity.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the expandable element is breakable in response to the sound pressure, and wherein the expandable element vents at least a portion of the sound pressure from the cavity.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the expandable element is responsive to a measure of acceleration.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the expandable element is responsive to a measure of sound pressure.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the sound pressure entering the input port is dissipated before reaching the microphone port.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the expandable element is a foam block.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the foam block is expandable.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the foam block is compressible.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the expandable element is a diaphragm.

12. A method, comprising:

receiving sound waves at a cavity offset from a microphone port that is configured to admit sound waves to a microphone;

setting a blocking element in a first expansion state that prevents sound waves from reaching the microphone port in response to receiving a first indicator; and

setting the blocking element in a second expansion state that allows sound waves to reach the microphone port in response to receiving a second indicator.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first indicator or the second indicator is a measure of acceleration.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the first indicator or the second indicator is a measure of sound pressure.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the blocking element includes one or more mechanical elements capable of being moved into a pathway between an audio input port and the microphone port.

16. A method, comprising:

receiving sound waves at a cavity offset from a microphone port that is configured to admit sound waves to a microphone;

setting an ameliorating element in a first expansion state to direct sound pressure away from the microphone port in response to a first indicator; and

setting the ameliorating element in a second expansion state that does not reduce an effect of sound pressure on the microphone port in response to a second indicator.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising operating the ameliorating element in response to a measure of acceleration.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising operating the ameliorating element in response to a measure of sound pressure.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the ameliorating element comprises an expandable element that expands and contracts in response to the sound pressure.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising determining whether sound pressure is expected prior to setting the ameliorating element in the first state.