# US 2020/0288231 A1 · In-ear wireless device

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- Number: US 2020/0288231 A1
- Document ID: US20200288231A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/882,269
- Filed: 2020-05-22
- Published: 2020-09-10
- Earliest claimed: 2007-01-06
- Assignees: Apple Inc.
- Applicants: Apple Inc.
- Inventors: M. Evans Hankey; Emery A. Sanford; Christopher D. Prest; Way Chet Lim
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200288231A1

## CPC

- H04R 1/1025: Accumulators specially adapted for earpieces; Arrangements specially adapted for charging thereof
- H01R 13/6205: {Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet}
- H02J 7/00: Circuit arrangements for charging or discharging batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
- H02J 7/70: characterised by the mechanical construction
- H04M 1/05: specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
- H04M 1/6066: {including a wireless connection}
- H04R 1/1016: {Earpieces of the intra-aural type}
- H04R 1/1041: {Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements (switches in general H01H)}
- H04R 1/105: {Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks (for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335)}
- H04W 52/0274: {by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof}
- H04B 2001/3866: {carried on the head}
- H04M 1/026: {Details of the structure or mounting of specific components}
- H04M 1/0262: {for a battery compartment}
- H04M 1/0274: {for an electrical connector module}
- H04M 1/0277: {for a printed circuit board assembly}
- H04M 1/22: Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
- H04M 1/6058: {involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone}
- H04M 2250/02: including a Bluetooth® interface
- H04R 25/556: {External connectors, e.g. plugs or modules (H04R25/607 takes precedence)}
- H04R 25/558: {Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency}
- H04R 25/602: {of batteries}
- H04R 25/603: {of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements}
- H04R 2201/105: Manufacture of mono- or stereophonic headphone components
- H04R 2201/107: Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
- H04R 2420/07: Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
- H04R 2420/09: Applications of special connectors, e.g. USB, XLR, in loudspeakers, microphones or headphones
- 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)}
- H05K 1/189: characterised by the use of flexible or folded printed circuits
- Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks
- 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)
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- H04B: TRANSMISSION
- H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
- Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE

## Abstract

An apparatus for charging a portable wireless listening device including a housing having a socket to receive the portable wireless listening device; a battery; wireless circuitry that enables the apparatus to communicate wirelessly with a host device; power transmitting circuitry configured to provide power to the portable wireless listening device when the device is received in the socket to charge a battery within the portable wireless listening device; and a processor configured to configured to establish a wireless communication protocol between the portable wireless listening device and the host device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An earbud comprising:
a device housing including a speaker housing and an elongated tube integrally formed with and protruding away from the speaker housing;
an audio port formed through the speaker housing;
a mesh screen disposed across the audio port;
a speaker disposed in the speaker housing and aligned to emit sound through the audio port;
a microphone port formed at a distal end of the elongated tube;
a microphone disposed in the elongated tube and operatively coupled to receive sound through the microphone port;
an acoustic vent formed through the speaker housing to provide a path for acoustic pressure to vent;
a rechargeable battery disposed within the device housing;
a wireless antenna disposed within the device housing;
a user-interface touch control disposed on the device housing and operable to control a function of the earbud;
battery charging circuitry coupled to the rechargeable battery and positioned within the device housing, the battery charging circuitry configured to charge the rechargeable battery when connected to an external power supply; and
a plurality of electrical contacts disposed at an exterior surface of the device housing, the plurality of electrical contacts including at least one contact coupled to the battery charging circuitry and configured to receive electrical power from an external power supply.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The earbud of claim 1 wherein the wireless antenna is disposed within the elongated tube.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The earbud of claim 1 wherein the wireless antenna comprises a resonating element formed from a flex circuit containing a strip of conductor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The earbud of claim 1 further comprising RF circuitry configured to input and output RF signals for wireless communications.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The earbud of claim 1 wherein the user-interface touch control is placed at the elongated tube.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The earbud of claim 5 wherein the user-interface touch control comprises a tactile sensor that detects motion and position of a user's finger along a touch control region of the elongated tube.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The earbud of claim 6 wherein the user-interface touch control is operable to control a first operation of the earbud in response to a user tapping the touch control region and control a second operation of the earbud in response to a user performing a long press in the touch control region.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The earbud of claim 6 wherein the user-interface touch control comprises a touch pad.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The earbud of claim 1 wherein the speaker housing is the primary support mechanism for securing the earbud to a user's ear.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The earbud of claim 1 wherein the device housing comprises a radio transparent material along a length of the elongated tube.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The earbud of claim 1 wherein the speaker housing comprises a base portion integrally formed with the elongated tube and a cap coupled to the base portion at an end of the speaker housing, and wherein the audio port is formed through the cap.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The earbud of claim 11 further comprising a gasket disposed between the cap and the base portion of the speaker housing, wherein the gasket is positioned to form an acoustic seal between the cap and the base portion.

