Portable listening device system

• US 10,313,775 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2018
• Issued: 06/04/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Hankey, M. Evans, Sanford, Emery A., Prest, Christopher D., Lim, Way Chet
• Primary Examiner(s): Joshi, Sunita
• Application Number:
  US15/948,968
• Publication Number:
  US 20180255389A1
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3866 carried on the head
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/026 Details of the structure or mounting of specific components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0262 for a battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0274 for an electrical connector module
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0277 for a printed circuit board assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1025 Accumulators or arrangements for charging secondary cells per se H01M10/00; charging in general H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/105 Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/105 Manufacture of mono- or stereophonic headphone components
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/09 : Applications of special connectors, e.g. USB, XLR, in loudspeakers, microphones or headphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/556 : External connectors, e.g. plugs or modules H04R25/607 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/558 : Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/602 : of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/603 : of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0274 : by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/147 : at least one of the printed circuits being bent or folded, e.g. by using a flexible printed circuit H05K1/148 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/189 : characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit H05K3/326 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An in-ear hearing device having an ear interfacing portion integrally formed with an elongated stem portion, wherein the ear interfacing portion extends away from the elongated stem portion; a first acoustic port formed in the ear interfacing portion; a speaker disposed in the ear interfacing portion and aligned to emit sound from the acoustic port; a plurality of electrical contacts disposed at an end of the stem portion, the plurality of electrical contacts including first and second contacts; a second acoustic port formed at the end of the elongated stem portion between the first and second contacts; a microphone disposed in the stem portion; and a channel that fluidically couples the microphone to the second acoustic port.

Claims

1. A portable listening device system comprising:

(a) an earbud comprising;

an earbud housing having a speaker housing integrally formed with and protruding away from a first end of an elongated tube;

a first acoustic port formed through the speaker housing;

a speaker disposed in the speaker housing and aligned to emit sound through the first acoustic port;

a second acoustic port formed at a second end of the elongated tube opposite the first end;

a third acoustic port positioned on a side surface of the speaker housing and configured to provide a path for acoustic pressure to vent;

a microphone disposed in the elongated tube;

a channel fluidically coupled between the microphone and the second acoustic port; and

a rechargeable battery disposed within the elongated tube; and

battery charging circuitry coupled to the rechargeable battery and positioned within the earbud housing, the battery charging circuitry configured to charge the rechargeable battery when connected to an external power supply; and

(b) an apparatus for charging the earbud, the apparatus comprising;

a case housing socket configured to receive the earbud; and

power transmitting circuitry configured to;

when the earbud is received in the socket, electrically couple with and provide power to the battery charging circuitry in the earbud.

2. The portable listening device system set forth in claim 1 wherein the earbud further comprises a plurality of electrical contacts disposed at an exterior surface of the earbud housing, the plurality of electrical contacts including at least one contact coupled to its respective battery charging circuitry and configured to receive electrical power from the power transmitting circuitry.

3. The portable listening device system set forth in claim 1 wherein the earbud further comprises a wireless antenna disposed within the elongated tube.

4. The portable listening device system set forth in claim 3 wherein the wireless antenna comprises a resonating element formed from a flex circuit containing a strip of conductor.

5. The portable listening device system set forth in claim 3 wherein the earbud further comprises a plurality of electrical components placed on a circuit board disposed within the elongated tube and having one or more flexible portions, wherein the flexible portions of the circuit board are folded or bent at one or more locations forming a stack of electrical components within the elongated tube.

6. The portable listening device system set forth in claim 3 wherein the earbud further comprises RF circuitry configured to input and output RF signals for wireless communications.

7. The portable listening device system set forth in claim 3 wherein the earbud housing is formed from a radio transparent material.

8. The portable listening device system set forth in claim 7 wherein the earbud housing is formed from a plastic material and wherein the speaker housing protrudes perpendicularly away from the first end of the elongated tube.

9. The portable listening device system set forth in claim 1 wherein the battery charging circuitry is positioned within the elongated tube.

10. The portable listening device system set forth in claim 1 wherein the earbud further comprises a microphone disposed at a second end of its elongated stem opposite the first end.

11. A portable listening device system comprising:

(a) an earbud comprising;

an earbud housing having a speaker housing integrally formed with and protruding away from a first end of an elongated tube;

an indicator light positioned on the earbud housing at a location adjacent to where the speaker housing extends away from the elongated tube;

a first acoustic port formed through the speaker housing;

a speaker disposed in the speaker housing and aligned to emit sound through the first acoustic port;

a second acoustic port formed at a second end of the elongated tube opposite the first end;

a microphone disposed in the elongated tube;

a channel fluidically coupled between the microphone and the second acoustic port;

a rechargeable battery disposed within the elongated tube; and

battery charging circuitry coupled to the rechargeable battery and positioned within the earbud housing, the battery charging circuitry configured to charge the rechargeable battery when connected to an external power supply; and

(b) an apparatus for charging the earbud, the apparatus comprising;

a case housing configured to receive the earbud; and

power transmitting circuitry configured to;

when the earbud is received in the case housing, electrically couple with and provide power to the battery charging circuitry in the earbud.

