In-ear listening device

• US 10,433,043 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2018
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• 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:
  US16/183,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20190090045A1
• Time in Patent Office: 328 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. An earbud comprising:

a 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 operatively coupled 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 rechargeable battery disposed within the housing;

a wireless antenna;

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

a plurality of electrical contacts disposed at an exterior surface of the housing, the plurality of electrical contacts including at least one contact coupled to the battery charging circuitry and configured to receive electrical power from an external power supply.

2. The earbud set forth in claim 1 wherein the speaker housing is configured for insertion into a user'"'"'s ear such that it supports the remaining portions of the earbud.

3. The earbud set forth in claim 1 wherein the wireless antenna is disposed within the elongated tube.

5. The earbud set forth in claim 1 further comprising RF circuitry coupled to the wireless antenna and configured to send and receive RF signals for wireless communications over the wireless antenna.

6. The earbud set forth in claim 1 wherein the earbud housing is formed from a radio transparent material.

7. The earbud set forth in claim 6 wherein the earbud housing is formed from a plastic material.

8. The earbud set forth in claim 1 further comprising a screen disposed over the first acoustic port.

9. The earbud set forth in claim 1 wherein the plurality of electrical contacts includes first and second electrical contacts disposed at a second end of the elongated tube portion, opposite the first end.

10. The earbud set forth in claim 1 wherein the elongated tube includes a second end opposite the first end, the second end having a substantially flat distal surface and wherein the earbud further comprises first and second electrical contacts disposed at the substantially flat distal surface at the second end of the elongated tube.

11. The earbud set forth in claim 10 wherein the first and second electrical contacts are disposed on opposite sides of the second acoustic port.

23. The earbud set forth in claim 1 wherein the elongated tube has an oval cross-section.

24. The earbud set forth in claim 23 wherein the second acoustic port is centered along a length of the oval-cross section.

25. The earbud set forth in claim 24 wherein the second acoustic port is disposed at an outer portion of a width of the oval cross-section.

26. The earbud set forth in claim 24 wherein the first and second electrical contacts are disposed on opposing sides of the second acoustic port.

27. The earbud set forth in claim 26 wherein the plurality of electrical contacts further includes third and fourth electrical contacts positioned between the first and second electrical contacts.

28. The earbud set forth in claim 26 further includes a cap at the second end of the elongated plate, the cap having first and second apertures exposing the first and second electrical contacts, respectively.

29. The earbud set forth in claim 26 wherein the rechargeable battery is positioned within the elongated tube.

30. The earbud set forth in claim 1 further comprising a circuit board disposed within the speaker housing, the circuit board comprising a first rigid section, a second rigid section and a flexible section coupled between the first and second rigid sections.

31. The earbud set forth in claim 30 further comprising a first plurality of electronic components mounted to the first rigid section and a second plurality of electronic components mounted to the second rigid section, and wherein the flexible section includes a plurality of electrical traces that electrically coupled one or more electronic components from the first plurality of electronic components with one or more electronic components from the second plurality of electronic components.

32. The earbud set forth in claim 31 wherein the first and second rigid sections are disposed within the speaker housing in a folded configuration in which the first rigid section is spaced apart from and opposes the second rigid section.

33. The claim as set forth in claim 31 wherein the first plurality of electronic components includes a processor and the second plurality of electronic components includes one or more active components.

34. The earbud set forth in claim 33 wherein each of the first and second rigid sections include first and second opposing surfaces, and wherein each of the first and second pluralities of electronic components include a first subset of electronic components mounted on the first surface of its respective rigid section and a second subset of electronic components mounted on the second surface of its respective rigid section.

4. An earbud comprising:

a 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 operatively coupled 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 rechargeable battery disposed within the housing;

a wireless antenna disposed within the elongated tube and comprising a resonating element formed from a flex circuit containing a strip of conductor; and

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

12. An in-ear listening device comprising:

a device 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 operatively coupled to receive sound through the second acoustic port;

a rechargeable battery disposed within the device housing;

a wireless antenna disposed within the device housing;

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

a plurality of electrical contacts disposed at an exterior surface of the device housing, the plurality of electrical contacts including at least one contact coupled to the battery charging circuitry and configured to receive electrical power from an external power supply.

14. The in-ear listening device set forth in claim 12 wherein portable listening device is an earbud and the speaker housing is configured for insertion into a user'"'"'s ear such that it supports the remaining portions of the earbud.

15. The in-ear listening device set forth in claim 14 wherein the wireless antenna is disposed within the elongated tube portion of the device housing.

16. The in-ear listening device set forth in claim 12 wherein the plurality of electrical contacts includes first and second electrical contacts disposed at a second end of the elongated tube portion, opposite the first end.

17. The in-ear listening device set forth in claim 16 wherein the first and second electrical contacts are disposed on opposite sides or the second acoustic port.

13. An in-ear listening device comprising:

a device 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 operatively coupled to receive sound through the second acoustic port;

a rechargeable battery disposed within the device housing;

a wireless antenna disposed within the elongated tube;

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

an indicator light positioned at an exterior surface of the device housing, the indicator light including an aperture through the device housing and a light source disposed within the device housing adjacent to the aperture.

18. 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 touch control disposed on the earbud housing and 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 and operatively coupled to receive sound through the second acoustic port;

a rechargeable battery disposed within the earbud housing;

a wireless antenna disposed within the earbud housing;

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

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 an external power supply.

19. The earbud set forth in claim 18 wherein the speaker housing is configured for insertion into a user'"'"'s ear such that it supports the remaining portions of the earbud.

20. The earbud set forth in claim 18 wherein the wireless antenna is disposed within the elongated tube.

21. The earbud set forth in claim 18 wherein the plurality of electrical contacts includes first and second electrical contacts disposed at a second end of the elongated tube portion, opposite the first end.

22. The earbud set forth in claim 21 wherein the first and second electrical contacts are disposed on opposite sides or the second acoustic port.