HK1167548A - Personal media device, assembling method and integrated audible sound output system - Google Patents

Description

Communicating audio using a connector in a small form factor electronic device

Technical Field

The described embodiments relate generally to small form factor electronic devices. More particularly, efficient use of the space available inside a small form factor electronic device housing and methods of assembling the same are discussed.

Background

The appearance of a small form factor electronic device, including its design and weight, can be an important factor in determining the overall enjoyment of the product by the user. For example, the appearance and perceived quality of device functionality can affect a user's overall impression of a small form factor electronic device. At the same time, the assembly of small form factor electronic devices is also an important consideration, as a durable assembly helps to extend the overall life of the small form factor electronic device, thereby increasing its value to the user.

One design challenge associated with small form factor electronic devices is the design of an enclosure for housing various internal components. This design challenge is generally due to a number of conflicting design goals, including a desire for the housing to be lighter and thinner, a desire for the housing to be stronger, and a desire for the housing to be more aesthetically pleasing. Lighter housings typically use thinner plastic structures and fewer fasteners and therefore tend to be more flexible and thus more flexible in use, while stronger and stiffer housings typically use thicker plastic structures and more fasteners and therefore tend to be thicker and have more weight. Unfortunately, the increase in weight can lead to customer dissatisfaction, and bending can damage the internal components.

The smaller volume available inside the housing for mounting internal operating components requires little, if any, waste of this available internal volume, in addition to external factors. In contrast, in conforming to the overall industrial design considerations of small form factor electronic devices, it is necessary to use as much of the available internal volume in a manner that is as efficient as possible. The efficient use of the available internal volume is becoming increasingly important due to the increasing number and complexity of the operating components that are used to provide the increasingly complex functions required by the user.

It is therefore desirable to be able to efficiently use the available space inside a small form factor electronic device.

Disclosure of Invention

A personal media device comprising at least: a housing having a plurality of openings, wherein at least one opening accommodates a housing port arranged to output a first portion of audible energy generated by an audio generator contained in the housing, and at least another opening is a replacement port for broadcasting a second portion of audible energy generated by the audio generator. At least some of the first portion of audible energy is redirected to the replacement port when at least a portion of the housing port is occluded, thereby maintaining a substantially constant perception of the audio output level of the outputted audible energy.

In one aspect of the described embodiment, the replacement port is incorporated into the connector opening in a manner that remains substantially invisible to a user of the personal media. In another aspect, the connector opening receives a data connector, and in yet another aspect, the connector opening receives an audio jack.

A method described in the embodiments may be performed by performing at least the following operations. Providing a housing sized and shaped to enclose a plurality of operational components for providing functionality to the personal media device; attaching a speaker assembly to the interior of the housing; a first air path configured to acoustically couple the speaker assembly to an external environment via a first audio output port; configuring a second air path between the speaker assembly and a second audio output port independent of the first audio output port, whereby the first audio output port and the second audio output port are physically positioned such that when one of the audio output ports is occluded by an object, at least the other audio output port remains unobstructed, and cooperatively delivering audible sound generated by the speaker assembly to the external environment using the first and second audio output ports.

An integrated audible sound output system incorporated into a personal media device is described. In the described embodiment, the personal media device includes at least a processor, an audio circuit, and a data retention unit that includes at least one audible sound generator unit. The audible sound generator unit is arranged to generate audible sound from audio data retrieved from the data holding unit, decoded by the audio circuit and processed by the processor. The integrated audible sound output system includes: a first audio output port, wherein the first audio output port is acoustically coupled to an audible sound generator unit via a first air path. The system also includes a second audio port acoustically coupled to the audible sound generator via a second air path. The first and second air paths cooperatively communicate audible sound generated by the audible sound generator unit to the external environment via the first audio port and the second audio port.

In another embodiment, a non-transitory computer-readable medium for storing a computer program for execution by a processor and for use in a computer-assisted component of a personal media device is described. The computer readable medium includes at least: computer code for providing a housing having a size and shape adapted to enclose a plurality of operational components for providing functionality to a personal media device; computer code for attaching a speaker assembly to the interior of the housing; computer code for configuring a first air path acoustically coupling the speaker assembly to an external environment via a first audio output port; computer code for configuring a second air path between the speaker assembly and a second audio output port independent of the first audio output port such that the first audio output port and the second audio output port are physically positioned such that when one of the audio output ports is blocked by an object, at least the other audio output port remains unblocked. During operation of the personal media device, the first air path and the second air path use the first and second audio output ports and cooperatively communicate audible sound generated by the speaker assembly to the external environment.

Other apparatus, methods, features and advantages of the described embodiments will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional devices, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the protection sought by the accompanying claims.

Drawings

The described embodiments and their advantages are best understood by referring to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1-2 are perspective views illustrating views of a fully assembled personal media device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a portable electronic device.

Fig. 4 shows an enlarged view of a portion of the housing shown in fig. 2, seen in front elevation.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a portion of the housing shown in FIG. 5 with the relationship between the output audio port and the sound reflecting surface highlighted.

FIG. 6 shows a view of the internal portions of a personal media device in accordance with the described embodiments.

Fig. 7 shows an enlarged view of a portion shown in fig. 6.

Fig. 8 shows a cross-sectional view along line a-a of fig. 6.

Fig. 9 illustrates another embodiment for conveying audible sound using an audio jack.

FIG. 10 details a flowchart describing a process according to the described embodiment.

Fig. 11 is a block diagram of an arrangement of functional modules utilized by a portable media device.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a media player suitable for use with the described embodiments.

