PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-9107003-B2
Application Number: US-201113327649-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Extended duct with damping for improved speaker performance

Abstract:
An electronic audio device including an enclosure having an acoustic output opening and a speaker positioned within the enclosure. The speaker and the acoustic output opening are acoustically coupled by an acoustic output pathway. The acoustic output pathway includes a damping chamber to dampen a resonance frequency of the acoustic output pathway. The speaker is between the damping chamber and the acoustic output opening.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic audio device comprising:
 an enclosure and a base; 
 the enclosure having a bottom wall and a front wall, wherein an acoustic output opening is formed in the bottom wall of the enclosure and the front wall of the enclosure includes a flat panel display; 
 a speaker positioned within the enclosure, the speaker having a sound emitting surface positioned behind the flat panel display; 
 an acoustic output duct connecting the speaker to the acoustic output opening in the bottom wall of the enclosure, the acoustic output duct including a planar face and a sidewall connected to the planar face, the acoustic output duct having a damping chamber at a position upstream from the speaker and an exit port at a position downstream from the speaker, the planar face extending from the damping chamber to the exit port; and 
 wherein the acoustic output opening in the bottom wall of the enclosure is positioned at a distance from a bottom of the base and sound emitted from the acoustic output opening is directed toward a plane that is parallel to the bottom of the base. 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic audio device of  claim 1  further comprising an acoustic damping material positioned within the damping chamber to dampen a frequency of a sound wave emitted from the speaker. 
     
     
       3. The electronic audio device of  claim 1  wherein a portion of the planar face forms the damping chamber and is made of an acoustic damping material. 
     
     
       4. The electronic audio device of  claim 1  wherein the acoustic output duct comprises an opening along the planar face and the speaker is positioned within the opening. 
     
     
       5. The electronic audio device of  claim 1  wherein the planar face and the sidewall form a channel along the back wall of the enclosure and wherein the speaker and the damping chamber are positioned along the planar face of the channel. 
     
     
       6. The electronic audio device of  claim 1  wherein the damping chamber comprises a chamber portion and a neck portion, wherein the neck portion is between the chamber portion and the speaker, and wherein the neck portion comprises a damping material positioned therein and has a narrower cross-sectional size than the chamber portion so as to dampen a first resonance frequency of the acoustic output duct. 
     
     
       7. The electronic audio device of  claim 6  wherein the damping chamber is a first damping chamber and the electronic device further comprises a second damping chamber connected to the acoustic output duct by a second neck portion, and wherein the second neck portion has a different cross-sectional size than the neck portion of the first damping chamber so as to dampen a second resonance frequency of the acoustic output duct. 
     
     
       8. The electronic audio device of  claim 1  wherein the acoustic output duct and the damping chamber are a single integrally molded structure. 
     
     
       9. An electronic audio device comprising:
 an enclosure and a base; 
 the enclosure having a front wall, a back wall and a bottom wall, wherein a flat panel display is mounted to the front wall and an acoustic output opening is formed in the bottom wall; 
 a speaker is positioned within a portion of the enclosure between the display and the back wall such that the speaker is spaced a distance from the acoustic output opening; 
 an acoustic output pathway acoustically coupling the speaker to the acoustic output opening that is formed in the bottom wall; 
 a damping chamber connected to the acoustic output pathway to dampen an acoustic response of the acoustic output pathway, the damping chamber positioned between the display and the back wall such that the speaker is positioned along the acoustic pathway between the damping chamber and the acoustic output opening in the bottom wall; 
 the acoustic output pathway including a planar face, and a sidewall connected to the planar face, wherein the planar face extends from the damping chamber to the acoustic output opening in the bottom wall, and a length of the pathway from the damping chamber to the acoustic output opening in the bottom wall is greater than its width; and 
 wherein the acoustic output opening in the bottom wall of the enclosure is positioned at a distance from a bottom of the base and sound emitted from the acoustic output opening is directed toward the bottom of the base. 
 
