Patent Publication Number: US-11665457-B2

Title: Audio component drainage system for image capture device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/372,611, filed Apr. 2, 2019, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates generally to an audio system for a submersible device. More specifically, this disclosure relates to a drainage system for a microphone or a speaker that moves liquid away from the microphone or the speaker after the device emerges from water. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Photography during physical activity has been improved by use of simple-to-operate, lightweight, compact cameras. These cameras can be used in a variety of environments, including environments where the camera will be exposed to water such as beaches, lakes, pools, oceans, etc. In these environments, the camera can be splashed, submerged, or otherwise inundated with water, impacting performance of an audio assembly within the camera that relies on air as a transmission medium to provide ambient audio, for example, in the form of audio signals and/or sound waves to the audio assembly. The presence of liquids such as water can distort or block the ambient audio from reaching the audio assembly within the camera. 
     SUMMARY 
     Disclosed herein are implementations of an audio component drainage system for an electronic device. 
     In one embodiment, a device includes an audio assembly and a housing defining an aperture that interfaces with the audio assembly at an interior surface of the housing. The device includes stanchions coupled to an exterior surface of the housing at a location of the aperture and a cover coupled to the stanchions and free of contact with the housing. The device includes a drainage channel extending between the cover, the exterior surface of the housing, and the stanchions. The drainage channel includes a first portion defining an inlet of the drainage channel, and the first portion has a first width defined by the stanchions. The drainage channel includes a second portion defining an outlet of the drainage channel, and the second portion has a second width defined by the stanchions. The stanchions are tapered in shape so that the first width is wider than the second width. 
     In one embodiment, a drainage system includes a cover depression having an upper level and a lower level defined in a housing of a device, and the upper level extends across an aperture defined through the housing and being staggered in depth into the housing relative to the lower level. The device includes an audio assembly positioned at a location of the aperture. The drainage system includes a cover extending over the cover depression to define a drainage channel that extends from an inlet, over the audio assembly, across the upper level and the lower level of the cover depression, and to an outlet to drain moisture from the audio assembly. The inlet interfaces with the upper level, and the outlet interfaces with the lower level. 
     In one embodiment, an image capture device includes a housing including an exterior surface defining a depression, an opening within the depression, and a sloped structure along the depression. The image capture device includes an audio assembly disposed adjacent to the opening and a cover coupled with the housing over the depression. The image capture device includes an inlet positioned between a first edge of the cover and the housing, and the inlet is used to facilitate a flow of liquid within the depression and over the audio assembly. The image capture device includes an outlet positioned between a second edge of the cover and the housing, and the outlet is used to facilitate the flow of the liquid across the audio assembly and out of the depression. The image capture device includes a drainage channel fluidly connecting the inlet and the outlet between the housing and the cover, and a shape of the drainage channel tapers from the inlet to the outlet. 
     Additional embodiments are described in further detail below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure is best understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is emphasized that, according to common practice, the various features of the drawings are not to-scale. On the contrary, the dimensions of the various features are arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity. 
         FIGS.  1 A- 1 B  are isometric views of an example of an image capture device. 
         FIG.  1 C  is a cross-sectional view of the image capture device of  FIGS.  1 A-B . 
         FIG.  2    is a block diagram of an example of an image capture system. 
         FIG.  3 A  is a front detail view of a drainage system. 
         FIG.  3 B  is a front detail view of the drainage system of  FIG.  3 A  without the cover. 
         FIGS.  4 A- 4 C  are sectional views of the drainage system of  FIGS.  3 A- 3 B  as the drainage system moves from submerged in water to emerged from water. 
         FIG.  5 A  is a front detail view of another drainage system. 
         FIG.  5 B  is a front detail view of the drainage system of  FIG.  5 A  without the cover. 
         FIG.  6 A  is a front detail view of a drainage system. 
         FIG.  6 B  is a front detail view of the drainage system of  FIG.  6 A  without the cover. 
         FIG.  6 C  is a sectional view of the drainage system of  FIGS.  6 A- 6 B . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Performance of an audio assembly disposed within a housing of an image capture device or other electronic device with audio components can be improved using an efficiently-designed drainage system that both allows ambient audio (e.g. audio signals and/or sound waves) to reach the audio assembly and moves moisture away from the audio assembly. For example, an image capture device using a drainage system can include a housing defining an audio aperture and an audio assembly coupled to the housing at a location of the audio aperture. The drainage system can include a cover coupled to the housing, with the cover configured to protect the audio assembly from an environment external to the image capture device. The cover can define apertures that allow both air and liquid to flow through the cover to reach the audio assembly. The drainage system can include a drainage channel defined between the cover and the housing that is configured to allow air to reach the audio assembly and to drain moisture from the audio assembly when the image capture device emerges from a liquid such as water. 
       FIGS.  1 A-B  illustrate an example of an image capture device  100 . The image capture device  100  includes a housing or body  102  and two camera lenses  104 ,  106  disposed on opposing surfaces of the body  102 , for example, in a back-to-back or Janus configuration. 
     The image capture device may include electronics (e.g., imaging electronics, power electronics, etc.) internal to the body  102  for capturing images via the lenses  104 ,  106  and/or performing other functions. The image capture device may include various indicators such as an LED light  112  and an LCD display  114 . 
