PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-12143779-B2
Application Number: US-202117383396-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Airflow sensors for speakers

Abstract:
Aspects of the subject technology relate to electronic devices having speakers and airflow sensors for the speakers. In one or more implementations, the airflow sensor may be formed, in part, by a mesh structure that spans a port in a housing of the electronic device. In one or more implementations, the airflow sensor may be formed, in part, by an exposed portion of a conductive trace of the speaker.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device, comprising:
 a housing having an opening; 
 a mesh structure spanning the opening; 
 a speaker disposed within the housing and having an output port aligned with the opening in the housing; 
 an airflow sensor formed at least in part by the mesh structure; and 
 one or more processors configured to modify an output of the speaker responsive to a determination that an airflow, measured by the airflow sensor and generated by the speaker, is above an airflow threshold. 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the mesh structure comprises a plurality of woven wire structures. 
     
     
       3. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the airflow sensor comprises a piezoelectric mount that couples an edge of the mesh structure to an interior wall of the opening. 
     
     
       4. The electronic device of  claim 3 , wherein the piezoelectric mount is a unimorph piezoelectric structure. 
     
     
       5. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the airflow sensor comprises a piezoelectric mount that rotatably supports a first end of the mesh structure adjacent to a first side of the opening. 
     
     
       6. The electronic device of  claim 5 , wherein an opposing second end of the mesh structure is movable with respect to an opposing second side of the opening. 
     
     
       7. The electronic device of  claim 6 , wherein the piezoelectric mount comprises a bimorph piezoelectric structure. 
     
     
       8. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the airflow sensor comprises at least one capacitive sensor separated from a moveable end of the mesh structure. 
     
     
       9. The electronic device of  claim 8 , further comprising an elastomeric structure that resiliently couples the moveable end of the mesh structure to the at least one capacitive sensor. 
     
     
       10. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the airflow sensor comprises an anemometer formed in part by the mesh structure. 
     
     
       11. The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein the anemometer comprises a heating element disposed between the mesh structure and a front volume of the speaker and spanning an airflow path including the output port and the opening in the housing. 
     
     
       12. The electronic device of  claim 11 , further comprising at least one conductive lead coupled between the mesh structure and circuitry configured to measure resistive changes in the mesh structure due to heat transfer to the mesh structure from the heating element by airflow through the airflow path. 
     
     
       13. The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the speaker further comprises a heat pipe structure that thermally couples the heating element to drive circuitry of the speaker. 
     
     
       14. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to modify the output of the speaker by reducing a power of one or more frequencies of the output of the speaker. 
     
     
       15. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the airflow threshold comprises a dynamic airflow threshold that depends on audio content in the output of the speaker. 
     
     
       16. A method of operating a speaker of an electronic device, the method comprising:
 operating, by one or more processors of the electronic device, the speaker to generate audio output through an output port of the speaker and through an opening in a housing of the electronic device that is aligned with the output port of the speaker; 
 measuring airflow in an airflow path that includes the output port and the opening, with an airflow sensor disposed in the airflow path; 
 providing an airflow signal to the one or more processors of the electronic device; and 
 modifying, by the one or more processors, the audio output based on the airflow signal to reduce the airflow by an amount that depends on the audio output generated by the speaker. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the airflow sensor comprises a mesh structure that spans the opening in the housing. 
     
     
       18. An electronic device, comprising:
 a speaker; and 
 at least one processor configured to:
 operate the speaker to generate an audio output through an output port of the speaker and through an opening in a housing of the electronic device that is aligned with the output port of the speaker; 
 measure airflow in an airflow path that includes the output port and the opening, with an airflow sensor disposed in the airflow path; and 
 modify the audio output based on a determination that the measured airflow is above an airflow threshold. 
 
 
     
     
       19. The electronic device of  claim 18 , wherein the airflow sensor comprises a mesh structure that spans the opening in the housing. 
     
     
       20. The electronic device of  claim 19 , wherein the mesh structure comprises a plurality of woven wire structures. 
     
     
       21. The electronic device of  claim 19 , wherein the airflow sensor comprises a piezoelectric mount that couples an edge of the mesh structure to an interior wall of the opening in the housing. 
     
     
       22. The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein the piezoelectric mount rotatably supports a first end of the mesh structure adjacent to a first side of the opening, and wherein an opposing second end of the mesh structure is movable with respect to an opposing second side of the opening.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present description relates generally to electronic devices having audio transducers, including, for example, airflow sensors for speakers. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Electronic devices such as computers, media players, cellular telephones, wearable devices, and headphones are often provided with speakers for generating audio output from the device. However, it can be challenging to integrate speakers that generate high quality sound into electronic devices, particularly in compact devices such as portable electronic devices. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Certain features of the subject technology are set forth in the appended claims. 
       However, for purpose of explanation, several aspects of the subject technology are set forth in the following figures. 
         FIG.  1    illustrates a perspective view of an example electronic device having an airflow sensor in accordance with various aspects of the subject technology. 
         FIG.  2    illustrates a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an example electronic device having a speaker and an airflow sensor in accordance with various aspects of the subject technology. 
         FIG.  3    illustrates a schematic diagram of an electronic device having a speaker and an airflow sensor in accordance with various aspects of the subject technology. 
         FIG.  4    illustrates a perspective view of a mesh structure for an electronic device in accordance with various aspects of the subject technology. 
         FIGS.  5 - 7    illustrate various exemplary measurable effects of airflow on a mesh structure for an electronic device in accordance with various aspects of the subject technology. 
         FIG.  8    illustrates a portion of an example airflow sensor that includes a piezoelectric mount for a mesh structure for an electronic device in accordance with various aspects of the subject technology. 
         FIGS.  9  and  10    illustrate a portion of another example airflow sensor that includes a piezoelectric mount for a mesh structure for an electronic device in accordance with various aspects of the subject technology. 
         FIG.  11    illustrates a portion of another example airflow sensor that includes a piezoelectric mount for a mesh structure for an electronic device in accordance with various aspects of the subject technology. 
         FIG.  12    illustrates a portion of an example airflow sensor that includes a capacitive sensor for a mesh structure for an electronic device in accordance with various aspects of the subject technology. 
         FIG.  13    illustrates a portion of an example airflow sensor that includes an anemometer formed in part by a mesh structure for an electronic device in accordance with various aspects of the subject technology. 
         FIG.  14    illustrates a portion an example electronic device incorporating an airflow sensor that includes an anemometer formed in part by a mesh structure in accordance with various aspects of the subject technology. 
         FIG.  15    illustrates a portion of an example airflow sensor that includes an anemometer having a heating element coupled to a heat pipe in accordance with various aspects of the subject technology. 
         FIG.  16    illustrates a portion of an example airflow sensor that includes a portion of a conductive trace of an audio transducer in accordance with various aspects of the subject technology. 
         FIG.  17    illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the example airflow sensor of  FIG.  16    in accordance with various aspects of the subject technology. 
         FIG.  18    illustrates a flow diagram for an example process for operating an electronic device with an airflow sensor in accordance with various aspects of the subject technology. 
         FIG.  19    illustrates an electronic system with which one or more implementations of the subject technology may be implemented. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description of various configurations of the subject technology and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the subject technology may be practiced. The appended drawings are incorporated herein and constitute a part of the detailed description. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the subject technology. However, it will be clear and apparent to those skilled in the art that the subject technology is not limited to the specific details set forth herein and may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and components are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of the subject technology. 
     Portable electronic devices such as a mobile phones, portable music players, tablet computers, laptop computers, wearable devices such as smart watches, headphones, earbuds, other wearable devices, and the like often include one or more audio transducers such as a microphone for receiving sound input, or a speaker for generating sound. 
     However, challenges can arise when constraints for spatial integration with other device components, cosmetic constraints, and/or other constraints compete with audio quality constraints when attempting to implement an audio transducer module (e.g., a speaker or speaker module) in a device. These challenges can be particularly difficult when attempting to implement an audio transducer module into a compact device such as a portable or a wearable device. 
     For example, a speaker component that is mounted within an electronic device may route sound, generated by a moving diaphragm of the speaker component, through an output port to the external environment of the electronic device. However, in many implementations including implementations in compact devices, the cross-sectional area of the airflow path from the front volume of the speaker to the output port can narrow significantly, which can create a high velocity airflow through the output port. In some cases, this high velocity airflow can be heard and/or felt by a user of the device, which can be undesirable, particularly if the sound of the airflow can be heard over portions of desired audio output from the speaker component. 
     One option for reducing the effect of high velocity airflow through the output port is to use a static equalizer to modify the audio output, such as to reduce frequencies of sound that are expected to generate such high-velocity flows. However, without real-time information as to the airflow being generated by particular audio content, this type of static equalization can undesirably overcorrect the audio output in some scenarios (e.g., including scenarios in which no correction is needed), and/or can undercorrect the audio output in other scenarios. 
     In accordance with various aspects of the subject disclosure, an electronic device having a speaker is also provided with an airflow sensor. The electronic device may obtain airflow measurements of airflow through an output port of the speaker, in real time while generating audio output with the speaker. The electronic device may modify the audio output being generated by the speaker based on the real time airflow measurements from the airflow sensor. As described in further detail hereinafter, in various implementations, the airflow sensor may incorporate a portion of a mesh structure of the electronic device, may include a piezoelectric component, may include a capacitive sensing component, may form an anemometer, may include a heat pipe, and/or may include an exposed portion of a conductive trace of the speaker. 
     An illustrative electronic device including a speaker is shown in  FIG.  1   . In the example of  FIG.  1   , electronic device  100  (e.g., an electronic device) has been implemented using a housing that is sufficiently small to be portable and carried by a user (e.g., electronic device  100  of  FIG.  1    may be a handheld electronic device such as a tablet computer or a cellular telephone or smart phone). As shown in  FIG.  1   , electronic device  100  includes a display such as display  110  mounted on the front of housing  106 . Electronic device  100  includes one or more input/output devices such as a touch screen incorporated into display  110 , a button or switch such as button  104  and/or other input output components disposed on or behind display  110  or on or behind other portions of housing  106 . Display  110  and/or housing  106  include one or more openings to accommodate button  104 , a speaker, a light source, or a camera. 
     In the example of  FIG.  1   , housing  106  includes two openings  108  on a bottom sidewall of housing  106 . One or more of openings  108  forms a port for an audio component. For example, one of openings  108  may form a speaker port for a speaker disposed within housing  106  and another one of openings  108  may form a microphone port for a microphone disposed within housing  106 . Openings  108  may be open ports or may be completely or partially covered with a permeable membrane or a mesh structure that allows air and sound to pass through the openings. Although two openings  108  are shown in  FIG.  1   , this is merely illustrative. One opening  108 , two openings  108 , or more than two openings  108  may be provided on the bottom sidewall (as shown) on another sidewall (e.g., a top, left, or right sidewall), on a rear surface of housing  106  and/or a front surface of housing  106  or display  110 . In some implementations, one or more groups of openings  108  in housing  106  may be aligned with a single port of an audio component within housing  106 . Housing  106 , which may sometimes be referred to as a case, may be formed of plastic, glass, ceramics, fiber composites, metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, etc.), other suitable materials, or a combination of any two or more of these materials. 
     The configuration of electronic device  100  of  FIG.  1    is merely illustrative. In other implementations, electronic device  100  may be a computer such as a computer that is integrated into a display such as a computer monitor, a laptop computer, a wearable device such as a smart watch, a pendant device, or other wearable or miniature device, a media player, a gaming device, a navigation device, a computer monitor, a television, a headphone, an earbud, or other electronic equipment. 
     In some implementations, electronic device  100  may be provided in the form of a wearable device such as a smart watch. In one or more implementations, housing  106  may include one or more interfaces for mechanically coupling housing  106  to a strap or other structure for securing housing  106  to a wearer. Electronic device  100  may include one, two, three, or more than three audio components each mounted adjacent to one or more of openings  108 . 
     A speaker disposed within housing  106  transmits sound through at least one associated opening  108 . A microphone may also be provided within housing  106  that receives sound through at least one associated opening in the housing  106 . In one or more implementations, a speaker (e.g., speaker module) may be mounted such that an output port of the speaker is mounted adjacent to, and aligned with a corresponding opening  108 . The speaker may include a front volume, a diaphragm, and an output port, and may include or incorporate a portion of an airflow sensor, as described in further detail hereinafter. 
       FIG.  2    illustrates a cross-sectional view of a portion of electronic device  100  in which an audio component is mounted. In the example of  FIG.  2   , electronic device  100  includes speaker  200  (also referred to herein as a speaker module or speaker component). Speaker  200  includes housing  202  mounted adjacent at least one opening  108  in housing  106  of the electronic device  100 . Housing  202  (e.g., a speaker housing of the speaker module) may be formed form one or more materials such as plastic and/or metal. As shown, speaker  200  may include a front volume  208  and a back volume  212  that are separated by a structure  210 . The structure  210  may include a diaphragm  214  that is actuatable to generate sound, and a structure  216  (e.g., an interior wall to which the diaphragm  214  is mounted), that at least partially separates the front volume  208  and the back volume  212 . 
     Circuitry  221  (e.g., including one or more magnets and a voice coil for actuating the diaphragm  214  to generate sound) of the speaker  200  may be coupled to device circuitry such as device circuitry  299  (e.g., one or more processors of the device) via a connector  215 . Connector  215  may include a flexible integrated circuit or another flexible or rigid conductive connector. In one or more implementations, the circuitry  221  may be coupled to speaker circuitry  219  (e.g., one or more integrated circuits and/or other processing circuitry within the speaker  200  for processing audio content from the device circuitry  299  and/or airflow feedback from an airflow sensor, and/or for operating the circuitry  221  to move the diaphragm), which is couped to the circuitry  221 . In one or more other implementations, the device circuitry  299  may be coupled directly to the circuitry  221 . 
     As shown, speaker  200  may include an output port  211  that is acoustically coupled to the front volume  208  and aligned with and mounted adjacent to an opening  108 , so that sound generated by the diaphragm  214  (e.g., responsive to control signals received from control circuitry such as device circuitry  299 ) can be transmitted through the opening  108  to the external environment. For example, the output port  211  may be sealed to the opening  108  using a sealing material  279 . Opening  108  may be an open port, or may be covered by a mesh structure  289  that spans the opening  108  and that is permeable to sound and air. In various implementations, the mesh structure  289  may be primarily a cosmetic mesh structure that prevents a view through the opening  108  into the internal cavity of the speaker  200  and/or the housing  106 , a passively functional mesh structure that prevents dust and/or other debris from passing through the opening  108  into the internal cavity of the speaker  200  and/or the housing  106 , and/or an actively functional mesh structure that forms a portion of an airflow sensor for the electronic device  100 . 
     For example, as shown in  FIG.  2   , the electronic device  100  may include an airflow sensor  203  disposed at least partially within the output port  211 . In one or more implementations, the mesh structure  289  may form a portion of the airflow sensor  203  or may be separate from the airflow sensor  203 . In the example of  FIG.  2   , the arrow  217  indicates an airflow path along which, when the diaphragm  214  is actuated to generate sound, the diaphragm  214  may push air from the front volume  208  through the output port  211  and the opening  108 . The narrow cross-sectional area of the output port  211 , relative to a cross-sectional area of the front volume  208 , can cause acceleration of the airflow along the airflow path indicated by the arrow  217 . Airflow sensor  203  may obtain airflow measurement data corresponding to the velocity of the airflow through the output port  211 , and provide a sensor signal (e.g., an airflow measurement and/or sensor signals from which the airflow measurement can be derived by the speaker circuitry  219  and/or the device circuitry  299 ) to the speaker circuitry  219  and/or the device circuitry  299 . 
     For example,  FIG.  3    illustrates a schematic diagram of the electronic device  100  illustrating an audio output correction operation using airflow feedback from the airflow sensor  203 . As shown in  FIG.  3   , the electronic device  100  may include an audio processor  300  (e.g., an implementation of speaker circuitry  219  and/or device circuitry  299  of  FIG.  2    and/or implemented in software running on speaker circuitry  219  and/or device circuitry  299 ). As shown, the audio processor  300  may receive audio content (e.g., music content, an audio portion of video content, a podcast, or any other audio content), such as from memory of the device or from the device circuitry  299 , and may also receive a sensor signal from the airflow sensor  203 . In one or more implementations, the audio processor  300  may generate an audio output signal and provide the audio output signal to the speaker  200 . The speaker  200  (e.g., the speaker circuitry  219  and/or the circuitry  221 ) may then generate audio output (e.g., sound), by moving the diaphragm  214  of  FIG.  2   ) and guide the audio output to the external environment of the electronic device  100  via the output port  211 . In one or more implementations, the audio processor  300  may also adjust and/or otherwise modify the audio output signal based on the sensor signal from the airflow sensor  203 . 
     For example, the audio processor  300  may reduce the power of one or more frequencies of the audio output signal when the sensor signal from the airflow sensor  203  indicates that the velocity and/or the volume of the airflow through the output port  211  is above a threshold value. In various implementations, the threshold value may be a fixed, predetermined value, or the threshold may be an adaptive threshold that depends on the audio content and/or one or more output settings, such as a volume of the audio output. 
     As discussed above in connection with  FIG.  2   , in one or more implementations, a mesh structure  289  that spans the opening  108  may form a portion of the airflow sensor  203 . For example, as shown in  FIG.  4   , mesh structure  289  may include a mesh of woven wire structures  404 . In one or more implementations, the mesh structure  289  may also include a frame structure  406 . In the example of  FIG.  4   , the frame structure  406  is shown along the two opposing long edges of the mesh structure  289 . However, in various implementations, the frame structure  406  may run along any portion or, any number of portions of the mesh structure  289 , or continuously around the entire periphery of the mesh structure  289 . In one more implementations, openings between the woven wire structures  404  may allow sound and airflow to pass through the mesh structure  289  (e.g., the sound and airflow generated by the operation of the speaker  200 ). 
     However, the mesh structure  289  may also inhibit the airflow along the direction indicated by the arrow  217 , such that the air pressure (Pin) on an interior side  400  of the mesh structure  289  is higher than the pressure (Pout) on an exterior side  402  of the mesh structure  289 , by an amount that increases or decreases with increased or decreased airflow, respectively. This pressure differential across the mesh structure  289 , caused by the airflow generated by the speaker  200 , can cause measurable deflections and/or deformations of the mesh structure  289 , in one or more implementations. 
     As examples,  FIGS.  5 ,  6 , and  7    illustrate exemplary effects of airflow on the mesh structure  289  that can be measured, to measure the airflow through an airflow path that includes the output port  211  of the speaker  200  and the opening  108  in the housing  106 . As one example,  FIG.  5    illustrates an implementation in which a first mounting structure  506  (e.g., a portion of the frame structure  406 ) on a first end of the mesh structure  289  is fixed (e.g., to an interior edge of the opening  108  in the housing  106 ), and a second mounting structure  508  (e.g., a portion of the frame structure  406 ) on an opposing second end of the mesh structure  289  is movable. As shown in  FIG.  5   , in this implementation, the higher pressure, Pin, on the interior side  400  of the mesh structure  289  may cause the mesh structure  289  to rotate in a cantilever action about the fixed end of the mesh structure, as indicated by the arrows  500 . 
