Patents by Inventor Ethan L. HUWE
Ethan L. HUWE 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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Patent number: 11930313Abstract: A low-profile earbud is disclosed that sits securely within an ear of a user. The earbud includes a protruding portion that passes through a channel defined by the tragus and anti-tragus of the ear. In some embodiments, the protruding portion can take the form of a cable configured to supply power and transfer data to the earbud. In some embodiments, the protruding portion can provide additional space for electrical components and sensors supporting the earbud.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2022Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Glenn K. Trainer, Scott C. Grinker, Ethan L. Huwe, Craig M. Stanley
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Publication number: 20230305638Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2023Publication date: September 28, 2023Applicant: 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
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Publication number: 20230239605Abstract: Headphone eartips with internal support components and methods for making the same are provided. Different support components may provide specific amounts and types of additional rigidity at specific portions of an exterior surface of an outer eartip body that may be expected to interface with specific portions of an ear canal geometry when an eartip subassembly is positioned within the ear canal, such that the eartip subassembly may conform to the various shapes of the ear canal while maintaining an acoustic seal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2023Publication date: July 27, 2023Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventors: Ethan L. Huwe, Brad G. Boozer, Erik L. Wang, Phillip Qian
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Patent number: 11693487Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 1, 2022Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: 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
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Patent number: 11693488Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 1, 2022Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: 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
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Patent number: 11689842Abstract: A personal audio device (e.g., headphones, earphones) can have an earpiece (e.g., an ear cup or earbud) with a removable cushioning member (e.g., headphone cushions or ear tips for earbuds). The cushioning member can include an identification tag that encodes identification data for the cushioning member. When the cushioning member is attached to the earpiece, the identification tag is brought into proximity with a tag sensor in the earpiece and the earpiece can read the identification tag to determine identification data for the cushioning member. The identification data can be used to modify a behavior of the earpiece and/or of a host device communicably coupled to the earpiece.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2021Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey J. Terlizzi, Kathleen A. Bergeron, Ali N. Ergun, Dustin A. Hatfield, Ethan L. Huwe, Todd P. Marco, Jason Joseph LeBlanc, Robert D. Zupke, Michael B. Minerbi, Prathamesh R. Bhagwat, Daniel R. Bloom
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Patent number: 11665455Abstract: An acoustic mesh comprising a first portion that is acoustically closed; and a second portion that surrounds the first portion and is acoustically open, wherein a surface area of the second portion is at least one percent a total surface area of the acoustic mesh.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2020Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Thanh P. Hua, Jarrett B. Lagler, Brian R. Twehues, Ethan L. Huwe, Mei Zhang
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Patent number: 11647319Abstract: Headphone eartips with internal support components and methods for making the same are provided. Different support components may provide specific amounts and types of additional rigidity at specific portions of an exterior surface of an outer eartip body that may be expected to interface with specific portions of an ear canal geometry when an eartip subassembly is positioned within the ear canal, such that the eartip subassembly may conform to the various shapes of the ear canal while maintaining an acoustic seal.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2021Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Ethan L. Huwe, Brad G. Boozer, Erik L. Wang, Phillip Qian
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Publication number: 20230088030Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2022Publication date: March 23, 2023Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventors: Sean T. McIntosh, Jason C. Della Rosa, Samuel G. Parker, Benjamin A. Cousins, Ethan L. Huwe
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Publication number: 20230078536Abstract: System-in-package modules that can provide a high level of functionality, are space efficient, and are readily manufactured. In an example, a high-functionality system-in-package module can include both a wireless circuit and an antenna. In an example, a space-efficient system-in-package module can include different vertical interconnect paths that can be used to connect the wireless circuit to the antenna. In an example, instead of being shaped as a traditional rectangular cuboid, a space-efficient system-in-package module can have a shape that more closely matches contours of an enclosure for an electronic device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2022Publication date: March 16, 2023Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Ali N. Ergun, Bilal Mohamed Ibrahim Kani, Chang Liu, Ethan L. Huwe, Jeffrey J. Terlizzi, Jerzy S. Guterman, Jue Wang, Kishore N. Renjan, Kyusang Kim, Lan H. Hoang, Mandar S. Painaik, Manoj Vadeentavida, Sarah B. Gysbers, Takayoshi Katahira, Zhiqi Wang
