In-ear headphone

• US 10,694,276 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2020
• Issued: 06/23/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Trainer, Glenn K., Grinker, Scott C., Huwe, Ethan L., Stanley, Craig M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eason, Matthew A
• Application Number:
  US16/748,464
• Publication Number:
  US 20200162806A1
• Time in Patent Office: 154 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/178 by electro-acoustically regenerating the original acoustic waves in anti-phase
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17857 Geometric disposition, e.g. placement of microphones
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17873 using a reference signal without an error signal, e.g. pure feedforward
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/1081 Earphones, e.g. for telephones, ear protectors or headsets
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/3219 Geometry of the configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1066 Constructional aspects of the interconnection between earpiece and earpiece support earpiece support for monophonic headphones H04R1/105; earpiece support for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1075 Mountings of transducers in earphones or headphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1083 Reduction of ambient noise active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/26 Spatial arrangements of separate transducers responsive to two or more frequency ranges
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 11/02 Loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/103 Combination of monophonic or stereophonic headphones with audio players, e.g. integrated in the headphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/022 Plurality of transducers corresponding to a plurality of sound channels in each earpiece of headphones or in a single enclosure
• 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 2460/01 Hearing devices using active noise cancellation
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S

Abstract

A low-profile earbud is disclosed that sits securely within an ear of a user. The earbud includes a protruding portion that passes through a channel defined by the tragus and anti-tragus of the ear. In some embodiments, the protruding portion can take the form of a cable configured to supply power and transfer data to the earbud. In some embodiments, the protruding portion can provide additional space for electrical components and sensors supporting the earbud.

Claims

1. A wireless earbud, comprising:

an earbud housing including a primary housing portion and a stem having a first end coupled to the primary housing portion, a second end opposite the first end, and a microphone opening positioned at the second end, wherein the stem protrudes away from the primary housing portion in a first direction at an angle such that, when the wireless earbud is worn by a user, the stem passes through a channel defined by a tragus and anti-tragus of the user'"'"'s ear;

a speaker disposed within the earbud housing;

a deformable earbud tip coupled to the earbud housing and having a central opening oriented in a second direction angularly offset from the first direction;

a microphone disposed in the stem adjacent to and oriented to receive audio waves through the microphone opening;

a wireless antenna disposed in the earbud housing;

and a battery disposed in the earbud housing and configured to provide power to circuitry within the earbud housing; and

at least one electrical contact disposed at the second end and electrically coupled to the battery to enable the battery to be charged from an external power source.

2. The wireless earbud set forth in claim 1 wherein the stem has a circular cross-section along a majority of its length.

3. The wireless earbud set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

an audio opening defined by the primary housing portion;

a second microphone disposed in the primary housing portion adjacent to the audio opening; and

a noise cancellation system configured to generate destructive interference waves to counter audio picked up by the second microphone.

4. The wireless earbud set forth in claim 3 wherein the noise cancellation system includes one or more additional speakers for generating the destructive interference waves.

5. The wireless earbud set forth in claim 1 wherein the deformable earbud tip includes an outer surface having a substantially parabolic shape.

6. The wireless earbud set forth in claim 5 wherein the deformable earbud tip comprises silicone.

7. The wireless earbud set forth in claim 5 wherein the deformable earbud tip comprises rubber.

8. The wireless earbud set forth in claim 1 wherein the second direction is angularly offset from the first direction by an angle between 90 and 130 degrees.

9. The wireless earbud set forth in claim 1 wherein the battery is disposed in the stem.

10. The wireless earbud set forth in claim 1 wherein the wireless antenna is disposed in the stem.

11. The wireless earbud set forth in claim 1 wherein the speaker is a high frequency driver positioned adjacent to an audio port of the housing and the wireless earbud further includes a low frequency driver disposed within the housing.

12. A wireless earbud, comprising:

an earbud housing including a primary housing portion and a stem, the primary housing portion having an audio port formed there through and the stem having a first end protruding away from the primary housing portion in a first direction at an angle such that, when the wireless earbud is worn by a user, the stem passes through a channel defined by a tragus and anti-tragus of the user'"'"'s ear, and having a second end opposite the first end;

a microphone port positioned at the second end of the stem;

a speaker positioned within the earbud housing and arranged to emit sound through the audio port;

a deformable earbud tip coupled to the primary housing portion and having a central opening aligned with the audio port and oriented in a second direction angularly offset from the first direction;

a microphone disposed in the stem adjacent to and oriented to receive audio waves through the microphone port;

a wireless antenna;

a wireless transceiver disposed in the earbud housing and coupled to the wireless antenna, the wireless transceiver configured to wirelessly exchange information with another electronic device and receive audio content from the another electronic device;

a processor disposed in the earbud housing and coupled to the wireless transceiver, the processor configured to process audio content received from the wireless transceiver and deliver the processed audio content to the speaker for output through the audio port;

a battery disposed in the earbud housing and operatively coupled to provide power to the microphone, the wireless transceiver, the processor and the speaker; and

at least one electrical contact disposed at the second end and electrically coupled to the battery to enable the battery to be charged from an external power source.

13. The wireless earbud set forth in claim 12 further comprising:

a directional microphone and a noise canceling speaker, wherein the directional microphone is coupled to the processor and the processor is configured to control the noise canceling speaker to emit sound waves configured to cancel out sound waves detected by the directional microphone.

14. The wireless earbud set forth in claim 13 further including a third opening defined by the primary housing portion and wherein the directional microphone is disposed proximate the third opening and aligned to receive sound through the third opening.

15. The wireless earbud set forth in claim 12 wherein the stem has a substantially linear geometry.

16. The wireless earbud set forth in claim 12 wherein the deformable earbud tip includes an outer surface having a substantially parabolic shape.

17. The wireless earbud set forth in claim 12 wherein the second direction is angularly offset from the first direction by an angle between 90 and 130 degrees.

18. The wireless earbud set forth in claim 12 wherein the wireless antenna is disposed in the stem.