Patents by Inventor Ruchir M. Dave
Ruchir M. Dave has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20190174223Abstract: An audio speaker having an adsorptive insert in a speaker back volume, is disclosed. More particularly, an embodiment includes an adsorptive insert having a rigid open-pore body formed by bonded adsorptive particles. The rigid open-pore body includes interconnected macropores that transport air from the speaker back volume to adsorptive micropores in the bonded adsorptive particles during sound generation. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2019Publication date: June 6, 2019Inventors: Christopher Wilk, Ruchir M. Dave, Scott P. Porter, Daniel T. McDonald
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Patent number: 10271127Abstract: This disclosure describes a speaker assembly suitable for use in a portable electronic device utilizing water resistant ports. The speaker assembly can have an open back that subjects a back volume of the speaker to pressure differentials within a device housing of the portable electronic device. The speaker assembly can utilize a speaker surround having a varying thickness. The varying thickness speaker surround allows the speaker to maintain an acceptable frequency response profile while limiting the travel of the diaphragm it is coupled with. The disclosure also describes how electrically conductive pathways can be integrated within a housing of the speaker assembly.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2017Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: David A. Hurrell, Tyler B. Cater, Scott P. Porter, Salome Bavetta, Anthony P. Grazian, Benjamin J. Pope, Scott A. Myers, Ashutosh Y. Shukla, Benjamin M. Russo, Christopher Wilk, David MacNeil, Eric N. Nyland, Ihtesham H. Chowdhury, Joseph F. Maldonado, Kevin M. Froese, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Ruchir M. Dave, Teemu P. Sipila, Yang Liu
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Patent number: 10244308Abstract: An audio speaker having an adsorptive insert in a speaker back volume, is disclosed. More particularly, an embodiment includes an adsorptive insert having a rigid open-pore body formed by bonded adsorptive particles. The rigid open-pore body includes interconnected macropores that transport air from the speaker back volume to adsorptive micropores in the bonded adsorptive particles during sound generation. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2016Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Christopher Wilk, Ruchir M. Dave, Scott P. Porter, Daniel T. McDonald
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Patent number: 10209123Abstract: An acoustic module is coupled to an acoustic passage. The acoustic module includes an acoustic transducer coupled to a diaphragm. A controller or other circuitry measures an impedance of the acoustic transducer. Based on the impedance, the controller determines whether the impedance indicates that the acoustic passage is blocked. The controller may determine that the acoustic passage is blocked by liquid that is present in the acoustic passage. When the controller determines based on the impedance that liquid is present in the acoustic passage, the controller may drive out, purge, and/or otherwise remove the liquid, such as by using the acoustic transducer to vibrate the diaphragm.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2016Date of Patent: February 19, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Nikolas T. Vitt, Ruchir M Dave, Jesse A. Lippert, Brad G. Boozer, Neal D. Evans, David S. Wilkes, Jr.
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Publication number: 20190020943Abstract: This disclosure describes a speaker assembly suitable for use in a portable electronic device utilizing water resistant ports. The speaker assembly can have an open back that subjects a back volume of the speaker to pressure differentials within a device housing of the portable electronic device. The speaker assembly can utilize a speaker surround having a varying thickness. The varying thickness speaker surround allows the speaker to maintain an acceptable frequency response profile while limiting the travel of the diaphragm it is coupled with. The disclosure also describes how electrically conductive pathways can be integrated within a housing of the speaker assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2017Publication date: January 17, 2019Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: David A. Hurrell, Tyler B. Cater, Scott P. Porter, Salome Bavetta, Anthony P. Grazian, Benjamin J. Pope, Scott A. Myers, Ashutosh Y. Shukla, Benjamin M. Russo, Christopher Wilk, David MacNeil, Eric N. Nyland, Ihtesham H. Chowdhury, Joseph F. Maldonado, Kevin M. Froese, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Ruchir M. Dave, Teemu P. Sipila, Yang Liu
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Patent number: 10167188Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) transducer including an enclosure defining an interior space and having an acoustic port formed through at least one side of the enclosure. The transducer further including a compliant member positioned within the interior space and acoustically coupled to the acoustic port, the compliant member being configured to vibrate in response to an acoustic input. A back plate is further positioned within the interior space, the back plate being positioned along one side of the compliant member in a fixed position. A filter is positioned between the compliant member and the acoustic port, and the filter includes a plurality of axially oriented pathways and a plurality of laterally oriented pathways which are acoustically interconnected and dimensioned to prevent passage of a particle from the acoustic port to the compliant member.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2017Date of Patent: January 1, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Janhavi S. Agashe, Anthony D. Minervini, Ruchir M. Dave, Jae H. Lee
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Publication number: 20180367172Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing effects of time-division multiplexing noise in mobile communications devices. When cellular communication with time-division multiplexing is detected, such as Global System for Mobiles (GSM) communication with Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) protocol, total energy and energy at a repetition frequency of the time division multiplexing is measured in audio signals received from several microphones located in the device. A control signal indicating microphones affected by TDMA noise is provided to signal processing subsystems that receive audio signals from the microphones. A beam former circuit may combine two or more audio signals to produce beam formed signals. The control signal may further indicate beam formed signals affected by TDMA noise based on a ratio of the energy from the repetition frequency to the total energy in the beam formed signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2017Publication date: December 20, 2018Inventors: Ruchir M. Dave, Ashrith Deshpande, Vasu Iyengar
