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US 10,542,338 B2Granted
Concealed connector for an electronic device
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsColin M. Ely, Brad G. Boozer, Benjamin J. Kallman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electronic device includes a concealed electrical connector positioned within a speaker opening defined by an enclosure of the electronic device. A mating connector is configured to fit through the speaker opening and couple to the concealed electrical connector to form a bidirectional communications path with circuitry within the electronic device.
Claims20
An electronic device comprising:
- an enclosure defining a speaker aperture for emitting sound;
- a speaker disposed within the enclosure and including a diaphragm acoustically coupled to the speaker aperture;
- an acoustically permeable layer positioned between the diaphragm and the speaker aperture, wherein the acoustically permeable layer includes an inner surface adjacent the diaphragm and an outer surface adjacent the speaker aperture;
- and
- a plurality of electrical contacts disposed within the speaker aperture and positioned at the outer surface of the acoustically permeable layer such that the electrical contacts are accessible by a mating connector inserted through the speaker aperture.
2 more elements
An electronic watch comprising:
- an enclosure formed from a housing and a display screen that are joined together to define an exterior surface of the electronic watch;
- a speaker disposed within the enclosure and including a diaphragm;
- a speaker opening defined by the enclosure and formed at the exterior surface of the electronic watch;
- a processor disposed within the enclosure and coupled to the speaker with one or more conductors that carry signals causing the diaphragm to generate acoustic energy;
- an acoustic chamber at least partially defined by the enclosure and coupling the diaphragm to the speaker opening;
- an acoustically permeable layer positioned between the diaphragm and the speaker opening and having an outer surface facing the speaker opening;
- and
- a plurality of electrical contacts disposed on the outer surface and accessible by a mating connector inserted through the speaker opening.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.