Audio device with electrostatic discharge protection
AssigneeBose Corporation
InventorsDonna Marie Sullivan, Thomas Aquinas Nilsen, James Joung-Mo Kang, Scott C. Perzanoski, Mark McCauley, Richmond Andrew Real
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various implementations include audio devices configured to mitigate electrostatic discharge (ESD) events, or strikes. In certain implementations, an audio device includes: a microphone mounted on a first side of a printed wiring board (PWB); and an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection element coupled to a second side of the PWB directly opposite the microphone, wherein the ESD protection element is positioned to divert an ESD strike away from the microphone.
Claims21
An audio device, comprising:
- a microphone mounted on a first side of a printed wiring board (PWB), wherein the PWB comprises a port allowing acoustic energy to pass therethrough for detection by the microphone;
- an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection element coupled to a second side of the PWB directly opposite the microphone, wherein the ESD protection element is positioned to divert an ESD strike away from the microphone;
- and
- a stiffener directly coupled with the second side of the PWB, the stiffener comprising an opening that is coaxial with the port, wherein the ESD protection element is coupled with the stiffener on a side opposite the PWB and comprises an electrically conductive mesh overlying the opening in the stiffener, and
- wherein the stiffener is electrically insulating and comprises a slot exposing a portion of the PWB, wherein the ESD protection element comprises a tab extending from the electrically conductive mesh to contact the exposed portion of the PWB.
An audio device, comprising:
- a microphone mounted on a first side of a printed wiring board (PWB);
- an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection element coupled to a second side of the PWB directly opposite the microphone, wherein the ESD protection element is positioned to divert an ESD strike away from the microphone;
- and
- a stiffener directly coupled with the second side of the PWB, wherein the PWB comprises a port allowing acoustic energy to pass therethrough for detection by the microphone, and wherein the stiffener comprises an opening aligned with the port in the PWB, wherein the opening comprises the ESD protection element and comprises a non-uniform radial dimension relative to a central axis of port.
An audio device, comprising:
- a microphone mounted on a first side of a printed wiring board (PWB);
- an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection element coupled to a second side of the PWB directly opposite the microphone, wherein the ESD protection element is positioned to divert an ESD strike away from the microphone;
- and
- a stiffener directly coupled with the second side of the PWB, wherein the PWB comprises a port allowing acoustic energy to pass therethrough for detection by the microphone, and wherein the stiffener comprises an opening aligned with the port in the PWB, wherein the ESD protection element comprises a lip extending around the opening in the stiffener.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.