     As another example,  FIG.  6    illustrates an implementation in which both the first mounting structure  506  (e.g., a portion of the frame structure  406 ) on the first end of the mesh structure  289  and the second mounting structure  508  (e.g., a portion of the frame structure  406 ) on the opposing second end of the mesh structure  289  are movable (e.g., movably mounted at or near opposing sides of the interior edge of the opening  108 ) such that the entire mesh structure can move, as indicated by the arrows  600 . As another example,  FIG.  7    illustrates an implementation in which both the first mounting structure  506  (e.g., a portion of the frame structure  406 ) on the first end of the mesh structure  289  and the second mounting structure  508  (e.g., a portion of the frame structure  406 ) on the opposing second end of the mesh structure  289  are fixed (e.g., fixedly mounted at or near opposing sides of the interior edge of the opening  108 ) such that the overall mesh structure is fixed, and one or more of the woven wire structures  404  are deformable or deflectable by the airflow/pressure differential across the mesh structure, as indicated by the arrows  700 . 
     In order to measure deflections of the mesh structure  289  as illustrated in  FIG.  5  or  6   , or deformations or deflections of the mesh structure  289  as illustrated in the example of  FIG.  7   , the mesh structure  289  may be integrated into an airflow sensor. For example, the mesh structure  289  may be integrated into an airflow sensor  203  by coupling the mesh structure  289  to one or more electrical (conductive) leads, and/or by mounting and/or supporting the mesh structure  289  using a piezoelectric material. For example, in various implementations, the electronic device  100  (see  FIG.  1   ) may include a housing  106  housing having an opening  108 , a mesh structure  289  spanning the opening  108 , a speaker  200  disposed within the housing  106  and having an output port  211  aligned with the opening  108  in the housing  106 , and an airflow sensor  203  formed at least in part by the mesh structure  289 . 
     For example,  FIG.  8    illustrates an implementation in which the airflow sensor  203  includes a piezoelectric mount  900  that couples an edge of the mesh structure  289  to an interior edge  905  of the opening  108 . For example, the piezoelectric mount  900  may be an implementation of the frame structure  406  using a piezoelectric material (as in the example of  FIG.  8   ) or the piezoelectric mount  900  may be mounted to the frame structure  406  (e.g., between the frame structure  406  and the interior edge  905  of the opening  108 ). In the example of  FIG.  8   , the piezoelectric mount  900  may be a unimorph piezoelectric structure (e.g., a piezoelectric structure that generates a signal when deformed in one direction). As shown in the example of  FIG.  8   , when one or more of the woven wire structures  404  is deformed or deflected (as indicated by the arrows  700 ), the deformation or deflection of the one or more of the woven wire structures  404  may pull on the piezoelectric mount(s)  900 , causing a corresponding deformation of the piezoelectric mount(s)  900 , as indicated by the arrows  903 . As shown, the airflow sensor  203  may include one or more electrical leads  902  (e.g., conductive leads) coupled to the piezoelectric mounts  900 , for reading out an electrical response to the deformation of the piezoelectric mounts  900  that can be used to determine the velocity and/or amount of airflow. Electrical leads  902  may be implemented as wire leads, or may be embedded in a structure or substrate, such as in a flexible printed circuit, and may communicatively couple one or more of the piezoelectric mounts  900  to speaker circuitry  219  and/or device circuitry  299 , in various implementations. The electronic device  100  (e.g., audio processor  300 ) may then adjust the audio output of the speaker  200  based on the measured velocity and/or amount of airflow. It is appreciated that the deformation and/or deflection of the woven wire structures  404  illustrated in  FIGS.  7  and  8    are exaggerated for illustrative purposes, and, in an implemented device, may be smaller than depicted in these figures (e.g., small enough to be imperceptible without the use of the strain gauge and/or piezoelectric sensing components in some implementations). 
     In the example of  FIG.  8   , both ends of the mesh structure  289  are fixed (e.g., to the frame structure  406  and/or to the interior edge  905  of the opening  108 ), and the deformation and/or deflection of the woven wire structures  404  is detectable due to the resulting force (tension) on the fixed piezoelectric mounts  900 .  FIGS.  9  and  10    illustrate another example in which the mesh structure  289  includes a piezoelectric mount  1004  that rotatably supports and/or is attached to a first end (e.g., at a first mounting structure  506 , which may be implemented as a first portion of frame structure  406 ) of the mesh structure  289  adjacent to a first side of the opening  108 . 
     In this example, the first end of the mesh structure  289  is rotatably attached to the piezoelectric mount  1004 , and an opposing second end of the mesh structure (e.g., at the second mounting structure  508 , as shown in  FIG.  5   ) is movable with respect to an opposing second side of the opening (as indicated by arrows  500  in  FIG.  5   ). In this example, the piezoelectric mount  1004  may be formed by a bimorph piezoelectric structure that includes a first piezoelectric layer  1006  and a second piezoelectric layer  1007 . As illustrated in  FIGS.  9  and  10   , the tension/compression axis on the first piezoelectric layer  1006  and the second piezoelectric layer  1007  may shift depending on rotation of the mesh structure  289  (e.g., as indicated by the arrows  600  in  FIGS.  9  and  10   ) due to the motion of the opposing second end of the mesh structure  289  (as indicated by arrows  500  of  FIG.  5   ). Electrical signals generated by the first piezoelectric layer  1006  and the second piezoelectric layer  1007  due to the illustrated compression and tension forces can be used to detect the rotation of mesh structure  289  based on detected bending of the piezoelectric mount  1004  in one or more implementations. For example, in  FIG.  9   , the illustrated rotation of the mesh structure  289  may cause a compression of the first piezoelectric layer  1006  and a tension on the second piezoelectric layer  1007 , which may generate corresponding electrical signals, which can be read out by electrical (conductive) leads  902 . In the example of  FIG.  10   , an opposite rotation of the mesh structure  289  may cause a tension on the first piezoelectric layer  1006  and a compression of the second piezoelectric layer  1007 , which may generate corresponding electrical signals, which can be read out by electrical (conductive) leads  902 . Because the rotation of the mesh structure  289  is dependent on the velocity and/or amount of airflow through the mesh structure generated by the speaker  200 , the electrical signals from the piezoelectric mount  1004  may be used to determine the velocity and/or amount of airflow through the airflow path including the output port  211  and the opening  108 . The electronic device  100  (e.g., audio processor  300 ) may then adjust the audio output of the speaker  200  based on the measured velocity and/or amount of airflow. 
     In the example of  FIGS.  9  and  10   , the piezoelectric mount  1004  is mounted to the fixed end of the mesh structure  289  (having an opposing moveable end), so that the tension and compression of the piezoelectric mount  1004  is generated at or near the rotational axis of the cantilevered motion of the mesh structure (e.g., rotational motion about the piezoelectric mount  1004 ). 
     In the example of  FIGS.  9  and  10   , the piezoelectric mount  1004  on one side of the mesh structure  289  is used to measure a rotational deflection of the mesh structure  289 . However, as shown in  FIG.  11   , in one or more other implementations, piezoelectric mounts  1004  may be used to mount both ends of the mesh structure  289  adjacent to the opening  108  (e.g., to the interior edge  905  of the opening). In this implementation, tension and/or compression on the layers (the first piezoelectric layer  1006  and/or the second piezoelectric layer  1007  as illustrated in  FIGS.  9  and  10   ) of the piezoelectric mounts  1004  may generate electrical signals that can be used to measure bulk deflections of the mesh structure  289  as indicated by the arrows  600 . In the examples of  FIGS.  9 ,  10  and  11   , the piezoelectric mount  1004  is disposed between an edge of the mesh structure  289  and the interior edge  905  of the opening  108 . In one or more other implementations, the piezoelectric mount  1004  may be coupled to the mesh structure  289  in other arrangements, such as coupled to a top surface of the end of the mesh structure  289  or a bottom surface of the end of the mesh structure  289 , or any other arrangement in which rotational and/or linear deflections of the mesh structure  289  cause a response in the piezoelectric material of the piezoelectric mount. 
     In the examples of  FIGS.  8 - 11   , arrangements are described in which one or more portions of the mesh structure  289  are mounted to or near the opening  108  by one or more piezoelectric mounts. However, it is also understood that piezoelectric structures and/or materials can be coupled to the mesh structure  289  for detection of deflections of mesh structure  289  and/or a portion thereof, without using the piezoelectric material as a mounting structure (e.g., by mounting the mesh structure  289  at, near, or within the opening  108  using other mounting structures and/or materials in addition to the piezoelectric material that is coupled to the mesh structure for sensing). 
