Patents by Inventor Jonathan S. Aase

Jonathan S. Aase 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: 9973845
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Arun D. Chawan, Kurt Stiehl, Benjamin A. Cousins, Jonathan S. Aase, Yacine Azmi, Paul Choiniere, Scott W. Slabaugh
  • Patent number: 9942648
    Abstract: Intra-concha earphones are disclosed. In an embodiment, an intra-concha earphone includes a housing having a rear space divided into a back volume, a bass duct, and a vent chamber between a driver and a rear wall. The vent chamber may be acoustically coupled with the back volume through both an acoustic port and the bass duct. Furthermore, the vent chamber may be acoustically coupled with a surrounding environment through a vent port, which may be a sole acoustic opening in the rear wall. Thus, sound emitted by the driver may propagate through the acoustic port and the bass duct to meet in the vent chamber before being discharged through the vent port to the surrounding environment. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Yacine Azmi, Esge B. Andersen, Jonathan S. Aase, Michael B. Howes
  • Patent number: 9936284
    Abstract: An earphone comprising an earphone housing having a body portion, the body portion having an acoustic output opening to output sound from a driver positioned therein into an ear of a user. An acoustic tuning member is positioned within the body portion. The acoustic tuning member defines a back volume chamber of the driver and includes an acoustic output port for outputting sound from the back volume chamber of the driver to improve an acoustic performance of the earphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Michael B. Howes, Yacine Azmi, Scott P. Porter, Jonathan S. Aase
  • Publication number: 20180091893
    Abstract: An earphone comprising an earphone housing having a wall comprising (1) a front side that joins (2) an end portion in which a primary sound output opening is formed, which joins (3) a face portion in which a secondary output opening is formed, which joins (4) a back side which joins the front side and encloses a driver, wherein the primary output opening is dimensioned to output sound generated by a diaphragm of the driver contained within the earphone housing into the ear and the secondary output opening is dimensioned to vent the ear to a surrounding environment, and wherein the primary output opening and the secondary output opening face different directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: Michael B. Howes, Yacine Azmi, Scott P. Porter, Jonathan S. Aase, Andrew P. Bright, Christopher R. Wilk
  • Patent number: 9883281
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Arun D. Chawan, Kurt Stiehl, Benjamin A. Cousins, Jonathan S. Aase, Yacine Azmi, Paul Choiniere, Scott W. Slabaugh
  • Patent number: 9838770
    Abstract: Seamless earbud structures and methods for making the same are disclosed. Seamless earbud structures can be constructed using an insert molding construction method, which overmolds a cosmetic material over two sub-enclosures that are mated together. The two sub-enclosures form a housing that can encompass a driver assembly (e.g., woofer and tweeter), a conductor bundle, and provide one or more acoustic volumes. The housing has a non-occluding member and a neck member, and has a seamless or nearly seamless construction. The cosmetic material is insert molded around the housing to provide a smooth and seamless surface disposed around the periphery of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Jonathan S. Aase
  • Patent number: 9781506
    Abstract: An earphone comprising an earphone housing having a wall comprising (1) a front side that joins (2) an end portion in which a primary sound output opening is formed, which joins (3) a face portion in which a secondary output opening is formed, which joins (4) a back side which joins the front side and encloses a driver, wherein the face portion and the front side form a tapered portion of the earphone housing that is dimensioned to be inserted into, and contact, an ear of a wearer, wherein the primary output opening is dimensioned to output sound generated by a diaphragm of the driver contained within the earphone housing into the ear, the secondary output opening is dimensioned to vent the ear to a surrounding environment, and wherein the primary output opening and the secondary output opening face different directions and are positioned over a sound output face of the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Michael B. Howes, Yacine Azmi, Scott P. Porter, Jonathan S. Aase, Andrew P. