Apple Inc.

Claudio Notarangelo

Christopher R Wilk

Onur I Ilkorur

Matthew A Donarski

Anthony P Grazian

Oliver Leonhardt

Hongdan Tao

Tang Yew Tan

Benjamin J Pope

Ethan Larry Huwe

Scott P Porter

Scott Charles Grinker

Brian R Twehues

Michael J Newman

Thomas H Tsang

Suzanne C Brown

Logan A Rotolo

Marco Baratelli

Joshua Kim

Martin D Taylor

Cole A McCaughan

Mo C Chan

Christopher Raymond Wilk

Implementations of the subject technology provide an acoustic module with fins integrated within the acoustic module to reduce acoustic noise. Airflow caused by pressure changes due to an oscillating diaphragm can be diverted by the fins within the acoustic module. The diverted airflow provide a more uniform airflow distribution within the acoustic module, which leads to a lower peak velocity and less unwanted noise. Fins may include a curved or crescent shape and may be spaced in a certain manner to divert the airflow.

Audio modules with fins to reduce acoustic noise due to airflow

Aspects of the subject technology relate to electronic devices having speakers with resonators, such as Helmholtz resonators, acoustically coupled to the front volume of the speaker. A speaker module for an electronic device may include multiple resonators, including a first resonator that is acoustically separate from, and at least partially disposed within a second resonator. An acoustic barrier between the first resonator and the second resonator may have a liquid resistance that is different from a liquid resistance that is provided between the first resonator and a back volume of the speaker module and/or between an external environment of the speaker. In one or more implementations, a third resonator may be provided, that is spatially separated from first and second nested and/or adjacent resonators.

Speaker with multiple resonators

Aspects of the subject technology relate to electronic devices having speakers with vented resonators. A vented resonator may have a resonator chamber and a channel that fluidly couples a front volume of the speaker with the resonator chamber. A vent such as a barometric vent may be disposed in a wall of the resonator chamber that separates the resonator chamber from the back volume of the speaker. The barometric vent may thus allow airflow from the front volume to the back volume via the resonator chamber, and prevent fluid flow from the front volume to the back volume via the resonator chamber.

Speaker with vented resonator

Implementations of the subject technology provide vented audio transducers such as vented speakers. A speaker assembly may define a first volume under a dome of the speaker and a second volume under a surround of the speaker. The first volume and the second volume may be separated by a speaker structure such as a voice coil. By venting the first volume to the second volume, the disclosed vented speakers can provide a flatter response at high frequencies and lower distortion relative to conventional speakers, by equalizing the pressure under the diaphragm during operation.

Vented audio transducer

A driver assembly including a driver module having a driver frame and a diaphragm coupled to the driver frame, the driver frame defining a front volume chamber coupled to a first side of the diaphragm and a back volume chamber; an internal control leak formed through the driver frame to couple the front volume chamber to the back volume chamber; and a first driver vent and a second driver vent formed through the driver frame to couple a second side of the diaphragm to the back volume chamber, wherein a centroid of the first driver vent is aligned with a centroid of the second driver vent.

Internal control leak integrated in a driver frame

A portable electronic device including an enclosure having an enclosure wall that forms an interior chamber. A speaker module is positioned within the interior chamber and includes a speaker and a module wall forming a back volume chamber of the speaker. The back volume chamber includes an acoustic vent port formed through the module wall to acoustically couple the back volume chamber to the interior chamber. The device further including an electromechanical valve for regulating the acoustic coupling of the back volume chamber to the interior chamber. The electromechanical valve is operable to transition between an open configuration in which the acoustic vent port is open to the interior chamber and a closed configuration in which the acoustic vent port is closed off from the interior chamber.

Valve for acoustic port

A micro-speaker assembly including an enclosure having an enclosure wall separating a surrounding environment from an encased space, wherein the enclosure wall defines an acoustic port from the encased space to the surrounding environment; a sound radiating surface positioned within the encased space and dividing the encased space into a front volume chamber and a back volume chamber, wherein the front volume chamber is acoustically coupled to a first surface of the sound radiating surface and the acoustic port, and the back volume chamber acoustically coupled to a second surface of the sound radiating surface; and a resonator acoustically coupled to the front volume chamber, wherein the resonator comprises a neck acoustically coupled to an acoustic cavity, and an opening to the neck is positioned at a distance from the acoustic port that corresponds to a quarter wavelength resonance of the front volume chamber.

Front port resonator for a speaker assembly

Growing community of inventors

San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Claudio Notarangelo