       FIG.  12    illustrates another example implementation of the airflow sensor  203 , in which the airflow sensor  203  includes one or more capacitive sensors separated and/or spaced apart from a moveable end of the mesh structure  289 . For example, as shown in  FIG.  12   , the first mounting structure  506  (which may be an implemented as a portion of the frame structure  406 ) may be mounted to an elastomeric structure  1202  that resiliently couples a moveable end of the mesh structure  289  to a capacitive sensor  1200  that is fixed in position. In this example, the second mounting structure  508  (which may be an implemented as a portion of the frame structure  406 ) may also mounted to an elastomeric structure  1202  that resiliently couples a moveable end of the mesh structure  289  to a capacitive sensor  1200  that is fixed in position. The elastomeric structures  1202  may be formed from an elastomeric insulating material (e.g., a rubber or foam) or an elastomeric dielectric material that enhances capacitive changes between the first mounting structure  506  and the second mounting structure  508  and the corresponding capacitive sensors  1200 . In one or more other implementations, the elastomeric material may be disposed between the ends of the mesh structure  289  and the interior edge  905  of the opening  108 , and the first mounting structure  506  and the second mounting structure  508  may be separated from the respective capacitive sensors  1200  by an air gap. 
     In the example of  FIG.  12   , a bulk motion of the mesh structure  289  (e.g., due to airflow generated by the speaker  200 ) may cause the elastomeric structure  1202  to stretch (e.g., as indicated by arrows  1204 ) and allow the first mounting structure  506  and the second mounting structure  508  to move away from and/or toward the capacitive sensors  1200  (e.g., as indicated by arrows  600 ). In implementations in which the first mounting structure  506  and the second mounting structure  508  are formed from a conductive material (e.g., a metal), the resulting changes in distance between the first mounting structure  506  and the second mounting structure  508  and the corresponding capacitive sensors  1200  may cause a capacitance change between the first mounting structure  506  and the second mounting structure  508  and the corresponding capacitive sensors  1200 , which can be detected using electrical leads  902 . Because the motion of the mesh structure  289  is dependent on the velocity and/or amount of airflow through the mesh structure generated by the speaker  200 , the electrical signal from capacitive sensors  1200  may be used to determine the velocity and/or amount of airflow through the airflow path including the output port  211  and the opening  108  can be measured. The electronic device  100  (e.g., audio processor  300 ) may then adjust the audio output of the speaker  200  based on the measured velocity and/or amount of airflow. 
     In the examples of  FIGS.  9 - 12   , deformations and/or deflections of the mesh structure  289  can be measured to determine a velocity and/or amount of airflow through the mesh structure (e.g., and hence through the airflow path including the output port  211  and the opening  108 ). However, other implementations are also contemplated, in which the mesh structure  289  is substantially fixed and non-deformable and forms a portion an airflow sensor for the speaker  200  and/or the electronic device  100 . 
     For example,  FIG.  13    illustrates an implementation in which the airflow sensor  203  is implemented as an anemometer formed in part by the mesh structure  289 . In the example of  FIG.  13   , a heating element  1300  (e.g., a drawn wire element) extends across the airflow pathway indicated by arrow  217 , at a location interior to the mesh structure  289  (e.g., on the interior side  400  of the mesh structure  289 ). In this example, the heating element  1300  may be mounted at a location that is disposed between the mesh structure  289  and the front volume  208  of the speaker  200  (see,  FIG.  2   ), and spans an airflow path including the output port  211  and the opening  108  in the housing  106 . 
     For example,  FIG.  14    illustrates a cross-sectional side view of a portion of the electronic device  100 , in an exemplary implementation in which the heating element  1300  is mounted at a location that is disposed between the mesh structure  289  and the front volume  208  of the speaker  200  (see,  FIG.  2   ), and spans an airflow path including the output port  211  and the opening  108  in the housing  106 . In the example of  FIG.  14   , conductive leads  1304  are formed by conductive traces in a flex circuit  1402 . The conductive leads  1304  may couple the mesh structure  289  to circuitry (e.g., speaker circuitry  219  and/or device circuitry  299 ) configured to measure resistive changes in the mesh structure  289  due to heat transfer to the mesh structure from the heating element by airflow through the airflow path indicated by the arrow  217 . 
     In this example, the flex circuit  1402  may also include traces that provide a current through the heating element  1300 . For example, the heating element  1300  may be an exposed, drawn and/or thinned portion of a conductive trace of the flex circuit(s)  1402  that generates heat due to the received current and the relative thinness of the heating element  1300 , relative to thickness of the traces in the flex circuit(s). In this example, the mesh structure  289  and/or the heating element  1300  may be supported by a mounting structure  1400  (e.g., an insulating structure that separates the mesh structure  289  from the heating element  1300 ). However, this is merely illustrative, and in other implementations, the mesh structure can be mounted directly to or near the interior edge of the opening  108 , and the heating element  1300  can be separately mounted across the airflow pathway. 
     In the examples of  FIGS.  13  and  14   , heat generated by the heating element  1300  may be transferred to air that passes by the heating element  1300  toward the mesh structure  289 , along the direction indicated by the arrow  217 . That heated air may then transfer a portion of the heat to the mesh structure  289 . The amount of heat that is transferred, by the airflow, from the heating element  1300  to the mesh structure  289  will increase or decrease, respectively, with increased or decreased airflow. Accordingly, the velocity and/or amount of airflow can be measured by measuring the change in temperature of the mesh structure  289  in these implementations. The temperature of the mesh structure can be measured by a temperature sensor (e.g., a thermistor) directly coupled to the mesh structure, or by measuring a resulting change in an electrical property (e.g., resistance) of the mesh structure, using conductive leads  1304  (e.g., coupled to distance-separated conductive locations on the mesh structure). Conductive leads  1304  may be wire leads, or may be embedded in a structure such as a flexible printed circuit, and may communicatively couple one or more conductive portions of the mesh structure  289  to speaker circuitry  219  and/or device circuitry  299 , in various implementations. 
     In various implementations, the heat generated by the heating element  1300  may be generated by a current that is passed through the heating element  1300 , such as via conductive traces in flex circuit(s)  1402  or via other conductive leads to the heating element  1300 . However, in one or more other implementations, the heating element  1300  may be heated via heat transfer from another location in the speaker  200  and/or the electronic device  100 . 
     For example,  FIG.  15    illustrates an example in which the speaker  200  includes a heat pipe structure  1500  that thermally couples the heating element  1300  to circuitry  221  of the speaker  200  (e.g., to drive circuitry of the speaker). The example of  FIG.  15    shows a top view of the speaker  200 , and illustrates a possible path of the heat pipe structure  1500 . 
     For example, during operation of the speaker  200 , current through a voice coil of the circuitry  221 , and/or motion of the voice coil relative to one or more magnets of the circuitry  221  can generate heat. In some implementations, this heat generated by the drive circuitry of the speaker  200  may be dissipated to other structures of the speaker  200  and/or the electronic device  100  (e.g., to be radiated or conductively or convectively transferred away from the electronic device as waste heat). However, in one or more implementations, the heat pipe structure  1500  (e.g., a thermally conductive structure) may extend from the heated drive circuitry of the speaker to the heating element  1300 , and thereby conduct heat to the heating element  1300  when the speaker is in operation. As with the electrically heated implementations for the heating element  1300 , a heating element  1300  that is heated via the heat pipe structure  1500  can transfer heat to airflow moving across the heating element  1300  toward the mesh structure  289 , causing measurable temperature changes in the mesh structure  289  that can be measured to determine the velocity and/or amount of airflow being generated by the speaker  200 . The electronic device  100  (e.g., audio processor  300 ) may then adjust the audio output of the speaker  200  based on the measured velocity and/or amount of airflow. Although various examples are described herein in which the mesh structure  289  forms a sensor for an anemometer implementation of the airflow sensor  203 , in other implementations, a sensor wire or other sensing element can be provided separately from the heating element  1300 , one or both of which can be disposed within the output port  211  of the speaker  200 , between the output port  211  and the opening  108 , and/or within the opening  108 . 