     The image capture device  100  may include various input mechanisms such as buttons, switches, and touchscreen mechanisms. For example, the image capture device  100  may include buttons  116  configured to allow a user of the image capture device  100  to interact with the image capture device  100 , to turn the image capture device  100  on, and to otherwise configure the operating mode of the image capture device  100 . In an implementation, the image capture device  100  includes a power button and a mode button. It should be appreciated, however, that, in alternate embodiments, the image capture device  100  may include additional buttons to support and/or control additional functionality. 
     The image capture device  100  may also include one or more audio components  118  such as microphones configured to receive and record audio signals (e.g., voice or other audio commands) in conjunction with recording video or in connection with audible control commands and/or speakers configured to provide alerts or notifications. In the example shown in  FIGS.  1 A and  1 B , four audio components  118  are shown using representative patterns of apertures or depressions extending partially into or fully through the housing or body  102 , though any number of audio components  118 , such as one, two, four, or six may be used. The apertures or depressions may be a combination of design features formed as depressions in the housing or body  102  and apertures that extend fully through the housing or body  102 . The patterns of apertures and depressions are designed to allow the audio components  118 , for example, microphones, that are disposed within the housing or body  102  proximate to locations of the apertures and depressions (i.e., nearby) to capture ambient audio from an environment external to the housing or body  102  of the image capture device  100 . 
     The image capture device  100  may include an interactive display  120  that allows for interaction with the image capture device  100  while simultaneously displaying information on a surface of the image capture device  100 . 
     The image capture device  100  may be made of a rigid material such as plastic, aluminum, steel, or fiberglass. In some embodiments, the image capture device  100  described herein includes features other than those described. For example, instead of or in addition to the interactive display  120 , the image capture device  100  may include additional interfaces or different interface features such as I/O interfaces. In another example, the image capture device  100  may include additional buttons or different interface features, such as interchangeable lenses, cold shoes, and hot shoes that can add functional features to the image capture device  100 , etc. In another example, the image capture device  100  may include a single image sensor and/or lens or more than two image sensors and/or lenses. 
       FIG.  1 C  is a cross-sectional view of the image capture device  100  of  FIGS.  1 A-B . The image capture device  100  is configured to capture spherical images, and accordingly, includes a first image capture device  124  and a second image capture device  126 . The first image capture device  124  defines a first field-of-view  128  as shown in  FIG.  1 C  and includes the lens  104  that receives and directs light onto a first image sensor  130 . 
     Similarly, the second image capture device  126  defines a second field-of-view  132  as shown in  FIG.  1 C  and includes the lens  106  that receives and directs light onto a second image sensor  134 . To facilitate the capture of spherical images, the image capture devices  124 ,  126  (and related components) may be arranged in a back-to-back (Janus) configuration such that the lenses  104 ,  106  face in generally opposite directions. 
     The fields-of-view  128 ,  132  of the lenses  104 ,  106  are shown above and below boundaries  136 ,  138 , respectively. Behind the first lens  104 , the first image sensor  130  may capture a first hyper-hemispherical image plane from light entering the first lens  104 , and behind the second lens  106 , the second image sensor  134  may capture a second hyper-hemispherical image plane from light entering the second lens  106 . 
     One or more areas, such as blind spots  140 ,  142  may be outside of the fields-of-view  128 ,  132  of the lenses  104 ,  106  so as to define a “dead zone.” In the dead zone, light may be obscured from the lenses  104 ,  106  and the corresponding image sensors  130 ,  134 , and content in the blind spots  140 ,  142  may be omitted from capture. In some implementations, the image capture devices  124 ,  126  may be configured to minimize the blind spots  140 ,  142 . 
     The fields-of-view  128 ,  132  may overlap. Stitch points  144 ,  146 , proximal to the image capture device  100 , at which the fields-of-view  128 ,  132  overlap may be referred to herein as overlap points or stitch points. Content captured by the respective lenses  104 ,  106 , distal to the stitch points  144 ,  146 , may overlap. 
     Images contemporaneously captured by the respective image sensors  130 ,  134  may be combined to form a combined image. Combining the respective images may include correlating the overlapping regions captured by the respective image sensors  130 ,  134 , aligning the captured fields-of-view  128 ,  132 , and stitching the images together to form a cohesive combined image. 
     A slight change in the alignment, such as position and/or tilt, of the lenses  104 ,  106 , the image sensors  130 ,  134 , or both, may change the relative positions of their respective fields-of-view  128 ,  132  and the locations of the stitch points  144 ,  146 . A change in alignment may affect the size of the blind spots  140 ,  142 , which may include changing the size of the blind spots  140 ,  142  unequally. 
     Incomplete or inaccurate information indicating the alignment of the image capture devices  124 ,  126 , such as the locations of the stitch points  144 ,  146 , may decrease the accuracy, efficiency, or both of generating a combined image. In some implementations, the image capture device  100  may maintain information indicating the location and orientation of the lenses  104 ,  106  and the image sensors  130 ,  134  such that the fields-of-view  128 ,  132 , stitch points  144 ,  146 , or both may be accurately determined, which may improve the accuracy, efficiency, or both of generating a combined image. 
