Patent · US Active

Acoustic dock for portable electronic device

US8320597B2 · kind B2 · utility

26Cited by
3References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 22, 2009
Grant dateNov 27, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 15, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04R2205/021
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An accessory for a portable electronic device having a speaker uses an acoustic wave guide to passively amplify and direct the output of the device's speaker. The accessory has a housing with a docking cavity formed therein. The docking cavity has supportive sidewalls that are adapted to receive and support the portable electronic device in an upright position. A cable access channel is formed in the docking cavity that allows a connector and cable to be coupled to the portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is mounted in the docking cavity. An acoustic waveguide having a spiral shaped acoustic chamber is positioned in the housing such that an entrance to the acoustic waveguide corresponds to a hole in the docking cavity that is positioned to correspond to the location of the speaker of the device when the device is mounted in the docking chamber. The exit of the acoustic chamber corresponds to an exterior opening in a sidewall of the housing and the hole in the docking cavity. The housing can be provided with charging circuitry to charge the device when the device is mounted in the dock.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.