Headset connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9967646-B2
Application number	US-201715590970-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 9, 2017
Priority date	Jan 6, 2007
Publication date	May 8, 2018
Grant date	May 8, 2018

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.

First claim

We claim:

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.

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.

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.

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

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Hankey M Evans
• Sanford Emery A
• Prest Christopher D
• Lim Way Chet

Classifications

• H02J7/00

  Circuit arrangements for charging or discharging batteries or for supplying loads from batteries · CPC title

• H02J7/70

  characterised by the mechanical construction · CPC title

• H04M1/0277

  for a printed circuit board assembly · CPC title

• H04R1/1041

  Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements (switches in general H01H) · CPC title

• H01R13/02 Primary

  Contact members · CPC title