Patents by Inventor Sean T. McIntosh

Sean T. McIntosh 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).

  • Patent number: 11979703
    Abstract: Embodiments describe an eartip including an eartip body having an attachment end and an interfacing end opposite from the attachment end. The eartip body can include an inner eartip body having a sidewall extending between the interfacing end and the attachment end, the sidewall defining a channel and having a first thickness near the attachment end and a second thickness different from the first thickness at the interfacing end. The eartip can also include an attachment structure coupled to the inner eartip body at the attachment end, the attachment structure having an inner surface and an outer surface. The attachment structure can include an upper region interfacing with the sidewall and defining discrete through-holes, a lower region below the upper region where the inner surface defines a plurality of recesses positioned around the lower region, and a mesh extending across the channel and into the upper region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Sean T. McIntosh, Jason C. Della Rosa, Samuel G. Parker, Benjamin A. Cousins, Ethan L. Huwe
  • Patent number: 11831061
    Abstract: An electronic device may include one or more radios and one or more antennas. Radio-frequency transmission lines may couple a radio to a corresponding antenna. To more efficiently form a radio-frequency transmission line, the radio-frequency transmission line may be formed from interconnected conductive traces distributed between a plurality of printed circuits. By integrating transmission line structures onto printed circuits that also serve other functions, the device can require less space to implement a radio-frequency transmission line. While one or more of these printed circuits may individually be unsuitable to implement a radio-frequency transmission line with a particular impedance, the composite impedance of these transmission line structures across the printed circuits, when properly configured, may provide a radio-frequency transmission line with the particular impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alireza Pourghorban Saghati, Mohammed W. Mokhtar, Ali N. Ergun, Oren S. Levy, Arman Samimi-Dehkordi, Sean T. McIntosh
  • Patent number: 11785372
    Abstract: An earphone comprising: a device housing that defines an internal cavity within the device housing; an acoustic port formed through a wall of the device housing and having an opening at an exterior surface of the device housing; an audio driver disposed within the device housing and aligned to emit sound through the acoustic port; and a mesh disposed within the acoustic port and having an outer periphery spaced apart from the device housing wall, wherein the mesh forms a portion of an exterior surface of the earphone that is recessed from the opening at the exterior surface of the device housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Lee M. Panecki, Michael B. Minerbi, Sean T. McIntosh
  • Publication number: 20230305638
    Abstract: A voice-controlled electronic device that includes a device housing having a longitudinal axis bisecting opposing top and bottom surfaces and a side surface extending between the top and bottom surfaces. The device can further include one or more microphones disposed within the device housing and distributed radially around the longitudinal axis; a processor configured to execute computer instructions stored in a computer-readable memory for interacting with a user and processing voice commands received by the one or more microphones and first transducer and second transducers configured to generate sound waves within different frequency ranges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Craig M. Stanley, Simon K. Porter, John H. Sheerin, Glenn K. Trainer, Ethan L. Huwe, Sean T. McIntosh, Jason C. Della Rosa, Christopher J. Stringer, Molly J. Anderson, Erik L. Wang
  • Patent number: 11693487
    Abstract: A voice-controlled electronic device that includes an axisymmetric device housing having a longitudinal axis bisecting opposing top and bottom surfaces and a side surface extending between the top and bottom surfaces. The device can further include a plurality of microphones disposed within the device housing and distributed radially around the longitudinal axis; a processor configured to execute computer instructions stored in a computer-readable memory for interacting with a user and processing voice commands received by the plurality of microphones and first and second transducers configured to generate sound waves within different frequency ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Craig M. Stanley, Simon K. Porter, John H. Sheerin, Glenn K. Trainer, Ethan L Huwe, Sean T. McIntosh, Jason C. Della Rosa, Christopher J. Stringer, Molly J. Anderson, Erik L. Wang
  • Patent number: 11693488
    Abstract: A voice-controlled electronic device that includes a device housing having a longitudinal axis bisecting opposing top and bottom surfaces and a side surface extending between the top and bottom surfaces. The device can further include one or more microphones disposed within the device housing and distributed radially around the longitudinal axis; a processor configured to execute computer instructions stored in a computer-readable memory for interacting with a user and processing voice commands received by the one or more microphones and first transducer and second transducers configured to generate sound waves within different frequency ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Craig M. Stanley, Simon K. Porter, John H. Sheerin, Glenn K. Trainer, Ethan L. Huwe, Sean T. McIntosh, Jason C. Della Rosa, Christopher J. Stringer, Molly J. Anderson, Erik L. Wang
  • Publication number: 20230088030
    Abstract: Embodiments describe an eartip including an eartip body having an attachment end and an interfacing end opposite from the attachment end. The eartip body can include an inner eartip body having a sidewall extending between the interfacing end and the attachment end, the sidewall defining a channel and having a first thickness near the attachment end and a second thickness different from the first thickness at the interfacing end. The eartip can also include an attachment structure coupled to the inner eartip body at the attachment end, the attachment structure having an inner surface and an outer surface. The attachment structure can include an upper region interfacing with the sidewall and defining discrete through-holes, a lower region below the upper region where the inner surface defines a plurality of recesses positioned around the lower region, and a mesh extending across the channel and into the upper region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Sean T. McIntosh, Jason C. Della Rosa, Samuel G. Parker, Benjamin A. Cousins, Ethan L. Huwe
