Apple’s Newest Patents Detail Advanced Waterproof iPhone Speakers and Futuristic Noise-Canceling EarPods

Adding fuel to the fire of previous rumors, which suggested that Apple could potentially be releasing a waterproofed ‘iPhone 7’ this fall, the Silicon Valley tech-giant on Tuesday was officially awarded a new set of patents.

One of the patents pertains to a type of “mesh coating” that, in practice, would act as a waterproofing mechanism for an iOS device’s speaker grilles. The other of which pertains to a set of advanced headphones, featuring bone conduction technology, which would more effectively filter out peripheral, ambient noise.

First things first, we have Apple’s U.S. Patent No. 9,363,589, which outlines a quote unquote “Liquid resistant acoustic device.” The patent essentially details a type of “mesh umbrella,” so to speak, which would applicably be positioned between the grille covering an acoustic port (an iPhone or iPad speaker) and the external housing of its respective device. The acoustic module, err, speaker grille, would then be tightly sealed to its host device rendering it nearly impenetrable by liquid.

As you can see from the images provided by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office:

 “A cross section of an example system (in this case a tablet) that includes an acoustic device (105) that may be coupled to the electronic device via a mechanism such as an o-ring (109}. The acoustic port (106) is covered by mesh (107) that resists entry of liquid and other materials into the acoustic device. The umbrella housing section (103) may be configured in a way to cover the acoustic port.”

When liquid somehow attempts to enter the acoustic module, this mesh umbrella of sorts would essentially act as a barrier — preventing the liquid, by diversion, from infiltrating and thereby damaging the device’s intricate, internal components.

Apple’s patent, however, outlines an inherently optimized process by which a two-tier hydrophobic/hydrophilic coating would cover the outer surfaces of the mesh umbrella, and the device’s external housing, respectively. With such a complex, multi-phasic mechanism employed, any liquid that could somehow bypass the coating and/or mesh umbrella, would be reabsorbed and drawn out of the device before it has the chance to cause damage to internal components.

Although a somewhat similar technology is currently employed by Apple’s Watch, the Cupertino-company has yet to launch this feature on any its iPhone or iPad. Whether or not the company has imminent plans of doing so, anytime soon, still remains to be seen.

Apple was also granted on Tuesday a patent detailing a quote unquote “System and method of mixing accelerometer and microphone signals to improve voice quality in a mobile device.” Filed by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office under patent No. 9,363,596, this system essentially details a headset — such as an advanced set of Apple’s EarPods — that are capable of more effectively filtering out peripheral, ambient noises.

The patent describes a separate earphone device that, in conjunction with both a built-in microphone, as well as a handful of accelerometer sensors capable of detecting a user’s vocal chord vibrations, would reduce peripheral noises via the conduction of bones within the user’s skull and inner ear.

The headset’s microphone, in conjunction with the onboard accelerometer sensors, would essentially be able to monitor the acoustic signals of a user’s voice — thereby avoiding, or, at the least, significantly diminishing, any input that’s not inherently recognized as the user’s voice.

The potential implications of this technology, or whether or not it will ultimately see the light of day in a commercialized product, remain still unknown.

The waterproofed mesh umbrella patent, originally filed for back in July, 2014, has been accredited to Jesse A. Lippert, Anthony S. Montevirgen, Brad G. Boozer, Nikolas T. Vitt and Rex T. Ehman as its inventors. Whereas, the advanced noise cancellation patent, also filed back in July, 2014, has been accredited to Sori V. Dusan and Aram Lindahl as its inventors.

What do you think about Apple’s newest patents? Will the next iPhone end up being waterproofed as we originally reported?
Let us know what you think in the comments!

Featured Photo Alexey Boldin / Shutterstock.com