Liquid-resistant acoustic device gasket and membrane assemblies

• US 9,811,121 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2015
• Issued: 11/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Cardinali, Steven P., Shedletsky, Anna-Katrina
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins, Davetta W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ojo, Oyesola C
• Application Number:
  US14/747,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20160378142A1
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 381189
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2207/11 Structural features, others than packages, for protecting a device against environmental influences
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 7/0009 Structural features, others than packages, for protecting a device against environmental influences B81C1/00777 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0208 for combination with other devices having a different main function, e.g. watches, pens
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/00 Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/086 Protective screens, e.g. all weather or wind screens
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/44 Special adaptations for subaqueous use, e.g. for hydrophone
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 7/00 Diaphragms for electromechanical transducers in general F16J3/00; Cones for musical instruments G10 cones, diaphragms or the like, for emitting or receiving sound in general G10K13/00; Mounting thereof

Abstract

A liquid-resistant acoustic assembly for an electronic device includes an acoustic device positioned in a housing, a gasket compressed between the acoustic device and the housing, and a liquid-resistant membrane. The liquid-resistant membrane is disposed such that it is isolated from a non-uniform compressive distribution resulting from compression of the gasket. The liquid-resistant membrane may be uncompressed by compression of the gasket or compressed by a different compressive force than the gasket. For example, the liquid-resistant membrane may not be positioned between the gasket and the acoustic device, may be separated from the gasket, may be mounted to a shelf of the gasket or within a gap defined by the gasket, mounted to a stiffener positioned within the gasket, and mounted using other similar configurations.

Claims

1. A liquid-resistant acoustic assembly for an electronic device, comprising:

an acoustic device positioned in a housing;

a gasket positioned between the housing and the acoustic device and having a portion subject to a first compressive force, wherein the gasket has an inner surface; and

a liquid-resistant membrane having an outer edge, disposed between the housing and the acoustic device, that is subject to a second compressive force different from the first compressive force, wherein the liquid-resistant membrane is separated from the gasket by a gap between the outer edge and the inner surface, and wherein the gap mechanically isolates the liquid-resistant membrane from the first compressive force.

2. The liquid-resistant acoustic assembly of claim 1, wherein the second compressive force is zero.

3. The liquid-resistant acoustic assembly of claim 1, wherein:

a surface of the gasket facing the housing includes a protrusion that extends from the surface and contacts the housing; and

the liquid-resistant membrane is disposed within an area encircled by the protrusion.

4. The liquid-resistant acoustic assembly of claim 1, wherein the liquid-resistant membrane is not positioned between the gasket and the acoustic device.

5. The liquid-resistant acoustic assembly of claim 1, wherein the liquid-resistant membrane occupies an opening defined by the gasket.

6. The liquid-resistant acoustic assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the gasket defines a space; and

the liquid-resistant acoustic assembly further comprises;

a ring positioned within the space and having a higher elastic modulus than the gasket.

7. The liquid-resistant acoustic assembly of claim 6, wherein the liquid-resistant membrane is bonded to the ring.

8. The liquid-resistant acoustic assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a circuit substrate coupled to the acoustic device;

wherein the liquid-resistant membrane is adhesively bonded to the circuit substrate.

9. A liquid-resistant acoustic assembly for an electronic device, comprising:

an acoustic device positioned in a housing;

a bracket coupled to the acoustic device;

a seal compressed by the bracket toward an internal surface of the housing, wherein the seal has a first perimeter; and

a membrane located between the housing and the acoustic device that resists passage of liquid but allows passage of air and is uncompressed by the compression of the seal, wherein the membrane has a second perimeter, and wherein the second perimeter is smaller than the first perimeter such that the membrane is mechanically isolated from the seal.

10. The liquid-resistant acoustic assembly of claim 9, wherein the membrane is located within a space defined by the seal.

11. The liquid-resistant acoustic assembly of claim 10, further comprising a stiffener mounted within the space.

12. The liquid-resistant acoustic assembly of claim 11, wherein the membrane is mounted to at least one of:

a first surface of the stiffener that faces the internal surface of the housing;

or a second surface of the stiffener that faces the acoustic device.

13. The liquid-resistant acoustic assembly of claim 11, wherein the stiffener comprises at least one of plastic, polyimide, metal, steel, or stainless steel.

14. The liquid-resistant acoustic assembly of claim 9, wherein:

the seal includes a shelf facing the internal surface of the housing; and

the membrane is mounted to the shelf.

15. A liquid-resistant acoustic assembly for an electronic device, comprising:

an acoustic device;

a gasket that is compressed between a housing of the electronic device and the acoustic device, resulting in a non-uniform compressive distribution; and

a liquid-resistant membrane disposed between the housing and the acoustic device;

wherein the liquid-resistant membrane is isolated from the non-uniform compressive distribution, wherein the liquid-resistant membrane is separated from the gasket by a stiffener such that the liquid-resistant membrane does not contact the gasket.

16. The liquid-resistant acoustic assembly of claim 15, wherein the stiffener comprises a rigid plate positioned between the gasket and the liquid-resistant membrane.

17. The liquid-resistant acoustic assembly of claim 16, wherein the rigid plate uniformly transfers force from the gasket to the liquid-resistant membrane, thereby resulting in the liquid-resistant membrane being isolated from the non-uniform compressive distribution.

18. The liquid-resistant acoustic assembly of claim 15, wherein the non-uniform compressive distribution is due to an uneven surface of the gasket.

19. The liquid-resistant acoustic assembly of claim 15, wherein:

the gasket resists passage of liquid into an internal volume of the electronic device beyond the acoustic device; and

the liquid-resistant membrane resists passage of the liquid into the acoustic device.

20. A liquid-resistant acoustic assembly for an electronic device, comprising:

an acoustic device disposed within a housing;

a gasket positioned between the acoustic device and the housing, wherein the gasket has an opening and an inner surface that surrounds the opening;

a liquid-resistant membrane disposed between the gasket and the acoustic device; and

a ring-shaped rigid member positioned between at least part of the gasket and the liquid-resistant membrane that prevents non-uniform distribution of compressive force between the gasket and the liquid-resistant membrane, wherein the ring-shaped rigid member is located in the opening and mounted to the inner surface of the gasket, and wherein the liquid-resistant membrane is mounted to the ring-shaped rigid member.