     Various examples have been described herein in which an airflow sensor is formed, in part, by a mesh structure that spans an audio port in a housing of an electronic device. However, other implementations of an airflow sensor for an electronic device having a speaker are contemplated herein. For example,  FIG.  16    illustrates a top view of the speaker  200 , in an implementation in which an airflow sensor  203  for the speaker  200  is formed, in part, by a conductive trace  1600  having a first portion  1601  disposed in the back volume and running in parallel to a first side of the structure  216  that separates the front volume  208  (visible in the top view of  FIG.  16   ) and the back volume  212  (see,  FIG.  2   ) of the speaker  200 , and a second portion  1602  disposed in the airflow path (e.g., the airflow path that includes the output port  211  and the opening  108 ). In this example, the first portion  1601  of the conductive trace  1600  may be coupled to speaker circuitry such as speaker circuitry  219  and/or circuitry  221 . For example, the conductive trace  1600  (e.g., including the first portion  1601  and the second portion  1602 ) may conduct control signals from device circuitry  299  to speaker circuitry  219 , from speaker circuitry  219  to circuitry  221  (e.g., to the voice coil of the speaker), and/or from the device circuitry  299  to the circuitry  221 . 
       FIG.  17    illustrates a cross-sectional side view of a portion of the speaker  200  of  FIG.  16   . In the example of  FIG.  17   , the conductive trace  1600  includes a third portion  1700  that passes through the structure  216  from the back volume  212  to the front volume  208  at a first location. In this example, the conductive trace  1600  also includes a fourth portion  1702  that passes through the structure  216  from the front volume  208  to the back volume  212  at a second location. As shown, in this implementation, the first portion  1601  is disposed in the back volume  212  and runs in parallel to a first side  1706  of the structure  216  that separates the front volume  208  (visible in the top view of  FIG.  16   ) and the back volume  212  (see,  FIG.  2   ) of the speaker  200 , the second portion  1602  runs along a portion of an opposing second side  1708  of the structure  216 , the third portion  1700  extends through the structure  216  between the first portion  1601  and the second portion  1602  at the first location, and the fourth portion  1702  extends through the structure  216  between the first portion  1601  and the second portion  1602  at the second location. 
     As shown, the second portion  1602  may be separated from (e.g., spaced apart from) the second side  1708  of the structure  216 , to allow airflow over and under the second portion  1602 , in one or more implementations, so that the second portion  1602  is disposed in the airflow path (e.g., the airflow path that includes the output port  211  and the opening  108 ). However, in other implementations, the second portion  1602  may run along the surface of the second side  1708  in contact with, and/or partially embedded within the second side  1708  of the structure  216 . In one or more implementations, the third portion  1700  and the fourth portion  1702  may be section of a contiguous trace that includes the first portion  1601  and the second portion  1602 . In one or more other implementations, the third portion  1700  and the fourth portion  1702  may by formed by conductive vias or other vertical conductive structures within the structure  216  that couple to the first portion  1601  and the second portion  1602  on opposing sides of the structure  216 . 
     In the example of  FIGS.  16  and  17   , airflow through output port  211  may convectively cool the second portion  1602  of the conductive trace  1600 , by an amount that corresponds to the velocity and/or amount of airflow. This convective cooling of the second portion  1602  of the conductive trace  1600  may cause a measurable change in the resistance of the second portion  1602 , which can be measured to determine the amount of airflow through the output port  211 . For example, a pilot tone may be applied to measure the heating and/or cooling of the second portion  1602  using knowledge of the power delivered and current resistance of conductive trace  1600 . The electronic device  100  (e.g., audio processor  300 ) may then adjust the audio output of the speaker  200  based on the measured velocity and/or amount of airflow. 
     Referring to both  FIGS.  2  and  16   , an electronic device such as electronic device  100  may be provided with a housing  106  having an opening  108 , a speaker  200  disposed within the housing  106  and having an output port  211  aligned with the opening  108  in the housing  106 , and an airflow sensor  203  disposed in an airflow path that includes the output port  211  and the opening  108 . In this example, the speaker  200  includes a front volume  208 , a back volume  212 , a structure  216  separating the front volume  208  and the back volume  212 , speaker circuitry (e.g., speaker circuitry  219  and/or circuitry  221 ) disposed in the back volume  212 , a conductive trace  1600  coupled to the speaker circuitry and having a first portion  1601  disposed in the back volume  212  and running in parallel to a first side  1706  of the structure  216  that separates the front volume  208  and the back volume  212 , and a second portion  1602  disposed in the airflow path. 
     In this example, the electronic device  100  may also include an audio processor  300  (e.g., implemented using speaker circuitry  219  and/or device circuitry  299 ). The audio processor  300  may measure a velocity of airflow through the airflow path based on resistive changes in the second portion  1602  of the conductive trace  1600 . The audio processor  300  may also adjust audio output (e.g., by modifying one or more frequencies of audio content corresponding to the audio output) of the speaker  200  based on the measured velocity. 
       FIG.  18    illustrates a flow diagram of an example process  1800  for operating a speaker of an electronic device, in accordance with implementations of the subject technology. For explanatory purposes, the process  1800  is primarily described herein with reference to the electronic device  100 , the speaker  200 , and the airflow sensor  203  of  FIGS.  1 - 17   . However, the process  1800  is not limited to the electronic device  100 , the speaker  200 , and the airflow sensor  203  of  FIGS.  1 - 17   , and one or more blocks (or operations) of the process  1800  may be performed by one or more other components of other suitable devices, including speakers implemented in other electronic devices and/or audio transducers other than speakers. Further for explanatory purposes, some of the blocks of the process  1800  are described herein as occurring in serial, or linearly. However, multiple blocks of the process  1800  may occur in parallel. In addition, the blocks of the process  1800  need not be performed in the order shown and/or one or more blocks of the process  1800  need not be performed and/or can be replaced by other operations. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  18   , at block  1802  one or more processors of an electronic device, such as the electronic device  100 , may operate a speaker (e.g., speaker  200 ) to generate audio output through an output port (e.g., output port  211 ) of the speaker and through an opening (e.g., opening  108 ) in a housing (e.g., housing  106 ) of the electronic device that is aligned with the output port of the speaker. 
     At block  1804 , the electronic device may measure airflow (e.g., a velocity of the airflow and/or an amount of the airflow) in an airflow path that includes the output port and the opening, with an airflow sensor (e.g., airflow sensor  203 ) disposed in the airflow path. In one or more implementations, the airflow sensor includes a mesh structure (e.g., mesh structure  289 ) that spans the opening in the housing. For example, the airflow sensor including the mesh structure may be implemented as described herein in connection with any of the examples of  FIGS.  8 - 15   ). In one or more other implementations, the airflow sensor may include a portion of a conductive trace that includes another portion that is disposed in a back volume of the speaker. For example, the airflow sensor formed in part by the portion of the conductive trace may be implemented as described herein in connection with the examples of  FIGS.  16  and  17   . 
     At block  1806 , the electronic device may provide an airflow signal to the one or more processors of the electronic device (e.g., from the airflow sensor  203 ). The airflow signal may be a raw analog or digital signal (e.g., a resistance, a voltage, a capacitance, a current, a temperature, etc.) from the airflow sensor, from which the velocity and/or amount of the airflow can be derived, or may be a processed airflow signal that includes a measurement of the velocity and/or amount of the airflow. 
     At block  1808 , the one or more processors may modify the audio output based on the airflow signal. For example, when a high velocity of airflow (e.g., airflow having a measured velocity that exceeds a velocity threshold) is detected using the airflow sensor and/or the airflow signal, the one or more processors may apply a damping or a filtering to one or more frequencies of the audio output, may reduce a gain of the audio output, or may otherwise modify the audio output to reduce the velocity and/or amount of air being pushed through the output port and/or the opening in the device housing. In one or more implementations, the one or more processors may continue to measure the airflow using the airflow sensor during subsequent operation of the speaker, and further modify (e.g., increase or decrease the modifications) the audio output, based on the continued airflow sensor feedback from the airflow sensor. 