     
     
       10. The electronic audio device of  claim 9  further comprising an acoustic damping material positioned within the damping chamber. 
     
     
       11. The electronic audio device of  claim 9  wherein the sidewall extends substantially perpendicular to the planar face and seals the acoustic output pathway to the back wall of the enclosure. 
     
     
       12. The electronic audio device of  claim 9  wherein the planar face of the acoustic output pathway has an opening therein through which a sound emitting surface of the speaker is acoustically coupled to the acoustic output pathway. 
     
     
       13. The electronic audio device of  claim 9  wherein the damping chamber comprises a chamber portion and a neck portion having a damping material positioned therein and wherein the neck portion is dimensioned to dampen a first resonance frequency of the acoustic output pathway. 
     
     
       14. The electronic audio device of  claim 13  wherein the damping chamber is a first damping chamber and the electronic device further comprises a second damping chamber dimensioned to dampen a second resonance frequency of the acoustic output pathway, and wherein the first damping chamber and the second damping chamber extend from a side of the acoustic output pathway and are off-axis with respect to the acoustic output opening. 
     
     
       15. The electronic audio device of  claim 1  wherein the sound emitting surface of the speaker is parallel to a screen face of the flat panel display. 
     
     
       16. The electronic audio device of  claim 1  wherein a plane formed by the planar face of the acoustic output duct intersects the bottom wall of the enclosure. 
     
     
       17. An electronic audio device comprising:
 an enclosure and a base; 
 the enclosure having a bottom wall and a front wall, wherein an acoustic output opening is formed in the bottom wall of the enclosure and the front wall of the enclosure includes a flat panel display; 
 a speaker positioned within the enclosure, the speaker having a sound emitting surface behind the flat panel display; 
 an acoustic output duct connecting the speaker to the acoustic output opening in the bottom wall of the enclosure, the acoustic output duct including a planar face and a sidewall connected to the planar face, the acoustic output duct having a damping chamber at a position upstream from the speaker and an exit port at a position downstream from the speaker, the planar face extending from the damping chamber to the exit port; and 
 wherein the acoustic output opening in the bottom wall of the enclosure is positioned at a distance from a bottom of the base, and sound emitted by the speaker is directed out of the exit port of the duct and then out from the acoustic output opening in the bottom wall of the enclosure toward a surface on which the bottom of the base is to rest. 
 
     
     
       18. The device of  claim 17  wherein the sound emitting surface of the speaker and the planar face of the duct are both parallel to a screen face of the flat panel display. 
     
     
       19. The device of  claim 18 , wherein the enclosure comprises a frame, and wherein the speaker is positioned within the frame. 
     
     
       20. The device of  claim 19  wherein the frame is made of plastic. 
     
     
       21. The device of  claim 17  further comprising a frame outside of the duct into which the speaker is built. 
     
     
       22. The device of  claim 21  wherein the frame is made of plastic. 
     
     
       23. The device of  claim 17 , wherein the enclosure comprises a frame, wherein the planar face of the duct is formed by a side of the frame having the speaker mounted therein. 
     
     
       24. The device of  claim 23  wherein the frame is made of plastic. 
     
     
       25. The device of  claim 17  further comprising a plastic frame outside of the duct in which the speaker is mounted. 
     
     
       26. The device of  claim 17  wherein the speaker is mounted within an opening formed along the planar face of the duct. 
     
     
       27. The device of  claim 17  wherein the planar face of the duct has an opening therein through which the sound emitting surface of the speaker is acoustically coupled to the duct, and wherein the exit port of the duct is aligned with the acoustic output opening formed in the bottom wall of the enclosure. 
     
     
       28. The device of  claim 17  wherein the sound emitting surface, from which the sound is emitted, faces away from a screen face of the flat panel display. 
     
