Patents Examined by Angelica M McKinney
  • Patent number: 11917358
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a loudspeaker apparatus. The loudspeaker apparatus may include a circuit housing, an ear hook, a rear hook, a loudspeaker component, and a magnetic connector. The circuit housing may be configured to accommodate a control circuit or a battery component. The ear hook may be connected to one end of the circuit housing and at least partially covered by a first protective housing. The rear hook connected to another end of the circuit housing and at least partially covered by a second protective housing. The magnetic connector may be configured to absorb a charging interface of an external power source to establish an electrical connection so as to charge the loudspeaker apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: SHENZHEN SHOKZ CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yongjian Li, Haofeng Zhang, Fen You
  • Patent number: 11917354
    Abstract: An earphone includes a housing that defines a force input surface opposite a touch input surface. A spring member in the housing includes a first arm that biases a touch sensor toward the touch input surface. The spring member also includes a second arm that biases a first force electrode toward the housing and allows the first force electrode to move toward a second force electrode when a force is applied to the force input surface. A non-binary amount of the force is determinable using a change in a mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode. The mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode may be measured upon detecting a touch using the touch sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nahid Harjee, Brian R. Twehues, Teera Songatikamas
  • Patent number: 11910149
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nahid Harjee, Brian R. Twehues, Teera Songatikamas, Aonan Li, Travis N. Owens, Kyle J. Campiotti
  • Patent number: 11877108
    Abstract: A case for wireless earphones includes a charging case body and a case cover. The charging case body includes an accommodating cavity for accommodating wireless earphones, and an opening of the accommodating cavity faces upwards. The case for the wireless earphones further includes a switch lock catch, a second magnet, and a third magnet, the case cover is locked through the switch lock catch, and the second magnet and the third magnet are repelled, after pressing the switch lock catch, the cover case may automatically open, so that users may operate through only one hand, which is very convenient. At the same time, when the case for the wireless earphones falls on the ground, the case cover is not easily opened, which prevent the wireless earphones from falling out and being damaged, so that the wireless earphones are well protected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Inventor: Qiufeng Xiao
  • Patent number: 11818528
    Abstract: Wireless earbuds may be provided with adjustable-shape housings. The housings may have bendable portions. Bendable metal members, hinges, or other flexible structures may be used in forming bendable structures for the earbuds. Electrical components may be covered by a layer of molded foam. A cover such as a fabric cover may be used to cover the molded foam. Spacer fabric or other soft material may be interposed between the fabric cover and the foam. The housing may be bent or otherwise adjusted between two or more states such as a normal, non-sleep, walking state in which the housing is expanded for normal operation while a user is sitting or walking and a sleep state in which the housing is bent to enhance comfort while sleeping. The wireless earbuds may have illumination systems, sensors, and other components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yi Zou, Chad J. Miller, Daniel A. Podhajny, Joshua A. Hoover, Kristen L. Cretella, Nicholas R. Trincia, Seul Bi Kim, William Leith, Yue Chen
  • Patent number: 11805354
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a loudspeaker apparatus. The loudspeaker apparatus may include a circuit housing accommodating a control circuit or a battery; an ear hook and a rear hook connected to both ends of the circuit housing, respectively. The ear hook may be at least partially covered by a first protective housing. The rear hook may be at least partially covered by a second protective housing. The first protective housing and the second protective housing at least partially cover a periphery of the circuit housing from both ends of the circuit housing in a sleeve manner, respectively. The loudspeaker apparatus may further include a speaker connected to one end of the ear hook, the speaker including an earphone core and an earphone core housing for accommodating the earphone core. The earphone core housing may include a housing panel facing the human body and a housing back opposite to the housing panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: SHENZHEN SHOKZ CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yongjian Li, Haofeng Zhang, Fen You
  • Patent number: 11800293
    Abstract: A sound apparatus includes a piezoelectric device configured to vibrate based on a sound signal input thereto, a vibration member, and an elastic member configured to connect at least a portion of the piezoelectric device to the vibration member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: LG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jaehun Ye
  • Patent number: 11800290
    Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator includes an inner magnet arranged relative to an axis, an outer magnet arranged a radial distance from the axis, an inner radial wall of the outer magnet facing an outer radial wall of the inner magnet, the inner and outer radial walls being separated by an air gap, a voice coil arranged in the air gap separating the inner and outer magnets, and an actuator coupling plate attached to the voice coil. During operation of the device electrical activation of the voice coil causes axial motion of the actuator coupling plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventor: Graham Robert Landick