     The lenses  104 ,  106  may be laterally offset from each other, may be off-center from a central axis of the image capture device  100 , or may be laterally offset and off-center from the central axis. As compared to image capture devices with back-to-back lenses, such as lenses aligned along the same axis, image capture devices including laterally offset lenses may include substantially reduced thickness relative to the lengths of the lens barrels securing the lenses. For example, the overall thickness of the image capture device  100  may be close to the length of a single lens barrel as opposed to twice the length of a single lens barrel as in a back-to-back configuration. Reducing the lateral distance between the lenses  104 ,  106  may improve the overlap in the fields-of-view  128 ,  132 . 
     Images or frames captured by the image capture devices  124 ,  126  may be combined, merged, or stitched together to produce a combined image, such as a spherical or panoramic image, which may be an equirectangular planar image. In some implementations, generating a combined image may include three-dimensional, or spatiotemporal, noise reduction (3DNR). In some implementations, pixels along the stitch boundary may be matched accurately to minimize boundary discontinuities. 
       FIG.  2    is a block diagram of an example of an image capture system  200 . The image capture system  200  includes an image capture device  210  which may, for example, be the image capture device  100  shown in  FIGS.  1 A-C . 
     The image capture device  210  includes a processing apparatus  212  that is configured to receive a first image from a first image sensor  214  and receive a second image from a second image sensor  216 . The image capture device  210  includes a communications interface  218  for transferring images to other devices. The image capture device  210  includes a user interface  220  to allow a user to control image capture functions and/or view images. The image capture device  210  includes a battery  222  for powering the image capture device  210 . The components of the image capture device  210  may communicate with each other via the bus  224 . 
     The processing apparatus  212  may be configured to perform image signal processing (e.g., filtering, tone mapping, stitching, and/or encoding) to generate output images based on image data from the image sensors  214  and  216 . The processing apparatus  212  may include one or more processors having single or multiple processing cores. The processing apparatus  212  may include memory, such as a random-access memory device (RAM), flash memory, or another suitable type of storage device such as a non-transitory computer-readable memory. The memory of the processing apparatus  212  may include executable instructions and data that can be accessed by one or more processors of the processing apparatus  212 . 
     For example, the processing apparatus  212  may include one or more dynamic random access memory (DRAM) modules, such as double data rate synchronous dynamic random-access memory (DDR SDRAM). In some implementations, the processing apparatus  212  may include a digital signal processor (DSP). In some implementations, the processing apparatus  212  may include an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). For example, the processing apparatus  212  may include a custom image signal processor. 
     The first image sensor  214  and the second image sensor  216  may be configured to detect light of a certain spectrum (e.g., the visible spectrum or the infrared spectrum) and convey information constituting an image as electrical signals (e.g., analog or digital signals). For example, the image sensors  214  and  216  may include CCDs or active pixel sensors in a CMOS. The image sensors  214  and  216  may detect light incident through a respective lens (e.g., a fisheye lens). In some implementations, the image sensors  214  and  216  include digital-to-analog converters. In some implementations, the image sensors  214  and  216  are held in a fixed orientation with respective fields of view that overlap. 
     The communications interface  218  may enable communications with a personal computing device (e.g., a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop computer, or a desktop computer). For example, the communications interface  218  may be used to receive commands controlling image capture and processing in the image capture device  210 . For example, the communications interface  218  may be used to transfer image data to a personal computing device. For example, the communications interface  218  may include a wired interface, such as a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI), a universal serial bus (USB) interface, or a FireWire interface. For example, the communications interface  218  may include a wireless interface, such as a Bluetooth interface, a ZigBee interface, and/or a Wi-Fi interface. 
     The user interface  220  may include an LCD display for presenting images and/or messages to a user. For example, the user interface  220  may include a button or switch enabling a person to manually turn the image capture device  210  on and off. For example, the user interface  220  may include a shutter button for snapping pictures. 
     The battery  222  may power the image capture device  210  and/or its peripherals or functional features, for example, the microphones and the speakers that serve as the audio components  118  of  FIGS.  1 A and  1 B . The battery  222  may be charged wirelessly or through a micro-USB interface. 
       FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  are front detail views of a drainage system  300  for an image capture device. The image capture device may be similar to the image capture device  100  described in reference to  FIGS.  1 A- 1 C . For example, the image capture device may include electronics (e.g., imaging electronics, power electronics, etc.) internal to a body or housing  302  for capturing images via lenses and/or performing other functions such as image processing. The image capture device may also include various indicators and interfaces such as lights, buttons, and/or displays in other locations on the housing  302  (not shown in  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B ) that allow a user to interact with the image capture device. Only a portion of the housing  302  is shown in the detail views of  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  to allow for clarity in description of the drainage system  300 . 
     The drainage system  300  shown in  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  is used to drain liquids such as water from an audio assembly  304  ( FIG.  3 B ) disposed within, on, and/or through the housing  302  of the image capture device. The drainage system  300  and the audio assembly  304  may be located on a surface of the image capture device, such as a front face or a rear face of the housing  302 , in a position similar to that shown for the audio components  118  located adjacent to the lenses  104 ,  106  of the image capture device  100  in  FIGS.  1 A and  1 B . Other locations for the drainage system  300  and the audio assembly  304  on the image capture device are also possible. In addition, multiple drainage systems  300  may be present to drain liquid from multiple audio assemblies  304  on a single image capture device. 