     
       29. The device of  claim 17  wherein a plane formed by the planar face of the duct intersects the bottom wall of the enclosure.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     In modern consumer electronics, audio capability is playing an increasingly larger role as improvements in digital audio signal processing and audio content delivery continue to happen. There is a range of consumer electronics devices that are not dedicated or specialized audio playback devices, yet can benefit from improved audio performance. For instance, smart phones, portable personal computers such as laptop, notebook, and tablet computers, and desktop personal computers with built-in speakers. Integrating speakers into such devices in a manner that promotes optimal sound output is challenging. For example, in cases where the speakers are built into the device and hidden from view, sound waves output from the speaker must travel a distance within the enclosure before they exit the device. The pathway through which the sound waves travel may have resonances associated with it that cause the output from the device to vary with frequency. In particular, at some frequencies, the device may have a lot of output sound power for a given input power (resonance of the pathway) and at other frequencies the system has very little sound power output for a given input power (anti-resonances of the duct). These variations result in a reduction in audio quality. 
     SUMMARY 
     An embodiment of the invention is an electronic audio device including an enclosure having an acoustic output opening and a speaker positioned within the enclosure. The speaker may be acoustically coupled to the acoustic output opening by an acoustic output pathway. The acoustic output pathway may have any size or shape, and in some embodiments, may be a duct. One or more damping chambers may be connected to the acoustic output pathway or duct at a position upstream from the speaker. The one or more damping chambers may include an acoustic damping material that dampens a resonance frequency of the pathway and/or absorbs sound waves generated by the speaker. Since the damping chamber is positioned upstream from the speaker, it does not interfere with sound waves traveling downstream from the speaker, toward the acoustic output opening. Instead, the damping chamber absorbs sound waves reflected by the acoustic output opening in an upstream direction toward the speaker. In some embodiments, the damping chamber may have a neck portion that is dimensioned to dampen a specific resonance frequency of the acoustic output pathway. In embodiments where additional damping chambers are provided, each of the damping chambers may be tuned to dampen different resonance frequencies of the acoustic output pathway. 
     The above summary does not include an exhaustive list of all aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein. It is contemplated that the embodiments may include all systems and methods that can be practiced from all suitable combinations of the various aspects summarized above, as well as those disclosed in the Detailed Description below and particularly pointed out in the claims filed with the application. Such combinations have particular advantages not specifically recited in the above summary. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and they mean at least one. 
         FIG. 1  is a side cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an electronic device having an acoustic output pathway and damping chamber. 
         FIG. 2  is a back side view of the acoustic output pathway and damping chamber of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an acoustic output pathway and damping chamber. 
         FIG. 4  is a side cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an acoustic output pathway and damping chamber. 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram of some of the constituent components of an embodiment of an electronic device. 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram of some of the constituent components of another embodiment of an electronic device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In this section we shall explain several preferred embodiments with reference to the appended drawings. Whenever the shapes, relative positions and other aspects of the parts described in the embodiments are not clearly defined, the scope of the embodiments is not limited only to the parts shown, which are meant merely for the purpose of illustration. Also, while numerous details are set forth, it is understood that some embodiments may be practiced without these details. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques have not been shown in detail so as not to obscure the understanding of this description. 