  • Patent number: 11792585
    Abstract: A method of configuring a custom insert of a charger, wherein the custom insert is for aligning a first charging element of a hearing device and a transmitter charging element of a charger, includes: obtaining a digital three-dimensional hearing device model comprising a representation of the first charging element; obtaining a digital three-dimensional charger model comprising a representation of the transmitter charging element; obtaining a digital three-dimensional insert model; obtaining a digital cavity representing a cavity in the custom insert; and creating a custom digital three-dimensional insert model based on the digital cavity and the digital three-dimensional insert model, such that the representation of the first charging element in the digital three-dimensional hearing device model and the representation of the transmitter charging element in the three-dimensional charger model, are aligned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventors: Henrik Nielsen, Søren Davids, Thomas John Chappell, Anders Hjermø Michaelsen
  • Patent number: 11792575
    Abstract: An electronic device may be formed from acoustically permeable textile layers and voice coil layers. The voice coil layers may output sound through the textile layers. The textile layers and voice coil layers may be foldable or bent in one or more directions to allow the electronic device to be placed in expanded, collapsed, or folded configurations to allow for improved portability. Additionally, the textile layers and voice coil layers may be folded or bent to place the electronic device in cylindrical, conical, and other configurations to allow for improved sound output from the voice coil layers. The electronic device may also include light-emitting components between the textile layers that emit light through one of the textile layers to form indicators or images for a user of the device. The electronic device may have a plurality of sensors to allow user interactions to control the output of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yue Chen, Joshua A. Hoover, Daniel A. Podhajny, Nicholas R. Trincia, Seul Bi Kim, Chad J. Miller, Kristen L. Cretella, Yi Zou, William Leith
  • Patent number: 11785399
    Abstract: A device comprising a first printed circuit board (PCB); a second printed circuit board (PCB); a first flex board coupled to the first PCB and the second PCB; a first integrated device coupled to the first PCB; a speaker configured to be coupled to the first integrated device; a microphone configured to be coupled to the first integrated device; a second integrated device coupled to the second PCB, wherein the second integrated device is configured to be coupled to the first integrated device through the second PCB, the first flex board and the first PCB; and a power source configured to provide power to the first integrated device and the second integrated device. The first PCB is located between the power source and the first integrated device. The second PCB is located between the power source and the second integrated device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Ravindra Shenoy, Rohit Sauhta, Elbert McLaren, Sidney Sitachitt, Donald William Kidwell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11770653
    Abstract: Provided is a speaker, including a frame; a vibration unit fixed to the frame; and a magnetic circuit unit driving the vibration unit to vibrate and produce sound. The vibration unit includes a diaphragm and a voice coil; the diaphragm includes a first suspension, a second suspension and a vibrating portion; the magnetic circuit unit is provided with a magnetic gap, and the voice coil is inserted in the magnetic gap; the magnetic circuit unit includes a yoke; and the yoke and the diaphragm are arranged at two opposite sides of the frame; and the vibration unit further includes a fixing ring connected to the magnetic circuit unit; the second suspension surrounds the fixing ring; and the inner peripheral side of the second suspension is fixed to an end of the fixing ring close to the yoke. With this structure, the acoustic performance of the speaker is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: AAC Microtech (Changzhou) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bo Xiao, Chenliang Kong, Tong Zhang, Ronglin Linghu
  • Patent number: 11765510
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a magnetic circuit assembly of a bone conduction speaker. The magnetic circuit assembly may generate a first magnetic field. The magnetic circuit assembly may include a first magnetic element, and the first magnetic element may generate a second magnetic field. The magnetic circuit may further include a first magnetic guide element and at least one second magnetic element. The at least one second magnetic element may be configured to surround the first magnetic element and a magnetic gap may be configured between the second magnetic element and the first magnetic element. A magnetic field strength of the first magnetic field within the magnetic gap may exceed a magnetic field strength of the second magnetic field within the magnetic gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: SHENZHEN SHOKZ CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lei Zhang, Fengyun Liao, Xin Qi
  • Patent number: 11765514