Detailed Description

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the underlying concepts of the described embodiments. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the described embodiments may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well known process steps have not been described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure the underlying concepts.

Some aspects of the described embodiments relate to a compact form factor electronic product. In the remainder of this discussion, the small form factor electronic device is described in terms of a personal media device. The personal media device may include a housing adapted to enclose and support various operational components. The housing may support various input/output mechanisms such as volume switches, power buttons, data and power connectors, audio jacks, and the like. The housing may also include an opening for receiving an input/output mechanism. The usability of the interface in predetermined operating conditions of the device may be enhanced by selecting the location of the input/output mechanism. For example, for a device to be operated with a single hand, an input mechanism such as an audio control switch may be located in a position that is easily finger operated when holding the device in the palm of the hand. Other output mechanisms, such as audio jacks, may be located at locations that do not interfere with holding the device, such as the top edge of the device.

Device components connected to the personal media device and allowing the device to operate to perform its intended functions may be enclosed within a housing. Some flexibility in the location of the internal device components may be provided as long as there is sufficient space available between the components for the desired connector. Furthermore, efficient use of the available internal space may be allowed by using custom shaped Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) or batteries, and the like. The personal media device may include audio circuitry adapted to produce audible sound. The audible sound may be created by an acoustic device that receives and uses an audio signal to modulate the amount of air inside the enclosure. In one embodiment, the audible sound may be generated by an audible sound generator enclosed inside the housing. The audible sound may be in the form of music provided by decoding music files held by the personal media device. The audible sound may be actively transmitted through one or more openings in the housing of the personal media device. The audible sound generator may take the form of an acoustic speaker having at least a diaphragm, which is enclosed inside a sound-proof enclosure, also called sound box. In one embodiment, the opening may include a first opening in the housing for directing at least a portion of audible sound generated by the acoustic speaker. The second opening may be for directing at least a remaining portion of the audible sound generated by the acoustic speaker. The second opening may be associated with a connector assembly and referred to as a connector port.

The connector assembly for receiving the connector port may be varied. For example, the connector assembly may take the form of a data/power connector (e.g., a standard 30-pin type connector). The connector assembly may also be associated with an output device, such as an audio jack (audio jack) having an audio jack tube (audio jack barrel) sized and shaped to conform to an audio post (audio post). The audio post may be inserted into the audio jack tube. In this manner, electrical contacts on the audio post engage with corresponding contact pads on the inner surface of the audio jack tube, allowing electrical signals to be passed between an external circuit (e.g., headphones) and the personal media device. Typically, the acoustic speaker is disabled when the audio post is inserted into the audio jack tube, whereby inserting the audio jack into the audio jack tube does not interfere with the output of audible sound.

To enhance the listening experience, the internal dimensions of the connector port/speaker assembly may be acoustically optimized for sound volume delivery. In one embodiment, the housing port and the connector port may have different sizes. One of the advantages of using more than one port is that: the overall audio experience may be enhanced due in part to the increase in perceived volume. In addition to boosting the overall perceived volume, the configuration of the housing port and the connection port makes it unlikely that it will completely cover both the housing port and the connector port. Thus, the user can hold the personal media device without worrying about completely interrupting the air path from the speaker to the external environment. Furthermore, the presence of the second port reduces the overall impedance to airflow in the air path from the speaker to the outside, resulting in a better acoustic experience.

These and other embodiments are discussed below with reference to fig. 1-12. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes only and should not be construed as limiting.

Fig. 1-2 are perspective views illustrating views of a fully assembled personal media device 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Personal media device 100 may be sized for one-handed operation and placement in a small area such as a pocket, i.e., personal media device 100 may be a handheld small electronic device. For example, personal media device 100 may correspond to a computer, media device, telecommunications device, or the like. Personal media device 100 is capable of processing data, particularly media such as audio. Personal media device 100 may generally correspond to a music player, a game player, a video player, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), or the like. In the case of handheld, personal media device 100 may be operated by a user with one or both hands alone, i.e., without a reference surface such as a desktop. In some cases, the handheld device is sized for placement in a user's pocket. Because of the small size, the user does not have to directly carry the device, and thus the device can be taken anywhere the user travels (e.g., the user is not limited to carrying bulky and heavy devices).

Personal media devices can be diverseIn (1). In some embodiments, personal media device 100 may perform a single function (e.g., a device dedicated to playing and storing media), while in other cases, personal media device may perform multiple functions (e.g., a device that plays/stores media, receives/sends telephone calls/text messages/internet, and/or performs web browsing). Personal media device 100 is capable of communicating wirelessly (with or without the assistance of a wireless-enabled auxiliary system) and/or via a wired pathway (e.g., using a conventional wire). In some embodiments, personal media device 100 may be extremely portable (e.g., small form factor, thin, unobtrusive, lightweight). Personal media device 100 may even be sized for one-handed operation and in a small area such as a pocket, i.e., personal media device 100 may be a handheld small electronic device. Personal media device 100 may correspond to an iPod available from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, California^TMOr iPhone^TMAny one of the electronic devices.

Personal media device 100 may include a housing 102 configured to at least partially enclose any suitable number of components associated with personal media device 100. For example, the housing 102 may enclose and internally support various electronic components (including integrated circuit chips and other circuitry) to provide computing operations for the device. Integrated circuit chips and other circuitry may include microprocessors, memory, batteries, circuit boards, I/O, various input/output (I/O) support circuits, and the like. Although not shown in this figure, the housing 102 may define a cavity within which the components are placed, and the housing 102 may also physically support any suitable number of mechanisms within the housing 102 or within an opening through a surface of the housing 102.

