Headset connector

• US 9,854,343 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2016
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2005
• 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:
  US15/071,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20170048604A1
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 381371, 381370, 381374, 381376, 381378, 381379, 381380, 381382, 381328-329, 381 74, 381384
• CPC Class Codes: B21C 23/18 by impact extrusion
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/001 Combinations of extrusion moulding with other shaping operations
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/09 Articles with cross-sections having partially or fully enclosed cavities, e.g. pipes or channels
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00304 Overcurrent protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00308 Overvoltage protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• 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 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/33 Aspects relating to adaptation of the battery voltage, e.g. its regulation, increase or decrease
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/51 Aspects of antennas or their circuitry in or for hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/09 Applications of special connectors, e.g. USB, XLR, in loudspeakers, microphones or headphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/008 Visual indication of individual signal levels visual indication of stereophonic sound image H04S7/40
• 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: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Headset assemblies and headset connectors are provided. Headset connectors can include a magnetic mating face and a plurality of electrical contacts disposed within the mating face. Engaging assemblies and engaging connectors are also provided. The engaging connectors can include a housing having a mating side, a magnetic array structure, and a plurality of spring biased contact members. The magnetic array structure can be fixed within the housing and house a plurality of spring biased contact members. The spring biased contact members can include tips that extend out of the mating side. The tips can electrically couple with electrical contacts in a headset connector.

Claims

1. An earbud comprising:

a housing having an ear interfacing portion integrally formed with a stem portion, the ear interfacing portion including an acoustic port;

a speaker disposed in the ear interfacing portion and aligned to emit sound from the acoustic port;

a rechargeable battery positioned within the stem portion;

a plurality of electrical contacts disposed at an end of the stem portion;

battery charging circuitry coupled to the rechargeable battery and at least one contact in the plurality of electrical contacts, the battery charging circuitry positioned within the stem portion and configured to receive electrical power from the at least one contact charge the rechargeable battery.

2. The earbud of claim 1 further comprising a magnetic retention component positioned within the housing and positioned to magnetically couple the earbud to a charging device.

3. The earbud of claim 2 wherein the magnetic retention component comprises a ferromagnetic plate.

4. The headset of claim 2 wherein the magnetic retention component is positioned within the housing and proximate the plurality of electrical contacts.

5. The earbud of claim 1 wherein the ear interfacing portion is the primary support mechanism for securing the earbud to a user.

7. The earbud system of claim 1 wherein:

the earbud charger further comprises a first magnetic coupling mechanism; and

the earbud further comprises a second magnetic coupling mechanism configured to magnetically retain the earbud to the first magnetic coupling mechanism.

8. The earbud system of claim 7 wherein the second magnetic coupling mechanism comprises a ferromagnetic plate and the first magnetic coupling mechanism comprises an array of magnets.

6. An earbud system comprising:

an earbud comprising;

a housing having an ear interfacing portion integrally formed with a stem portion, the ear interfacing portion including an acoustic port;

a speaker disposed in the ear interfacing portion and aligned to emit sound from the acoustic port;

a rechargeable battery positioned within the stem portion;

a plurality of electrical contacts disposed at an end of the stem portion; and

power receiving circuitry coupled to the rechargeable battery and at least one contact in the plurality of electrical contacts and positioned within the stem portion of the housing, the power receiving circuitry configured to receive electrical power from the at least one contact and charge the rechargeable battery; and

an earbud charger, comprising;

a housing defining a socket configured to receive at least a portion of the stem portion of the housing; and

power transmitting circuitry configured to electrically couple with the power receiving circuitry to provide electrical power to the earbud.

9. The earbud system of claim 6 wherein the socket and the portion of the housing have substantially complementary shapes.

10. The earbud system of claim 9 wherein the socket is configured to align the portion of the housing relative to the charger such that the power transmitting circuitry is electrically coupled to the power receiving circuitry.

11. An earbud comprising:

a housing comprising an elongate member;

integrally formed with an ear interfacing portion positioned at a first end of the elongate member, the ear interfacing portion including an acoustic port and at least one acoustic vent spaced apart from the acoustic port;

a speaker disposed in the ear interfacing portion and aligned to emit sound from the acoustic port;

a rechargeable battery positioned within the elongate member;

a plurality of electrical contacts positioned at a second end of the elongate member, opposite the first end; and

a power receiving component within the housing and configured to receive electrical power from a charging device and charge the rechargeable battery.

12. The earbud of claim 11 further comprising a magnetic retention component positioned within the housing in to magnetically couple the earbud to a charging device.

13. The earbud of claim 11 wherein the power receiving component is positioned in the second end of the elongate member.

14. The earbud of claim 11 further comprising positioned proximate the plurality of contacts.

15. The earbud of claim 11 wherein the elongate member is substantially tubular.

16. The earbud of claim 11 further comprising a communication component configured to wirelessly receive communications from the charging device.

17. The earbud of claim 11 further comprising:

a flexible circuit board positioned within the ear interfacing portion and extending from the ear interfacing portion into the elongate member, the flexible circuit board including a folded portion in which a first portion of the flexible circuit board is folded over a second portion of the flexible circuit board within the ear interfacing portion; and

an integrated circuit mounted on the second portion of the flexible circuit board.

18. The earbud of claim 11 further comprising wireless radio circuitry and a wireless antenna positioned within the housing.

19. The earbud of claim 18 further comprising an input button positioned on an exterior surface of the housing, the input button operable to terminate a call over the earbud.