    Abstract: Provided is a speaker, including a frame, a vibration unit fixed to the frame, and a magnetic circuit unit including a magnetic gap. The magnetic circuit unit includes a yoke, and a magnet; the vibration unit includes a diaphragm, and a voice coil; the voice coil is inserted into the magnetic gap to drive the diaphragm to vibrate and produce sound; the speaker further includes a conductive lower diaphragm; the conductive lower diaphragm includes an inner connecting portion, an outer connecting portion, and an intermediate portion; the voice coil is electrically connected to the inner connecting portion; and the outer connecting portion is electrically connected to an external circuit. With this structure, internal space of the speaker is saved, reducing material cost and improving reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: AAC Microtech (Changzhou) Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Huhu Yang
  • Patent number: 11758339
    Abstract: A hearing device, such as a hearing aid, includes an antenna for wireless communication. The antenna is housed in the hearing aid with an orientation determined to approximately minimize change in performance of the wireless communication when the hearing aid goes onto a wearer's head from free space. In various embodiments, the orientation of the antenna can be optimized by considering various factors including head loading and performance of wireless communication with various other devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Trevor Webster, Brent Anthony Bauman
  • Patent number: 11716573
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a novel kinetic energy earphone speaker, comprising a speaker, a battery, and a PCBA circuit main board. A through-hole is provided in the middle of one side face of the speaker, the battery extends into the through-hole for mounting and arranging, the PCBA circuit main board is sleeve jointed on the extending end of the battery, and a second washer can form one T-type magnetizer with a magnetizer metal casing of the battery. The present invention incorporates part of the volume of the battery into the speaker as a magnetizer, which can reduce the combined use space, make the volume of the product small, and shorten the overall design time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Inventor: Wenzhong Chen
  • Patent number: 11706552
    Abstract: An open audio device including an acoustic radiator that emits front-side acoustic radiation from its front side, and emits rear-side acoustic radiation from its rear side. A front acoustic cavity receives front-side acoustic radiation and comprises at least one front sound-emitting opening, and a rear acoustic cavity receives rear-side acoustic radiation and comprises at least one rear sound-emitting opening. The front and rear acoustic cavities each have a fundamental frequency. The fundamental frequencies are within one octave of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: BOSE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ryan C. Struzik
  • Patent number: 11700487
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides speaker device. speaker device includes frame, vibration unit fixed to frame and magnetic circuit unit fixed to the frame and driving vibration unit to vibrate and produce sound, where magnetic circuit unit is provided with magnetic gap; vibration unit includes diaphragm fixed to frame, holder fixed to diaphragm; holder includes bottom wall that is fixed to diaphragm and provided with pair of long edges and pair of short edges, and pair of side walls bending and extending from outer peripheries of pair of short edges of bottom wall to magnetic circuit unit; The disclosure effectively solves problem of material underflow during molding of diaphragm of speaker device. In this way, connection parts between side walls and elastic conductive assembly are prevented from being contaminated, thereby reducing risk of unstable gluing between side walls and elastic conductive assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: AAC Microtech (Changzhou) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ping Liang, Bin Zhao, Wei Song
  • Patent number: 11700477
    Abstract: A speaker device is provided. The speaker device may include a circuit housing, an ear hook, a rear hook, and a speaker assembly. The circuit housing may be configured to accommodate a control circuit or a battery. The ear hook may be connected to one end of the circuit housing and at least a part of the ear hook being covered by a first housing sheath. The rear hook may be connected to the other end of the circuit housing and at least a part of the rear hook being covered by a second housing sheath. The first housing sheath and the second housing sheath may cover at least a part of a periphery of the circuit housing from two ends of the circuit housing, respectively. The speaker assembly may include an earphone core and a core housing for accommodating the earphone core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: SHENZHEN SHOKZ CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yongjian Li, Haofeng Zhang, Fen You
  • Patent number: 11696077
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides speaker device. The speaker device includes frame, vibration unit and magnetic circuit unit, where vibration unit includes diaphragm, voice coil and holder; holder includes holder body and first connecting portion; voice coil includes pair of first sides and pair of second sides; first side is provided with elastic support member fixed to frame and fixed to first connecting portion; elastic support member and first side enclose an accommodating space; magnetic circuit unit includes main magnetic body and an auxiliary magnetic body; auxiliary magnetic body includes first magnetic portion that is respectively spaced apart from first side and located in accommodating space; elastic support member include an auxiliary diaphragm; auxiliary diaphragm is provided with an avoiding groove. The present disclosure can increase volume of magnetic circuit unit to increase BL value, and can effectively reduce weight of vibration unit to improve sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: AAC Microtech (Changzhou) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei Song, Xin Jin, Zhiwei Zhong