Portable listening device with sensors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11944172-B2
Application number	US-202117306683-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 3, 2021
Priority date	Sep 30, 2015
Publication date	Apr 2, 2024
Grant date	Apr 2, 2024

Abstract

An earbud includes a housing that includes a driver assembly positioned within the housing forming a front volume in front of the driver and a back volume behind the driver. An acoustic insert is positioned behind the driver assembly and attached to an interior surface of the housing such that it forms a bass channel that is routed from the back volume to a vent in the housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A portable listening device comprising: a speaker;
a wireless antenna;
a rechargeable battery;
one or more electrical contacts arranged to couple power to the rechargeable battery;
a housing defining a back volume behind the speaker and a front volume in front of the speaker, the housing further defining a nozzle acoustically coupled to the front volume, wherein:
the nozzle forms an acoustic port arranged to direct sound generated by the speaker into an ear canal of a user;
the nozzle includes a tip and a distal portion opposite the tip; the
distal portion is coupled to the back volume; and
the nozzle is continuously tapered from the distal portion toward the back volume; and

an accelerometer positioned within the housing, and configured to detect a user input on the housing.

2. The portable listening device of claim 1 , further comprising an in ear sensor, wherein the housing at least partially encloses the wireless antenna, the in-ear sensor and the rechargeable battery.

3. The portable listening device of claim 2 , wherein the in-ear sensor, in combination with the accelerometer, is arranged to detect when the portable listening device is positioned at least partially within a user's ear.

4. The portable listening device of claim 2 , wherein the rechargeable battery is electrically coupled to the speaker, the wireless antenna and the in-ear sensor.

5. The portable listening device of claim 1 , wherein the antenna is arranged to transceive data with a separate electronic device.

6. The portable listening device of claim 1 , wherein the electrical contacts are arranged to interface with mating electrical contacts of a case that receives the portable listening device and is configured for recharging the rechargeable battery.

7. A portable listening device comprising: a
speaker;
a wireless antenna arranged to transceive data with a separate electronic device;
a rechargeable battery arranged to supply power to the speaker, and the wireless antenna;
one or more electrical contacts arranged to couple power to the rechargeable battery;
a housing defining a back volume behind the speaker and a front volume in front of the speaker, the housing further defining a nozzle acoustically coupled to the front volume, wherein:
the nozzle forms an acoustic port arranged to direct sound generated by the speaker into an ear canal of a user;
the nozzle includes a tip and a distal portion opposite the tip; the
distal portion is coupled to the back volume; and
the nozzle is continuously tapered from the distal portion toward the back volume; and

an accelerometer positioned within the housing, and configured to detect a user input on the housing.

8. The portable listening device of claim 7 , further comprising an in-ear sensor arranged to detect when the portable listening device is at least partially received by the user's ear, wherein the housing at least partially encloses the speaker, the wireless antenna, the in-ear sensor and the rechargeable battery.

9. The portable listening device of claim 8 , wherein the in-ear sensor includes a pair of in-ear sensors.

10. The portable listening device of claim 7 , wherein the housing including an in-ear portion that interfaces with at least a portion of the user's ear and an out-of-ear portion arranged to be disposed at least partially outside of the user's ear.

11. The portable listening device of claim 10 , wherein the out-of-ear portion includes a convex-shaped region curving outward, away from the user's ear.

12. The portable listening device of claim 7 , wherein the electrical contacts are arranged to interface with mating electrical contacts of a case that receives the portable listening device and is configured for recharging the rechargeable battery.

13. A portable listening device comprising: a
speaker;
a wireless antenna;
a rechargeable battery;

one or more electrical contacts arranged to couple power to the rechargeable a housing arranged to at least partially enclose the speaker, the rechargeable
battery, and the wireless antenna, the housing defining a back volume behind the speaker and a front volume in front of the speaker, the housing further defining a tube-shaped distal end region acoustically coupled to the front volume and arranged to direct sound generated by the speaker into an ear canal of a user, wherein:
the tube-shaped distal end region includes a tip and a distal portion opposite the tip;
the distal portion is coupled to the back volume; and
the tube-shaped distal end region is continuously tapered from the distal portion toward the back volume; and
an accelerometer positioned within the housing, and configured to detect a user input on the housing.

14. The portable listening device of claim 13 , wherein the tube-shaped distal end region has an axis of symmetry oriented perpendicular to an axis of the speaker.

15. The portable listening device of claim 13 , further comprising an in-ear sensor arranged to detect when the portable listening device is positioned at least partially within a user's ear.

16. The portable listening device of claim 15 , wherein the rechargeable battery is electrically coupled to the speaker, the wireless antenna and the in-ear sensor.

17. The portable listening device of claim 15 , wherein the in-ear sensor includes a pair of in-ear sensors.

18. The portable listening device of claim 13 , wherein the antenna is arranged to transceive data with a separate electronic device.

19. The portable listening device of claim 13 , wherein the electrical contacts are arranged to interface with mating electrical contacts of a case that receives the portable listening device and is configured for recharging the rechargeable battery.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Chawan Arun D
• Stiehl Kurt
• Cousins Benjamin A
• Aase Jonathan S
• Azmi Yacine
• Choiniere Paul
• Slabaugh Scott W

Classifications

• H02J7/42

  with electronic devices having internal batteries, e.g. mobile phones · CPC title

• H02J7/731

  specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries (H02J7/751 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02J7/70

  characterised by the mechanical construction · CPC title

• A45C11/001

  for storing portable audio devices, e.g. headphones or digital music players · CPC title

• H04R2499/11

  Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's · CPC title