     The drainage system  300  includes a cover  306  ( FIG.  3 A ) that protects the audio assembly  304  disposed beneath the cover  306  from an environment external to the image capture device. For example, the audio assembly  304  can be delicate, flexible, and/or otherwise susceptible to damage based on impact from touch, debris, etc. The cover  306  may include one or more cover apertures  308   a  configured to allow ambient audio to pass through the cover  306  to the audio assembly  304 , for example, when the image capture device is operating outside of a liquid environment. The cover apertures  308   a  shown in  FIG.  3 A  are located both adjacent to and outboard of the audio assembly  304  shown in  FIG.  3 B  in respect to the housing  302  when the cover  306  is secured to the housing  302 , allowing a short path for ambient audio to travel through the cover apertures  308   a  in the cover  306  to the audio assembly  304 . 
     The cover  306  may define additional cover apertures  308   b  both proximate to and/or spaced from to the cover aperture  308   a  that are arranged in a pattern configured to drain moisture through the cover  306  when the image capture device emerges from a liquid. In the example of  FIG.  3 A , the cover apertures  308   a ,  308   b  are shown as part of a rectangular pattern of rows and columns, though other patterns are also possible. In addition, some or all of the cover apertures  308   a ,  308   b  may be formed as detents in the cover  306 , not through holes, in which case neither ambient audio nor liquid would pass through the cover  306  at the location the dummy-type or detent-only cover apertures (not shown). Dummy-type or detent-only cover apertures may serve as industrial design features for the image capture device, whereas the through-hole type cover apertures  308   a ,  308   b  allow air, liquid, or both to travel through the cover  306 . 
     The housing  302  may define an audio aperture  310 . The audio assembly  304  may be coupled to the housing  302  at the location of the audio aperture  310 . In this way, ambient audio can pass through or around the cover  306  and into the audio assembly  304  via the audio aperture  310 . A single audio aperture  310  is shown as defined through the housing  302  in  FIG.  3 B , but multiple audio apertures are also possible, and the size, shape, and number of audio apertures depend on the construction and location of the audio assembly  304 . For example, the audio assembly  304  may include a single microphone (not shown) that is configured to convert ambient audio into an electrical signal. The microphone may be coupled to an interior surface of the housing  302  at the location of the single audio aperture  310 . 
     The audio assembly  304  may also include a waterproof membrane  312  that is configured to allow ambient audio to pass through the audio aperture  310  to components of the audio assembly  304 . At the same time, the waterproof membrane  312  prevents moisture from passing through the audio aperture  310  to prevent damage or hindered performance, for example, of a microphone disposed within the housing  302 . In the example shown in  FIG.  3 B , the waterproof membrane  312  is coupled to an exterior surface of the housing  302  in a manner that covers the audio aperture  310  and is sized larger than the audio aperture  310  in order to provide the waterproofing feature. 
     The drainage system  300  includes an inlet  314  defined between the housing  302  and the cover  306 . The inlet  314  is an opening between a first edge  316  of the cover  306  and a cover depression  318  defined in the housing  302 . In the example shown in  FIG.  3 A , the first edge  316  is an upper edge, though other edges of the cover  306  could serve as the first edge as well. The cover depression  318  is shown as a rounded-edged bowl or basin that receives the cover  306  such that an exterior surface of the cover  306  is coplanar with an exterior surface of the housing  302 . The inlet  314  allows both air and fluid to enter the drainage system  300  can be a path of least resistance for ambient audio to enter the audio assembly  304  when the image capture device that includes the housing  302  is held in the orientation shown in  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B . 
     The drainage system  300  includes an outlet  320  defined between the housing  302  and the cover  306 . The outlet  320  is an opening between a second edge  322  of the cover  306  and the cover depression  318  defined in the housing  302 . In the example shown in  FIG.  3 A , the second edge  322  is a lower edge that runs generally parallel to the first edge  316 , though other edges of the cover  306  could serve as the second edge as well (for example, edges that are perpendicular instead of parallel to the first edge  316 ). The outlet  320  allows fluid to exit the drainage system  300  when the image capture device that includes the housing  302  is held in the orientation shown in  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B . Additional details related to the movement of fluid through the drainage system  300  are described in respect to  FIGS.  4 A- 4 C  as is indicated by the sectional designation in  FIG.  3 A . 
     The drainage system  300  includes a drainage channel  324  that extends from the inlet  314  to the outlet  320  between an interior surface of the cover  306  and an exterior surface of the housing  302  in order to drain moisture from the audio assembly  304  when the image capture device including the housing  302  emerges from liquid (e.g., from water). In the example of  FIG.  3 B , the exterior surface of the housing  302  is an exterior surface of the cover depression  318  defined in the housing  302 . The drainage channel  324  also runs between cover stanchions  326 ,  328  that rise out of the cover depression  318  to allow the cover  306  to be secured over the drainage channel  324 , for example, using adhesive pads  330 ,  332  coupled to tops of the cover stanchions  326 ,  328 . The width W of the drainage channel  324  may be between 5 mm and 10 mm, for example. Though two cover stanchions  326 ,  328  and adhesive pads  330 ,  332  are shown for adhering the cover  306  to the housing  302  and defining the sides of the drainage channel  324 , other numbers and/or locations for these components are also possible. 
