# US 9,883,281 B2 · Earbuds with acoustic insert > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,883,281 B2 - Document ID: US9883281B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/588,400 - Filed: 2017-05-05 - Published: 2017-08-17 - Granted: 2018-01-30 - Earliest claimed: 2015-09-30 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Arun D. Chawan; Kurt Stiehl; Benjamin A. Cousins; Jonathan S. Aase; Yacine Azmi; Paul Choiniere; Scott W. Slabaugh - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9883281B2 ## CPC - H04R 1/2826: {for loudspeaker transducers} - A45C 11/00: Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 (specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48) - A45C 13/005: {Hinges} - A45C 13/02: Interior fittings; Means, {e.g. inserts,} for holding and packing articles - A45C 13/1069: {magnetic} - H02J 7/0044 - H02J 7/0047 - H02J 7/025 - H04R 1/1016: {Earpieces of the intra-aural type} - H04R 1/1058: {Manufacture or assembly} - H04R 1/1075: {Mountings of transducers in earphones or headphones} - H04R 1/345: {for loudspeakers} - A45C 2011/001 - H02J 2007/0096 - H04R 2201/105: Manufacture of mono- or stereophonic headphone components - H04R 2420/07: Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones - H04R 2460/09: Non-occlusive ear tips, i.e. leaving the ear canal open, for both custom and non-custom tips (H04R2460/11 takes precedence) - H04R 2460/17: Hearing device specific tools used for storing or handling hearing devices or parts thereof, e.g. placement in the ear, replacement of cerumen barriers, repair, cleaning hearing devices - 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) - A45C: PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An earbud comprising: a housing having a non-occluding ear portion; a directional sound port disposed in the non-occluding ear portion; a driver assembly positioned within the housing and having a front volume disposed in front of the driver assembly and a back volume disposed behind the driver assembly; an acoustic insert positioned within the housing behind the driver assembly and attached to an interior surface of the housing such that the acoustic insert and the housing together define (1) a multiport chamber and (2) a bass channel that is routed from the back volume to the multiport chamber; a rear vent formed through the acoustic insert and coupling the back volume to the multiport chamber; and a multiport vent formed through the housing and coupling the multiport chamber to an external environment. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The earbud of claim 1 wherein the acoustic insert includes a recess defined by raised weld regions that are bonded to the interior surface of the housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The earbud of claim 2 wherein the recess within the acoustic insert forms three walls of the bass channel and the housing forms a fourth wall of the bass channel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The earbud of claim 1 wherein the acoustic insert is formed from a carbon doped plastic that absorbs laser energy. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The earbud of claim 1 wherein the earbud housing is made from Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) with a titanium dioxide pigment. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The earbud of claim 1 wherein the acoustic insert is attached to an interior surface of the housing with a laser bonded interface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The earbud of claim 1 wherein the acoustic insert is attached to an interior surface of the earbud housing with an adhesive. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The earbud of claim 1 wherein a length of the bass channel changes a frequency response of the earbud. ### Claim 9 A method of forming an earbud, the method comprising: forming a housing having an interior surface and an exterior surface; forming an acoustic insert including a recess defined by raised weld regions; positioning a driver assembly within the housing to form a front volume disposed in front of the driver assembly and a back volume disposed behind the driver assembly; inserting the acoustic insert within the housing such that the raised weld regions are disposed against the interior surface of the housing; directing a laser through the housing to impinge the raised weld regions of the acoustic insert and weld the raised weld regions to the interior surface of the housing such that the acoustic insert and the housing together define (1) a multiport chamber and (2) a bass channel that is routed from the back volume to the multiport chamber; forming a rear vent through the acoustic insert to couple the back volume to the multiport chamber; and forming a multiport vent through the housing to couple the multiport chamber to an external environment. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of forming an earbud of claim 9 wherein the housing is formed from a plastic that is substantially transparent to a wavelength of the laser. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of forming an earbud of claim 9 wherein the acoustic insert is formed from a carbon doped plastic that absorbs laser energy. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of forming an earbud of claim 9 wherein the acoustic insert forms three walls of the bass channel and the housing forms a fourth wall of the bass channel. ### Claim 13 An earbud comprising: a housing having an ear portion coupled to a stem; a cavity formed within the ear portion; a driver assembly positioned within the cavity and defining a front volume disposed in front of the driver assembly and a back volume disposed behind the driver assembly; an acoustic insert positioned within the cavity behind the driver assembly and attached to an interior surface of the housing such that the acoustic insert and the housing together define (1) a multiport chamber and (2) a bass channel that is routed from the back volume to the multiport chamber; a rear vent formed through the acoustic insert and coupling the back volume to the multiport chamber; and a multiport vent formed through the housing and coupling the multiport chamber to an external environment. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The earbud of claim 13 wherein the acoustic insert includes a recess defined by raised weld regions that are bonded to the interior surface of the housing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The earbud of claim 14 wherein the recess within the acoustic insert forms three walls of the bass channel and the housing forms a fourth wall of the bass channel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The earbud of claim 13 wherein the acoustic insert is formed from a carbon doped plastic that absorbs laser energy.