       FIG.  19    illustrates an electronic system  1900  with which one or more implementations of the subject technology may be implemented. The electronic system  1900  can be, and/or can be a part of, one or more of the electronic device  100  shown in  FIG.  1   . The electronic system  1900  may include various types of computer readable media and interfaces for various other types of computer readable media. The electronic system  1900  includes a bus  1908 , one or more processing unit(s)  1912 , a system memory  1904  (and/or buffer), a ROM  1910 , a permanent storage device  1902 , an input device interface  1914 , an output device interface  1906 , and one or more network interfaces  1916 , or subsets and variations thereof. 
     The bus  1908  collectively represents all system, peripheral, and chipset buses that communicatively connect the numerous internal devices of the electronic system  1900 . In one or more implementations, the bus  1908  communicatively connects the one or more processing unit(s)  1912  with the ROM  1910 , the system memory  1904 , and the permanent storage device  1902 . From these various memory units, the one or more processing unit(s)  1912  retrieves instructions to execute and data to process in order to execute the processes of the subject disclosure. The one or more processing unit(s)  1912  can be a single processor or a multi-core processor in different implementations. 
     The ROM  1910  stores static data and instructions that are needed by the one or more processing unit(s)  1912  and other modules of the electronic system  1900 . The permanent storage device  1902 , on the other hand, may be a read-and-write memory device. The permanent storage device  1902  may be a non-volatile memory unit that stores instructions and data even when the electronic system  1900  is off. In one or more implementations, a mass-storage device (such as a magnetic or optical disk and its corresponding disk drive) may be used as the permanent storage device  1902 . 
     In one or more implementations, a removable storage device (such as a floppy disk, flash drive, and its corresponding disk drive) may be used as the permanent storage device  1902 . Like the permanent storage device  1902 , the system memory  1904  may be a read-and-write memory device. However, unlike the permanent storage device  1902 , the system memory  1904  may be a volatile read-and-write memory, such as random access memory. The system memory  1904  may store any of the instructions and data that one or more processing unit(s)  1912  may need at runtime. In one or more implementations, the processes of the subject disclosure are stored in the system memory  1904 , the permanent storage device  1902 , and/or the ROM  1910 . From these various memory units, the one or more processing unit(s)  1912  retrieves instructions to execute and data to process in order to execute the processes of one or more implementations. 
     The bus  1908  also connects to the input and output device interfaces  1914  and  1906 . The input device interface  1914  enables a user to communicate information and select commands to the electronic system  1900 . Input devices that may be used with the input device interface  1914  may include, for example, alphanumeric keyboards and pointing devices (also called “cursor control devices”). The output device interface  1906  may enable, for example, the display of images generated by electronic system  1900 . Output devices that may be used with the output device interface  1906  may include, for example, printers and display devices, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, a flexible display, a flat panel display, a solid state display, a projector, a speaker or speaker module, or any other device for outputting information. One or more implementations may include devices that function as both input and output devices, such as a touchscreen. In these implementations, feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback, such as visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and input from the user can be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, or tactile input. 
     Finally, as shown in  FIG.  19   , the bus  1908  also couples the electronic system  1900  to one or more networks and/or to one or more network nodes through the one or more network interface(s)  1916 . In this manner, the electronic system  1900  can be a part of a network of computers (such as a LAN, a wide area network (“WAN”), or an Intranet, or a network of networks, such as the Internet. Any or all components of the electronic system  1900  can be used in conjunction with the subject disclosure. 
     In accordance with some aspects of the subject disclosure, an electronic device is provided that includes a housing having an opening; a mesh structure spanning the opening; a speaker disposed within the housing and having an output port aligned with the opening in the housing; and an airflow sensor formed at least in part by the mesh structure. 
     In accordance with other aspects of the subject disclosure, an electronic device is provided that includes a housing having an opening; a speaker disposed within the housing and having an output port aligned with the opening in the housing; and an airflow sensor disposed in an airflow path that includes the output port and the opening. The speaker includes: a front volume; a back volume; a structure separating the front volume and the back volume; speaker circuitry disposed in the back volume; and a conductive trace coupled to the speaker circuitry and having a first portion disposed in the back volume and running in parallel to a first side of the structure that separates the front volume and the back volume, and a second portion disposed in the airflow path. 
     In accordance with other aspects of the subject disclosure, a method of operating a speaker of an electronic device is provided, the method including: operating, by one or more processors of the electronic device, the speaker to generate audio output through an output port of the speaker and through an opening in a housing of the electronic device that is aligned with the output port of the speaker; measuring airflow in an airflow path that includes the output port and the opening with an airflow sensor disposed in the airflow path; providing an airflow signal to the one or more processors of the electronic device; and modifying, by the one or more processors, the audio output based on the airflow signal. 
     Implementations within the scope of the present disclosure can be partially or entirely realized using a tangible computer-readable storage medium (or multiple tangible computer-readable storage media of one or more types) encoding one or more instructions. The tangible computer-readable storage medium also can be non-transitory in nature. 
     The computer-readable storage medium can be any storage medium that can be read, written, or otherwise accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computing device, including any processing electronics and/or processing circuitry capable of executing instructions. For example, without limitation, the computer-readable medium can include any volatile semiconductor memory, such as RAM, DRAM, SRAM, T-RAM, Z-RAM, and TTRAM. The computer-readable medium also can include any non-volatile semiconductor memory, such as ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, NVRAM, flash, nvSRAM, FeRAM, FeTRAM, MRAM, PRAM, CBRAM, SONOS, RRAM, NRAM, racetrack memory, FJG, and Millipede memory. 
     Further, the computer-readable storage medium can include any non-semiconductor memory, such as optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage, magnetic tape, other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium capable of storing one or more instructions. In one or more implementations, the tangible computer-readable storage medium can be directly coupled to a computing device, while in other implementations, the tangible computer-readable storage medium can be indirectly coupled to a computing device, e.g., via one or more wired connections, one or more wireless connections, or any combination thereof. 
     Instructions can be directly executable or can be used to develop executable instructions. For example, instructions can be realized as executable or non-executable machine code or as instructions in a high-level language that can be compiled to produce executable or non-executable machine code. Further, instructions also can be realized as or can include data. Computer-executable instructions also can be organized in any format, including routines, subroutines, programs, data structures, objects, modules, applications, applets, functions, etc. As recognized by those of skill in the art, details including, but not limited to, the number, structure, sequence, and organization of instructions can vary significantly without varying the underlying logic, function, processing, and output. 
     While the above discussion primarily refers to microprocessor or multi-core processors that execute software, one or more implementations are performed by one or more integrated circuits, such as ASICs or FPGAs. In one or more implementations, such integrated circuits execute instructions that are stored on the circuit itself. 
     Various functions described above can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, in computer software, firmware or hardware. The techniques can be implemented using one or more computer program products. Programmable processors and computers can be included in or packaged as mobile devices. The processes and logic flows can be performed by one or more programmable processors and by one or more programmable logic circuitry. General and special purpose computing devices and storage devices can be interconnected through communication networks. 