     The size and shape of the inlet  314  and the outlet  320  are such that ambient audio is able to pass through the inlet  314  along the drainage channel  324  to the audio assembly  304  at a predetermined time period after the image capture device including the housing  302  emerges from a liquid (e.g., water) even if the cover apertures  308   a ,  308   b  and a lower portion of the drainage channel  324  remain blocked by the liquid. This predetermined time period may be from 0-3 seconds or from 0-5 seconds, for example. This is an improvement when compared to a time period required to allow apertures exposed to liquid to air dry. For example, air drying wet apertures may take 15-30 minutes depending on ambient conditions. Performance of the audio assembly  304  after the image capture device emerges from liquid is thus greatly improved due to the presence of the drainage channel  324 . 
       FIGS.  4 A- 4 C  are sectional views of the drainage system  300  of  FIGS.  3 A- 3 B  as the drainage system  300  moves from submerged in water as shown in  FIG.  4 A  to emerged from water as shown in  FIG.  4 C . The housing  302  of the image capture device is shown in cross-section with the audio assembly  304  disposed beneath the cover  306 . The upper cover apertures  308   a  move from occluded with liquid in  FIG.  4 A  to empty of liquid in  FIG.  4 C  as the image capture device including the housing  302  emerges, for example, from water. The lower cover apertures  308   b  remain occluded with liquid in all three of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 C  as the predetermined time period between the positions in each of the  FIGS.  4 A- 4 C  is short, such as 0 to 5 seconds, and surface tension prevents some of the liquid from escaping the lower cover apertures  308   b.    
     The audio assembly  304  is shown in detail as disposed on two sides of the audio aperture  310 . For example, the waterproof membrane  312  is shown in a position exterior to the audio aperture  310  and a microphone  400  is shown in a position interior to the audio aperture  310  as the audio aperture  310  is defined in the housing  302 . The microphone  400  can be coupled to the housing  302 , for example, by being disposed on a printed circuit board (PCB)  402  that is press fit or otherwise secured to the housing  302  using a gasket  404 . Other means of aligning and securing the microphone  400  to the housing  302  are also possible. The waterproof membrane  312  can be coupled to the housing  302 , for example, using an adhesive  406  to secure the waterproof membrane  312  to the housing  302  across the audio aperture  310 . Other means of aligning and securing the waterproof membrane  312  to the housing  302  are also possible. 
     The drainage system  300  includes the inlet  314  defined between the first edge  316  of the cover  306  and the surface of the cover depression  318 , the outlet  320  defined between the second edge  322  of the cover  306  and the surface of the cover depression  318 , and the drainage channel  324  extending between the inlet  314  and the outlet  320 , behind the cover  306 , along the outer surfaces of the cover depression  318  and the waterproof membrane  312 . In this example, the outer surfaces of the cover depression  318  and the waterproof membrane  312  are generally coplanar to encourage liquid drainage through the drainage channel  324  as is shown in the progression of water levels from  FIG.  4 A - FIG.  4 C . 
     In order to encourage rapid removal of fluid (e.g., water) from the waterproof membrane  312  of the audio assembly  304  while constraining the overall size of the drainage system  300 , the audio assembly  304  and the audio aperture  310  can be located a predetermined distance A from the outlet  320  of the drainage system  300 . For example, the distance A may be between 5 mm and 10 mm. In contrast, a depth B of the drainage channel  324 , a thickness C of the cover  306 , and a height D of the cover apertures  308   a ,  308   b  may have smaller values, for example, ranging between 0.5 mm and 2 mm in order to allow the inlet  314 , the outlet  320 , and the drainage channel  324  to encourage fluid flow across and away from the audio assembly  304  in a manner that both takes advantage of gravity and sufficiently overcomes surface tension in a short time period (e.g., a time period between 0 and 5 seconds). As seen in  FIG.  4 B  and  FIG.  4 C , though water remains at a lower end of the drainage channel  324  and within the lower cover apertures  308   b  due to surface tension, ambient audio can reach the audio assembly  304  via both the inlet  314  and the upper cover apertures  308   a  very quickly given the construction of the drainage channel  324 . 
       FIGS.  5 A and  5 B  are front detail views of another drainage system  500  for an image capture device. The drainage system  500  may be similar to the drainage system  300  described in reference to  FIGS.  3 A- 3 B  and  FIGS.  4 A- 4 C . Only a portion of a housing  502  is shown in the detail views of  FIGS.  5 A and  5 B  to allow for clarity in description of the drainage system  500 . The drainage system  500  is used to drain liquids from an audio assembly  504  ( FIG.  5 B ) disposed within, on, and/or through the housing  502  of the image capture device. 
     The drainage system  500  includes a cover  506  ( FIG.  5 A ) that protects the audio assembly  504  disposed beneath the cover  506  from an environment external to the image capture device. The cover  506  may include one or more cover apertures  508  configured to allow ambient audio to pass through the cover  506  to the audio assembly  504 , for example, when the image capture device is operating outside of a liquid environment. The cover apertures  508  shown in  FIG.  5 A  are located both adjacent to and outboard of the audio assembly  504  shown in  FIG.  5 B  in respect to the housing  502  when the cover  506  is secured to the housing  502 , allowing a short path for ambient audio to travel through the cover apertures  508  in the cover  506  to the audio assembly  504 . 
