Electronic Device Port With Segmented Support Mesh

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic devices face damage and performance issues due to unwanted particles and pollutants entering through apertures, especially under high-pressure environments, causing membrane damage and sticking between components.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a housing with a flexible, acoustically transparent membrane and a non-metallic woven support mesh that reduces contact area and provides a restoring force to prevent sticking, while allowing air and sound waves to pass through while keeping water and particles out.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a membrane is used to cover the aperture to block particles and water, then protection from pollutants is improved, but the membrane may stick to the support mesh under high pressure causing failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from particles and waterVSAvoidmembrane sticking and failure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The support mesh surface is segmented into discrete contact points through spherical protrusions, transforming a continuous contact surface into separated contact zones. This segmentation prevents the membrane from adhering across the entire surface area, reducing sticking probability under pressure while maintaining protection functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Spherical protrusions are pre-formed on the support mesh surface before the membrane is applied. This preliminary structural modification creates predetermined non-stick zones that actively prevent membrane adhesion before pressure is applied, rather than reacting to sticking after it occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Strength

If the support mesh is placed close to the membrane to provide support, then structural support is improved, but the contact area increases causing sticking under pressure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural support to membraneVSAvoidsticking between membrane and mesh

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The support mesh contact surface is divided into discrete spherical protrusions rather than a continuous flat surface. This segmentation maintains structural support through concentrated contact points while dramatically reducing the total contact area, preventing membrane sticking under pressure conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support mesh exhibits local quality variation with spherical protrusions creating zones of high support (at protrusion tips) and low contact area (between protrusions). This local differentiation provides necessary membrane support while minimizing sticking risk in the inter-protrusion regions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Illumination intensity

If the membrane is made flexible to allow sound transmission, then acoustic transparency is improved, but the membrane becomes more susceptible to damage under high pressure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveacoustic transparencyVSAvoidresistance to high pressure damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

A flexible membrane is used to cover the aperture, allowing sound waves to pass through while providing a barrier against particles and water. The flexibility enables acoustic transparency while the support mesh provides structural reinforcement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The support mesh with spherical protrusions is positioned behind the membrane to provide beforehand cushioning and support. This pre-positioned support structure prevents the flexible membrane from experiencing excessive stress under high pressure, cushioning it against potential damage before pressure peaks occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 solution effectively protects internal components from damage, maintains sound quality, and prevents permanent sticking between membranes and meshes, ensuring the device functions properly even under high-pressure conditions.

Implementation Method 1

the membrane is acoustically transparent

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic transparency: Acoustics

Implementation Method 2

the membrane is air permeable and water impermeable

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPermeability: Permeation

Implementation Method 3

a non-metallic woven support mesh that reduces contact area and provides a restoring force to prevent sticking

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS12262161B2Electronic device port

Publication Date: 2025.03.25 APPLE INC

AI summary

An electronic device can include a housing defining an aperture, a membrane extending across the aperture, and a non-metallic woven support mesh disposed parallel to the flexible membrane and extending across the aperture. In at least one example, the membrane is acoustically transparent and the membrane is air permeable and water impermeable. In addition, the support mesh can be less flexible than the membrane such that the support mesh structurally supports the membrane.