12. The portable listening device system set forth in claim 11 wherein the earbud further comprises a plurality of electrical contacts disposed at an exterior surface of the earbud housing, the plurality of electrical contacts including at least one contact coupled to its respective battery charging circuitry and configured to receive electrical power from the power transmitting circuitry.

13. The portable listening device system set forth in claim 12 wherein the indicator light on the earbud comprises an aperture through the earbud housing and a light source disposed within the earbud housing adjacent to the aperture.

14. The portable listening device system set forth in claim 13 wherein the aperture on the earbud is formed through the elongated tube of the earbud housing.

15. The portable listening device system set forth in claim 13 wherein the aperture is formed through the earbud housing at a location opposite where the speaker housing extends away from the elongated tube.

16. The portable listening device system set forth in claim 13 wherein the indicator light further comprises a diffuser disposed between the light source and the aperture, the diffuser configured to diffuse light from the light source such that light exiting from any portion of the diffuser towards the aperture will have substantially even illumination.

17. The portable listening device system set forth in claim 11 wherein the speaker housing protrudes perpendicularly away from the first end of the elongated tube and wherein the battery charging circuitry is positioned within the elongated tube.

18. The portable listening device system set forth in claim 17 wherein the earbud further comprises a wireless antenna disposed within the elongated tube.

19. The portable listening device system set forth in claim 18 wherein the microphone on the earbud is disposed at a second end of elongated stem opposite the first end.

20. A portable listening device system comprising:

(a) an earbud comprising;

an earbud housing having a speaker housing integrally formed with and protruding away from a first end of an elongated tube;

a user interface button disposed on the earbud housing at a location adjacent to where the speaker housing extends away from the elongated tube, the user interface button operable to control a function of the earbud;

a first acoustic port formed through the speaker housing;

a speaker disposed in the speaker housing and aligned to emit sound through the first acoustic port;

a second acoustic port formed at a second end of the elongated tube opposite the first end;

a microphone disposed in the elongated tube;

a channel fluidically coupled between the microphone and the second acoustic port;

a rechargeable battery disposed within the elongated tube; and

battery charging circuitry coupled to the rechargeable battery and positioned within the earbud housing, the battery charging circuitry configured to charge the rechargeable battery when connected to an external power supply; and

(b) an apparatus for charging the earbud, the apparatus comprising;

a case housing configured to receive the earbud; and

power transmitting circuitry configured to;

when the earbud is received in the case housing, electrically couple with and provide power to the battery charging circuitry in the earbud.

21. The portable listening device system set forth in claim 20 wherein the earbud further comprises a plurality of electrical contacts disposed at an exterior surface of the earbud housing, the plurality of electrical contacts including at least one contact coupled to the battery charging circuitry and configured to receive electrical power from the power transmitting circuitry.

22. The portable listening device system set forth in claim 21 wherein the earbud housing and the user interface button is formed from a plastic material.

23. The portable listening device system set forth in claim 22 wherein the speaker housing protrudes perpendicularly away from the first end of the elongated tube and wherein the battery charging circuitry is positioned within the elongated tube.

24. The portable listening device system set forth in claim 22 wherein the earbud further comprises a wireless antenna disposed within the elongated tube.

25. The portable listening device system set forth in claim 24 wherein the microphone is disposed at a second end of elongated stem opposite the first end.

26. A portable listening device system comprising:

(a) an earbud comprising;

an earbud housing having a speaker housing integrally formed with and protruding away from a first end of an elongated tube;

a first acoustic port formed through the speaker housing;

a speaker disposed in the speaker housing and aligned to emit sound through the first acoustic port;

a second acoustic port formed at a second end of the elongated tube opposite the first end;

a microphone disposed in the elongated tube and configured to receive sound through the second acoustic port;

a third acoustic port positioned on a side surface of the speaker housing and configured to provide a path for acoustic pressure to vent;

a plurality of electrical contacts disposed at an exterior surface of the elongated tube;

a rechargeable battery disposed within the elongated tube; and

battery charging circuitry positioned within the earbud housing and coupled to the rechargeable battery and the plurality of electrical contacts, the battery charging circuitry configured to charge the rechargeable battery when connected to an external power supply; and

(b) an apparatus for charging the earbud, the apparatus comprising;

a case housing socket configured to receive the earbud; and

power transmitting circuitry configured to;

when the earbud is received in the socket, electrically couple with and provide power to the battery charging circuitry in the earbud.

27. The portable listening device system set forth in claim 26 wherein the earbud further comprises a wireless antenna disposed within the elongated tube.

28. The portable listening device system set forth in claim 26 wherein the earbud further comprises a plurality of electrical components placed on a circuit board disposed within the elongated tube and having one or more flexible portions, wherein the flexible portions of the circuit board are folded or bent at one or more locations forming a stack of electrical components within the elongated tube.

29. The portable listening device system set forth in claim 27 wherein the earbud further comprises RF circuitry configured to input and output RF signals for wireless communications.

30. The portable listening device system set forth in claim 26 wherein the microphone on the earbud is disposed at a second end of elongated stem opposite the first end.