     In the example of  FIG.  5 A , the cover apertures  508  are shown as part of a cross-shaped pattern of rows and columns, though other patterns are also possible. In addition, some or all of the cover apertures  508  may be detents in the cover  506 , not through holes, in which case neither ambient audio nor liquid would pass through the cover  506  at the location the dummy-type or detent-only cover apertures (not shown). Dummy-type or detent-only cover apertures may serve as industrial design features for the image capture device, whereas the through-hole type cover apertures  508  allow air, liquid, or both to travel through the cover  506 . 
     The housing  502  may define an audio aperture  510 . The audio assembly  504  may be coupled to the housing  502  at the location of the audio aperture  310 . In this way, ambient audio can pass through or around the cover  506  and into the audio assembly  504  via the audio aperture  510 . A single, centrally-located audio aperture  510  is shown as defined through the housing  502  in  FIG.  5 B , but multiple audio apertures are also possible, and the size, shape, location, and number of audio apertures depend on the construction and location of the audio assembly  504 . For example, the audio assembly  504  may include a single microphone (not shown) that is configured to convert ambient audio into an electrical signal. The microphone may be coupled to an interior surface of the housing  502  at the location of the single audio aperture  510 . 
     The audio assembly  504  may also include a waterproof membrane  512  that is configured to allow ambient audio to pass through the audio aperture  510  to components of the audio assembly  504 . At the same time, the waterproof membrane  512  prevents moisture from passing through the audio aperture  510  to prevent damage or hindered performance, for example, of a microphone disposed within the housing  502 . In the example shown in  FIG.  5 B , the waterproof membrane  512  is coupled to an exterior surface of the housing  502  in a manner that covers the audio aperture  510  and is sized larger than the audio aperture  510  in order to provide the waterproofing feature. Coupling of the waterproof membrane  512  and the housing may be achieved, for example, using adhesive (not shown). 
     The drainage system  500  includes an inlet  514  defined between the housing  502  and the cover  506 . The inlet  514  is an opening between a first edge  516  of the cover  506  and a cover depression  518  defined in the housing  502 . In the example shown in  FIG.  5 A , the first edge  516  is an upper edge, though other edges of the cover  506  could serve as the first edge as well. The cover depression  518  is shown as a rounded-edged bowl or basin that receives the cover  506  such that an exterior surface of the cover  506  is coplanar with an exterior surface of the housing  502 . The inlet  514  allows both air and fluid to enter the drainage system  500 . 
     The drainage system  500  includes an outlet  520  defined between the housing  502  and the cover  506 . The outlet  520  is an opening between a second edge  522  of the cover  506  and the cover depression  518  defined in the housing  502 . In the example shown in  FIG.  5 A , the second edge  522  is a side edge that runs both adjacent to and generally perpendicular to the first edge  516 , though other edges of the cover  506  could serve as the second edge as well (for example, edges that are parallel instead of perpendicular to the first edge  516 ). The outlet  520  allows fluid to exit the drainage system  500  when the image capture device that includes the housing  502  emerges from a liquid in an orientation rotated ninety degrees counter-clockwise from the orientation shown in  FIGS.  5 A and  5 B . In other words, the outlet  520  allows liquid to drain from the drainage system  500  when an imaging device including the housing  502  emerges from liquid while held sideways, for example, by a user pulling the imaging device from the liquid. 
     The drainage system  500  includes a drainage channel  524  that extends from the inlet  514  to the outlet  520  between an interior surface of the cover  506  and an exterior surface of the housing  502  in order to drain moisture from the audio assembly  504  when the image capture device including the housing  502  emerges from a liquid (e.g., from water). In the example of  FIG.  5 B , the exterior surface of the housing  502  is an exterior surface of the cover depression  518  defined in the housing  502 . The drainage channel  524  also runs between cover stanchions  526 ,  528  that rise out of the cover depression  518  to allow the cover  506  to be secured over the drainage channel  524 , for example, using adhesive pads  530 ,  532  coupled to tops of the cover stanchions  526 ,  528 . 
     Though two cover stanchions  526 ,  528  and adhesive pads  530 ,  532  are numbered in  FIG.  5 B , a total of four cover stanchions and adhesive pads are present to adhere the cover  506  to the housing  502  and define the sides of the various possible drainage channels (including the drainage channel  524 ) that would act to allow air to reach and to remove liquid from the audio assembly  504  depending on an orientation of the housing  502  of the image capture device as it emerges from a liquid. In the example of  FIG.  5 B , there are four possible drainage channels, some of which would drain liquid at the same time should the housing  502  emerge from a liquid at an orientation, for example, forty-five degrees from the shown orientation in  FIGS.  5 A and  5 B . Similarly, though the inlet  514  and the outlet  520  are as indicated, there are four possible inlets and outlets for the drainage system  500  of  FIGS.  5 A and  5 B , with the entry and exit of both air and liquid dependent upon an orientation of the housing  502 . Other numbers and/or locations for the stanchion and adhesive components are also possible. 
