# US 2019/0174223 A1 · Audio speaker having a rigid adsorptive insert > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0174223 A1 - Document ID: US20190174223A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/268,267 - Filed: 2019-02-05 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-08-27 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Christopher Wilk; Ruchir M. Dave; Scott P. Porter; Daniel T. McDonald - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190174223A1 ## CPC - H04R 1/2811: {for loudspeaker transducers} - H04R 1/2803: {for loudspeaker transducers} - H04R 2201/029: Manufacturing aspects of enclosures transducers - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) ## Abstract An audio speaker having an adsorptive insert in a speaker back volume, is disclosed. More particularly, an embodiment includes an adsorptive insert having a rigid open-pore body formed by bonded adsorptive particles. The rigid open-pore body includes interconnected macropores that transport air from the speaker back volume to adsorptive micropores in the bonded adsorptive particles during sound generation. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An audio speaker, comprising: a speaker housing having a speaker port and an inner surface; a loudspeaker mounted in the speaker port to define a back volume between the loudspeaker and the inner surface; an adsorptive insert in the back volume, wherein the adsorptive insert includes a plurality of adsorptive particles bound together to form an open-pore body having a network of macropores interconnected to transport air from the back volume to a plurality of micropores in the bonded adsorptive particles, and wherein the adsorptive insert has an outer surface; and a spacer between the outer surface and the inner surface, wherein the spacer is disposed against the outer surface and the inner surface and has a thickness at least twice a diameter of the macropores to maintain the speaker housing and the adsorptive insert in a spaced apart relationship. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The audio speaker of claim 1, wherein a first average diameter of the macropores at a center of the open-pore body is less than a second average diameter of the macropores at the outer surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The audio speaker of claim 1, wherein the spacer includes an open-cell spacer having a first porous surface disposed against the outer surface and a second porous surface exposed to air in the back volume to transport air from the back volume to the macropores at the outer surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The audio speaker of claim 3, wherein the open-cell spacer includes an open-cell foam material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The audio speaker of claim 1, wherein the spacer includes an adhesive spacer bonding the outer surface to the inner surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The audio speaker of claim 1, wherein the spacer includes a protrusion extending from the outer surface, the protrusion having an apex mounted on the inner surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The audio speaker of claim 1, wherein the adsorptive insert includes a recess in the outer surface facing the loudspeaker. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The audio speaker of claim 7, wherein the recess conforms to a portion of the loudspeaker. ### Claim 9 An audio speaker, comprising: a speaker housing having a speaker port and an inner surface; a loudspeaker mounted in the speaker port to define a back volume between the loudspeaker and the inner surface; and an adsorptive insert in the back volume, wherein the adsorptive insert includes a plurality of adsorptive particles bound together to form an open-pore body having a network of macropores to transport air from the back volume to a plurality of micropores in the bonded adsorptive particles, and wherein an outer surface of the adsorptive insert includes a recess facing the loudspeaker. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The audio speaker of claim 9, wherein a first average diameter of the macropores at a center of the open-pore body is less than a second average diameter of the macropores at the outer surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The audio speaker of claim 9, wherein the recess conforms to a portion of the loudspeaker. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The audio speaker of claim 9 further comprising a spacer between the outer surface and the inner surface, wherein the spacer is disposed against the outer surface and the inner surface to maintain the speaker housing and the adsorptive insert in a spaced apart relationship. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The audio speaker of claim 12, wherein the spacer includes an open-cell spacer having a first porous surface disposed against the outer surface and a second porous surface exposed to air in the back volume to transport air from the back volume to the macropores at the outer surface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The audio speaker of claim 13, wherein the open-cell spacer extends over the recess. ### Claim 15 A method, comprising: molding a speaker housing having a speaker port and an inner surface defining a rear cavity; bonding a plurality of adsorptive particles together to form an adsorptive insert including an open-pore body having a network of macropores are interconnected, wherein the adsorptive insert has an outer surface; inserting the open-pore body into the rear cavity; positioning a spacer between the outer surface and the inner surface such that the spacer is disposed against the outer surface and the inner surface and has a thickness at least twice a diameter of the macropores to maintain the speaker housing and the adsorptive insert in a spaced apart relationship; and mounting a loudspeaker in the speaker port to define a back volume between the loudspeaker and the inner surface, wherein the plurality of interconnected macropores transport air from the back volume to a plurality of micropores in the bonded adsorptive particles. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein a first average diameter of the macropores at a center of the open-pore body is less than a second average diameter of the macropores at the outer surface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the spacer includes an open-cell spacer positioned between the outer surface and the inner surface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the open-cell spacer includes an open-cell foam material. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the adsorptive insert includes a recess in the outer surface facing the loudspeaker. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the loudspeaker is mounted in the speaker port such that the recess conforms to a portion of the loudspeaker.