PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-10942548-B2
Application Number: US-201916275755-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Method for porting microphone through keyboard

Abstract:
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.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A computing device, comprising:
 a base portion comprising a keyboard including a plurality of keycaps protruding out of a plurality of openings in a top surface of the base portion and a microphone support element having an aperture formed between upper and lower surfaces; 
 a first microphone disposed within the base portion beneath the keyboard, coupled to a lower surface of the microphone support element and aligned over the aperture; 
 one or more internal components, including at least one of a foam layer, one or more spacers, a feature plate, and an electrical membrane, disposed in the base portion and defining an audio channel extending from the first microphone through the aperture of the microphone support element to a gap formed between a keycap in the plurality of keycaps and a sidewall surface of an opening in the plurality of openings in the top surface of the base portion; and 
 a second microphone and a third microphone, wherein each of the second and the third microphone installed underneath perforations in the top surface of the base portion of the computing device form a three-microphone array arranged in a triangular configuration. 
 
     
     
       2. The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the triangular configuration is equilateral. 
     
     
       3. The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the microphone support element comprises a printed circuit board. 
     
     
       4. The computing device of  claim 1  further comprising a lid portion pivotally coupled to the base portion. 
     
     
       5. The computing device of  claim 4  further comprising a display within the lid portion. 
     
     
       6. The computing device of  claim 1  further comprising a silicon barrier between the keycap and the microphone support element. 
     
     
       7. The computing device of  claim 1  wherein the one or more internal components include a battery tray. 
     
     
       8. The computing device of  claim 7  wherein the one or more internal components include a spacer and a layer of foam. 
     
     
       9. A computing device comprising:
 a housing having a first exterior surface defining a plurality of openings and a second exterior surface opposite the first exterior surface; 
 a keyboard including a keyboard substrate disposed within the housing and a plurality of keycaps attached to the keyboard substrate, wherein the keyboard substrate includes an aperture formed through the keyboard substrate and wherein each individual keycap in the plurality of keycaps protrudes through and fills a majority of a respective opening in the plurality of openings; 
 a first microphone disposed within the housing between the first and second exterior surfaces; 
 one or more internal components disposed in the housing and defining an audio channel extending from the first microphone through the aperture and through a gap between one of the plurality of keycaps and its respective opening in the plurality of openings; and 
 second and third microphones disposed within the housing in an area spaced apart from the keyboard, wherein the first microphone is optimized to receive far field audio and the second and third microphones are optimized to receive near field audio. 
 
     
     
       10. The computing device of  claim 9  wherein the plurality of openings in the first exterior surface are spaced in one or more rows. 
     
     
       11. The computing device of  claim 9  wherein the one or more internal components include a battery tray. 
     
     
       12. The computing device of  claim 11  wherein the one or more internal components include a spacer and a layer of foam. 
     
     
       13. A computing device comprising:
 a housing having a first exterior surface defining a plurality of openings spaced in one or more rows and a second exterior surface opposite the first exterior surface; 
 a keyboard including a keyboard circuit board disposed within the housing and a plurality of keycaps attached to the keyboard circuit board, wherein the keyboard circuit board includes an aperture formed through the keyboard circuit board and wherein each individual keycap in the plurality of keycaps protrudes through and fills a majority of a respective opening in the plurality of openings; 
 first and second microphones disposed within the housing in an area spaced apart from the keyboard; 
 a third microphone disposed within the housing between the keyboard circuit board and second exterior surface; 
 a silicon barrier between a keycap of the plurality of keycaps and the keyboard circuit board, the silicon barrier having an aperture aligned with the aperture of the keyboard circuit board; and 
 one or more internal components disposed in a base portion of the housing and defining an audio channel extending from the third microphone through the aperture and through a gap between one of the plurality of keycaps and its respective opening in the plurality of openings. 
 
     
     
       14. The computing device of  claim 13  the first, second and third microphones are part of a three-microphone array arranged in a triangular pattern. 
     
