In-ear headphone

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11265638-B2
Application number	US-202017069599-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 13, 2020
Priority date	Sep 30, 2015
Publication date	Mar 1, 2022
Grant date	Mar 1, 2022

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wireless earbud comprising:
an earbud housing including a primary housing portion and a stem portion, the stem portion having a first end coupled to the primary housing portion, a second end opposite the first end, and a microphone opening positioned on the stem, wherein the stem portion 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 portion passes through a channel defined by a tragus and anti-tragus of the user's ear;
a nozzle extending away from the primary housing portion and defining an audio opening at a distal end of the nozzle;
an audio driver disposed within the earbud housing and aligned to emit sound through the audio opening of the nozzle;
a deformable earbud tip having a central opening fitted over the nozzle;
a microphone disposed in the earbud housing and operatively coupled to receive audio waves through the microphone opening;
a wireless antenna disposed in the earbud housing;
wireless circuitry configured to establish a wireless communication link with a host device over the wireless antenna;
a processor disposed in the earbud housing and coupled to the wireless circuitry, the processor configured to process audio content received from the wireless circuitry and deliver the processed audio content to the audio driver for output through the nozzle; and
a battery disposed in the earbud housing and configured to provide power to circuitry within the earbud housing.

2. The wireless earbud set forth in claim 1 wherein the stem portion is at least twice as long as the primary housing portion.

3. The wireless earbud set forth in claim 1 wherein the stem portion has a substantially linear geometry.

4. The wireless earbud set forth in claim 1 wherein the nozzle includes at least one ridge to help retain the deformable earbud tip coupled to an end of the nozzle.

5. The wireless earbud set forth in claim 1 wherein the audio driver is disposed proximate to and extends partially within the nozzle.

6. The wireless earbud set forth in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of electrical contacts disposed along a surface of the earbud housing and electrically coupled to the battery to enable the battery to be charged from an external power source.

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

8. The wireless earbud set forth in claim 1 further comprising a proximity sensor.

9. The wireless earbud set forth in claim 1 further comprising an orientation sensor.

10. The wireless earbud set forth in claim 1 further comprising a second microphone opening formed through the primary housing portion and second microphone disposed within the primary housing portion and operatively coupled to receive sound through the second microphone opening.

11. The wireless earbud set forth in claim 10 further comprising an active noise cancellation system configured to generate destructive interference waves to counter audio picked up by the second microphone.

12. A wireless earbud comprising:
an earbud housing including a primary housing portion and a substantially linear stem portion, the stem portion having a first end extending away from the primary housing portion, a second end opposite the first end, and a microphone opening positioned proximate the second end of the stem, wherein the stem portion 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 portion passes through a channel defined by a tragus and anti-tragus of the user's ear;
a nozzle extending away from the primary housing portion and defining an audio opening extending through the nozzle;
an audio driver disposed within the primary housing portion and aligned to emit sound through the audio opening of the nozzle;
a deformable earbud tip having a central opening fitted over the nozzle;
a microphone disposed in the stem portion proximate the microphone opening and operatively coupled to receive audio waves through the microphone opening;
a wireless antenna disposed in the stem portion;
a wireless transceiver disposed in the earbud housing and operable to establish a wireless link with another electronic device via the wireless antenna; and
a battery disposed in the earbud housing and configured to provide power to circuitry within the earbud housing.

13. The wireless earbud set forth in claim 12 further comprising a plurality of sensors including an accelerometer and a proximity sensor.

14. The wireless earbud set forth in claim 13 wherein the accelerometer comprises an orientation sensor.

15. The wireless earbud set forth in claim 12 further comprising a plurality of electrical contacts disposed along a surface of the stem portion.

16. The wireless earbud set forth in claim 12 further comprising a second microphone opening formed through the primary housing portion and second microphone disposed within the earbud housing at a location proximate the second microphone opening and operatively coupled to receive sound through the second microphone opening.

17. The wireless earbud set forth in claim 16 further comprising an active noise cancellation system configured to generate destructive interference waves to counter audio picked up by the second microphone.

18. A wireless earbud comprising:
an earbud housing including a primary housing portion and a substantially linear stem portion, the stem portion having a first end extending away from the primary housing portion, a second end opposite the first end, wherein the stem portion 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 portion passes through a channel defined by a tragus and anti-tragus of the user's ear;
a nozzle extending away from the primary housing portion and defining an audio opening extending through the nozzle, the nozzle including at least one ridge surrounding the audio opening;
a deformable earbud tip having a central opening fitted over the nozzle and over the at least one ridge;
an audio driver disposed within the primary housing portion and aligned to emit sound through the audio opening of the nozzle and the central opening of the deformable earbud tip;
a first microphone opening positioned proximate the second end of the stem;
a first microphone disposed in the stem portion proximate the first microphone opening and operatively coupled to receive audio waves through the first microphone opening;
a second microphone opening formed through the primary housing portion;
a second microphone disposed within the earbud housing at a location proximate the second microphone opening and operatively coupled to receive sound through the second microphone opening;
an active noise cancellation system operable to generate destructive interference waves to counter audio picked up by the second microphone;
a wireless antenna and a wireless transceiver disposed in the earbud housing and operable to establish a wireless link with another electronic device;
a battery disposed in the earbud housing and configured to provide power to circuitry within the earbud housing; and
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 audio driver for output through the nozzle.

1

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Trainer Glenn K
• Grinker Scott C
• Huwe Ethan L
• Stanley Craig M

Classifications

• H04R2201/103

  Combination of monophonic or stereophonic headphones with audio players, e.g. integrated in the headphone · CPC title

• H04R1/1016 Primary

  Earpieces of the intra-aural type · CPC title

• H04R5/033

  Headphones for stereophonic communication {(details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10)} · CPC title

• G10K2210/1081

  Earphones, e.g. for telephones, ear protectors or headsets · CPC title

• G10K2210/3219

  Geometry of the configuration · CPC title