In addition to the above-described functionality, the housing 102 may also at least partially define the appearance of the personal media device 100. That is, the shape and form of the housing 102 may help define the overall shape or form of the personal media device 100, or the contour of the housing 102 may embody the physical appearance of the personal media device 100. Any suitable shape may be used. In some embodiments, the housing 102 may be sized and shaped to be comfortably held in a hand of a user. In some embodiments, the shape includes a slightly curved back surface and a highly curved side surface. The housing 102 is integrally formed in a manner to form a single integral unit. By being integrally formed, the housing 102 has a seamless appearance, unlike conventional housings that include two portions secured together and thereby form a bezel, a seam, therebetween. That is, unlike conventional housings, the housing 102 does not include any gaps, thereby making it more robust and aesthetically pleasing. The housing 102 may be made of any number of materials including, for example, plastic, metal, ceramic, and the like. In one embodiment, the housing 102 may be made of stainless steel to provide an aesthetically pleasing look and feel, and to provide structural integrity and support for all sub-assemblies mounted therein. When metal is used, the housing 102 may be formed using conventional telescoping core metal forming techniques well known to those skilled in the art.

Personal media device 100 also includes a cover 106 that includes a flat outer surface. The outer surface may, for example, be flush with the edge of the housing wall surrounding the edge of the cover. Cover 106 cooperates with housing 102 to enclose personal media device 100. Although the cover 106 may be positioned relative to the housing in a variety of ways, in the illustrated embodiment, the cover 106 is disposed within and proximate to the mouth of the cavity of the housing 100. That is, the cover 106 fits into the opening 108. In an alternative embodiment, cover 106 may be opaque and may include a touch sensing mechanism forming a touch pad. The cover 106 may be configured to define/carry a user interface of the personal media device 100. The cover 106 may provide the display assembly 104 with a viewing area for displaying a Graphical User Interface (GUI) and other information (e.g., text, objects, and graphics) to a user. The display assembly 104 may be part of a display unit (not shown) that is assembled and contained within the housing 102. Such user input events may be used for any number of purposes, such as resetting personal media device 100, selecting between display screens presented on display component 104, and so forth. In one embodiment, the cover 106 is a protective top layer of transparent or translucent material (clear) such that the display assembly 104 can be viewed through the cover. That is, the cover 106 acts as a window for the display assembly 104 (i.e., a transparent cover covers the display screen). In a particular embodiment, the cover 106 is formed of glass (e.g., cover glass), and more particularly, highly polished glass. It should be appreciated, however, that other transparent materials may be used, such as clear plastics.

The viewing area may be touch sensitive for receiving one or more touch inputs that help control various aspects of the content displayed on the display screen. In some cases, one or more inputs may be received simultaneously (e.g., multiple touches). In these embodiments, a touch sensing layer (not shown) may be positioned below cover glass 106. The touch sensing layer may be disposed between the cover 106 and the display assembly 104, for example. In some cases, a touch sensing layer is applied to display assembly 104, while in other cases a touch sensing layer is applied to cover glass 106. The touch sensing layer may be attached to (printed, deposited, laminated or otherwise bonded with) an inner surface of cover glass 106, for example. The touch sensing layer generally includes a plurality of sensors configured to activate when a finger touches the upper surface of cover glass 106. In the simplest case, an electrical signal is generated each time a finger passes the sensor. The number of signals in a given time frame may indicate the position, direction, velocity and acceleration of the finger on the touch sensitive portion, i.e. the more signals, the more the user moves his finger. In most cases, the signals are monitored by an electronic interface that converts the number, combination, and frequency of the signals into position, direction, velocity, and acceleration information. This information may then be used by personal media device 100 to perform the desired control functions for display component 104.

Personal media device 100 may also include one or more switches including a power switch, a volume control switch, a user input device, and the like. Power switch 110 may be configured to turn personal media device 100 on or off, while volume switch 112 is configured to adjust the volume level generated by personal media device 100. Personal media device 100 may also include one or more connectors for transferring data and/or power to and from personal media device 100. For example, opening 115 may receive audio jack 116, while opening 117 may receive data/power connector 118. Audio jack 116 allows audio information to be output from personal media device 100 with a wired connector, while connector 118 allows data to be sent to and received from a host device, such as a general purpose computer (e.g., desktop computer, portable computer). Connector 118 may be used to upload and download audio, video, and other image data to and from personal media device 100, as well as operating systems, applications, and the like. For example, connector 118 may be used to download songs and playlists, audio books, photos, etc. into the storage mechanism (memory) of personal media device 100. Connector 118 also allows power to be delivered to personal media device 100.

Portion 200 of personal media device 100 may include a number of communication features. For example, portion 200 may include at least a first audio portion 120 that may be used to output a first portion of audible sound generated by an audible sound generator component enclosed inside housing 102. The audible sound generator assembly may take a variety of forms. In the described embodiment, however, the audible sound generator assembly includes at least a diaphragm arranged to vibrate in synchronization with an audio signal provided by a processing unit included in personal media device 100. The audio signal may be provided by the processing unit by decoding an audio data file held internally by the personal media device 100. A second audio port 122 enclosed within the connector assembly 118 may then be used to output the remainder of the audible sound generated by the audible sound generator assembly. In this manner, the first audio port 120 and the second audio port 122 may cooperatively output audible sound generated by the audible sound generator assembly. The cooperation refers to the location of the second audio port 122 substantially excluding the possibility that the second audio port 122 will likewise be blocked, e.g., when the first audio port is blocked or otherwise obstructed (by a finger, clothing, etc.). Thus, because the first and second audio ports 120, 122 share an air path from the audible sound generator to the external environment, when a portion of the air path (e.g., the portion associated with the first audio port 120) is blocked or otherwise obstructed, at least some sound of the first portion of audible sound generated by the audible sound generator assembly can be passively redirected to the second audio port 122, thereby generally maintaining an overall perceived sound output level.