     
       15. The computing device of  claim 13  further comprising a lid portion pivotally coupled to the base portion. 
     
     
       16. The computing device of  claim 15  further comprising a display within the lid portion.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/735,311, filed Sep. 24, 2018, entitled “Method for Porting Microphone through Keyboard,” which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety and for all purposes. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The described embodiments relate generally to computing devices. More particularly, the present embodiments relate to forming a channel for a microphone underneath a keyboard for a computing device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Many computing devices, such as laptop computers, include applications that enable video calling and/or virtual assistants that respond to voice commands. Such applications capture audio information from microphones installed inside an enclosure or case for the computing devices. Capturing audio information at a far field distance (e.g., greater than three meters) from the computing devices can be difficult and require multiple microphones to be arranged in certain configurations. 
     As computing devices become smaller, internal component density increases which can provide constraints on microphone placement making it challenging to provide a microphone implementation in such devices that yields strong audio performance at both near and far field distances. Additionally, the location of openings in a device enclosure or housing that enable microphones arranged in a specific configuration optimized for audio performance to receive audio signals generated from outside the device can detract from the aesthetic appearance of the device. 
     SUMMARY 
     Some embodiments of the disclosure pertain to a computing device that includes one or more microphones positioned within a housing of the device in an unobtrusive location that does not distract from the aesthetic appeal of the device. The computing device can include a keyboard in which individual keycaps are coupled to a circuit board and extend through keyboard apertures in the device housing. The microphone can be positioned directly below the keyboard beneath the circuit board. An audio channel can be formed from the microphone through an aperture in the circuit board and between one or more of the keycaps and an edge of a keyboard aperture enabling the microphone to detect sounds external to the computing device through the audio channel. 
     Some embodiments can include multiple microphones within a device housing in a manner that provides strong audio performance at both near and far field distances. For example, in some embodiments the computing device can include at least three microphones disposed in a triangular arrangement. A first and a second microphone can be configured and optimized to detect near field audio and can be disposed within the device housing in an area spaced apart from the keyboard. A third microphone can be configured and optimized for far field audio and positioned directly below the keyboard as described herein. While some embodiments are particularly useful for laptop and other computers, the embodiments described herein are not limited to any particular computing device and can be utilized in many different computing devices that include one or more microphones and a keyboard. 
     In some embodiments, a computing device can include a base portion with a keyboard. The keyboard can include a plurality of keycaps protruding out of a plurality of openings in a top surface of the base portion. A microphone support element having upper and lower surfaces can be disposed within the base portion and have an aperture formed between upper and lower surfaces. A microphone can also be disposed within the base portion beneath the keyboard. The microphone can be coupled to the lower surface of the microphone support element and aligned over the aperture, and one or more internal components disposed in the base portion can combine to form or define an audio channel extending from the microphone through the aperture of the microphone support element to a gap formed between a keycap in the plurality of keycaps and a sidewall surface of an opening in the plurality of openings in the top surface of the base portion. 
     In some embodiments a computing device can include a housing having a first exterior surface defining a plurality of openings and a second exterior surface opposite the first exterior surface. A keyboard can be coupled to the housing. The keyboard can include a keyboard substrate disposed within the housing and a plurality of keycaps attached to the keyboard substrate with each individual keycap protruding through and filling a majority of a respective opening in the plurality of openings. The keyboard substrate can include an aperture formed through the keyboard substrate and a first microphone can be disposed within the housing between the first and second exterior surfaces. The computing device can further include an audio channel that extends from the first microphone through the aperture and through a gap between one of the plurality of keycaps and its respective opening in the plurality of openings. The audio channel can be defined by one or more internal components of the computing device disposed within the housing. In some embodiments, the computing device can further include second and third microphones disposed within the housing in an area spaced apart from the keyboard. 
