Hewlett-Packard Company

Scott N Hickman

Michael D Derocher

Jan Hippen

Sergey Gary Podwalny

Dennis Raymond Esterberg

Mark A Smith

John R Sterner

Masahiko Muranami

Brian G Spreadbury

An apparatus for reducing noise emitted by an electronic or other device and such devices incorporating the noise reducing apparatus. A mechanism for acoustically filtering undesired noise from an electronic device, particularly noise generated by a cooling mechanism is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, noise is filtered at least in part with an appropriately dimensioned compressible air space. The noise reducing or filtering mechanism may be utilized with portable and non-portable computers, stereos, entertainment equipment and other devices.

Acoustic filter apparatus for an electronic device

An electronic device has a shell with an interior, an exterior and a resonant frequency of, for example, 100 Hz. A transducer located in the interior of the shell is operatively coupled to control circuitry. The control circuitry is capable of sending a low frequency audio signal to the transducer which utilizes an electromagnetic force as a source of vibration excitation to cause the shell to vibrate around the resonant frequency of the shell. A low frequency sound is produced by the vibration of the shell.

Method and apparatus for audio bass enhancement in a electronic device

A power adapter for an electronic device, such as a notebook computer, includes a speaker to generate low audio frequencies, such as below 150 Hz. The speaker can be mounted in a variety of arrangements, i.e. closed-box, bass-reflex, or a more intricate shape which adds resonance (poles and zeros) to the acoustic filtering properties of the enclosure. An exemplary bass-reflex mounting includes a driver with resonance at 140 Hz, a chamber size of 7.74 in,and a port determined by Thiele-Small equations. This gives a low frequency response beginning at 70 Hz. This low frequency component is combined in free space with the higher frequency components emanating from the portable electronic device's internal speaker(s). The audio signal connection can be made when the AC adapter is connected to the notebook computer by using two additional wires in the power cord. Since users generally carry their AC adapters with them, they can enjoy full harmonic sound without taking anything extra along. Alternatively, the AC adapter and electronic device can contain additional circuitry to provide wireless paths for either the power distribution path or audio interface or both.

Power adapter having a speaker for an electronic device

A display cover is coupled to a portable computer by one of a variety of double-pivot hinges. Such arrangements permit the cover to be folded flush against the back of the computer, providing the screen protection benefits of a cover without the usually-attendant increase in computer 'footprint. ' The preferred cover includes a window that permits a portion of the display to be viewed even when the cover is closed. By such an arrangement, alert or status messages can be conveyed to the user without requiring that the cover be opened. In some embodiments, the user can respond to visual or other alert messages, again without opening the cover.

Portable computer with hinged cover having a window

A loudspeaker configuration for a notebook computer includes one or more high frequency 'upper' speakers and a low frequency 'lower' speaker. The upper speakers are mounted within a display housing and emit sounds over a range including directional sounds having wavelengths less than one-third the upper speaker diameter. The 'lower' speaker is mounted within a keyboard housing. The lower speaker is oriented downward onto the desktop or other support surface and displaces a larger volume of air than the upper speaker. Open space between a processor board and a lower housing base surface define an internal speaker-box chamber for the lower speaker. The housing base surface and a support surface for the computer defining an external speaker box for the lower speaker. The internal speaker box and external speaker box define a band pass acoustic filter for sound waves emitted from the second speaker. The sound waves passing through the band pass filter occur to a listener as non-directional sound. The directional high frequency sounds emitted from the upper speaker(s) are enriched with the non-directional sounds of the upper and lower speakers, resulting in improved sound quality.

Notebook computer speakers

A display cover is coupled to a portable computer by one of a variety of double-pivot hinges. Such arrangements permit the cover to be folded flush against the back of the computer, providing the screen protection benefits of a cover without the usually-attendant increase in computer 'footprint.' The preferred cover includes a window that permits a portion of the display to be viewed even when the cover is closed. By such an arrangement, alert or status messages can be conveyed to the user without requiring that the cover be opened. In some embodiments, the user can respond to visual or other alert messages, again without opening the cover.

Portable computer

A portable electronic device, such as a portable personal computer, has a ported speaker enclosure. The ported speaker enclosure has a speaker having a front portion and a back portion, where the front portion of the speaker forms a seal with a top surface of the portable electronic device, and the back portion of the speaker is contained in the ported speaker enclosure. An acoustic insulator, such as a gasket, is disposed between the top surface of the portable electronic device and the bosom surface of the ported speaker enclosure, thereby forming one chamber portion on one side of the acoustic insulator and a second chamber portion on the other side of the acoustic insulator. The acoustic insulator has a gap which allows for sound to travel from the first chamber portion to the second chamber portion. A first aperture in the top surface of the portable electronic device allows sound waves to emit from the front portion of the speaker. A second aperture in the top surface of the portable electronic device allows sound waves to emit from the back portion of the speaker through the first chamber portion and the second chamber portion. The sound waves from the front portion of the speaker and the sound waves from the back portion of the speaker are substantially in phase with each other when emitted from the first and second apertures.

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Corvallis, OR, United States of America

Scott N Hickman