For example, because the connector assembly 118 may accept an external connector (e.g., a 30-pin connector), a substantial portion of the second audio port 122 may be blocked or obstructed when the connector is engaged with the connector assembly 118. In this case, it is unlikely that a user of personal media device 100 will hold housing 102 in a manner that would block or obstruct first audio port 120. Thus, even if the engaged connector would substantially block or obstruct the second audio port 122, the presence of the first audio port 120 would help maintain an overall perceived audio output level by outputting at least some of the audible sounds that are passively redirected from the second audio port 122 to the first audio port 120.

Fig. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the portable electronic device 100 illustrated in fig. 1-2. Housing 102 may enclose various internal device components, such as components associated with a user interface that allow personal media device 100 to operate for its intended function. For discussion purposes, the internal device components may be considered to be arranged in multiple stacked layers. For example, the display screen of display assembly 104 may be located directly below top glass 106. In one embodiment, the display screen and its associated display driver circuitry may be packaged together as part of the display assembly 104. Below the display assembly 104 may be device circuitry 130, such as a main logic board or circuit associated with other components, and a battery 132 for providing power to the personal media device 100.

Internal frame 140 may increase the overall rigidity of personal media device 100 by, for example, increasing the ability to resist bending moments experienced by housing 102. The internal frame 140 may be made of a variety of strong and resilient materials. For example, when the internal frame 140 is made of metal such as stainless steel, the internal frame 140 may be referred to as an M (metal) -frame 140. M-frame 140 may not only provide structural support for personal media device 100, but may also be used to help transfer heat generated by various internal components to the external environment. The M-frame 140 may be located below the display assembly 104 and above the device circuitry 130. In this manner, the M-frame 140 may provide support for various internal components and help transfer heat from internal components such as the display assembly 104.

The M-frame 140 may serve as an attachment point for other device components. For example, the M-frame 140 may be attached to the mounting surfaces 134a and 134b on the housing 102 via fasteners or using an adhesive. Other device components, such as display assembly 104, may then be coupled to M-frame 140 rather than directly to housing 102. One advantage of coupling the display assembly 104 to the housing via the M-frame 140 is that: the display 140 may be slightly isolated from the bending moments associated with the housing 102, i.e., the bending moments generated on the housing may be dissipated to the M-frame 140. By isolating the display assembly from the bending moments associated with the housing 102, damage to the display assembly 104, such as the occurrence of cracks, may be prevented.

It should be noted that in some embodiments, personal media device 100 may include additional internal frames. For example, the frame 150 may be directly fixed to the housing 102 and may generally be used to support the top glass 106. In this regard, the frame 150 may be referred to as a G (glass) -frame 150. To support cover glass 106, G-frame 150 may include a rim 152 having a flange portion, wherein cover glass 106 is bonded to rim 152 around flange 154, thereby sealing the entire device. The G-frame 150 may be made of a non-conductive frame material, such as glass filled plastic. An example of a glass-filled plastic suitable for use in G-frame 150 is KALIX, manufactured by Solvay Advanced Polymers of Alpharetta, GA^TM。KALIX^TMIncluding 50% glass fiber reinforced high performance nylon. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that there are many other potential frame materials that are suitable for use with this embodiment, and unless explicitly stated otherwiseAccordingly, the claims should not be construed as limited to KALIX^TMOr any other glass-filled plastic.

Fig. 4 illustrates an enlarged view of a portion 200 of the housing 102 shown in fig. 2 from the front. For the remainder of this discussion, and without loss of generality, the first audio port 120 will be referred to as the housing port 202, while the second audio port 120 will be referred to as the connector port 204. The housing port 202 may have a size and shape that conforms to the overall shape and appearance of the housing 102. For example, sidewall 206 of housing 102 may have splines or curved shapes that facilitate a user holding personal media device 100 in his hand. Accordingly, the housing port 202 may be shaped to more easily conform to the shape of the sidewall 206. The housing port 202 may be located a distance "d" from the rear surface 208 of the housing 102. The housing port 202 is configured in such a way that sound 210 emanating from the housing port 202 can be directed at an angle θ to the rear surface 208 of the housing 102, as shown in fig. 5. In this manner, when personal media device 100 is placed on support surface S, audible sound 210 emanating from housing port 202 can be directed at an angle θ to surface S, thereby directing at least some of audible sound 210 toward support surface S. In this manner, the support surface 210 may act as a soundboard so that at least a portion of the audible sound 210 can be reflected by the support surface S, resulting in a more robust sounding audio presentation.

FIG. 6 shows a view of the interior portion 500 of the personal media device 100 according to the described embodiment. As shown in fig. 6, the M-frame 140 may be used to provide support for various internal components, such as an audible sound generator assembly 504 and a connector assembly 506. In the depicted embodiment, the audible sound generator assembly 504 may be secured to the housing 102 via the G-frame 150 and the M-frame 140. The connector assembly 506 may be surface mounted to a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) 508. The audible sound generator assembly 504 may include an acoustic enclosure 510 having a first portion 512 and a second portion 514. The first part 512 may comprise an audible sound generator unit 516 arranged to provide audible sound 518. The first portion 512 may be configured to provide a first air path 520. The first air path 520 may acoustically couple the audible sound generator unit 516 and the housing port 202 via the housing port assembly 522. In this manner, the first portion 524 of the audible sound 518 may be communicated from the audible sound generator unit 516 to the external environment via the housing port assembly 522 and the housing port 202 using the first air path 520.

