# US 12,010,477 B2 · Force-activated earphone > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,010,477 B2 - Document ID: US12010477B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/216,219 - Filed: 2023-06-29 - Published: 2023-10-26 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2018-09-21 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Nahid Harjee; Brian R. Twehues; Teera Songatikamas; Aonan Li; Travis N. Owens; Kyle J. Campiotti - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12010477B2 ## CPC - H03K 17/962: {Capacitive touch switches} - H04R 1/1041: {Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements (switches in general H01H)} - G06F 3/044: by capacitive means - H03K 17/9625: {using a force resistance transducer} - H03K 17/975: using a capacitive movable element - H04R 1/1016: {Earpieces of the intra-aural type} - H04R 1/1075: {Mountings of transducers in earphones or headphones} - G06F 2203/04105: Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position - H03K 2017/9613: {using two electrodes per touch switch} - H03K 2217/96076: with spring electrode - H03K 2217/960775: Emitter-receiver or "fringe" type detection, i.e. one or more field emitting electrodes and corresponding one or more receiving electrodes - H04R 2201/10: Details of earpieces, attachments therefor, earphones or monophonic headphones covered by H04R1/10 but not provided for in any of its subgroups - H04R 2420/07: Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones - H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M) - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract An earphone includes a speaker housing; a speaker positioned in the speaker housing; a stem extending from the speaker housing, the stem defining an input surface; a conductive object disposed within the stem; a flexible circuit positioned between the stem and the conductive object; a member positioned between the flexible circuit and the conductive object operable to allow the flexible circuit to move with respect to the stem; a force sensor electrode disposed within the flexible circuit; and a controller operable to determine an input to the earphone using a change in capacitance detected using the force sensor electrode, the change in capacitance corresponding to a non-binary amount of a force applied to the input surface. In some examples, the earphone further includes a touch sensor electrode disposed within the flexible circuit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An earphone, comprising: a speaker housing; a speaker positioned in the speaker housing; a stem extending from the speaker housing, the stem defining a curved interior surface and at least one input surface; a flexible circuit coupled to the curved interior surface; a touch sensor at least partially disposed within the flexible circuit facing the curved interior surface; and a force sensor at least partially disposed within the flexible circuit facing an interior of the stem. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The earphone of claim 1, further comprising an integrated circuit coupled to the flexible circuit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The earphone of claim 1, wherein: a first portion of the flexible circuit is coupled to a first portion of the curved interior surface; and a second portion of the flexible circuit is coupled to a second portion of an interior surface of the stem. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The earphone of claim 1, wherein the at least one input surface comprises a first input surface and a second input surface opposite the first input surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The earphone of claim 4 wherein: the force sensor is operable to detect a force applied to the first input surface; and the touch sensor is operable to detect a touch applied to the second input surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The earphone of claim 1, wherein: the touch sensor includes a touch sensor electrode; and the force sensor includes a force sensor electrode. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The earphone of claim 6, further comprising a shield disposed between the touch sensor electrode and the force sensor electrode. ### Claim 8 An earphone, comprising: a speaker housing; a speaker positioned in the speaker housing; a stem extending from the speaker housing, the stem defining an interior surface and at least one input surface; a flexible circuit coupled to the interior surface; a touch sensor coupled to the flexible circuit facing the interior surface; and a force sensor coupled to the flexible circuit facing an interior of the stem. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The earphone of claim 8, wherein the flexible circuit is laminated to the interior surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The earphone of claim 8, wherein: a first portion of the flexible circuit is coupled to a first portion of the interior surface; and a second portion of the flexible circuit is coupled to a second portion of the interior surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The earphone of claim 10 wherein the first portion of the interior surface and the second portion of the interior surface are curved. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The earphone of claim 8, further comprising a shield disposed between the touch sensor and the force sensor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The earphone of claim 8, wherein the interior surface is flat. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The earphone of claim 8, wherein the flexible circuit is laminated to the interior surface. ### Claim 15 An earphone, comprising: a speaker housing; a speaker positioned in the speaker housing; a stem extending from the speaker housing, the stem defining an interior surface and at least one input surface; a flexible circuit coupled to the interior surface; a touch sensor coupled to the flexible circuit; and a force sensor coupled to the flexible circuit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The earphone of claim 15, wherein the force sensor comprises a strain gauge. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The earphone of claim 15, wherein the touch sensor is a capacitive touch sensor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The earphone of claim 15, wherein the interior surface is curved. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The earphone of claim 15, wherein the flexible circuit is coupled to the interior surface using adhesive. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The earphone of claim 15, further comprising a shield coupled to the flexible circuit.