Electronic Device Sound Intake Hole and Balance Valve Integration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The provision of holes on electronic devices for speakers and microphones compromises their appearance and user experience, and existing solutions to hide these holes increase the risk of dust blockage, affecting reliability.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device design featuring a housing with a sound intake hole and a balance valve, where the microphone and balance valve share a sound guide channel, reducing the number of appearance holes and using a waterproof and air-permeable material for the balance valve to prevent dust blockage and enhance acoustic performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If holes are provided for speaker, phone receiver, microphone, then acoustic function is achieved, but appearance quality deteriorates and user experience worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sound intake hole for the microphone with the balance valve hole into a single integrated opening on the housing. This merging of functions allows both the microphone (for acoustic recording) and the balance valve (for pressure equalization) to share one aperture, thereby improving appearance quality while maintaining both acoustic functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The single sound intake hole serves multiple functions: it acts as the microphone opening for acoustic signal intake and simultaneously serves as the balance valve opening for pressure equalization. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of holes needed, improving appearance while maintaining all required acoustic and pressure balance functions.
2Shape
If holes are hidden through micro gaps, then appearance quality improves, but reliability deteriorates due to dust blockage risk
Solution Approach 1:
The balance valve is implemented as a waterproof and air-permeable film structure that can be integrated into the housing. This flexible film allows air to pass through for pressure equalization while its material properties prevent dust particles from blocking the opening, thus maintaining both appearance quality and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The balance valve uses a waterproof and air-permeable material that has controlled porosity. This allows air molecules to pass through for pressure balance while the pore size is sufficiently small to prevent dust particles from entering and blocking the opening, resolving the contradiction between appearance and reliability.
3Shape
If balance valve size is reduced to minimize appearance impact, then appearance quality improves, but acoustic performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The balance valve uses waterproof and air-permeable material with optimized porosity that allows sufficient air flow for effective pressure equalization even in a small opening. This material property enables the balance valve to maintain acoustic performance while being miniaturized for better appearance quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the parameters of the balance valve including its size, material porosity, and permeability characteristics. By carefully adjusting these parameters, the balance valve achieves effective pressure equalization function in a minimized size that does not compromise acoustic performance while improving appearance quality.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design reduces the number of appearance holes, maintains user experience by preventing dust blockage, and improves acoustic performance by optimizing the balance valve's size and material to ensure effective sound intake and wideband recording.
Implementation Method 1
using a waterproof and air-permeable material for the balance valve to prevent dust blockage
Implementation Method 2
the balance valve is in communication with the sound intake hole through a second sound guide channel, and the balance valve is located at a junction of the inner cavity and the second sound guide channel
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device. The electronic device includes: a housing, where a sound intake hole is provided on the housing, and the housing includes an inner cavity; and a microphone and a balance valve are arranged inside the housing. The microphone is in communication with the sound intake hole through a first sound guide channel, the balance valve is in communication with the sound intake hole through a second sound guide channel, and the balance valve is located at a junction of the inner cavity and the second sound guide channel; and the first sound guide channel is in communication with the second sound guide channel.