Second portion 514 may be integrally formed with first portion 512. The second portion 514 (also referred to as a "side car" portion) may be configured to provide a second air path 526. The second air path 526 may acoustically couple the audible sound generator unit 516 and the connector port 204 via the connector assembly 506. In this manner, the second portion 528 of the audible sound 518 may be communicated from the audible sound generator unit 516 to the external environment via the connector port 204 using the second air path 526. To ensure secure attachment of the audible sound generator assembly 504, a fastener 530 may be used. The fastener 530 may be various. The fasteners 530 may take the form of screws 530 that secure the audible sound generator assembly 504, the M-frame 140, and the connector assembly 506 to the housing 102.

The presence of at least two parallel air paths in the form of the first air path 520 and the second air path 526 has a number of advantages. One such advantage resides in: the presence of at least two air paths can reduce the overall impedance to airflow, thereby reducing the amount of audible sound energy lost during normal operation. In this way, the audible efficiency (i.e., the perceived sound level at a given volume input level) can be greatly increased. Furthermore, by providing at least two parallel air paths along which audible sound 518 generated by the audible sound generator unit 516 may travel, any increase in impedance to the air flow in one air path may be at least partially compensated for by passively redirecting the air flow to another air path representing a less impedance air path. In this way, even if one audio output port is partially or even completely blocked, the perceived output sound level will not be significantly reduced. In this manner, the preservation of the audio presentation provided by personal media device 100 can substantially improve the user perception of the audio performance of personal media device 100.

For example, when the audible sound generator unit 516 is providing audible sound 518, the first portion 524 may be communicated to the housing port 202 via the first air path 520. A second portion 528 of the audible sound 518 may be simultaneously communicated to the connector port 204 via the second air port 526. When perceived by a user, the sound levels (i.e., acoustic energy levels) perceived on the housing port 202 and the connector port 204 are approximately the same. In other words, the overall audio perception will result in the listener inferring that the audible sound 210 is actually emanating from a single location rather than at least two locations. However, if, for example, a user places a finger or other object in a position that blocks or obstructs the housing port 202, the impedance to airflow within the air path 520 will increase significantly, thereby resulting in a substantial reduction in the amount of acoustic energy output at the housing port 202. In this case, the increase in impedance to the airflow encountered at the first air path 520 can passively cause at least some sound in the first portion 524 to be redirected from the first air path 520 to the second air path 526. In this manner, even if the amount of acoustic energy output at the housing port 202 is significantly reduced, the amount of acoustic energy output at the connector port 204 is substantially increased because acoustic energy is passively redirected from the first air path 520 to the second air path 526. Thereby, the perceived overall audio output level (i.e. volume level) may remain substantially unchanged.

Thus, it is apparent that the overall integrity of the first air path 520 and the second air path 526 is important to maintain at least some of the above-described advantages (particularly with respect to audio efficiency, perception of audio balance between the output ports, and maintaining the overall acoustic experience). For example, any systematic increase in airflow impedance in the air path can reduce the overall audio efficiency of the audible sound generator assembly 504. For example, the second air path 526 is connected directly to the outside environment via the connector port 204. To prevent intrusion of dust and other debris from the external environment from degrading the quality of the air path 526 (e.g., increasing impedance to airflow due to accumulation of dust), a filter 532 may be placed between the connector port 204 and the second portion 514. A filter 532 (as shown and discussed in more detail below) may be used to prevent impurities such as water and dust from contaminating the second air path 526. Further, in the described embodiment, the filter 532 may be robust yet accessible, thereby providing the user with the ability to periodically clean the filter 532 without causing damage. Additionally, foam seal 533 and foam seal 535 may be applied to both housing port 202 and connector port 204. The foam seal 533 for the air seal housing port 202 may take the form of a relatively thick foam layer and decorative mesh, while the foam seal 535 may take the form of a lapped foam ring used on the connector port 204.

In one particularly useful embodiment, the filter 532 may take the form of a decorative/hydrophobic mesh stack 532 that can be placed in the air path 526. When placed in the air path 526, the decorative/hydrophobic mesh stack 532 may prevent moisture and dust from invading the personal media device 100. The mesh stack 532 may include a plurality of layers, and this includes at least the mesh layer. The mesh layer may provide a decorative screen that prevents direct viewing of the interior of personal media device 100 from the external environment. Typically, the mesh portion of the mesh stack 532 may be made of a rough and waterproof material. In some cases, the mesh material may be strong enough to provide at least some structural support for the connector port 204. The strength of the decorative mesh may be great enough to resist damage caused by, for example, inserting an object into the connector port.

In addition to providing protection from dust and moisture intrusion and protecting the interior of the personal media device 100, the mesh remains accessible for cleaning and debris removal. The accessibility of the mesh is very useful because the accumulation of dust or other debris on the stack 532 of meshes is significant. The accumulation of dust or other debris at the mesh is very undesirable because contaminants such as dust may focus at the mesh and obstruct the output of audible sound, thereby reducing the overall performance and overall user experience of the personal media device 100. By simply inserting a cleaning implement such as a wet cotton wand, debris such as dust on the mesh can be removed, thereby preventing the seal from becoming clogged and the sound output from being reduced.