       FIG. 1  is a side cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an electronic audio device having an acoustic output pathway and damping chamber. In some embodiments, electronic audio device  100  may be a desktop computer. In still further embodiments, electronic audio device  100  may be any type of electronic device having built-in speakers, for example, a smart phone, portable personal computer such as laptop, notebook, or tablet computer; a portable radio, cassette or compact disk (CD) player. Still further, electronic audio device  100  may be a telecommunications device such as a television or a DVD player or interactive video gaming machine. Electronic audio device  100  may include enclosure  102  which houses the various electronic device components, for example, a display  128  such as a flat panel liquid crystal display (LCD) viewed by user  130  and speaker  104 . Speaker  104  is built into frame  106  which may be of a typical material used for speaker enclosures, such as plastic. Frame  106  may be integrally formed as part of enclosure  102  or may be a separate component mounted within enclosure  102 . Enclosure  102  may include an acoustic output port  108  through which a sound emitted from a sound emitting surface or face  110  of speaker  104  may exit electronic audio device  100  to the environment outside of enclosure  102 . 
     An acoustic output pathway  112  may be formed between speaker  104  and acoustic output port  108  to direct sound waves  114  emitted from face  110  of speaker  104  toward acoustic output port  108 . In some embodiments, acoustic output pathway  112  is a duct that forms an acoustic channel between speaker  104  and acoustic output port  108 . In this aspect, acoustic output pathway  112  may be an elongated channel having a length greater than its width. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , acoustic output pathway  112  may have a width (w) that is substantially equivalent to a diameter of speaker  104  and a length (l) that is at least two times the diameter of speaker  104 , in other words the length is at least twice as long as the width. In other embodiments, acoustic output pathway  112  has any structure suitable for transmitting sound waves between speaker  104  and acoustic output port  108 , for example, a square, circular, elliptical or triangular shape. 
     An end of acoustic output pathway  112  may form exit port  126 , which is aligned with acoustic output opening  108  of enclosure  102  (when pathway  112  is formed by a structure separate from enclosure  102 , for example, a separate frame  106 ), so that sound traveling through acoustic output pathway  112  exits enclosure  102  through acoustic output opening  108 . Alternatively, acoustic output pathway  112  may be formed by frame  106  integrally formed with enclosure  102  such that exit port  126  and acoustic output opening  108  are at the same location. Although in the illustrated embodiment, acoustic output port  108  is shown formed within a portion of the bottom wall of enclosure  102  aligned with the end of acoustic output pathway  112 , it is further contemplated that the acoustic output port may be formed through a front, back or side wall of enclosure  102 . For example, the acoustic output port may be formed through front wall  122  of enclosure  102  and instead of having exit port  126  at the end of pathway  112 , exit port  126  may be formed within a portion of front face  120  of pathway  112  aligned with the acoustic output opening so that sound from speaker  104  can exit device  100  through a front of device  100 . It is further contemplated that, although not illustrated, acoustic output pathway  112  may include a vent hole for tuning of pathway  112 . 
     Sound waves  114  emitted from face  110  of speaker  104  travel down acoustic output pathway  112  toward acoustic output port  108 . When sound waves  114  reach acoustic output port  108 , some of waves  114  exit enclosure  102  and some of waves  114  are reflected off of sound output port  108  and propagate back upstream, toward speaker  114 . Waves  114  traveling upstream are reflected off a portion of acoustic output pathway  112  upstream from speaker  104  and travel back downstream toward acoustic output port  108 . Waves  114  can continue to bounce between speaker  104  and acoustic output port  108 . This bouncing of waves  114  up and down acoustic output pathway  112  means that a single wave exiting speaker  104  actually exits acoustic output pathway  112  as a series of waves over a period of time. The bouncing of waves  114  back and forth, however, causes a reduction in audio quality of device  100  because they interfere with one another. In addition, resonances of acoustic output pathway  112  may cause sound output from device  100  to vary with frequency. Specifically, wave frequencies that match the resonances of acoustic output pathway  112  will cause sound waves output from device  100  to be more powerful at a given input power while at other frequencies that do not match the resonance of acoustic output pathway  112 , the waves may have very little sound power output for a given input power (i.e. anti-resonances of the duct). 
     Damping chamber  118  is therefore provided to minimize the effects the resonance frequency of acoustic output pathway  112  and the bouncing of waves  114  between speaker  104  and acoustic output port  108  have on the quality of sound emitted from device  100 . In other words, damping chamber  118  dampens an acoustic response of acoustic output pathway  112 . Damping chamber  118  may be a separate cavity connected to a portion of acoustic output pathway  112  or formed by an end of acoustic output pathway  112 . Damping chamber  118  may have a size and shape suitable to dampen a resonance frequency of acoustic output pathway and/or absorb one or more of sound waves  114  traveling within acoustic output pathway  112  upstream of speaker  104 . 