     In some additional embodiments, a computing device according to the disclosure includes a housing, a keyboard and at least three microphones. The housing can include a first exterior surface defining a plurality of openings spaced in one or more rows and a second exterior surface opposite the first exterior surface and a keyboard. The keyboard can include a keyboard circuit board disposed within the housing and having an aperture formed there through. The keyboard can further include a plurality of keycaps attached to the keyboard circuit board with at least one individual keycap in the plurality of keycaps protruding through and filling a majority of a respective opening in the plurality of openings. First and second microphones of the at least three microphones can be disposed within the housing in an area spaced apart from the keyboard, while a third microphone can disposed within the housing between the keyboard circuit board and the second exterior surface of the housing. An audio channel, defined by one or more internal components disposed in a base portion of the housing, can extend from the third microphone through the aperture and through a gap between the at least one individual keycap and its respective opening in the plurality of openings. 
     In some embodiments at least three microphones are included in the computing device. The three microphones can be arranged in a triangular pattern and be part of a three-microphone array. Additionally, in some embodiments that include three microphones, a microphone disposed beneath the keyboard is optimized to receive far field audio while the other two microphones are positioned adjacent to microphone openings in the housing that are spaced apart from the keyboard and optimized to receive near field audio. 
     To better understand the nature and advantages of the present disclosure, reference should be made to the following description and the accompanying figures. It is to be understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the scope of the present disclosure. Also, as a general rule, and unless it is evident to the contrary from the description, where elements in different figures use identical reference numbers, the elements are generally either identical or at least similar in function or purpose. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The included drawings are for illustrative purposes and serve only to provide examples of possible structures and arrangements for the disclosed inventive apparatuses and methods for providing computing devices. These drawings in no way limit any changes in form and detail that may be made to the invention by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The embodiments will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like structural elements, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a front facing perspective of an embodiment of a computing device according to the disclosure in the form of a computing device in an open (lid) state. 
         FIG. 2A  is a detailed view of a portion of the top case of the computing device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 2B  is an expanded view of the portion of the top case in the region surrounding the bottom left keycap depicted in  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 3  shows an internal view of the top case in the region of the microphone and the battery tray. 
         FIG. 4  is an illustration of an exemplary keyboard printed circuit board according to some embodiments of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is an internal view of a microphone channel in accordance with some embodiments of a computing device according to the disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is an internal view of a microphone channel in accordance with some embodiments of a computing device according to the disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary flow diagram for forming an audio channel for a microphone through a keyboard of a computing device according to some embodiments of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the disclosure pertain to a computing device such as a laptop computer, net book computer, tablet computer, desktop computer, or portable keyboard device, etc. that includes include a keyboard in which individual keycaps are coupled to a circuit board and extend through keyboard apertures in the device housing. The computing device can further include at least one microphone positioned within the housing directly below the keyboard and beneath the circuit board. An audio channel can be formed from the microphone through an aperture in the circuit board and between one or more of the keycaps and an edge of a keyboard aperture enabling the microphone to detect sounds external to the computing device through the audio channel while being positioned in an unobtrusive location that does not distract from the aesthetic appeal of the device. In some embodiments, the microphone is completely hidden from a user with no dedicated visible microphone opening that is common with many computing devices. 
     In some embodiments multiple microphones can be included within a device housing to provide strong audio performance at both near and far field distances. For example, in some embodiments a computing device can include at least three microphones disposed in a triangular arrangement. A first and second of the microphones can be configured and optimized to detect near field audio and can be disposed within the device housing in an area spaced apart from the device keyboard. A third microphone can be configured and optimized for far field audio and positioned directly below the keyboard as described herein. 