Features such as air seals 534 can be used to help maintain the integrity of the second air path 526. A gas seal 534 may be used to seal the engagement between the rear of the connector assembly 506 and the second portion 514. Gas seal 534 may be made of any suitable compatible material with appropriate sealing characteristics. For example, the gas seal 534 may take the form of a foam seal 534. Due to the compressible nature of the foam, the foam seal 534 may be compressed in place between the adapter 536 of the second portion 514 and the adapter 538 of the connector assembly 506 (shown in FIG. 7). In the depicted embodiment, the adapter 536 may be shaped in accordance with the adapter 538, whereby the adapter 536 may be tightly coupled together. In this manner, the adapter 536 may fit snugly inside the receiving space provided by the adapter 538.

During assembly, the audible sound generator unit 504 may be placed inside the housing 102 using a tilting motion. This tilting action can cause adapter 536 to tilt into and be received by adapter 538, at which time pressure can be applied to second portion 514, which second portion 514 can then connect and secure audible sound generator unit 504 to both connector assembly 506 and PCB 508. By angling in and applying pressure, the adapter 536 may compress the foam seal 534 between the adapter 536 and the adapter 538 such that the foam seal 534 experiences significant compression. In the depicted embodiment, the adapter 538 may be shaped in a manner that emphasizes the compression experienced by the foam seal 534, thereby greatly enhancing the ability of the foam seal 534 to block, or at least significantly inhibit, the intrusion of moisture or other contaminants into the air path 526. The locating pins associated with second portion 514 may be used in the angled insertion process. The locating pins have a shape and position configured to be inserted into receiving holes in the PCB 508. The locating pins also hold second portion 514 in place so that second portion 514 becomes unable to be easily separated from connector assembly 506, since PCB 508 and connector assembly 506 are soldered together during the reflow process.

In addition, the retention feature 540 may be used to further ensure the air seal integrity of the second air path 526. The retention feature 540 may fit the M-frame 140 and, once in place, prevent the adapter 536 and the adapter 538 from separating. Accordingly, the M-frame 140 is placed on top of the connector assembly 506 and the sound box 510. The M-frame 140 may include fingers adapted to receive the retention features 540, and in one embodiment, the retention features may be located on a shell portion of the connector assembly 506. The M-frame 140 may also include a spring clip that may load the side of the second portion 514 toward the connector assembly 506. The force created by the spring clip may cause the seal 534 to be over-compressed at the junction of the adapter 534 and the adapter 536. Thus, once in place, the M-frame 140 may prevent the connector assembly 506 from separating from the second portion 514. It should be noted that the audible sound generation unit 504 may be hard-mounted to the M-frame 140 and the G-frame 150. Such a rigid mounting can help prevent buzz, as well as amplify audible sound via the housing back 208, where the housing back 208 may protrude when the personal media device 100 is on a hard flat surface such as a desk or table.

Fig. 7 shows an enlarged view of the portion 600 shown in fig. 6. Portion 600 provides a more detailed view of the engagement of connector assembly 506 and second portion 514. More specifically, portion 600 shows additional details of the mesh stack of filter 532. The filter 532 may be formed of a decorative mesh 602 to prevent other contaminants, such as water and dust, from invading and degrading the second air path 526. During assembly of personal media device 100, connector assembly 506 is mounted and attached to PCB 508 using a surface mount technique known as solder reflow or simply reflow. During the reflow process, molten solder is used to electrically connect the various components to electrical pads and traces that are part of the PCB 508. Due to harsh conditions (including high temperatures), filter 532 cannot survive the reflow process used to surface mount connector assembly 506 to printed circuit board 508, and thus filter 532 cannot be an integral part of connector assembly 506. Thus, the filter 532 may be installed after the connector assembly 506 is surface mounted to the PCB 508 using an assembly technique known as "drop gate" (i.e., sliding door). By using a sliding door, the filter 532 can be dropped into place during assembly using a slot or groove. Once in place, the filter 532 may be sealed in place using an adhesive such as glue. In this manner, the filter 532 may seal from environmental contaminants from entering the interior of the personal media device.

Fig. 8 shows a cross-sectional view 700 along line a-a of fig. 6. The cross-sectional view 700 illustrates the sealing capability of the foam seal 534 in relation to the adapter 536 and the adapter 538. More specifically, the retention spring 701 may be used to maintain the retention force F_retensionDirectly to the second portion 514. Retention force F_retensionWhich in turn causes the adapter 536 to directly make intimate contact with the "spear" portion 702 of the adapter 538. In this manner, the chamfered (chamferred) surfaces 704 and 706 of the lance portion 702 may guide the retention force F_retensionComponent (e.g. foam force F)_foamShown) to "over compress" portions 708 of foam seal 534 toward M-frame 150, thereby significantly increasing the sealing capability of foam seal 534. The audible sound generating unit 504 may include an alignment pin 710 that conforms in size and shape to a PCB opening 712. During assembly of personal media device 100, connector assembly 506 may be secured to PCB 508 using connector alignment pins 714 that enter PCB openings 716. Seal 718 may be used to enhance the seal and thereby reduce the likelihood of sound leakage.

Fig. 9 illustrates another embodiment in which an audio jack port 900 may be used to output audible sound generated by the audible sound generator unit 516 using an audio jack air path 902 instead of or in addition to the connector port 204. The audio jack air path 902 may acoustically connect the audible sound generator unit 516 to the audio jack unit 904. More specifically, the second portion 514 may be connected to the audio jack unit 904 at, for example, the audio jack tube 906. In this manner, a portion 908 of the audible sound 518 may emanate from the audio jack port 900 when unoccupied by an audio jack post. It should be noted that the audible sound generator unit 516 is normally disabled when inserting the audio jack post into the audio jack tube 906 and therefore does not interfere with any potential audible sound emitted by the audio jack port 900.