     In some embodiments, damping chamber  118  may include an acoustic damping material  116  that is placed within damping chamber  118  and secured with, for example, an adhesive, glue or the like. Acoustic damping material  116  may be any material capable of absorbing sound waves and/or dampening a resonance frequency of acoustic output pathway  112 . Suitable acoustic damping materials may include, but are not limited to, for example, sponge, fiberglass, foam or a perforated material. In other embodiments, one or more of the walls forming damping chamber  118  may be made of an acoustic damping material. Representatively, damping chamber  118  may include a wall, portion of a wall or other structure that is made of fiberglass or other suitable damping material. 
     Damping chamber  118  may be formed at a position along acoustic output pathway  112  upstream from speaker  104 , in other words speaker  104  is positioned between damping chamber  118  and acoustic output port  108 . In some embodiments, speaker  104  may be positioned at a point along acoustic output pathway  112  that is halfway between exit port  126  (or acoustic output port  108 ) and the closed end of damping chamber  118 . In other embodiments, speaker  104  is positioned at any point between the halfway point and the closed end of damping chamber  118  such that speaker  104  is closer to the end of damping chamber  118  than exit port  126 . 
     Speaker  104  may be mounted within a face  120  of acoustic output pathway  112  connecting opposing ends of acoustic output pathway  112  and damping chamber  118  is formed at the end of acoustic output pathway  112  opposite to exit port  126  and acoustic output opening  108 . In some embodiments, face  120  may be formed by a side of frame  106  having speaker  104  mounted therein and the opposing face of acoustic output pathway  112  may be formed by enclosure  102 . In other embodiments, acoustic output pathway  112  and damping chamber  118  are integrally formed by enclosure  102  such that the entire pathway  112 , damping chamber  118  and frame  106  system is one integrally formed piece made of the same material (e.g. a molded piece). Since damping chamber  118  is upstream to speaker  104 , damping chamber  118  does not interfere with sound waves  114  traveling downstream from speaker  104 , toward acoustic output port  108 . Instead, damping chamber  118  absorbs sounds waves  114  that are deflected back upstream from acoustic output port  108  and prevents them from further interfering with sound waves  114  traveling within acoustic output pathway  112 . In addition, acoustic damping material  116  may dampen a resonance of acoustic output pathway  112  as previously discussed, which further improves sound output from device  100 . 
       FIG. 2  is a back side view of the acoustic output pathway and damping chamber of  FIG. 1 . From this view, it can be seen that speaker  104  is mounted within an opening formed along face  120  of acoustic output pathway  112 . In addition, side wall  202  extends perpendicular to face  120  to form an elongated channel having exit port  126  at the end of acoustic output pathway  112 . Alternatively, the exit port may be formed through face  120  of acoustic output pathway  112  as illustrated by phantom lines. Side wall  202  may be sealed to a portion of back wall  124  of enclosure  102  to form acoustic output pathway  112  and damping chamber  118 . In other embodiments, as previously discussed, acoustic output pathway  112  and damping chamber  118  are integrally formed by frame  106 , which is formed by enclosure  102 , such that side wall  202  and the back face sealing pathway  112  and damping chamber  118  are formed by frame  106 . In some embodiments, damping chamber  118  is formed off-axis to that of acoustic output pathway  112 . In other embodiments, damping chamber  118  may be on-axis or aligned with an axis of acoustic output pathway  112 . 
       FIG. 3  is a side cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an acoustic output pathway and damping chamber. Electronic audio device  300  includes enclosure  302  having speaker  304  mounted to frame  306  positioned therein. Sound waves  314  emitted from face  310  of speaker  304  travel to acoustic output port  308  of enclosure  302  through exit port  326  of acoustic output pathway  312 . Damping chamber  318  is formed at an end of acoustic output pathway  312  upstream from speaker  304 . In some embodiments, acoustic output pathway  312  and damping chamber  318  are formed separately from frame  306  and mounted to frame  306  while in other embodiments, acoustic output pathway  312 , damping chamber  318  and frame  306  are integrally formed together as a single piece, such as by molding. In this embodiment, damping chamber  318  is configured to dampen a particular resonance frequency of acoustic output pathway  312 . In this aspect, damping chamber  318  includes chamber portion  322  connected to the end of acoustic output pathway  312  by neck portion  324 . Neck portion  324  may be configured to dampen a first resonance frequency of acoustic output pathway  312 . For example, neck portion  324  may have a narrow cross-sectional size relative to chamber portion  322  that is suitable for dampening the first resonance frequency. It is contemplated, however, that a size and shape of neck portion  324  may vary depending upon the resonance frequency neck portion  324  is designed to dampen. In some embodiments, acoustic damping material  316  may be positioned within neck portion  324 . 