     In some embodiments a computing device can include a multipart housing having a top case and a bottom case joining at a reveal to form a base portion. The computing device can include an upper portion (or lid) that can house a display screen and other related components whereas the base portion can house various processors, memory, drives, ports, a battery, a keyboard, a touch pad and the like. The base portion can be formed of a multipart housing that can include top and bottom outer housing components each of which can be formed in a particular manner at an interface region such that the gap and offset between these outer housing components are not only reduced, but are also more consistent from device to device during the mass production of devices. These general subjects are set forth in greater detail below. 
     The base portion can also include one or more microphones to capture audio signals for recording or processing. Two or more microphones can be used together to determine an audio source direction that can be used to improve audio capture performance. In one embodiment, the spacing between two microphones can correspond to increasing sensitivity to audio signals centered about a selected frequency. In one embodiment, the selected frequency can be around 8 Kilohertz (KHz), which can be in a human voice range. 
     In one embodiment, an audio channel that enables a microphone to receive audio signals according to some embodiments of the disclosure can be located in the base portion in a gap between a keycap and a keyboard webbing. For example, some computing devices include a small gap surrounding each keycap of a keyboard to enable the keycap to extend out of the device housing and connect to a keyboard printed circuit board that is positioned within the housing. Some embodiments of the disclosure utilize this gap for a second purpose forming an audio channel between a microphone and the environment external to the computing device through the gap. 
     These and other embodiments are discussed below with reference to  FIGS. 1-7 . However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes as the invention extends beyond these limited embodiments. 
       FIGS. 1-7  show various views of the computing device in accordance with various embodiments.  FIG. 1  shows a front facing perspective view of an embodiment of the computing device in the form of a computing device  100  in an open (lid) state. In some embodiments, the computing device  100  can be portable. The computing device  100  can include base portion  102  formed of bottom case  104  fastened to top case  106 . Together, bottom case  104  and top case  106  define a housing  140  that defines an interior cavity in which various electronic components of the computing device  100  are housed. Housing  140  can include a bottom wall (not visible in  FIG. 1 ), a top wall  142  opposite the bottom wall, and a sidewall  144  extending between the bottom and top walls around a periphery of base portion  102 . 
     Base portion  102  can be pivotally connected to lid portion  108  by way of clutch assembly  110  hidden from view by a cosmetic wall. Base portion  102  can have an overall uniform shape sized to accommodate clutch assembly  110  and inset portion  112  suitable for assisting a user in lifting lid  108  by, for example, a finger. Top case  106  can be configured to accommodate various user input devices such as keyboard  114  and touch pad  116 . Keyboard  114  can include a plurality of low profile keycap assemblies arranged in a one or more rows with each assembly having an associated keycap  118 . Each keycap  118  can extend through an opening or aperture in top wall  142  of housing  140  and be connected to a printed circuit board within housing  140 . A small gap can extend around the perimeter of each keycap  118  between the keycap and housing  140  as discussed in more detail in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . In one embodiment, an audio transducer (not shown) can use selected portions of keyboard  114  to output audio signals such as music. In the described embodiment, one or more microphones can be located at a side portion of top case  106  away from keyboard  114  at locations spaced apart from other microphones to improve frequency response of an associated audio circuit. 
     Each of the plurality of key caps  118  can have a symbol imprinted thereon for identifying the key input associated with the particular key pad. Keyboard  114  can be arranged to receive a discrete input at each keypad using a finger motion referred to as a keystroke. In the described embodiment, the symbols on each key pad can be laser etched thereby creating an extremely clean and durable imprint that will not fade under the constant application of keystrokes over the life of the computing device  100 . In order to reduce component count, a keycap assembly can be re-provisioned as a power button. For example, key pad  118 - 1  can be used as a power button. In this way, the overall number of components in the computing device  100  can be commensurably reduced. 
     Touch pad  116  can be configured to receive finger gesturing. A finger gesture can include touch events from more than one finger applied in unison. The gesture can also include a single finger touch event such as a swipe or a tap. The gesture can be sensed by a sensing circuit in touch pad  116  and converted to electrical signals that are passed to a processing unit for evaluation. In this way, the computing device  100  can be at least partially controlled by touch. 