FIG. 10 shows a flow diagram detailing a process 1000 according to the described embodiment. Process 1000 may begin at 1002 with providing a housing for enclosing a plurality of operational components used to provide functionality for a personal media device. The housing may be made of metal, such as stainless steel or aluminum, and may have a seamless, unitary construction. The housing may include a plurality of openings each sized and shaped to receive input/output devices, switches, connectors, and the like. Next at 1004, a speaker assembly may be attached to the interior of the housing. The speaker assembly may take a variety of forms. In the described embodiments, the speaker assembly includes an acoustic speaker, for example, made with a diaphragm that vibrates in accordance with an electrical signal provided by an audio circuit that decodes audio files held in the personal media device. Next at 1006, a first air path will be configured. The first air path acoustically couples the speaker assembly to an external environment via a first audio output port. In the described embodiment, the first audio output port may take the form of an opening in the housing. Next, at 1008, a second air path is configured between the speaker assembly and the second audio output port independent of the first audio output port. By independent it is meant that the first audio output port and the second audio output port may be physically positioned such that only one or the other of the two ports, but not both, can be blocked by an object such as a user's finger. In this way, the at least one audio port may remain substantially unplugged at all times.

At 1010, audible sound is generated by a speaker component. At 1012, audible sound is cooperatively communicated from the speaker assembly to the external environment using the first and second audio ports. Cooperatively transferring refers to the first and second air paths being coupled such that an increase in impedance to the transmission of acoustic energy in one air path results in at least some of the acoustic energy being passively redirected from a higher impedance air path to a lower impedance air path. For example, if the first audio output port is blocked or at least obstructed, resulting in an increased impedance to the flow of acoustic energy in the first air path, at least some of the acoustic energy that would otherwise be blocked is redirected to the second air path. In this way, the perceived audio output level of the personal media device will remain substantially unchanged.

Fig. 11 is a block diagram of an arrangement 1100 of functional modules utilized by a portable media device. The portable media device may be, for example, portable media device 102 illustrated in fig. 1 and 2. The arrangement 1100 includes a media player 1102 that is capable of outputting audio for a user of the portable media device while also being capable of storing and retrieving data related to a data store 1104. The arrangement 1100 also includes a Graphical User Interface (GUI) manager 1106. The GUI manager 1106 operates to control information provided and displayed on a display device. The arrangement 1100 also includes a communication module 1108 that facilitates communication between the portable media device and the accessory device. Still further, arrangement 1100 also includes an accessory manager 1110 that operates to authenticate and obtain data from accessory devices that may be coupled with the portable media device. For example, the accessory device may be a wireless interface accessory, such as the wireless interface accessory illustrated in fig. 1 coupled with portable media device 102.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a media player 1150 suitable for use with the described embodiments. The media player 1150 illustrates the circuitry of a typical portable media device. The media player 1150 includes a processor 1152, which refers to a microprocessor or controller for controlling the overall operation of the media player 1150. The media player 1150 stores media data relating to media items in a file system 1154 and a cache 1156. File system 1154 is typically a storage disk or a plurality of disks. The file system 1154 typically provides mass storage capability for the media player 1150. However, because the access time of the file system 1154 is relatively slow, the media player 1150 may also include a cache 1156. The cache 1156 is, for example, a Random Access Memory (RAM) provided by a semiconductor memory. The relative access time of the cache 1156 is much shorter than the access time of the file system 1154. However, the cache 1156 does not have the large storage capacity of the file system 1154. Further, file system 1154 consumes more power than cache 1156 when active. Power consumption can often be an issue when the media player 1150 is a portable media device that is powered by a battery 1174. The media player 1150 may also include RAM 1170 and Read Only Memory (ROM) 1172. The ROM 1172 may nonvolatilely store programs, utilities or processes to be executed. The RAM 1170 provides volatile data storage, such as for the cache 1156.

The media player 1150 also includes a user input device 1158 that allows a user of the media player 1150 to interact with the media player 1150. For example, the user input device 1158 may take a variety of forms, such as buttons, keypads, dials, touch screens, audio input interfaces, video/image capture input units, input in the form of sensor data, and so forth. Still further, the media player 1150 includes a display 1160 (screen display) that is controllable by the processor 1152 to display information to a user. A data bus 1166 may facilitate data transfer between at least the file system 1154, cache 1156, processor 1152, and CODEC 1163.

In one embodiment, the media player 1150 is used to store a plurality of media items (e.g., tracks, podcasts, etc.) in the file system 1154. When a user desires to play a particular media item with the media player, a list of available media items is displayed on the display 1160. The user may then select one of the available media items using the user input device 1158. Upon receiving a selection of a particular media item, the processor 1152 provides the media data (e.g., audio file) for the particular media item to a coder/decoder (CODEC) 1163. The CODEC1163 then generates analog output signals for a speaker 1164. The speakers 1164 may be speakers internal to the media player 1160 or external to the media player 1150. For example, headphones or earpieces connected to the media player 1150 can be considered external speakers.

The media player 1150 also includes a network/bus interface 1161 coupled to a data link 1162. The data link 1162 allows the media player 1150 to be coupled to a host computer or accessory device. The data link 1162 may be provided over a wired connection or a wireless connection. In the case of a wireless connection, the network/bus interface 1161 may include a wireless transceiver. Media items (media assets) can relate to one or more different types of media content. In one embodiment, the media items are audio tracks (e.g., tracks, audiobooks, and podcasts). In another embodiment, the media items are images (e.g., photographs). While in other embodiments, the media items may be any combination of audio, graphical or video content.

