Handheld electronic device having hidden sound openings offset from an audio source

Abstract

An improved handheld electronic device has a case with an elongated cavity formed therein. An audio transducer is in fluid communication with the cavity, and a number of sound openings are formed in the case and are in fluid communication with the cavity and with the atmosphere surrounding the handheld electronic device. The sound openings are generally spaced from a central region of the audio transducer to space the sound openings generally farther from an edge of the case than the audio transducer. The cavity is configured to form a Helmholtz resonator that enables the communication of sound through the cavity between the audio transducer and the sound openings. The spacing of the sound openings from an edge of a case helps a user to form a seal between the case and the user's ear to enable sound from the sound openings to enter the ear and to be perceived by the user. In one embodiment, the sound openings face into a channel formed in the case, which enables the sound openings to be largely hidden from view and enable the sound openings to be spaced an even greater distance from the audio transducer.

1 . A handheld electronic device comprising:
 a case having a first edge and comprising a housing and a cover, the housing having a housing surface, the cover having a cover surface and having an elongated channel formed therein opposite the cover surface;   an output apparatus comprising an audio transducer disposed on the housing closely adjacent said case first edge;   the case having an indentation formed in at least one of the housing adjacent the housing surface and the cover adjacent the cover surface;   at least a portion of the cover surface being disposed adjacent at least a portion of the housing surface;   the indentation being disposed between and forming a cavity in the case between at least a portion of the housing adjacent the housing surface and at least a portion of the cover adjacent the cover surface, the cavity being elongated along at least a first axis;   the audio transducer being in fluid communication with the cavity; the case having at least a first opening formed therein providing fluid communication between the cavity and the channel; and   the at least first opening being spaced from said case first edge along the at least first axis from the audio transducer.   
     
     
         2 . The handheld electronic device of Claim  1  wherein the cover comprises an insert and a lens disposed adjacent one another, the indentation and the at least first opening being formed in the insert, the channel being disposed between the insert and the lens. 
     
     
         3 . The handheld electronic device of Claim  2  wherein the at least first opening faces the lens. 
     
     
         4 . The handheld electronic device of Claim  2  wherein at least a portion of the lens overlies at least a portion of the insert.