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Patent number: 11589150Abstract: A portable acoustic device comprising: a device housing that defines an internal cavity, the device housing comprising a speaker housing portion and a stem portion extending away from the speaker housing portion; a first acoustic port formed through a wall of the speaker housing; an audio driver disposed within the speaker housing portion and aligned to emit sound through the acoustic first port; a battery disposed within the speaker housing portion and positioned an opposite side of the audio driver than the acoustic port; an antenna disposed in the stem; a user input region disposed along the stem; and a system in a chip disposed in the stem, the system in a chip comprising: a processor that controls operation of the portable wireless acoustic device, charging circuitry, an accelerometer, a wireless communication controller, support components for the antenna and support components for the user input region.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2021Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Lee M. Panecki, Arun D. Chawan, Julia C. Canning, Michael B. Minerbi, Pengchuan Wang, Kyle Tse, Brian R. Twehues, Sean T. Bong, Eric X. Zhou, Ethan L. Huwe, Scott C. Grinker, Haochuan Sang, Martin Kuster, Sean J. Docherty, Ryan Buck, Yuta Kuboyama
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Patent number: 11540039Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 19, 2021Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Sean T. McIntosh, Jason C. Della Rosa, Samuel G. Parker, Benjamin A. Cousins, Ethan L. Huwe
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Patent number: 11523205Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 19, 2021Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: 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
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Publication number: 20220217462Abstract: A portable acoustic device comprising: a device housing that defines an internal cavity, the device housing comprising a speaker housing portion and a stem portion extending away from the speaker housing portion; a first acoustic port formed through a wall of the speaker housing; an audio driver disposed within the speaker housing portion and aligned to emit sound through the acoustic first port; a battery disposed within the speaker housing portion and positioned an opposite side of the audio driver than the acoustic port; an antenna disposed in the stem; a user input region disposed along the stem; and a system in a chip disposed in the stem, the system in a chip comprising: a processor that controls operation of the portable wireless acoustic device, charging circuitry, an accelerometer, a wireless communication controller, support components for the antenna and support components for the user input region.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2021Publication date: July 7, 2022Inventors: Lee M. Panecki, Arun D. Chawan, Julia C. Canning, Michael B. Minerbi, Pengchuan Wang, Kyle Tse, Brian R. Twehues, Sean T. Bong, Eric X. Zhou, Ethan L. Huwe, Scott C. Grinker, Haochuan Sang, Martin Kuster, Sean J. Docherty, Ryan Buck, Yuta Kuboyama
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Patent number: 11360258Abstract: An electronic device may have input-output devices such as buttons formed from capacitive touch sensor electrodes. A transparent layer may be provided with opaque masking structures having a symbol-shaped opening aligned with a capacitive touch sensor electrode for a button or other input device. The symbol-shaped opening may be adjacent to the electrode and may be illuminated with light from a lighting system. The lighting system may include a light guide plate. The light guide plate may have edges that are oriented at non-zero angle with respect to each other. Light-emitting diodes of different colors may emit light into the edges. The light may be extracted from the light guide plate using bumps in a light extraction region. Light may be collimated using ribs formed on an opposing side of the light guide plate.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2016Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Ethan L. Huwe, Glenn K. Trainer, Jun Qi, Rong Liu, Victor H. Yin
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Publication number: 20220155876Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2022Publication date: May 19, 2022Applicant: 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
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Publication number: 20220155875Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2022Publication date: May 19, 2022Applicant: 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
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Publication number: 20220141566Abstract: A low-profile earbud is disclosed that sits securely within an ear of a user. The earbud includes a protruding portion that passes through a channel defined by the tragus and anti-tragus of the ear. In some embodiments, the protruding portion can take the form of a cable configured to supply power and transfer data to the earbud. In some embodiments, the protruding portion can provide additional space for electrical components and sensors supporting the earbud.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2022Publication date: May 5, 2022Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventors: Glenn K. Trainer, Scott C. Grinker, Ethan L. Huwe, Craig M. Stanley
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Publication number: 20220116697Abstract: A personal audio device (e.g., headphones, earphones) can have an earpiece (e.g., an ear cup or earbud) with a removable cushioning member (e.g., headphone cushions or ear tips for earbuds). The cushioning member can include an identification tag that encodes identification data for the cushioning member. When the cushioning member is attached to the earpiece, the identification tag is brought into proximity with a tag sensor in the earpiece and the earpiece can read the identification tag to determine identification data for the cushioning member. The identification data can be used to modify a behavior of the earpiece and/or of a host device communicably coupled to the earpiece.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2021Publication date: April 14, 2022Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey J. Terlizzi, Kathleen A. Bergeron, Ali N. Ergun, Dustin A. Hatfield, Ethan L. Huwe, Todd P. Marco, Jason Joseph LeBlanc, Robert D. Zupke, Michael B. Minerbi, Prathamesh R. Bhagwat, Daniel R. Bloom
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Patent number: RE49437Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 27, 2018Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: 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