Waterproof Membrane Pore Structure for Sound Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing waterproof membranes for electronic devices fail to maintain effective sound permeation properties, particularly in high frequency ranges, as the size of the sound permeation region is reduced, leading to deteriorated sound quality in devices like smart watches and smartphones.
Innovation Solution
A waterproof membrane with an insertion loss of 5.0 dB or less for both 1 kHz and 10 kHz frequencies, and a permeation region area of 1.3 mm², combined with a support member to enhance handling and attachment, ensuring reliable sound transmission while preventing water ingress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the permeation region area is reduced to meet size reduction requirements of electronic devices, then the device size is reduced, but the sound permeation property deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the pore structure of the waterproof membrane, specifically controlling the average pore diameter to 0.03-0.5 μm and porosity to 30-90%, to maintain effective sound permeation even with a reduced permeation region area of 0.5-2.0 mm². This allows the membrane to achieve both small device size and reliable sound transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) with specific pore structures and potentially multiple layers or coatings to create a waterproof membrane that maintains excellent sound permeation properties across a wide frequency range (20 Hz-20 kHz) while allowing for reduced permeation region area.
2Volume of moving object
If the permeation region area is reduced, then the waterproof membrane can be integrated into smaller electronic devices, but the sound quality deteriorates due to poor high frequency permeation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes physical parameters including average pore diameter (0.03-0.5 μm), porosity (30-90%), and thickness (5-50 μm) to ensure that the waterproof membrane maintains excellent sound permeation properties across the entire audible frequency range, particularly preserving high frequency sound quality while allowing for reduced permeation region area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes porous materials with specifically controlled pore structures (average pore diameter 0.03-0.5 μm, porosity 30-90%) to create a waterproof membrane that allows effective sound transmission across all frequencies while enabling integration into compact electronic devices with reduced permeation region area.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a porous waterproof membrane is used to prevent water ingress, then waterproof performance is achieved, but sound transmission is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs porous PTFE materials with precisely controlled pore sizes (0.03-0.5 μm) and porosity (30-90%) to create a membrane that allows sound waves to pass through while blocking water. The porous structure enables sound transmission through the pores while the hydrophobic PTFE material prevents water penetration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the membrane material, using PTFE with specific pore diameter (0.03-0.5 μm) and porosity (30-90%), to achieve simultaneous waterproofing and sound transmission. These parameter optimizations ensure that the membrane blocks water while allowing sound waves to pass through effectively.
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 ensures excellent sound permeation properties across a wide frequency range, even with further size reduction of the permeation region, maintaining sound quality in electronic devices while maintaining waterproof integrity.
Implementation Method 1
a waterproof membrane that prevents ingress of water is disposed in such a manner as to prevent ingress of water from the outside of the housing to the inside of the housing via the opening
Implementation Method 2
Patent Literatures 1 and 2 each disclose a porous membrane of polytetrafluoroethylene (hereinafter referred to as 'PTFE') that can be used as a waterproof membrane
Data Source
AI summary
A waterproof membrane of the present disclosure has an insertion loss of 5.0 dB or less for sound with a frequency of 1 kHz, and an insertion loss of 5.0 dB or less for sound with a frequency of 10 kHz when a permeation region for sound of the waterproof membrane has an area of 1.3 mm2. The waterproof membrane of the present disclosure can cope with further size reduction of the permeation region. A waterproof member of the present disclosure includes the above-mentioned waterproof membrane of the present invention and a support member joined to the waterproof membrane.