Apple Patent Introduces iPhone Docking Station with Acoustics
On September 11, 2008, the US Patent & Trademark Office published Apple’s patent application titled Personal media device docking station having an acoustic interface . Apple’s patent generally relates to enhancing future iPhone and/or iPod docking stations by integrating an acoustic interface. In one feature, the docking station well includes a first set of internal acoustic apertures for distributing sound to a microphone of the media device while a second set of internal acoustic apertures collect sound from a speaker of the media device.
Docking Station with Acoustics
Apple’s patent FIG. 6A shows a perspective view of a docking station 600 including internal acoustic apertures 602 and an electronic connector 604 according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention. In one embodiment, the internal acoustic apertures and connector are located within a well 606 of the docking station.
The docking station may include one or more external acoustic apertures 608 that are in acoustic communication with the internal acoustic apertures via one or more acoustic channels (not shown) within the docking station. In one feature, the docking station well includes a first set of internal acoustic apertures for distributing sound to a microphone of the media device while a second set of internal acoustic apertures collect sound from a speaker of the media device.
Reducing Feedback from the Speaker
Apple’s patent FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of a media device 700 that is docked to a docking station 702 according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention. In one embodiment, the gap 710 provides an acoustic pathway or channel that enables the more efficient transfer of sound to and from the media device 700. The gap 710 may also provide pressure relief to reduce the likelihood of feedback from the speaker 712 which could interfere with the reception of sound by the microphone 714. The docking station 702 may also include one or more spacers 716 that establish the gap 710 between the media device 700 and docking station 702. The media device 700 may include a microphone channel 718 and/or one or more speaker channels 720.
Alternative Acoustic Positioning
Apple’s patent FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a docking station 1000 including a plurality of external acoustic apertures 1002 according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention. In one embodiment, the external acoustic apertures are positioned along an inconspicuous lower portion of the docking station in order to save the surfaces of the docking station for other purposes such as, for example, an aesthetically pleasing design.
Apple lists Wim Crooijmans (San Jose, CA) and Richard Paul Howarth (San Francisco, CA) as the inventors of this patent.
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Written and researched by Jack Purcher.
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