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US 2019/0058934 A1Published application
Hydrophobic-coated transducer port with reduced occlusion impact
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsMiaolei Yan, David MacNeil, Michael K. Brown, Richard Yeh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A portable communication device includes a transducer enclosed in an enclosure. An opening allows flow of air between the transducer enclosed in the enclosure and a surrounding environment. The enclosure protects the transducer from misreading due to occlusion of environmental aggressors on the transducer. The enclosure is configured to repel the environmental aggressors away from a surface of the transducer and to keep a portion of the opening unclogged to maintain an air flow to the transducer.
Claims20
A transducer port device, the device comprising:
- a transducer enclosed in an enclosure;
- and
- an opening configured to allow flow of air between the transducer enclosed in the enclosure and a surrounding environment,
- wherein:
- the enclosure includes a layer formed on at least some internal surfaces, and
- formation of the layer on the at least some internal surfaces is arranged to have a gradient in repellent properties to keep environmental aggressors away from a surface of the transducer and to keep a portion of the opening unclogged to maintain an air flow to the transducer.
3 more elements
A device comprising:
- an enclosure including an opening;
- and
- a transducer enclosed in the enclosure,
- wherein:
- the opening is configured to permit an air flow between the transducer enclosed in the enclosure and a surrounding environment,
- a location of the opening and dimensions of the enclosure are configured to maintain at least a portion of the opening and a path for the air flow to the transducer unclogged in presence of environmental aggressors, and
- the enclosure includes at least one of a hydrophic or a superhydrophobic layer formed on at least some surfaces of the enclosure.
4 more elements
A system comprising:
- a communication device;
- and
- a miniature transducer integrated with the communication device,
- wherein:
- the miniature transducer is being enclosed in an enclosure including an opening, and
- at least some surfaces of the enclosure are coated with at least one of a hydrophic or a superhydrophobic layer to protect the miniature transducer from misreading due to occlusion of environmental aggressors on the miniature transducer.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.