     Lid portion  108  can be moved with the aid of clutch assembly  110  from the closed position to remain in the open position and back again. Lid portion  108  can include display  120  and rear cover  122  (shown more clearly in  FIG. 2 ) that can add a cosmetic finish to lid portion  108  and also provide structural support to at least display  120 . In the described embodiment, lid portion  108  can include mask (also referred to as display trim)  124  that surrounds display  120 . Display trim  124  can be formed of an opaque material such as ink deposited on top of or within a protective layer of display  120 . Display trim  124  can enhance the overall appearance of display  120  by hiding operational and structural components as well as focusing attention onto the active area of display  120 . 
     Display  120  can display visual content such as a graphical user interface, still images such as photos as well as video media items such as movies. Display  120  can display images using any appropriate technology such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED), etc. The computing device  100  can also include image capture device  126  located on a transparent portion of display trim  124 . Image capture device  126  can be configured to capture both still and video images. Lid portion  108  can be formed to have uni-body construction that can provide additional strength and resiliency to lid portion  108  which is particularly important due to the stresses caused by repeated opening and closing. In addition to the increase in strength and resiliency, the uni-body construction of lid portion  108  can reduce overall part count by eliminating separate support features. 
     Data ports  128 - 132  can be used to transfer data and/or power between an external circuit(s) and computing device  100 . Data ports  128 ,  130 , and  132  can include, for example, input slot  128  that can be used to accept a memory card (such as a FLASH memory card), data ports  130  and  132  can take be used to accommodate data connections such as Universal Serial Bus (USB), FireWire, Thunderbolt, and so on. In some embodiments, speaker grids  134  disposed on opposite sides of keyboard  114  can be used to port audio from an associated audio component enclosed within base portion  102 . In one embodiment, microphones for capturing audio can be located in microphone region  136 . Although not shown in  FIG. 1 , in other embodiments, microphones for capturing audio can be located in region  138  or in other portions of housing  140  or lid  108 . 
       FIG. 2A  is a detailed view of a portion  200  of the top case of the computing device  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . The portion  200  of the case shows a perforated region  202  of the top case that, in some embodiments, can correspond to the microphone region  136  shown in  FIG. 1 . The perforated region  202  allows for sound to project from one or more speakers installed underneath the perforated region  202 . In addition, the perforations allow for sound to pass through into the case to be received by one or more microphones inside the case of the computing device (e.g., microphones located in microphone region  136 ). In various embodiments, a first microphone  204  can be affixed beneath perforated region  202  in a first position on a structural support element disposed within housing  140 . In various embodiments, a second microphone  206  can be affixed beneath perforated region  202  in a second position on the structural support element within housing  140 . In some embodiments, microphones  204  and  206  can each be spaced away from the keyboard region of device  100  and optimized to pick up near-field audio, such as voice signals generated by a user of device  100  while the user is actively using device  100 . 
       FIG. 2A  further depicts a keyboard webbing  208  between a plurality of keys  210 . Webbing  208  includes multiple apertures  214  formed through top wall  142  at an upper surface of housing  140 . In some embodiments, webbing  208  includes a separate aperture  214  for each individual key  210 , and each key  210  includes a keycap  216  that is coupled to a keyboard circuit board (not shown in  FIG. 2A ) disposed within housing  140  beneath the keyboard. Each aperture  214  in webbing  208  can have a shape that resembles but is slightly larger than that of its respective keycap  216  that extends through the aperture  214  in webbing  208  forming a slight gap  220  between each keycap and a perimeter of its respective aperture  214  as shown more clearly in  FIG. 2B , which is an expanded view of the bottom left keycap  216  depicted in  FIG. 2A . Gap  220  enables the keycap  216  to be depressed by a user towards the keyboard circuit board without being impeded by webbing  208 . The width (W) of gap  220  (i.e., the distance between the edge of keycap  216  and the edge of aperture  214 ) can be determined based on reasonable manufacturing tolerances to ensure each keycap  216  fits within its respective aperture  214 . Gap  220  can be generally quite narrow (e.g., less than 1.5 mm in some embodiments and less than 1 mm in other embodiments). 