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Patent number: 10149032Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) transducer including an enclosure defining an interior space and having an acoustic port formed through at least one side of the enclosure. The transducer further including a compliant member positioned within the interior space and acoustically coupled to the acoustic port, the compliant member being configured to vibrate in response to an acoustic input. A back plate is further positioned within the interior space, the back plate being positioned along one side of the compliant member in a fixed position. A filter is positioned between the compliant member and the acoustic port, and the filter includes a plurality of axially oriented pathways and a plurality of laterally oriented pathways which are acoustically interconnected and dimensioned to prevent passage of a particle from the acoustic port to the compliant member.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2017Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Janhavi S. Agashe, Anthony D. Minervini, Ruchir M. Dave, Jae H. Lee
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Publication number: 20180220216Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) transducer including an enclosure defining an interior space and having an acoustic port formed through at least one side of the enclosure. The transducer further including a compliant member positioned within the interior space and acoustically coupled to the acoustic port, the compliant member being configured to vibrate in response to an acoustic input. A back plate is further positioned within the interior space, the back plate being positioned along one side of the compliant member in a fixed position. A filter is positioned between the compliant member and the acoustic port, and the filter includes a plurality of axially oriented pathways and a plurality of laterally oriented pathways which are acoustically interconnected and dimensioned to prevent passage of a particle from the acoustic port to the compliant member.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2017Publication date: August 2, 2018Inventors: Janhavi S. Agashe, Anthony D. Minervini, Ruchir M. Dave, Jae H. Lee
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Publication number: 20180215609Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) transducer including an enclosure defining an interior space and having an acoustic port formed through at least one side of the enclosure. The transducer further including a compliant member positioned within the interior space and acoustically coupled to the acoustic port, the compliant member being configured to vibrate in response to an acoustic input. A back plate is further positioned within the interior space, the back plate being positioned along one side of the compliant member in a fixed position. A filter is positioned between the compliant member and the acoustic port, and the filter includes a plurality of axially oriented pathways and a plurality of laterally oriented pathways which are acoustically interconnected and dimensioned to prevent passage of a particle from the acoustic port to the compliant member.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2017Publication date: August 2, 2018Inventors: Janhavi S. Agashe, Anthony D. Minervini, Ruchir M. Dave, Jae H. Lee
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Patent number: 10003885Abstract: A mobile multi-function device that includes a speaker, two or more microphones, and a beamformer processor is described. The beamformer processor uses the microphones to perform beamforming operations. One of the microphones shares a receiver acoustic opening with the speaker while the other microphone uses a separate acoustic opening. The receiver acoustic opening may be an earpiece opening that is held to the ear of a user while conducting a phone call with the device and provides acoustic input and output paths for the microphone and the speaker, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2017Date of Patent: June 19, 2018Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Ruchir M. Dave, Jae H. Lee, Guy C. Nicholson
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Publication number: 20180160218Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) microphone assembly including an enclosure having a top side and a bottom side that define a first chamber having a first volume and an acoustic inlet port formed through one of the top side or the bottom side. The assembly further including a MEMS microphone mounted within the first chamber, the MEMS microphone defining a second chamber having a second volume and a diaphragm having a first side interfacing with the first chamber and a second side interfacing with the second chamber. The assembly also including an acoustically absorbent material within one of the first chamber or the second chamber, the acoustically absorbent material to cause a simulated acoustic enlargement of the first volume or the second volume, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2017Publication date: June 7, 2018Inventors: Janhavi S. Agashe, Jae H. Lee, Ruchir M. Dave
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Publication number: 20180058918Abstract: An acoustic module is coupled to an acoustic passage. The acoustic module includes an acoustic transducer coupled to a diaphragm. A controller or other circuitry measures an impedance of the acoustic transducer. Based on the impedance, the controller determines whether the impedance indicates that the acoustic passage is blocked. The controller may determine that the acoustic passage is blocked by liquid that is present in the acoustic passage. When the controller determines based on the impedance that liquid is present in the acoustic passage, the controller may drive out, purge, and/or otherwise remove the liquid, such as by using the acoustic transducer to vibrate the diaphragm.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2016Publication date: March 1, 2018Inventors: Nikolas T. Vitt, Ruchir M. Dave, Jesse A. Lippert, Brad G. Boozer, Neal D. Evans, David S. Wilkes, JR.