       FIG. 4  is a side cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an acoustic output pathway and damping chamber. Electronic audio device  400  is substantially similar to electronic audio device  300  described in reference to  FIG. 3  except that in this embodiment, acoustic output pathway  412  includes more than one damping chamber. In particular, electronic audio device  400  includes enclosure  402  having speaker  404  mounted to frame  406 . Sound waves  414  emitted from face  410  of speaker  404  travel to acoustic output port  408  of enclosure  402  through exit port  426  of acoustic output pathway  412 . Acoustic output pathway  412  may include damping chambers  418   a  and  418   b  formed along a portion of acoustic output pathway  412  upstream from speaker  404 . In some embodiments, acoustic output pathway  412  and damping chambers  418   a ,  418   b  are formed separately from frame  406  and mounted to frame  406  while in other embodiments, acoustic output pathway  412 , damping chambers  418   a ,  418   b  and frame  406  are integrally formed together as a single piece, such as by molding. Although damping chambers  418   a  and  418   b  are shown formed along face  420  of acoustic output pathway  412 , which is opposite to face  420 , it is contemplated that damping chambers  418   a ,  418   b  may be formed along any portion of acoustic output pathway that is upstream to speaker  404 . For example, damping chamber  418   a  may be formed at an end of acoustic output pathway  412  and damping chamber  418   b  may be formed along face  420  of acoustic output pathway  412 . Damping chamber  418   a  may include chamber portion  422   a  connected to acoustic output pathway  412  by neck portion  424   a . Similarly, damping chamber  418   b  may include chamber portion  422   b  connected to acoustic output pathway  412  by neck portion  424   b . In other embodiments, damping chambers  418   a  and  418   b  may have different shapes. Still further, although two damping chambers  418   a ,  418   b  are illustrated, it is contemplated that more than two or less than two damping chambers may be used. 
     Neck portions  424   a  and  424   b  may be configured to dampen particular resonance frequencies of acoustic output pathway  412 . For example, in one embodiment, neck portion  424   a  may be configured to dampen a first resonance frequency of acoustic output pathway  412  and neck portion  424   b  may be configured to dampen a second resonance frequency of acoustic output pathway  412 . In this aspect, each of neck portions  424   a  and  424   b  may have different cross-sectional sizes than each other and chamber portions  422   a  and  422   b , respectively. For example, where the first resonance frequency is lower than the second resonance frequency, neck portion  424   a  may be longer and narrower and chamber portion  422   a  may have a larger cross-sectional size (i.e. larger volume) than neck portion  424   b  and chamber portion  422   b , respectively. It is contemplated, however, that a size and shape of neck portions  424   a  and  424   b  may vary depending upon the resonance frequency neck portion  424  is designed to dampen. Acoustic damping material  416   a  and  416   b  may be positioned within neck portions  424   a  and  424   b , respectively. 
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram of some of the constituent components of an embodiment of an electronic audio device within which the previously described speaker and acoustic pathway having a dampening chamber may be implemented. Electronic audio device  500  may be any one of several different types of desk top electronic devices having a built-in speaker system, for example a desk top computer or a television. In this aspect, electronic audio device  500  includes a main processor  512  that interacts with camera circuitry  506 , storage  508 , memory  514 , display  522 , and user input interface  524 . Main processor  512  may also interact with communications circuitry  502 , optical drive  504 , power supply  510 , speaker  518 , and microphone  520 . The various components of the electronic audio device  500  may be digitally interconnected and used or managed by a software stack being executed by the main processor  512 . Many of the components shown or described here may be implemented as one or more dedicated hardware units and/or a programmed processor (software being executed by a processor, e.g., the main processor  512 ). 
