Microphone Porting Through Keyboard Aperture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Computing devices face challenges in providing strong audio performance at both near and far field distances due to internal component density constraints and aesthetic considerations, making it difficult to implement microphones that capture audio effectively without compromising the device's appearance.
Innovation Solution
A computing device design that includes multiple microphones positioned within the housing, with at least one microphone positioned directly below the keyboard to form an audio channel through an aperture in the circuit board and between keycaps, allowing for unobtrusive detection of external sounds, and utilizing a triangular arrangement of microphones for improved audio capture at both near and far field distances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If microphones are positioned in traditional locations within the device housing, then audio capture is enabled, but the device aesthetic appearance deteriorates due to visible openings and the microphones become obtrusive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the microphone from its traditional visible location within the device housing and repositions it to an unobtrusive location beneath the keyboard. This extraction eliminates the need for visible openings in the device housing while maintaining audio capture functionality through the keyboard aperture path.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements nesting by placing the microphone within the existing keyboard structure, specifically in the space beneath the keyboard and circuit board. The audio channel is nested through the keyboard aperture and between keycaps, utilizing existing structural elements to hide the microphone while enabling audio capture.
2Reliability
If multiple microphones are arranged in specific configurations optimized for audio performance, then audio capture capability improves, but the device housing complexity increases and aesthetic appearance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The keyboard structure serves multiple functions: it provides the familiar input interface and simultaneously creates the audio channel pathway for the microphone. The keyboard aperture and keycap arrangement that are essential for keyboard functionality also serve as the acoustic pathway, eliminating the need for separate microphone openings.
Solution Approach 2:
The existing keyboard structure and apertures serve the dual purpose of enabling both keyboard input and audio capture functionality. The keyboard components themselves create the acoustic pathway, making the system self-sufficient without requiring additional dedicated structures for microphone placement.
3Volume of moving object
If internal component density is increased to make the device smaller, then device portability improves, but microphone placement options are constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the microphone placement from the traditional horizontal plane within the device housing to the vertical dimension beneath the keyboard. This dimensional shift utilizes the z-axis space under the keyboard structure, providing a new placement location that does not consume additional horizontal space within the constrained device volume.
Data Source
AI summary
A computing device includes one or more microphones that function seamlessly with other components within the computing device. In one embodiment, a microphone opening is disposed underneath a keyboard with a channel from the microphone to an opening between the keyboard webbing and a keycap of the keyboard. In another embodiment, two microphones can be spaced apart from a keyboard region of the device and a third microphone can be disposed underneath the keyboard region with an channel from the microphone to an opening between the keyboard webbing and a keycap of the keyboard.