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Publication number: 20180063634Abstract: An acoustic transducer can have an acoustic diaphragm defining a barometric vent configured to equalize a barometric pressure-gradient across the acoustic diaphragm. Such a barometric vent can be formed by an aperture through the acoustic diaphragm. A gas-permeable vent membrane can be coupled with the acoustic diaphragm and extend across the aperture. The vent membrane can inhibit movement of liquid across the vent membrane. An acoustic-transducer module can include a chassis a chassis configured to mount the acoustic-transducer module to another module, and a suspension system can movably couple the acoustic diaphragm with the chassis. Such an acoustic-transducer module can sealably couple with a housing of a water-resistant electronic device to inhibit a flow of liquid into the housing while providing a water-resistant barometric vent to the housing, as well as an acoustic diaphragm having a sufficient size to meet or exceed selected acoustic-performance targets.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2017Publication date: March 1, 2018Inventors: Ruchir M. Dave, Jesse A. Lippert, Nikolas T. Vitt, Scott P. Porter, Eugene Fox
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Patent number: 9888307Abstract: An electronic device having a microphone behind a water resistant, air-impermeable membrane is disclosed. Embodiments include a trapped volume of air between the membrane and the microphone. A barometric equalization element may define an acoustic leak path, e.g., a tortuous leak path, between the trapped volume of air and an encased space within a casing of the electronic device. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2016Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Nikolas T. Vitt, Neal D. Evans, Jesse A. Lippert, Ruchir M. Dave, Christopher Wilk, Brad G. Boozer, Dennis R. Pyper, Daniel K. Boothe
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Patent number: 9826308Abstract: A common plate is formed in a moveable element of a device, the device having an actuator coupled to drive the moveable element. A first plate and the common plate together form a first capacitance, while a second plate and the common plate together form a second capacitance, both of which varies as a function of displacement of the moveable element. A measurement circuit has an input coupled to the first plate, while an excitation voltage source has an output coupled to the second plate. A guard voltage source has an output coupled to a conductive portion of the device. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2015Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Roderick B. Hogan, Scott P. Porter, Ruchir M. Dave
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Patent number: 9820038Abstract: A waterproof speaker module may include a membrane formed from at least one waterproof and elastic material and a supporting structure. The membrane may include an outer surface, an inner surface, and at least one concave region that is indented toward the inner surface. The supporting structure may be coupled to the membrane and include a support structure that mates with the concave region of the membrane when the speaker is subjected to a hydrostatic load. When the speaker is not subjected to a hydrostatic load, the support structure may contact the concave region. In this way, the membrane may be resistant to tearing or rupture due to hydrostatic load.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2013Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Alexander V. Salvatti, Andrew Bright, Christopher Wilk, Justin D. Crosby, Nikolas T. Vitt, Pablo Seoane Vieites, Ruchir M. Dave, Samuel Bruce Weiss, Teemu P. Sipila
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Publication number: 20170195786Abstract: A mobile multi-function device that includes a speaker, two or more microphones, and a beamformer processor is described. The beamformer processor uses the microphones to perform beamforming operations. One of the microphones shares a receiver acoustic opening with the speaker while the other microphone uses a separate acoustic opening. The receiver acoustic opening may be an earpiece opening that is held to the ear of a user while conducting a phone call with the device and provides acoustic input and output paths for the microphone and the speaker, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2017Publication date: July 6, 2017Inventors: Ruchir M. Dave, Jae H. Lee, Guy C. Nicholson
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Patent number: 9681228Abstract: A micro speaker having a capacitive sensor to sense a motion of a speaker diaphragm, is disclosed. More particularly, embodiments of the micro speaker include a conductive surface of a diaphragm facing conductive surfaces of several capacitive plate sections across a gap. The diaphragm may be configured to emit sound forward away from a magnet of the micro speaker, and the capacitive plate sections may be supported on the magnet behind the diaphragm. In an embodiment, the gap provides an available travel for the diaphragm, which may be only a few millimeters. A sensing circuit may sense capacitances of the conductive surfaces to limit displacement of the diaphragm to within the available travel.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2015Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Christopher Wilk, Alexander V. Salvatti, Thomas M. Jensen, Scott P. Porter, Ruchir M. Dave, Andrew P. Bright, Roderick B. Hogan
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Publication number: 20170164084Abstract: An electronic device having a microphone behind a water resistant, air-impermeable membrane is disclosed. Embodiments include a trapped volume of air between the membrane and the microphone. A barometric equalization element may define an acoustic leak path, e.g., a tortuous leak path, between the trapped volume of air and an encased space within a casing of the electronic device. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2016Publication date: June 8, 2017Inventors: Nikolas T. Vitt, Neal D. Evans, Jesse A. Lippert, Ruchir M. Dave, Christopher Wilk, Brad G. Boozer, Dennis R. Pyper, Daniel K. Boothe