     The main processor  512  controls the overall operation of the device  500  by performing some or all of the operations of one or more applications or operating system programs implemented on the device  500 , by executing instructions for it (software code and data) that may be found in the storage  508 . The processor may, for example, drive the display  522  and receive user inputs through the user input interface  524 . In addition, processor  612  may send an audio signal to speaker  618  to facilitate operation of speaker  618 . 
     Storage  508  provides a relatively large amount of “permanent” data storage, using nonvolatile solid state memory (e.g., flash storage) and a kinetic nonvolatile storage device (e.g., rotating magnetic disk drive). Storage  508  may include both local storage and storage space on a remote server. Storage  508  may store data as well as software components that control and manage, at a higher level, the different functions of the device  500 . 
     In addition to storage  508 , there may be memory  514 , also referred to as main memory or program memory, which provides relatively fast access to stored code and data that is being executed by the main processor  512 . Memory  514  may include solid state random access memory (RAM), e.g., static RAM or dynamic RAM. There may be one or more processors, e.g., main processor  512 , that run or execute various software programs, modules, or sets of instructions (e.g., applications) that, while stored permanently in the storage  508 , have been transferred to the memory  514  for execution, to perform the various functions described above. It should be noted that these modules or instructions need not be implemented as separate programs, but rather may be combined or otherwise rearranged in various combinations. In addition, the enablement of certain functions could be distributed amongst two or more modules, and perhaps in combination with certain hardware. 
     The device  500  may include communications circuitry  502 . Communications circuitry  502  may include components used for wired or wireless communications, such as data transfers. For example, communications circuitry  502  may include Wi-Fi communications circuitry so that the user of the device  500  may transfer data through a wireless local area network. 
     The device  500  also includes camera circuitry  506  that implements the digital camera functionality of the device  500 . One or more solid state image sensors are built into the device  500 , and each may be located at a focal plane of an optical system that includes a respective lens. An optical image of a scene within the camera&#39;s field of view is formed on the image sensor, and the sensor responds by capturing the scene in the form of a digital image or picture consisting of pixels that may then be stored in storage  508 . The camera circuitry  500  may be used to capture video images of a scene. 
     Device  500  also includes an optical drive  504  such as a CD or DVD optical disk drive that may be used to, for example, install software onto device  500 . 
       FIG. 6  is a block diagram of some of the constituent components of another embodiment of an electronic device within which the previously described speaker driver and acoustic pathway having a dampening chamber may be implemented. Device  600  may be any one of several different types of consumer electronic devices that can be easily held in the user&#39;s hand during normal use. In particular, the device  600  may be any speaker-equipped mobile device, such as a cellular phone, a smart phone, a media player, or a tablet-like portable computer, all of which may have a built-in speaker system. 
     In this aspect, electronic audio device  600  includes a processor  612  that interacts with camera circuitry  606 , motion sensor  604 , storage  608 , memory  614 , display  622 , and user input interface  624 . Processor  612  may also interact with communications circuitry  602 , primary power source  610 , speaker  618 , and microphone  620 . The various components of the electronic audio device  600  may be digitally interconnected and used or managed by a software stack being executed by the processor  612 . Many of the components shown or described here may be implemented as one or more dedicated hardware units and/or a programmed processor (software being executed by a processor, e.g., the processor  612 ). 
     The processor  612  controls the overall operation of the device  600  by performing some or all of the operations of one or more applications or operating system programs implemented on the device  600 , by executing instructions for it (software code and data) that may be found in the storage  608 . The processor may, for example, drive the display  622  and receive user inputs through the user input interface  624 . (which may be integrated with the display  622  as part of a single, touch sensitive display panel). In addition, processor  612  may send an audio signal to speaker  618  to facilitate operation of speaker  618 . 
     Storage  608  provides a relatively large amount of “permanent” data storage, using nonvolatile solid state memory (e.g., flash storage) and a kinetic nonvolatile storage device (e.g., rotating magnetic disk drive). Storage  608  may include both local storage and storage space on a remote server. Storage  608  may store data as well as software components that control and manage, at a higher level, the different functions of the device  600 . 