The various aspects, embodiments, implementations or features of the described embodiments can be used alone or in any combination. Various aspects of the described embodiments may be implemented by software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. The described embodiments may also be implemented as computer readable code on a non-transitory computer readable medium. A computer-readable medium is defined as any data storage device that can store data which can thereafter be read by a computer system. Examples of the computer readable medium include read-only memory, random-access memory, CD-ROMs, DVDs, magnetic tape, and optical data storage devices. The computer readable medium can also be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion.

The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the described embodiments. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that these specific details are not required in order to practice the described embodiments. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments described herein are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings.

Claims (28)

1. A personal media device, comprising:

a housing having a plurality of openings, wherein at least one opening is a first port arranged to facilitate broadcasting a first portion of audible energy generated by an audio generator enclosed within the housing, and at least one opening is a second port for broadcasting a second portion of audible energy generated by the audio generator, wherein at least some of the first portion of audible energy is redirected to the second port when at least a portion of the first port is blocked.

2. The personal media device of claim 1, wherein the second port merges into the connector opening in a manner that the second port remains substantially invisible to a user of the personal media device.

3. The personal media device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the second port is received by the connector opening.

4. The personal media device of claim 3, wherein the connector opening receives a data connector.

5. The personal media device of claim 4, wherein the data connector has 30 pins.

6. The personal media device of claim 3, wherein the connector opening receives an audio jack.

7. The personal media device of claim 1, wherein the first port and the second port are positioned such that when one of the first port and the second port is blocked by an object, the other port is still available to output at least some of the audible sound that would otherwise be blocked by the object.

8. A method, comprising:

providing a housing having a size and shape suitable for enclosing a plurality of operational components for providing functionality to a personal media device;

attaching a speaker assembly to an interior of the housing;

a first air path configured to acoustically couple the speaker assembly to an external environment via a first audio output port;

configuring a second air path between the speaker assembly and a second audio output port independent of the first audio output port such that the first audio output port and the second audio output port are physically positioned to keep at least one of the audio output ports unobstructed when the other audio output port is obstructed by an object; and

the audible sound generated by the speaker assembly is cooperatively communicated to the external environment using the first and second audio output ports.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

increasing an impedance to audible sound delivery at the first audio path;

at least some of the audible sounds are passively redirected from the first air path to the second air path such that an overall perception of the audio output level remains substantially unchanged.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein increasing the impedance to audible sound delivery at the first air path comprises:

blocking the first audio output port with the object.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the first audio output port is a housing port that is received by a housing port opening in the housing.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the second audio output port is a connector port included within a connector opening.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the connector opening is sized and shaped to receive a data connector.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the connector opening is sized and shaped to receive an audio jack.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

inserting the audio post into the audio jack;

the speaker assembly is disabled.

16. An integrated audible sound output system incorporating a personal media device having at least a processor, an audio circuit, and a data retention unit, the integrated audible sound output system comprising:

an audible sound generator unit arranged to produce audible sound from audio data retrieved from the data holding unit, decoded by the audio circuit and processed by the processor,

a first audio output port acoustically coupled to an audible sound generator unit via a first air path; and

a second audio output port acoustically coupled to the audible sound generator unit via a second air path, wherein the first and second air paths cooperate to pass audible sound generated by the audible sound generator unit to the external environment via the first audio port and the second audio port.

17. The integrated audible sound output system of claim 16, wherein the first audio output port is a housing port and the second audio output port is received within the data connector opening.

18. The integrated audible sound output system of claim 16, wherein the first audio output port is a housing port and the second audio output port is received within an audio jack unit, the audio jack unit including an audio jack tube connected to the second air path.

19. The integrated audible sound output system of claim 16, wherein when the first audio output port is blocked, a first portion of the audible sound generated by the audible sound generator unit will be prevented from passing from the audible sound generator unit to the external environment via the first audio output port.

20. The integrated audible sound output system of claim 19, wherein at least some of the blocked first portion of the audible sound generated by the audible sound generator unit is passively redirected to the second air path that remains substantially unobstructed such that an overall perception of the audio output level of the personal media device remains substantially unchanged.

21. An apparatus, comprising:

means for providing a housing sized and shaped to enclose a plurality of operational components for providing functionality to the personal media device;

means for attaching the speaker assembly to the interior of the housing;

means for configuring a first air path acoustically coupling the speaker assembly to an external environment via a first audio output port;

means for configuring a second air path between the speaker assembly and a second audio output port independent of the first audio output port such that the first audio output port and the second audio output port are physically positioned to keep at least one of the audio output ports unobstructed when the other audio output port is obstructed by an object; and

means for cooperatively communicating audible sound generated by the speaker assembly to the external environment using the first and second audio output ports.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

means for increasing an impedance to audible sound delivery at the first air path;

means for passively redirecting at least some of the audible sounds from the first audio path to the second air path such that an overall perception of the audio output level remains substantially unchanged.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the means for increasing the impedance to audible sound delivery at the first audio path comprises:

means for blocking the first air output port with the object.

24. The device of claim 21, wherein the first audio output port is a housing port that is received by a housing port opening in the housing.

25. The device of claim 21, wherein the second audio output port is a connector port included within a connector opening, the connector being at least a data connector or an audio jack connector.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the connector opening is sized and shaped to receive a data connector.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the connector opening is sized and shaped to receive an audio jack.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising:

means for inserting an audio post into the audio jack;

means for disabling the speaker assembly.