Internal vent structure for waterproof microphone acoustic cavity

• Main Authors: Lee Gary A, Meyer David J, Mueller Karl F, Arledge John Kevin, Gruenhagen Deborah A, Miehl Andrew P
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 27.03.2018
• Subjects: CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; DEAF-AID SETS; ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKEACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS; PRINTED CIRCUITS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS; TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION

A method and apparatus are described for providing an acoustically-resistive air-permeable venting structure within a sealed microphone acoustic cavity. A microphone is mounted on a printed circuit board and positioned within a housing. A water-resistant membrane seals the microphone from an exterior of the housing, and a active acoustic cavity establishes an acoustical connection between the water-resistant membrane and the microphone. An acoustically-resistive air-permeable venting structure is formed in the body of the printed circuit board and connects to the active acoustic cavity either directly or via a separate vent path. The venting structure provides a viscous dampening effect by venting an active acoustic cavity of the electronic device to the rest of the enclosure sealed by the water-resistant membrane.