     In addition to storage  608 , there may be memory  614 , also referred to as main memory or program memory, which provides relatively fast access to stored code and data that is being executed by the processor  612 . Memory  614  may include solid state random access memory (RAM), e.g., static RAM or dynamic RAM. There may be one or more processors, e.g., processor  612 , that run or execute various software programs, modules, or sets of instructions (e.g., applications) that, while stored permanently in the storage  608 , have been transferred to the memory  614  for execution, to perform the various functions described above. 
     The device  600  may include communications circuitry  602 . Communications circuitry  602  may include components used for wired or wireless communications, such as two-way conversations and data transfers. For example, communications circuitry  602  may include RF communications circuitry that is coupled to an antenna, so that the user of the device  600  can place or receive a call through a wireless communications network. The RF communications circuitry may include a RF transceiver and a cellular baseband processor to enable the call through a cellular network. For example, communications circuitry  602  may include Wi-Fi communications circuitry so that the user of the device  600  may place or initiate a call using voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) connection, transfer data through a wireless local area network. 
     The device  600  may include a motion sensor  604 , also referred to as an inertial sensor, that may be used to detect movement of the device  600 . The motion sensor  604  may include a position, orientation, or movement (POM) sensor, such as an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a light sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, a proximity sensor, a capacitive proximity sensor, an acoustic sensor, a sonic or sonar sensor, a radar sensor, an image sensor, a video sensor, a global positioning (GPS) detector, an RP detector, an RF or acoustic doppler detector, a compass, a magnetometer, or other like sensor. For example, the motion sensor  600  may be a light sensor that detects movement or absence of movement of the device  600 , by detecting the intensity of ambient light or a sudden change in the intensity of ambient light. The motion sensor  600  generates a signal based on at least one of a position, orientation, and movement of the device  600 . The signal may include the character of the motion, such as acceleration, velocity, direction, directional change, duration, amplitude, frequency, or any other characterization of movement. The processor  612  receives the sensor signal and controls one or more operations of the device  600  based in part on the sensor signal. 
     The device  600  also includes camera circuitry  606  that implements the digital camera functionality of the device  600 . One or more solid state image sensors are built into the device  600 , and each may be located at a focal plane of an optical system that includes a respective lens. An optical image of a scene within the camera&#39;s field of view is formed on the image sensor, and the sensor responds by capturing the scene in the form of a digital image or picture consisting of pixels that may then be stored in storage  608 . The camera circuitry  600  may also be used to capture video images of a scene. 
     Device  600  also includes primary power source  610 , such as a built in battery, as a primary power supply. 
     While certain embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive, and that the embodiments disclosed herein are not limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other modifications may occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, although the drawings show an acoustic output pathway in the shape of a duct, it is contemplated that the acoustic output pathway may have any shape such as a rectangular, square, circular or elliptical shape that could be implement within various components of an electronic device, for example, under a computer keyboard. The description is thus to be regarded as illustrative instead of limiting.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20111215
Publication Date: 20150811
Grant Date: 20150811
Priority Date: 20111215
Inventors: DIX GORDON R.
CROSBY JUSTIN DERRY
JOHNSON MARTIN E.
MORISHITA MICHAEL KAI
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H04R1/288", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/2873", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2499/15", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/02", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R9/02", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/2873", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/288", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2499/15", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2499/15", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/2873", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/288", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 47089133