     The size and shape of the inlet  514  and the outlet  520  are such that ambient audio is able to pass through the inlet  514  along the drainage channel  524  to the audio assembly  504  at a predetermined time period after the image capture device including the housing  502  emerges from a liquid (e.g., water) even if the cover apertures  508  and a portion of the drainage channel  524  remain blocked by the liquid. This predetermined time period may be from 0-3 seconds, for example. A distance between the cover stanchions  526 ,  528  may be similar in value to a distance between the cover stanchions  326 ,  328  of  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B , making a width of the drainage channel  524  similar to the width W of the drainage channel  324  at a location of the stanchions  326 ,  328 . 
       FIGS.  6 A and  6 B  are front detail views of a drainage system  600 . The drainage system  600  moves liquid (e.g., water or another liquid, not shown) across or through a housing  602  so that an audio assembly  604  ( FIGS.  6 B and  6 C ) is kept free of obstruction from the liquid. Disposed on the housing  602  and covering the audio assembly  604 , a cover  606  ( FIGS.  6 A and  6 C ) forms an upper portion of the drainage system  600 , and the housing  602  forms a bottom portion and/or side portions of the drainage system  600 . Thus, the audio assembly  604  is protected from physical external interference. In this configuration, the cover  606  includes apertures  608  ( FIGS.  6 A and  6 C ), which are similar to the apertures  308   a ,  308   b ,  508  of  FIGS.  3 A,  4 A- 4 C, and  5 A  to assist with draining or moving the liquid away from the audio assembly  604  while still protecting the audio assembly  604 . In some examples, the apertures  608  are patterned over the audio assembly  604  to improve audio projection and reception and to drain liquid from the drainage system  600 . In other configurations, the apertures  608  may be absent from the cover  606 . 
     The audio assembly  604  functions to receive sound, project sound, or both from below a surface of the housing  602 , and the audio assembly  604  may be similar to the audio assemblies  304 ,  504  of  FIGS.  3 B,  4 A- 4 C, and  5 B . The housing  602  includes an audio aperture  610  defined within or through the housing  602 . Attached to an interior portion of the housing  602 , an audio device  611  ( FIG.  6 C ) (e.g., a microphone) of the audio assembly  604  may be positioned within the audio aperture  610  ( FIGS.  6 B and  6 C ) and protected by a waterproof membrane  612  ( FIGS.  6 B and  6 C ). 
     The entire drainage system  600  functions to move the liquid quickly and efficiently over the audio assembly  604  so that the audio assembly  604  remains partially unobstructed by the liquid. At an inlet  614  positioned between a first edge  616  ( FIG.  6 A ) of the cover  606  and an edge of the housing  602 , the liquid can pass through a cover depression  618  ( FIGS.  6 A and  6 B ) defined within the housing  602  because the cover depression  618  is in a plane below the cover  606 . On the other side of the cover  606 , an outlet  620  is positioned between a second edge  622  of the cover  606  ( FIG.  6 A ) and the housing  602 . The outlet  620  is used to move the liquid away from the audio assembly  604  and the drainage system  600 . With this configuration, the liquid can be flushed from the audio assembly  604  through the inlet  614 , between the cover  606  and the audio assembly  604 , and out the outlet  620 , which improves the audio capabilities of the audio assembly  604 . 
     The inlet  614 , the cover  606 , the housing  602 , and the outlet  620  collectively form a drainage channel  624  ( FIGS.  6 B and  6 C ) that passes through stanchions  626 ,  628  ( FIG.  6 B ) for facilitating movement of the liquid and supporting the cover  606  above the housing  602 . The stanchions  626 ,  628  may couple the cover  606  to the housing  602 . The stanchions  626 ,  628  may be similar or function similarly to the stanchions  326 ,  328 ,  526 ,  528  of  FIGS.  3 B and  5 B . The stanchions  626 ,  628 , in tandem, form a tapered or funneled shape for the drainage channel  624  for directing the liquid downstream of the audio assembly  604 . While directing the liquid downstream, some of the liquid may be drained by way of the apertures  608 , which creates a combination drainage configuration that keeps the audio assembly  604  free of liquid obstruction. In some configurations, more than two stanchions (e.g.,  FIG.  5 B ) may be used to both direct the liquid down a tapered or funneled pathway and direct the liquid between multiple inlets or outlets (e.g.,  FIG.  5 B ). As an example, stanchions (not shown) may be patterned in a foursome and fully support the cover  606  so that the cover  606  is free of contact with the housing  602  and the liquid is drained between the stanchions (not shown) and down the tapered or funneled shape. In this example, the liquid can be drained out of multiple inlets or outlets (not shown), which improves the rate of liquid flow. In another example, the stanchions  626 ,  628  can have a tapered structure, that is, a funnel-like shape, to form sides of the drainage channel  624  so that liquid is directed downstream from the audio assembly  604 . 
