Acoustic modules

• US 9,852,723 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2014
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ely, Colin M., Rothkopf, Fletcher R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dougherty, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Addison, Karen B
• Application Number:
  US14/227,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20150273524A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,370 Days
• Field of Search: 381335, 381367, 367355, 367141, 310311, 310322, 310367, 310366, 310320, 310309, 29428
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 9/22 Mountings; Casings
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 19/005 using semiconductor materials
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 31/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of transducers or diaphragms therefor manufacture of microstructural arrangements of deformable or non-deformable structures in general B81C1/00182

Abstract

In one embodiment, acoustic devices are formed on a substrate which is then placed on a first HAF layer, a screen, and a second HAF layer. The layers of HAF each have apertures aligned with acoustic ports of the devices. The substrate is heated such that the first layer of HAF adheres to the substrate and the screen and the second layer of HAF adheres to the screen. The substrate is cut to separate the devices into modules. In other embodiments, a waterproof membrane covering the acoustic port of an acoustic module may be bonded to a screen to form a gap such that it moves under pressure until restrained by the screen. In still other embodiments, back volume covers for acoustic devices are formed by stacking and heating a first HAF layer, a glass-reinforced epoxy laminate layer, a second HAF layer, and a top layer on a substrate.

Claims

1. An acoustic module, comprising:

an acoustic device including an acoustic port;

a screen element bonded to a surface of the acoustic device to cover the acoustic port; and

a waterproof membrane bonded to the screen element to cover the acoustic port;

wherein a portion of the waterproof membrane aligned with the acoustic port is separated from the screen element by a gap dimensioned to cause the screen element to restrain motion of the portion of the waterproof membrane when pressure sufficient to rupture the waterproof membrane is applied to the waterproof membrane.

2. The acoustic module of claim 1, wherein the screen element comprises at least one of a stiff material, stainless steel, a composite material, brass, or aluminum.

3. The acoustic module of claim 1, wherein the screen element includes a plurality of holes formed by at least one of chemical etching or laser perforation.

4. The acoustic module of claim 1, wherein the waterproof membrane comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.

5. The acoustic module of claim 1, wherein the waterproof membrane is permeable to air but impermeable to water.

6. The acoustic module of claim 1, further comprising:

a first layer of heat activated film bonding the screen element to the surface of the acoustic device; and

a second layer of heat activated film bonding the waterproof membrane to the at least one screen element.

7. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a device housing including a first acoustic port;

an acoustic module coupled to the device housing, the acoustic module comprising;

a second acoustic port aligned with the first acoustic port and extending through a surface of the acoustic module,

an acoustic component aligned with the second acoustic port;

a waterproof membrane covering the second acoustic port,

a screen element covering the second acoustic port and positioned between the waterproof membrane and the acoustic component,

and

a spacer element disposed between the waterproof membrane and the screen element, the spacer element defining an opening aligned with the second acoustic port, the spacer element creating a gap between the waterproof membrane and screen element sized to allow the waterproof element to vibrate and pass acoustic waves through the first and second acoustic ports,

wherein a thickness of the spacer element is selected to allow the screen element to restrain movement of the waterproof membrane in the area of the second acoustic port.

8. The portable electronic device of claim 7, wherein the spacer element comprises a bonding layer joining the waterproof membrane to the screen element.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 7, wherein the gap is sized to prevent tearing of the waterproof membrane when water pressure compresses a portion of the waterproof membrane in the area of the second acoustic port against the screen element.

10. An acoustic module, comprising:

an acoustic port extending through a surface of the acoustic module;

an acoustic component aligned with the acoustic port;

a waterproof membrane covering the acoustic port;

a screen element covering the acoustic port and positioned between the waterproof membrane and the acoustic component; and

a spacer element disposed between the waterproof membrane and the screen element, the spacer element having an opening aligned with the acoustic port creating a gap between the waterproof membrane and screen element enabling the waterproof element to vibrate and pass acoustic waves through the acoustic port,

wherein a thickness of the spacer element is selected to enable the screen element to restrain movement of the waterproof membrane in the area of the acoustic port.

11. The acoustic module of claim 10, wherein the spacer element is an adhesive layer bonding the waterproof membrane to the screen element.