### Claim 13

An in-ear listening device comprising:
a device housing having a speaker housing and a stem extending away from the speaker housing;
an audio port formed through the speaker housing;
a speaker disposed in the speaker housing and aligned to emit sound through the audio port;
a microphone aperture positioned on the stem;
a microphone disposed within the stem and operatively coupled to receive sound through the microphone aperture;
a rechargeable battery disposed within the device housing;
a wireless antenna disposed within the device housing;
a user-interface touch control disposed on the device housing and operable to control a function of the in-ear listening device;
battery charging circuitry coupled to the rechargeable battery and positioned within the device housing; and
a plurality of electrical contacts disposed at an exterior surface of the device housing, the plurality of electrical contacts including at least one contact coupled to the battery charging circuitry and configured to receive electrical power from an external power supply.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The in-ear listening device of claim 13 further comprising at least one acoustic vent formed through the speaker housing to provide a path for acoustic pressure to vent and wherein the microphone aperture is positioned at a distal end of the stem.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The in-ear listening device of claim 13 wherein the user-interface touch control is disposed along the stem and comprises a sensor that detects motion and position of a user's finger along a touch control region of the stem.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The in-ear listening device of claim 15 wherein the user-interface touch control is operable to control a first operation of the in-ear listening device in response to a user tapping the touch control region and control a second operation of the in-ear listening device in response to a user performing a long press in the touch control region.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The in-ear listening device of claim 15 wherein the stem comprises a radio transparent material.

### Claim 18

An in-ear listening device comprising:
a device housing comprising a speaker housing and a tubular portion extending away from the speaker housing, wherein the speaker housing includes a base portion integrally formed with a first end of the tubular portion and a cap coupled to the base portion;
an audio port formed through the cap;
a mesh screen coupled to the cap and disposed across the audio port;
a speaker disposed in the speaker housing and aligned to emit sound through the audio port;
a microphone disposed at a second end of the tubular portion opposite the first end;
at least one acoustic vent formed through the speaker housing to provide a path for acoustic pressure to vent;
a rechargeable battery disposed within the device housing;
a wireless antenna disposed within the device housing;
a user-interface touch control positioned along the tubular portion and operable to control a function of the in-ear listening device, the user-interface touch control comprising a sensor that detects motion and position of a user's finger along a touch control region of the tubular portion;
battery charging circuitry coupled to the rechargeable battery and positioned within the device housing; and
a plurality of electrical contacts disposed at an exterior surface of the device housing, the plurality of electrical contacts including at least one contact coupled to the battery charging circuitry.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The in-ear listening device of claim 18 wherein the user-interface touch control is operable to control a first operation of the in-ear listening device in response to a user tapping the touch control region and control a second operation of the in-ear listening device in response to a user performing a long press in the touch control region.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The in-ear listening device of claim 18 wherein the user-interface touch control comprises a touch pad.