Portable computer electrical grounding and audio system architectures

• US 9,829,930 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2013
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Thomason, Gary, Fetterman, Kevin S., DeForest, Laura M., Hopkinson, Ron, Goldberg, Michelle, Goel, Ruchi, Raff, John, Hibbard, Timothy S.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHIN, VIVIAN C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fahnert, Friedrich W
• Application Number:
  US13/973,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20130343589A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,559 Days
• Field of Search: 381 87, 381101-103, 381300, 381303, 381304, 381333, 381334, 381337, 381339, 381345, 381349, 381386, 381388, 381393-395, 36167955, 36167909, 36167926, 36167927, 345168, 345169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• 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 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1688 the I/O peripheral being integrated loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L

Abstract

A portable computing device having a substantially non-conducting outer housing and alternative electrical grounding and audio system architectures is disclosed. The device can be a laptop computer having a main logic board, a keyboard assembly, an audio source positioned below the keyboard assembly, and an equalizer electrically coupled to the audio source, with each of these components being electrically coupled to a universal grounding structure. The audio source emits sound waves that are propagated through the keyboard assembly and between gaps between keyboard keys and the outer housing. Settings for the equalizer can be selected to account for sound absorption and amplification characteristics of the sound waves along these sound transmission paths. The universal grounding structure includes a plurality of separate ground components that are electrically intercoupled, each being substantially smaller than the overall portable computing device, and also includes an electromagnetic interference shield around the main logic board.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a housing defining apertures;

a keyboard assembly including keys, each of the keys extending through and filling a majority of a respective one of the apertures; and

an audio source positioned below the keyboard assembly and configured to emit sound waves,

wherein substantially all of the sound waves emitted by the audio source travel through gaps between the keys and portions of the housing that define the apertures.

2. The portable electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the audio source is configured to receive electrical signals and to generate the sound waves in response to the received electrical signals, the portable electronic device further comprising:

an equalizer configured to compensate for absorption and amplification characteristics of the sound waves at the keyboard assembly by adjusting the electrical signals received by the audio source.

3. The portable electronic device defined in claim 2, wherein the equalizer is configured to increase a sound level of a first frequency sound wave emitted by the audio source and wherein the equalizer is configured to reduce a sound level of a second frequency sound wave emitted by the audio source.

4. The portable electronic device defined in claim 2, wherein the equalizer is configured to reduce a sound level of a sound wave emitted by the audio source at a frequency that produces an unwanted vibration in the housing.

5. The portable electronic device defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a main logic board; and

an electromagnetic shielding structure for the main logic board, wherein the electromagnetic shielding structure forms a part of a universal grounding structure for the portable electronic device.

6. The portable electronic device defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a main logic board;

an electromagnetic shielding structure around the main logic board; and

a conductive backplate structure that is electrically coupled to the main logic board, the keyboard assembly, and the audio source, wherein the main logic board is interposed between the conductive backplate structure and the electromagnetic shielding structure.

7. The portable electronic device defined in claim 6, wherein the conductive backplate structure and the electromagnetic shielding structure are electrically coupled via a plurality of conductive pins positioned through the main logic board.

8. The portable electronic device defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a chamber acoustically coupled to the audio source, wherein dimensions of the chamber are selected to enhance a frequency response of one or more frequencies of the sound waves emitted from the audio source.

9. The portable electronic device defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a keyboard assembly substrate interposed between the audio source and the portions of the housing that define the apertures.

10. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a housing having an exterior surface defining a plurality of openings;

a keyboard assembly disposed within the housing and having a plurality of keys, wherein each key of the plurality of keys protrudes through and fills a majority of a respective opening of the plurality of openings; and

an audio source positioned below the keyboard assembly, wherein substantially all sound waves emitted by the audio source exit the housing through gaps between the plurality of keys and portions of the housing defining the respective openings.

11. The portable electronic device defined in claim 10, further comprising:

a chamber acoustically coupled to the audio source, wherein the chamber has dimensions that are selected to enhance a frequency response of one or more frequencies of the sound waves emitted by the audio source.

12. The portable electronic device defined in claim 10, further comprising:

an equalizer configured to compensate for sound wave absorption characteristics associated with emitting the sound waves through the keyboard assembly by increasing a sound level of a first frequency sound wave emitted by the audio source and decreasing a sound level of a second frequency sound wave emitted by the audio source.