Compressible Microphone Boot for Sealed Acoustic Channel
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in designing portable electronic devices is to create a suitable acoustic channel for microphones while navigating space restrictions and other device constraints, such as component locations and form factors.
Innovation Solution
A microphone boot with a tubular body and flanges, made of compressible non-conductive material, provides a sealed acoustic channel between the microphone and the device's housing, using a friction fit and sealing members to ensure effective acoustic sealing and vibration isolation, while allowing ambient sound signals to reach the microphone.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a microphone boot with sealing members is used to seal the acoustic channel, then acoustic sealing performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sealing function and acoustic channel formation into a single integrated microphone boot component. The boot includes integrated sealing members (such as rubber seals or gaskets) that are built into the boot structure itself, eliminating the need for separate sealing components. This merging of functions reduces assembly steps and overall device complexity while maintaining effective acoustic sealing between the microphone and the device housing.
2Ease of operation
If a friction fit mechanism is used for easy installation, then ease of assembly is improved, but sealing reliability may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the compressible nature of the microphone boot material (such as rubber or elastomer) to achieve both easy installation and reliable sealing. The boot is designed with specific dimensional parameters that allow it to be compressed during installation through a friction fit mechanism, and then expand to provide tight sealing contact against the housing and microphone components. This parameter-based approach enables simple assembly while maintaining sealing reliability through the material's elastic properties.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the acoustic channel is sealed to protect against foreign objects, then protection against harmful factors is improved, but acoustic signal transmission may be blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a sealed acoustic channel through the microphone boot while incorporating specific acoustic apertures or openings at strategic locations. The sealing members are positioned to seal gaps between the boot and housing, while controlled apertures are provided in the boot structure itself to allow acoustic signals to pass through. This localized sealing approach with targeted openings protects against foreign objects entering the microphone while maintaining clear acoustic signal transmission paths.
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
The microphone boot effectively seals the acoustic channel, reduces gaps, and provides easy installation, enhancing the device's acoustic performance and protection against foreign objects, while maintaining a compact form factor.
Implementation Method 1
A microphone boot with a tubular body and flanges, made of compressible non-conductive material, provides a sealed acoustic channel
Implementation Method 2
using a friction fit and sealing members to ensure effective acoustic sealing
Data Source
AI summary
A microphone boot for a portable electronic device and a portable electronic device having such a microphone boot are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided a portable electronic device, comprising: a printed circuit board (PCB); a microphone attached to the PCB and defining an aperture therein; a frame enclosing the microphone and PCB and defining an opening therein; a cap attached to the frame and defining an aperture therein; and a microphone boot received in the opening in the frame and defining an acoustic channel between the aperture in the microphone and the aperture in the cap.