Choosing the Right Vent

It is difficult to predict the conditions in which your customers may use your product, so we recommend installing a vent that maintains high sound quality while providing maximum protection against potential damage and/or failure. Gore offers three types of portable electronic vents:

• acoustic vents that protect against dust and splash
• acoustic vents for protection during full water immersion
• pressure vents that maintain consistent airflow to equalize pressure in fully sealed devices

All GORE® Portable Electronic Vents provide pressure equalization. GORE® Acoustic Vents are customized to provide optimal voice and musical performance. The materials used in these vents transfer sound through the acoustic system differently. GORE® Acoustic Vents for dust and splash protection allow sound waves to pass directly through the membrane, whereas GORE® Acoustic Vents for immersion protection respond to and accurately reproduce the sound waves based on mechanical vibration. GORE® Pressure Vents enable continuous airflow by equalizing pressure within the enclosure while blocking contaminants. The performance requirements of your application determine which GORE® Portable Electronic Vent we recommend for your device.

Selecting the Right Material

Our engineers select materials based on the concept of fitness for use, which means delivering the best product to meet the demands of a specific application. Some of the key factors we consider when selecting the material for your vent include:

• the type of application for which your device is intended
• the temperature range and amount of time between exposure to minimum and maximum temperatures
• the type of acoustic transducer the vent will protect
• the size and amount of open space in the enclosure
• the required level of protection against liquids and other contaminants
• the IP or other standards your device must meet

A crucial step in selecting the right vent is extensive material testing. Gore materials are tested for compliance with industry protection standards like IP or NEMA. They are also tested for acoustic performance such as impedance and transmission loss. Our engineers combine this test data with their understanding of acoustic science, material technology and industry requirements to optimize your acoustic system with our products.

In addition, the performance of an acoustic system depends on the ability of the materials to provide reliable protection and high-quality sound. For example, if you select a water-resistant material for a cell phone, the vent will not be able to withstand the water pressure if the phone is fully immersed. On the other hand, if the phone will only encounter an occasion drop of rain or dust, you don’t need full immersion protection. Three basic types of materials are used in acoustic vents:

• woven materials that provide a single layer of protection with a defined pore size; these materials block particles that are similar in size, with their effectiveness limited by their pore size
• non-woven materials that filter particles using a complex, three-dimensional microstructure; these materials trap particles with a greater efficiency by using a tortuous path that is not limited by a specific pore size
• expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membranes that have a node-and-fibril construction to allow air to pass through while repelling water and solid materials; this membrane responds easily and quickly to a sound wave, with the vibration of the membrane converting the airborne energy to mechanical vibrations; these vibrations are then reproduced on the other side of the membrane, creating high-quality sound with waterproof protection

Selecting the Right Form

GORE® Portable Electronic Vents are available in pre-cut shapes and sizes based on common industry speaker, receiver, microphone and enclosure dimensions. Some of the key factors we consider when selecting the right product form include:

• available space inside your electronic enclosure
• type and size of the acoustic transducer (microphone, receiver or speaker)
• specific design and construction of the transducer
• industry standards your device must meet
• conditions in which your device will be used, such as the anticipated temperature range
• surface on which the vent will be mounted