     Some implementations include electronic components, such as microprocessors, storage and memory that store computer program instructions in a machine-readable or computer-readable medium (alternatively referred to as computer-readable storage media, machine-readable media, or machine-readable storage media). Some examples of such computer-readable media include RAM, ROM, read-only compact discs (CD-ROM), recordable compact discs (CD-R), rewritable compact discs (CD-RW), read-only digital versatile discs (e.g., DVD-ROM, dual-layer DVD-ROM), a variety of recordable/rewritable DVDs (e.g., DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, etc.), flash memory (e.g., SD cards, mini-SD cards, micro-SD cards, etc.), magnetic and/or solid state hard drives, ultra density optical discs, any other optical or magnetic media, and floppy disks. The computer-readable media can store a computer program that is executable by at least one processing unit and includes sets of instructions for performing various operations. Examples of computer programs or computer code include machine code, such as is produced by a compiler, and files including higher-level code that are executed by a computer, an electronic component, or a microprocessor using an interpreter. 
     While the above discussion primarily refers to microprocessor or multi-core processors that execute software, some implementations are performed by one or more integrated circuits, such as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) or field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). In some implementations, such integrated circuits execute instructions that are stored on the circuit itself. 
     As used in this specification and any claims of this application, the terms “computer”, “processor”, and “memory” all refer to electronic or other technological devices. These terms exclude people or groups of people. For the purposes of the specification, the terms “display” or “displaying” means displaying on an electronic device. As used in this specification and any claims of this application, the terms “computer readable medium” and “computer readable media” are entirely restricted to tangible, physical objects that store information in a form that is readable by a computer. These terms exclude any wireless signals, wired download signals, and any other ephemeral signals. 
     Many of the above-described features and applications are implemented as software processes that are specified as a set of instructions recorded on a computer readable storage medium (also referred to as computer readable medium). When these instructions are executed by one or more processing unit(s) (e.g., one or more processors, cores of processors, or other processing units), they cause the processing unit(s) to perform the actions indicated in the instructions. Examples of computer readable media include, but are not limited to, CD-ROMs, flash drives, RAM chips, hard drives, EPROMs, etc. The computer readable media does not include carrier waves and electronic signals passing wirelessly or over wired connections. 
     In this specification, the term “software” is meant to include firmware residing in read-only memory or applications stored in magnetic storage, which can be read into memory for processing by a processor. Also, in some implementations, multiple software aspects of the subject disclosure can be implemented as sub-parts of a larger program while remaining distinct software aspects of the subject disclosure. In some implementations, multiple software aspects can also be implemented as separate programs. Finally, any combination of separate programs that together implement a software aspect described here is within the scope of the subject disclosure. In some implementations, the software programs, when installed to operate on one or more electronic systems, define one or more specific machine implementations that execute and perform the operations of the software programs. 
     A computer program (also known as a program, software, software application, script, or code) can be written in any form of programming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, declarative or procedural languages, and it can be deployed in any form, including as a stand alone program or as a module, component, subroutine, object, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. A computer program may, but need not, correspond to a file in a file system. A program can be stored in a portion of a file that holds other programs or data (e.g., one or more scripts stored in a markup language document), in a single file dedicated to the program in question, or in multiple coordinated files (e.g., files that store one or more modules, sub programs, or portions of code). A computer program can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computers that are located at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network. 
     It is understood that any specific order or hierarchy of blocks in the processes disclosed is an illustration of example approaches. Based upon design preferences, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of blocks in the processes may be rearranged, or that all illustrated blocks be performed. Some of the blocks may be performed simultaneously. For example, in certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Moreover, the separation of various system components in the implementations described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all implementations, and it should be understood that the described program components and systems can generally be integrated together in a single software product or packaged into multiple software products. 
     The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein, but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather “one or more.” Unless specifically stated otherwise, the term “some” refers to one or more. Pronouns in the masculine (e.g., his) include the feminine and neuter gender (e.g., her and its) and vice versa. Headings and subheadings, if any, are used for convenience only and do not limit the subject disclosure. 
     The predicate words “configured to”, “operable to”, and “programmed to” do not imply any particular tangible or intangible modification of a subject, but, rather, are intended to be used interchangeably. For example, a processor configured to monitor and control an operation or a component may also mean the processor being programmed to monitor and control the operation or the processor being operable to monitor and control the operation. Likewise, a processor configured to execute code can be construed as a processor programmed to execute code or operable to execute code 
     A phrase such as an “aspect” does not imply that such aspect is essential to the subject technology or that such aspect applies to all configurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to an aspect may apply to all configurations, or one or more configurations. A phrase such as an aspect may refer to one or more aspects and vice versa. A phrase such as a “configuration” does not imply that such configuration is essential to the subject technology or that such configuration applies to all configurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to a configuration may apply to all configurations, or one or more configurations. A phrase such as a configuration may refer to one or more configurations and vice versa. 
     The word “example” is used herein to mean “serving as an example or illustration.” Any aspect or design described herein as “example” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or design. 
     In one aspect, a term coupled or the like may refer to being directly coupled. In another aspect, a term coupled or the like may refer to being indirectly coupled. 
     Terms such as top, bottom, front, rear, side, horizontal, vertical, and the like refer to an arbitrary frame of reference, rather than to the ordinary gravitational frame of reference. Thus, such a term may extend upwardly, downwardly, diagonally, or horizontally in a gravitational frame of reference. 
     All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various aspects described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f), unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” or, in the case of a method claim, the element is recited using the phrase “step for.” Furthermore, to the extent that the term “include,” “have,” or the like is used in the description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprise” as “comprise” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20210722
Publication Date: 20241112
Grant Date: 20241112
Priority Date: 20210722
Inventors: MAIER, DANIEL W.
Crosby, Justin D.
JENSEN, THOMAS MØLLER
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H10N30/30", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/023", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R9/022", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2499/11", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01F1/69", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01F1/6845", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01F1/20", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01F1/684", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/023", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2499/11", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R29/001", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R3/002", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2499/11", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H10N30/30", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R9/022", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/023", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R29/001", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 84976542