Headset connector

• US 9,967,646 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2017
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• 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:
  US15/590,970
• Publication Number:
  US 20170245040A1
• Time in Patent Office: 364 Days
• Field of Search: 381371, 381370, 381374, 381376, 381378, 381379, 381380, 381382, 381328-329, 381 74, 381384
• 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 in-ear hearing device comprising:

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

a microphone disposed in the stem portion;

a channel that fluidically couples the microphone to the second acoustic port;

a rechargeable battery disposed within the stem portion; and

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 to charge the rechargeable battery.

2. The in-ear hearing device set forth in claim 1 wherein the housing further includes a neck between the ear interfacing portion and the elongated stem.

3. The in-ear hearing device set forth in claim 2 wherein the ear interfacing portion extends outwardly and then inwardly from the neck portion.

4. The in-ear hearing device set forth in claim 2 wherein the neck portion is hollow and the in-ear hearing device further comprises an electrical wire that extends through the neck portion to couple a first discrete component in the elongated stem to a second discrete component in the ear interfacing portion.

7. The in-ear hearing device set forth in claim 1 wherein the ear interfacing portion is the primary support mechanism for securing the in-ear device to a user.

8. The in-ear hearing device set forth in claim 1 wherein the in-ear device is an earbud.

9. The in-ear hearing device set forth in claim 1 wherein the third acoustic port is disposed at a location on a surface of the housing generally opposite the first acoustic port.

5. An in-ear hearing device comprising:

a housing having an ear interfacing portion integrally formed with an elongated stem portion, wherein the ear interfacing portion extends away from the elongated stem portion;

an indicator light positioned on the housing at a location generally opposite from where 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;

a channel that fluidically couples the microphone to the second acoustic port;

a rechargeable battery disposed within the stem portion; and

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 to charge the rechargeable battery.

6. An in-ear hearing device comprising:

a housing 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 user interface disposed on the housing at a location spaced apart from the end of the elongated stem portion, the user interface operable to control a function of the in-ear hearing device;

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;

a channel that fluidically couples the microphone to the second acoustic port;

a rechargeable battery disposed within the stem portion; and

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 to charge the rechargeable battery.

20. The in-ear hearing device of claim 6 wherein the user interface comprises a button.

21. The in-ear hearing device of claim 6 wherein the user interface comprises a touch sensitive device.

22. The in-ear hearing device of claim 21 wherein the touch sensitive device comprises a touch pad.

10. An earbud comprising:

a housing having an ear interfacing portion and an elongated stem portion, wherein the ear interfacing portion is integrally formed with and 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 user interface button disposed on the housing and operable to control a function of the earbud;

an indicator light positioned on the housing at a location generally opposite from where the ear interfacing portion extends away from the elongated stem portion;

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;

a channel that fluidically couples the microphone to the second acoustic port;

a rechargeable battery disposed within 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 to charge the rechargeable battery; and

a third acoustic port positioned on the housing and configured to provide a path for acoustic pressure to vent.

11. The earbud set forth in claim 10 wherein the ear interfacing portion is the primary support mechanism for securing the earbud to a user.

12. The earbud set forth in claim 11 wherein the housing further comprises a hollow neck between the ear interfacing portion and the elongated stem and wherein the earbud further comprises an electrical wire that extends through the neck portion to couple a first discrete component in the elongated stem portion to a second discrete component in the ear interfacing portion.

13. The in-ear hearing device set forth in claim 12 wherein the third acoustic port is disposed at a location on a surface of the housing generally opposite the first acoustic port.

14. An portable listening device system comprising:

(a) an in-ear hearing device comprising;

a housing 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;

a channel that fluidically couples the microphone to the second acoustic port;

a rechargeable battery disposed within the stem portion; and

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 to charge the rechargeable battery; and

(b) a case for storing and charging the in-ear hearing device, the case comprising;

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

power transmitting circuitry configured to electrically couple with the power receiving circuitry to provide electrical power to the in-ear hearing device.

15. The in-ear hearing system of claim 14 wherein the socket of the case and the elongated stem portion of the housing have substantially complementary shapes.

16. The in-ear hearing system of claim 15 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.

17. The in-ear hearing system of claim 14 wherein:

the case further comprises a first magnetic coupling mechanism; and

the in-ear hearing device further comprises a second magnetic coupling mechanism configured to magnetically retain the in-ear hearing device to the first magnetic coupling mechanism.

18. The in-ear hearing system of claim 17 wherein the second magnetic coupling mechanism comprises a ferromagnetic plate and the first magnetic coupling mechanism comprises an array of magnets.

19. The in-ear hearing system of claim 14 wherein the case further comprises a receptacle connector configured to receive power.