     In various embodiments, a third microphone can be included in device  100  within bottom case  104  beneath keyboard  114 . As shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , an audio channel  212  (represented in dashed lines) can be formed through gap  220  between the keycap and the keyboard webbing  208 . For example, in some embodiments audio channel  212  can extend from the third microphone (not shown in  FIG. 2A or 2B ), through an aperture in the keyboard circuit board (also not shown in  FIG. 2A or 2B ) and through gap  220 . Since the audio channel uses gap  220  as the exit of the channel from housing  104 , audio channel  220  can be completely hidden from the user resulting in an aesthetically pleasing appearance while enabling the microphone to capture audio from the surrounding environment. 
     In some embodiments, the third microphone can be optimized to pick-up far-field (e.g., greater than 3 meters) audio that thus enables a user to activate a digital voice assistant mode of device  100  or use device  100  for video conferencing while the user is many feet away (e.g., across a room) from device  100 . In such applications, a user is less likely to be actively typing on the keyboard and thus noise associated with such typing is unlikely to be an issue. 
       FIG. 3  shows an internal view  300  of a portion of housing  140  in the region of the microphone and a battery tray. In various embodiments, a first microphone  304  can be affixed in a first position on a structural support element  302  within housing  140 . In various embodiments, a second microphone  306  can be affixed in a second position on the structural support element  302  within housing  140 . The structural support element  302  can be attached to the bottom case  308 . In various embodiments, a third microphone  312  can be attached to a printed circuit board in a recess in the battery tray  314 . Microphones  304  and  306  can be representative of microphones  204 ,  206  discussed in  FIG. 2A  and microphone  312  can be representative of the third microphone discussed above without a reference number. Thus, in some embodiments microphones  304  and  306  can be located beneath speaker grid  136  while microphone  312  can be located beneath keyboard  114  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     Microphones  304 ,  306  and  312  can be part of a three microphone array arranged in a triangular pattern and optimized to pick up both near and far field audio. The microphone array can employ beamforming to improve reception of sound received at the microphone array, especially from far field (e.g., greater than 3 meters) distances. Employing a three microphone array within computing device  100  can reduce the word error rate from far field sources over traditional two microphone designs. Beamforming improves sound reception by combining elements in a microphone array in such a way that sound waves at particular angles experience constructive interference while others experience destructive interference. The ideal conditions for beamforming is to arrange the microphone array in an equilateral triangle. Due to space limitations and geometric restrictions that may be present in various computing devices, a perfect equilateral triangle arrangement may not always be possible. For example, in the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 3 , the microphone array is arranged in a nearly equilateral triangle arrangement with exemplary distances of 14.7 cm, 16 cm, and 19.6 cm between the respective microphones. 
       FIG. 4  is an illustration of an exemplary keyboard printed circuit board  400  that can be included within housing  140 , shown in  FIG. 1 , beneath keyboard  114 , shown in  FIG. 1 , according to some embodiments. The printed circuit board  400  can have a upper surface (not visible in  FIG. 4 ) and a lower surface  406 . In some embodiments, a microphone (not shown in  FIG. 4 ), such as third microphone  312 , shown in  FIG. 3 , can be affixed to the lower surface  406  of the printed circuit board  400  as discussed below with respect to  FIG. 5 . The printed circuit board  400  can have a plurality of line tracings  404  to carry one or more electrical signals between various electronic components attached to the printed circuit board  400 . For example, line tracings  404  can carry signals indicating an individual key attached to circuit board  400  at attachment locations  408  was activated (i.e., depressed). In some embodiments, the printed circuit board  400  can have one or more apertures formed through the printed circuit board  400  to access various components. In some embodiments, the printed circuit board  400  can have an aperture  402  through the printed circuit board that is part of audio channel  212  discussed above and shown in  FIG. 2A . In some embodiments, a microphone, such as third microphone  312 , can be affixed to the lower surface  406  of the printed circuit board  400  over the aperture  402  and operatively coupled to receive audio through channel  212  via aperture  402 . 