  • Publication number: 20230028370
    Abstract: An electronic device may include one or more radios and one or more antennas. Radio-frequency transmission lines may couple a radio to a corresponding antenna. To more efficiently form a radio-frequency transmission line, the radio-frequency transmission line may be formed from interconnected conductive traces distributed between a plurality of printed circuits. By integrating transmission line structures onto printed circuits that also serve other functions, the device can require less space to implement a radio-frequency transmission line. While one or more of these printed circuits may individually be unsuitable to implement a radio-frequency transmission line with a particular impedance, the composite impedance of these transmission line structures across the printed circuits, when properly configured, may provide a radio-frequency transmission line with the particular impedance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Alireza Pourghorban Saghati, Mohammed W. Mokhtar, Ali N. Ergun, Oren S. Levy, Arman Samimi-Dehkordi, Sean T. McIntosh
  • Publication number: 20230022471
    Abstract: An electronic device may include one or more radios and one or more antennas. Radio-frequency transmission lines may couple a radio to a corresponding antenna. To more efficiently form a radio-frequency transmission line, the radio-frequency transmission line may be formed from interconnected conductive traces distributed between a plurality of printed circuits. By integrating transmission line structures onto printed circuits that also serve other functions, the device can require less space to implement a radio-frequency transmission line. While one or more of these printed circuits may individually be unsuitable to implement a radio-frequency transmission line with a particular impedance, the composite impedance of these transmission line structures across the printed circuits, when properly configured, may provide a radio-frequency transmission line with the particular impedance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Alireza Pourghorban Saghati, Mohammed W. Mokhtar, Ali N. Ergun, Oren S. Levy, Arman Samimi-Dehkordi, Sean T. McIntosh
  • Patent number: 11540039
    Abstract: Embodiments describe an eartip including an eartip body having an attachment end and an interfacing end opposite from the attachment end. The eartip body can include an inner eartip body having a sidewall extending between the interfacing end and the attachment end, the sidewall defining a channel and having a first thickness near the attachment end and a second thickness different from the first thickness at the interfacing end. The eartip can also include an attachment structure coupled to the inner eartip body at the attachment end, the attachment structure having an inner surface and an outer surface. The attachment structure can include an upper region interfacing with the sidewall and defining discrete through-holes, a lower region below the upper region where the inner surface defines a plurality of recesses positioned around the lower region, and a mesh extending across the channel and into the upper region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Sean T. McIntosh, Jason C. Della Rosa, Samuel G. Parker, Benjamin A. Cousins, Ethan L. Huwe
  • Patent number: 11523205
    Abstract: Embodiments describe an eartip including an eartip body having an attachment end and an interfacing end opposite from the attachment end, and including an inner eartip body and an outer eartip body. The inner eartip body has a sidewall that extends between the interfacing end and the attachment end, and includes a groove formed in an outer surface of the sidewall. The outer eartip body is sized and shaped to be inserted into an ear canal and extends from the interfacing end toward the attachment end of the eartip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Dustin A. Hatfield, Shota Aoyagi, Timothy E. Emmott, Ethan L. Huwe, Mitchell R. Lerner, Sean T. McIntosh, Yi-Fang D. Tsai, Jason C. Della Rosa, Patrick W. Sheppard, Samuel G. Parker, David J. Feathers, Brian R. Twehues, Daniel Strongwater
  • Patent number: 11503399
    Abstract: A wireless earphone comprising a housing that defines an interior cavity having an inner surface and an outer surface; an opening extending through the housing from the inner surface to the outer surface; and a mesh assembly disposed over the opening and comprising a permanent assembly coupled to the housing and a replaceable assembly removably coupled to the permanent assembly and comprising a mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Mei Zhang, Benjamin A. Cousins, Mohammad Soroush Ghahri Sarabi, Phillip Qian, Sean T. McIntosh, Michael B. Minerbi, Lee M. Panecki
  • Patent number: 11450999
    Abstract: Connector inserts and connector receptacles that have a small form factor and where when a connector insert and connector receptacle are mated, the connector insert can rotate and articulate relative to an electronic device housing the connector receptacle. The connector receptacle can be connected to components in the electronic device through a flexible circuit board having an amount of slack or excess length to allow the connector receptacle and the connector insert to rotate relative to the connected components. A bearing supporting the connector receptacle can articulate about an axis to allow the connector receptacle and connector insert to articulate relative to the connected components. The bearing can further support a locking mechanism to lock the connector insert in place in the connector receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Eric T. SooHoo, Mahmoud R. Amini, Daniel R. Bloom, Sean T. McIntosh, Tian Shi Li, Jared M. Kole, Jason Joseph LeBlanc, Colin M. Ely, Peter J. Cameron, Michael A. Kinney, Eric S. Jol, Edward Siahaan, Robert D. Zupke, Rohan Gupta, Jordan J. Francis
