US 12,267,641 B2
Electroosmotic flow valve for an electronic device
Christopher Wilk, Los Gatos, CA (US); Scott C. Grinker, Belmont, CA (US); Esge B. Andersen, Campbell, CA (US); Onur I. Ilkorur, Santa Clara, CA (US); Peter C. Hrudey, San Mateo, CA (US); and Gokhan Hatipoglu, Milpitas, CA (US)
Assigned to Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed by Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed on Nov. 4, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/981,230.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/283,938, filed on Nov. 29, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0171532 A1, Jun. 1, 2023
Int. Cl. H04R 1/22 (2006.01); G10K 11/18 (2006.01)
CPC H04R 1/22 (2013.01) [G10K 11/18 (2013.01)] 26 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A portable electronic device comprising:
an enclosure having an enclosure wall that defines a first chamber, a second chamber, an acoustic opening from the first chamber, and an acoustic vent from the first chamber or the second chamber; and
an electroosmotic flow valve having a driven member and an electroosmotic pump, wherein the electroosmotic pump is operable to move the driven member in a direction parallel to a direction of fluid flow through the acoustic vent between a position adjacent a substrate layer of the electroosmotic pump and a position covering the acoustic vent to open and close the acoustic vent.