Acoustic waveguide and computing devices using same

• US 9,066,172 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2012
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Nguyen, Anthony Pham, Fetterman, Kevin Scott, DeForest, Laura M., Morishita, Michael K., Goldberg, Michelle, Jayanathan, Stephen Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Huyen D
• Application Number:
  US13/630,672
• Publication Number:
  US 20140093114A1
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 381/313, 381/355, 381/356, 381/357, 381/358, 381/359, 381/360, 381/361, 381/368, 381/369, 379/420.03, 379/433.03
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 1/08 Mouthpieces; Microphones; Attachments therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/083 Special constructions of mouthpieces
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/342 for microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/406 microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/15 Transducers incorporated in visual displaying devices, e.g. televisions, computer displays, laptops
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49005 Acoustic transducer

Abstract

Computing devices and microphone assemblies including acoustic waveguides are described. According to some examples, a computing device may include an enclosure, a microphone which may be spaced apart and angled relative to the interior surface of the enclosure to which the microphone may be coupled. The computing device may further include an acoustic waveguide disposed between the microphone and the interior surface of the enclosure, the acoustic waveguide having a passage for allowing acoustic energy to be transmitted from a microphone opening in the enclosure to the receiving element of the microphone (also referred to as sensing element, or microphone sensor).

Claims

1. A computing device comprising:

an enclosure comprising;

a top portion comprising an interior surface; and

microphone openings formed through the top portion and the interior surface;

a microphone spaced apart from the interior surface of the enclosure, the microphone obliquely angled relative to the interior surface of the top portion of the enclosure; and

an acoustic waveguide, distinct from, disposed between, and coupled the microphone and the interior surface of the enclosure, the acoustic waveguide comprising;

a first surface having an inlet, the first surface coupled to the interior surface of the top portion of the enclosure;

a second surface having an outlet coupled to the microphone, the second surface spaced apart and angled relative to the interior surface of the top portion of the enclosure; and

a passage therethrough for allowing acoustic energy to be transmitted through a body of the acoustic waveguide from the inlet of the first surface to the outlet of the second surface.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the acoustic waveguide includes alignment features for aligning the microphone relative to the passage of the acoustic waveguide.

3. The computing device of claim 1, further comprising a mesh screen disposed between the interior surface of the enclosure and the passage of the acoustic waveguide.

4. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the microphone is a first microphone, the computing device further comprising a second microphone coupled to the enclosure.

5. The computing device of claim 4, wherein the first and second microphones are electrically coupled to processing circuitry using conductive paths formed on one or more flexible substrates.

6. The computing device of claim 4, wherein a base of the first microphone is at an angle relative to a base of the second microphone.

7. The computing device of claim 4, wherein the second microphone is recessed relative to the interior surface of the enclosure.

8. The computing device of claim 4, wherein the first microphone is adhered to the acoustic waveguide.

9. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the microphone openings are operatively arranged to couple acoustic waves from an exterior of the enclosure to an interior of the passage.

10. The computing device of claim 9, wherein at least one of the microphone openings does not transmit sound to the interior of the passage.

11. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the microphone is obliquely angled relative to the interior surface of the top portion of the enclosure between approximately 10 degrees and approximately 75 degrees.

12. A microphone assembly comprising:

a waveguide body positioned adjacent microphone openings formed through an interior surface of an enclosure for a computing device, the waveguide body comprising;

a first surface including an inlet, the first surface coupled to the interior surface of the enclosure;

a second surface including an outlet positioned opposite the first surface, the second surface spaced apart and obliquely angled relative to the interior surface of the enclosure; and

a linear passage connecting the inlet and the outlet, the linear passage obliquely angled relative to the interior surface of the enclosure; and

a microphone body coupled to the second surface of the waveguide body, the microphone body obliquely angled relative to the interior surface of the enclosure;

wherein

the passage of the waveguide body transmits acoustic energy to the microphone body through the acoustic waveguide; and

wherein

the oblique angle of the passage is distinct from the oblique angle of the microphone body.

13. The microphone assembly of claim 12, wherein a diameter of the passage of the waveguide body is constant along the length of the passage.

14. The microphone assembly of claim 12, wherein the inlet is larger than the outlet.

15. The microphone assembly of claim 12, wherein the waveguide body comprises molded plastic.

16. A method of mounting a microphone to an enclosure of a computing device, the method comprising:

adhering an acoustic waveguide to an interior surface of the enclosure including microphone opens formed therein, the acoustic waveguide comprising;

a first surface including an inlet, the first surface coupled to the interior surface of the enclosure;

a second surface including an outlet, the second surface spaced apart and angled relative to the interior surface of the enclosure; and

a passage connecting the inlet and the outlet for transmitting acoustic energy through the acoustic waveguide, the passage obliquely angled relative to the interior surface of the enclosure ; and

adhering a microphone to the second surface of the acoustic waveguide, the microphone obliquely angled relative to the interior surface of the enclosure.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the adhering of the microphone is performed prior to the adhering of the acoustic waveguide to the interior surface of the enclosure.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the adhering of the acoustic waveguide further comprises:

adhering the first surface of the acoustic waveguide to the enclosure; and

adhering a third surface connecting the first and second surfaces to the enclosure.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising locating the acoustic waveguide and microphone proximate a distinct microphone mounted to the enclosure.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising coupling the microphone and the distinct microphone to circuitry provided on a flexible substrate.