  • Publication number: 20220217463
    Abstract: An earphone comprising: a device housing that defines an internal cavity within the device housing; an acoustic port formed through a wall of the device housing and having an opening at an exterior surface of the device housing; an audio driver disposed within the device housing and aligned to emit sound through the acoustic port; and a mesh disposed within the acoustic port and having an outer periphery spaced apart from the device housing wall, wherein the mesh forms a portion of an exterior surface of the earphone that is recessed from the opening at the exterior surface of the device housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Lee M. Panecki, Michael B. Minerbi, Sean T. McIntosh
  • Publication number: 20220155876
    Abstract: A voice-controlled electronic device that includes a device housing having a longitudinal axis bisecting opposing top and bottom surfaces and a side surface extending between the top and bottom surfaces. The device can further include one or more microphones disposed within the device housing and distributed radially around the longitudinal axis; a processor configured to execute computer instructions stored in a computer-readable memory for interacting with a user and processing voice commands received by the one or more microphones and first transducer and second transducers configured to generate sound waves within different frequency ranges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Craig M. Stanley, Simon K. Porter, John H. Sheerin, Glenn K. Trainer, Ethan L. Huwe, Sean T. McIntosh, Jason C. Della Rosa, Christopher J. Stringer, Molly J. Anderson, Erik L. Wang
  • Publication number: 20220155875
    Abstract: A voice-controlled electronic device that includes an axisymmetric device housing having a longitudinal axis bisecting opposing top and bottom surfaces and a side surface extending between the top and bottom surfaces. The device can further include a plurality of microphones disposed within the device housing and distributed radially around the longitudinal axis; a processor configured to execute computer instructions stored in a computer-readable memory for interacting with a user and processing voice commands received by the plurality of microphones and first and second transducers configured to generate sound waves within different frequency ranges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Craig M. Stanley, Simon K. Porter, John H. Sheerin, Glenn K. Trainer, Ethan L. Huwe, Sean T. McIntosh, Jason C. Della Rosa, Christopher J. Stringer, Molly J. Anderson, Erik L. Wang
  • Publication number: 20220103930
    Abstract: A wireless earphone comprising a housing that defines an interior cavity having an inner surface and an outer surface; an opening extending through the housing from the inner surface to the outer surface; and a mesh assembly disposed over the opening and comprising a permanent assembly coupled to the housing and a replaceable assembly removably coupled to the permanent assembly and comprising a mesh.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Mei Zhang, Benjamin A. Cousins, Mohammad Soroush Ghahri Sarabi, Phillip Qian, Sean T. McIntosh, Michael B. Minerbi, Lee M. Panecki
  • Publication number: 20220085560
    Abstract: Connector inserts and connector receptacles that have a small form factor and where when a connector insert and connector receptacle are mated, the connector insert can rotate and articulate relative to an electronic device housing the connector receptacle. The connector receptacle can be connected to components in the electronic device through a flexible circuit board having an amount of slack or excess length to allow the connector receptacle and the connector insert to rotate relative to the connected components. A bearing supporting the connector receptacle can articulate about an axis to allow the connector receptacle and connector insert to articulate relative to the connected components. The bearing can further support a locking mechanism to lock the connector insert in place in the connector receptacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Eric T. SooHoo, Mahmoud R. Amini, Daniel R. Bloom, Sean T. McIntosh, Tian Shi Li, Jared M. Kole, Jason Joseph LeBlanc, Colin M. Ely, Peter J. Cameron, Michael A. Kinney, Eric S. Jol, Edward Siahaan, Robert D. Zupke, Rohan Gupta, Jordan J. Francis
  • Patent number: 11256338
    Abstract: A voice-controlled electronic device that includes an axisymmetric device housing having a longitudinal axis bisecting opposing top and bottom surfaces and a side surface extending between the top and bottom surfaces. The device can further include a plurality of microphones disposed within the device housing and distributed radially around the longitudinal axis; a processor configured to execute computer instructions stored in a computer-readable memory for interacting with a user and processing voice commands received by the plurality of microphones and first and second transducers configured to generate sound waves within different frequency ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Craig M. Stanley, Simon K. Porter, John H. Sheerin, Glenn K. Trainer, Jason C. Della Rosa, Ethan L. Huwe, Sean T. McIntosh, Erik L. Wang, Christopher J. Stringer, Molly J. Anderson
  • Patent number: RE49437
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to speakers and more specifically to an array speaker for distributing music uniformly across a room. A number of audio drivers can be radially distributed within a speaker housing so that an output of the drivers is distributed evenly throughout the room. In some embodiments, the exit geometry of the audio drivers can be configured to bounce off a surface supporting the array speaker to improve the distribution of music throughout the room. The array speaker can include a number of vibration isolation elements distributed within a housing of the array speaker. The vibration isolation elements can be configured reduce the strength of forces generated by a subwoofer of the array speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Craig M. Stanley, Simon K. Porter, John H. Sheerin, Glenn K. Trainer, Jason C. Della Rosa, Ethan L. Huwe, Sean T. McIntosh, Erik L. Wang, Christopher J. Stringer, Molly J. Anderson