Flexible Circuit Board Microphone for Non-Flat Surface Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing terminal devices face challenges in ensuring stable installation and connection of microphone modules due to limited installation space and uneven surfaces, which restricts their application and flexibility.

Innovation Solution

A terminal device incorporating a flexible circuit board with a supporting and connecting portion that allows the microphone to be bent and adapted to non-flat surfaces, reducing installation requirements and expanding its application range by enabling secure attachment to complex structures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a rigid substrate is used for the microphone circuit board, then manufacturing precision and structural stability are improved, but adaptability to non-flat surfaces and installation flexibility deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecircuit board manufacturing precisionVSAvoidinstallation adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state parameter of the circuit board from rigid to flexible by using a flexible substrate instead of a rigid printed circuit board. This allows the circuit board to deform and adapt to non-flat mounting surfaces while maintaining electrical connectivity and structural integrity, directly resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and installation adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a flexible substrate as the circuit board foundation, which can be bent and conform to curved or irregular surfaces. This flexible film structure enables the microphone assembly to be installed on various terminal device surfaces including side edges and non-planar areas, overcoming the limitation of rigid substrates while preserving manufacturing precision through controlled flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Reliability

If sufficient installation space and flatness are required, then connection stability is improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidinstallation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible substrate acts as a conformable mounting platform that can adapt to the existing surface geometry of the terminal device. By eliminating the requirement for flat, pre-prepared mounting areas, the flexible substrate reduces installation complexity while maintaining connection stability through its ability to conform tightly to the surface and secure components effectively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible substrate introduces dynamic adaptability to the installation process, allowing the circuit board to be bent and shaped during installation to match the target surface. This dynamic characteristic enables stable connections on complex surfaces without requiring complex installation procedures or specialized flat mounting areas, thereby reducing overall installation complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of manufacture

If the microphone is designed for standard mounting areas, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but application range and versatility deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidapplication range
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

By changing the substrate from rigid to flexible, the patent enables the microphone assembly to be manufactured with the same simple process but applied to diverse locations including side edges, curved surfaces, and non-planar areas of terminal devices. This parameter change maintains manufacturing simplicity while dramatically expanding application range.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible substrate design creates a universal mounting solution that can be applied to various terminal device types and locations. The same flexible circuit board structure can conform to different surface geometries and be installed in multiple positions (front, back, side edges), making the microphone design universally applicable across different device form factors and mounting scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3629589B1Microphone and terminal device including the same
Publication Date: 2024.02.21 BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO LTD
  • EP3629589B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3629589B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3629589B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a microphone and a terminal device. The microphone includes: a housing, a flexible circuit board, and a signal converter. The housing includes cavity with an open end; the flexible circuit board is connected to the housing to block the opening of the cavity. The signal converter disposed in the cavity is configured to convert a sound signal into an electrical signal and connected to the flexible circuit board.