     The drainage channel  624  has a tapered shape so that the liquid is efficiently funneled from the inlet  614  to the outlet  620  when the drainage system  600  is in the shown orientation. Near the inlet  614 , a first portion  630  ( FIGS.  6 B and  6 C ) of the drainage channel  624  has a width W 1  that is large so that more of the liquid can flow through the inlet  614  and down the drainage channel  624 . At the outlet  620 , the liquid flows to a second portion  632  ( FIGS.  6 B and  6 C ) that has a width W 2  that is less than the width W 1 . Between the first portion  630  and the second portion  632 , the liquid is funneled over the audio assembly  604  at a third portion  634  ( FIGS.  6 B and  6 C ) of the drainage channel  624  (e.g. an audio portion or audio channel) that has a width W 3  that is less than the width W 1  of the first portion  630  and more than the width W 2  of the second portion  632 . In this configuration, the liquid bottle necks below at least a portion of the audio assembly  604  so that the audio assembly  604  is partially unobstructed while the liquid drains from the drainage channel  624 . The width W 1  may range between about 4 mm to about 10 mm. The width W 2  may range between about 0.5 mm to about 6 mm. The width W 3  may range between about 4 mm to about 8 mm. At an end of the drainage channel  624 , flanges  636 ,  638  ( FIG.  6 B ) adjacent to or forming part of the stanchions  626 ,  628  are configured to direct the liquid out of the second portion  632  and into a large section of the drainage channel  624  proximate to or integrated with the outlet  620  so that the liquid can be drained from the drainage channel  624 . 
       FIG.  6 C  is a sectional view of the drainage system  600  of  FIGS.  6 A- 6 B . Supporting the drainage system  600 , the housing  602  includes the audio assembly  604  with the audio device  611  positioned below an exterior surface of the housing  602  and within the housing  602  at a location of the audio aperture  610 . At the exterior surface of the housing  602 , the waterproof membrane  612  covers the audio aperture  610  and the audio assembly  604 , with these components protected by the cover  606 . 
     At the inlet  614 , the cover  606  and the housing  602  are separated by a length L which, in part, controls the amount of liquid that is flow-able into the drainage system  600  and, subsequently, between the first portion  630 , the third portion  634 , and the second portion  632  of the continuous drainage channel  624 . As described in respect to  FIGS.  6 A- 6 B , the drainage channel  624  at the widths W 1 , W 2 , W 3  is tapered. As shown in  FIG.  6 C , the drainage channel  624  has a height H that is relatively uniform along the first portion  630 , the third portion  634 , and the second portion  632 . The height H and/or the length L may range between about 0.5 mm to about 2 mm. The length L may be equal to, greater than, or less than the height H. In some examples (not shown), the height H of the drainage channel  624  may be tapered in a similar fashion as the widths W 1 , W 2 , W 3  to control the flow of the liquid through the drainage channel  624 . 
     To further control flow in the drainage channel  624 , the housing  602  includes a surface with a slope  640  ( FIG.  6 C ) proximate to or integrated with the second portion  632 . For example, the slope  640  may facilitate the flow of liquid away from the audio assembly  604  when the drainage system  600  is positioned on a side of an image capture device, such as the image capture device  100  of  FIGS.  1 A- 1 C , and the image capture device is positioned with a front surface and a rear surface in a generally horizontal direction (e.g., the image capture device is rested on a front or a back instead of on a top or a bottom of the image device). Any other part of the housing  602  may include another surface with a slope (not shown) that supports flow from the inlet  614  to the outlet  620 . 
     In the example shown in  FIG.  6 C , the slope  640 , which also may be referred to as a connecting level or a sloped structure, separates the drainage channel  624  into a first level  642  ( FIG.  6 C ) associated with the audio assembly  604  and the inlet  614  and a second level  644  ( FIG.  6 C ) associated with the outlet  620 . The first level  642  and the second level  644  are shown parallel to each other. In other examples, the levels  642 ,  644  can be positioned in another non-parallel, vertically-staggered configuration with the first level  642  at a depth into the housing  602  that is less than that of the second level  644 . The levels  642 ,  644  can be connected by the slope  640  that gradually transitions between depths into the housing  602 . In other configurations, the drainage channel  624  may include more or fewer levels (not shown) to improve flow efficiency from the inlet  614  to the outlet  620 . As the liquid flows from the first level  642 , down the slope  640 , and to the second level  644 , the liquid can gain momentum to be more efficiently flushed out of the drainage system  600 . 
     The cover  606  is  FIG.  6 C  is shown as extending parallel to the entire surface of the housing  602 , including the slope  640 , so that the cover  606  also includes a sloped surface and liquid is efficiently directed to the outlet  620 . However, in other configurations, a plane (not shown) extending through the cover  606  may be offset from a plane (not shown) extending through the slope  640  or any other surface of the housing  602  so that the liquid is moved more efficiently to the outlet  620 . The inlet  614  and the outlet  620  are shown as generally perpendicular from each other so that when the liquid flows through the drainage channel  624 , the liquid exits the outlet  620  without being obstructed by a wall or a surface of the housing  602 , the outlet  620 , or both. In other configurations, the inlet  614  and the outlet  620  can be parallel so that the cover  606 , the inlet  614 , and the outlet  620  are within the same plane (e.g., in the example described in respect to  FIGS.  4 A- 4 C ). 
     The drainage systems  300 ,  500 ,  600  in this application are described as associated with image capture devices such as the image capture device  100  or the image capture device  210 . The drainage systems  300 ,  500 ,  600  may also be used with other electronic devices including audio components that would benefit from rapid removal of liquids, for example, image capture devices with a single image sensors and/or portable electronic devices without image sensors that include audio components. Additional examples of electronic devices that could implement the drainage systems  300 ,  500 ,  600  described in this application include hand-held audio recorders, remote control devices with voice control, and smart phones. Other electronic devices are also possible. 
     While the disclosure has been described in connection with certain embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.