# US 2022/0036873 A1 · Acoustically resistive supported membrane assemblies including at least one support structure

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- Number: US 2022/0036873 A1
- Document ID: US20220036873A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/325,950
- Filed: 2021-05-20
- Published: 2022-02-03
- Earliest claimed: 2020-08-03
- Assignees: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
- Applicants: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
- Inventors: Zachary E. Lampert; Wayne M. Gibbons; Yitian Zhang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220036873A1

## CPC

- G10K 13/00: Cones, diaphragms, or the like, for emitting or receiving sound in general (for electromechanical transducers H04R7/00)
- B01D 39/083: {of organic material}
- B01D 39/10: Filter screens essentially made of metal
- B01D 39/1623: {of synthetic origin}
- B01D 39/1692: {Other shaped material, e.g. perforated or porous sheets}
- B01D 39/2017: {the material being filamentary or fibrous}
- B32B 5/02: characterised by structural features of a {fibrous or filamentary} layer {(layer formed of metallic wires B32B15/02; layer formed of natural mineral fibres B32B19/02; layer formed of wood fibres B32B21/02)}
- B32B 5/028: {Net structure, e.g. spaced apart filaments bonded at the crossing points}
- B32B 5/16: characterised by features of a layer formed of particles, e.g. chips, powder {or granules (layer formed of natural mineral particles B32B19/00; layer being formed of wood fibres, chips or particles B32B21/02)}
- B32B 5/18: characterised by features of a layer {of} foamed material
- B32B 5/245: {another layer next to it being a foam layer}
- B32B 5/30: one layer {being formed of particles, e.g. chips,} granules, powder
- B32B 7/05: the layers not being connected over the whole surface, e.g. discontinuous connection or patterned connection (using interposed adhesives or bonding materials applied in spaced arrangements B32B7/14)
- B32B 7/12: using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
- B32B 15/046: {of foam}
- B32B 15/20: comprising aluminium or copper {(B32B15/016 and B32B15/017 take precedence)}
- G10K 11/168: Plural layers of different materials, e.g. sandwiches
- H04R 1/086: {Protective screens, e.g. all weather or wind screens}
- H04R 7/04: Plane diaphragms
- 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)}
- H04R 31/003: {for diaphragms or their outer suspension}
- B01D 2239/0407: comprising particulate additives, e.g. adsorbents
- B01D 2239/0654: Support layers
- B01D 2239/083: Binders between layers of the filter
- B01D 2239/1216: Pore size
- B01D 2239/1241: Particle diameter
- B01D 2239/125: Size distribution
- B01D 2239/1291: Other parameters
- B32B 2262/0284: Polyethylene terephthalate [PET] or polybutylene terephthalate [PBT]
- B32B 2262/101: Glass fibres
- B32B 2264/0214: Particles made of materials belonging to B32B27/00
- B32B 2266/025: Polyolefin
- B32B 2266/104: Micropores, i.e. with average diameter in the range from 0.1 µm to 0.1 mm
- B32B 2307/102: Insulating
- B32B 2307/54: Yield strength; Tensile strength
- B32B 2307/718: Weight, e.g. weight per square meter
- B32B 2307/724: Permeability to gases, adsorption
- B32B 2307/7265: Non-permeable
- B32B 2307/732: Dimensional properties
- B32B 2457/00: Electrical equipment
- H04R 2307/025: Diaphragms comprising polymeric materials
- G10K: SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- 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

Water impermeable, air permeable membrane assemblies are described herein. In some embodiments, the assemblies include a polymer membrane and at least one support structure. Certain assemblies are configured to provide an acoustic impedance having phase angle of +45 degrees to −45 over a frequency range of 50 to 20,000 Hz.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An assembly comprising:
a polymer membrane; and
at least one support structure,
wherein at least a portion of the at least one support structure is in contact with the polymer membrane;
wherein the assembly has an airflow resistance of from 100 to 50,000 Rayls;
wherein the assembly has an effective stiffness from 0.0002 Pa/nm to 3,000 Pa/nm when measured using a Vibrational Displacement Test (“VDT”); and
wherein the assembly has an acoustic impedance with a phase angle of +45 degrees to −45 degrees over a frequency range of 50 to 20,000 Hz as measured by an Impedance Tube Transfer Matrix Test (“ITTMT”).

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein from 1% to 50% of the at least one support structure is in contact with the polymer membrane.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein the assembly has a water entry pressure (“WEP”) ranging from 10 psi to 350 psi measured in accordance with a Capillary Piston Test (“CPT”).

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein the assembly exhibits a transmission loss of from 3 dB to 48 dB when measured by an Impedance Tube Transfer Matrix Test (“ITTMT”) over a frequency range of 50 to 20,000 Hz.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein the assembly comprises a first support structure and a second support structure,
wherein the polymer membrane is sandwiched between the first support structure and the second support structure;
wherein the assembly comprises a first support structure and a second support structure, and
wherein the polymer membrane is sandwiched between the first support structure and the second support structure.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The assembly of claim 5, wherein the first and second support structures comprise a different material.

### Claim 7

An assembly, comprising:
a polymer membrane; and
at least one support structure,
wherein at least a portion of the at least one support structure is in contact with the polymer membrane;
wherein the assembly has an acoustic impedance with a phase angle of +45 degrees to −45 degrees over a frequency range of 50 to 20,000 Hz as measured by an Impedance Tube Transfer Matrix Test (“ITTMT”).

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The assembly of claim 7, wherein the polymer membrane has a thickness ranging from 0.025 microns to 300 microns.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The assembly of claim 7, wherein the polymer membrane comprises a plurality of pores with different pore sizes, and wherein the plurality of pores has a maximum pore size ranging from 0.1 to 30 microns.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The assembly of claim 9, wherein the support structure comprises a network of particles.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The assembly of claim 7, wherein the polymer membrane has a bubble point ranging from 0.4 psi to 120 psi.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The assembly of claim 7, wherein the at least one support structure is at least one second polymer membrane.

### Claim 13 (depends on 7)

The assembly of claim 7, wherein the at least one support structure has a thickness of 10 to 1000 microns.

### Claim 14 (depends on 7)

The assembly of claim 7, wherein the at least one support structure has an effective open area of from 5% to 98%.

### Claim 15

An assembly comprising:
a polymer membrane; and
at least one support structure,
wherein at least a portion of the at least one support structure is in contact with the polymer membrane;
wherein the assembly exhibits a transmission loss that does not vary by more than 1.5 dB/octave over a frequency range of 50 to 20,000 Hz when measured by an Impedance Tube Transfer Matrix Test (“ITTMT”).

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The assembly of claim 15, wherein the polymer membrane comprises expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE).

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The assembly of claim 15, wherein the polymer membrane has a Young's Modulus ranging from 1 MPa to 1000 MPa.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The assembly of claim 15, wherein the assembly comprises a single support structure.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The assembly of claim 15, wherein the at least one support structure is at least one support layer, and wherein the at least one support layer comprises fiberglass.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The assembly of claim 15, wherein the at least one support structure is at least one support layer, and wherein the at least one support layer comprises a metal.