       FIG. 5  is an internal view of a portion  500  of a computing device, such as a portion of base portion  104  of computing device  100 , shown in  FIG. 1 , that includes an audio channel  524  that extends from an audio entrance at a gap  526  formed between a first keycap  528   a  and a webbing  522  to a microphone  502  according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The audio channel can be defined by one or more components of the base portion as described herein. Keycap  528   a  can be representative of keycap  216  shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B  while webbing  522  can be representative of webbing  208 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , microphone  502  is disposed within a housing of device  100  and attached to a support element, such as stiffener  504 . The stiffener  504  can be affixed via adhesive  506  to the battery tray  508  or a different component of the computing device. In various embodiments, a foam layer  510 , one or more spacer(s)  514 , feature plates  516 , electrical membrane  518  and one or more other elements together form an audio channel  524  between the layers to allow sound to travel from gap  526  between the keyboard webbing  522  and a first keycap  528   a  to microphone  502 . The channel  524  continues between the layers through an aperture  532  in the microphone in the microphone flex plate  534 . The aperture  532  can represent the aperture  402  depicted in  FIG. 4 . The foam  510  seals the microphone  502  to the keyboard. Also shown in  FIG. 5  is a second keycap  528   b , adjacent to keycap  528   a . In some embodiments, the channel  524  can incorporate a T-shaped snorkel  530  to both form the channel through the multiple layers of the keyboard architecture. The snorkel  530  can also provide a consistent cross section for longer distances for consistency. Some or all of the various components described above, and/or other components within the base portion, can combine to form audio channel  524 . For example, as depicted in  FIG. 5 , audio channel  524  can be defined by keycap  528   a , webbing  522 , membrane  518 , snorkel  530 , foam layer  510 , battery tray  508 , adhesive  506 , stiffener  504  and flex plate  534  all combine in one manner or another to at least partially define the audio channel. 
       FIG. 6  is an internal view of a portion  600  of a computing device, such as a portion of base portion  104  of computing device  100 , that includes an audio channel  624  according to another embodiment of disclosure. As shown in  FIG. 6 , a microphone  602  is affixed to a support element, such as printed circuit board  604 , within a housing of device  100 . In some embodiments, the microphone  602  is affixed to printed circuit board  604  via an adhesive  606 . In various embodiments, the microphone  602  is mounted in a recess of a battery tray  608 . In some embodiments, the microphone  602  is installed between a speaker  610  and the keyboard. Various components of the base portion can define audio channel  624  such that it extends from gap  626  between keyboard webbing  622  and a keycap  628   a  to microphone  602  and through aperture or opening  612  that can correspond to opening  402  discussed above with respect to  FIG. 4 . In some embodiments, a silicon barrier  630  can be affixed between the top surface of the printed circuit board  604  and the back of the keycaps  628 . The silicon barrier  630  can improve the channeling of sound to the microphone  602  providing an improved path for sound to the microphone and creating a sound path that would does not capture undesirable noises such as might be generated by an internal computer fan or other component. Alternate keyboard architectures are possible such as printed circuit board (PCB) based keyboards employed on some portable computing devices and metal feature plate keyboards that are employed by other portable computing devices and desktop keyboards. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , placing microphone  602  in front of the speaker results in improved performance over placing the microphone behind the speaker. In some embodiments, microphone  602  can be used for beam forming with the beam forming done in such a manner as to nullify audio coming from behind the microphone (e.g., where the speaker is located) and emphasizing audio coming from in front of the microphone. As long as the microphone is in front of the speaker, the microphone can send a null back at the echoing speaker feedback path, which is desirable. Embodiments of the disclosure can use beam forming to listen to the user and filter out speaker from the computing device. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary flow diagram for porting a microphone through a keyboard of a computing device. At  702 , the method can include forming an aperture in a keyboard substrate. The keyboard substrate can comprise a bottom surface and a top surface. In some embodiments, the keyboard substrate can comprise a printed circuit board (PCB). The aperture can be any one of several standard shapes such as circular, oval, rectangular, or square. The aperture can be formed through any one of known techniques including drilling, cutting, laser drilling, or etching. 
     At  704 , the method includes affixing a microphone to the bottom surface of the keyboard substrate so that the microphone is over the aperture. In some embodiments, the microphone can completely cover the aperture. In some embodiments, the affixing can be accomplished using adhesive. In some embodiments, the adhesive can be pressure sensitive adhesive. In some embodiments, the microphone can be soldered onto the substrate. 
     At  706 , the method includes forming a microphone port from the aperture in the keyboard substrate through a gap between a keycap and a keyboard webbing. In some embodiments the gap can be formed on multiple sides of a keycap. In some embodiments, the gap can be formed due to alignment of the keys and the webbing. In some embodiments, the gap can be formed by drilling. In some embodiments, the microphone port can channel far field sound to the microphone. 
     At  708 , the method can optionally include affixing a pair of microphones to a support structure underneath perforations in a top case of the computing device, forming a multiple-microphone array. In some embodiments, the multiple-microphone array can comprise three microphones. In some embodiments, a three-microphone array can be formed in a triangular configuration. In some embodiments, the triangular configuration can have nearly equal distances. 
     It is well understood that the use of personally identifiable information should follow privacy policies and practices that are generally recognized as meeting or exceeding industry or governmental requirements for maintaining the privacy of users. In particular, personally identifiable information data should be managed and handled so as to minimize risks of unintentional or unauthorized access or use, and the nature of authorized use should be clearly indicated to users. 
     Although the foregoing invention has been described in detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be recognized that the above described invention may be embodied in numerous other specific variations and embodiments without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of the invention. For example, while the embodiments discussed above with respect to  FIGS. 1-6  included three separate microphones that are part of a microphone array, other embodiments of the disclosure can include a single microphone. Some embodiments can comprise a dual microphone array with a first microphone located underneath the keyboard in a first location and a second microphone located underneath the webbing in a second region/portion of device  100 . In some embodiments, the second and third microphones can be located under a touch bar located above the keyboard. In some embodiments, the second and third microphones can be located underneath the keyboard with one or more microphone ports located in the one or more side(s) or front of the housing. Additionally, in some embodiments an audio channel to a microphone under a keyboard can extend from the microphone through more than a single gap between a keycap and the keyboard webbing. For example, in some embodiments the audio channel to the microphone can extend through gaps on opposing sides of a single keycap and in other embodiments the audio channel can extend through a first gap between a first keycap and the webbing and through a second gap between a second keycap and the webbing. 
     Additionally, spatially relative terms, such as “bottom” or “top” and the like can be used to describe an element and/or feature&#39;s relationship to another element(s) and/or feature(s) as, for example, illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use and/or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as a “bottom” surface can then be oriented “above” other elements or features. The device can be otherwise oriented (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. 
     In the foregoing specification, embodiments of the disclosure have been described with reference to numerous specific details that can vary from implementation to implementation. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. The sole and exclusive indicator of the scope of the disclosure, and what is intended by the applicants to be the scope of the disclosure, is the literal and equivalent scope of the set of claims that issue from this application, in the specific form in which such claims issue, including any subsequent correction. The specific details of particular embodiments can be combined in any suitable manner without departing from the spirit and scope of embodiments of the disclosure.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20190214
Publication Date: 20210309
Grant Date: 20210309
Priority Date: 20180924
Inventors: RENDA, NICHOLAS A.
ROCKFORD, DAVID M.
BERK, Jonathan L.
FENG, CHANJUAN
BOOTHE, DANIEL K.
HERSHEY, DANIEL D.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H04R2499/15", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/028", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1684", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1662", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1684", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/04", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/04", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R3/005", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1616", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/028", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/406", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/406", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R3/005", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1662", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/021", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1688", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1637", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1635", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1616", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/04", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1637", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1662", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/028", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1684", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/406", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1635", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R3/005", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1616", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 69884496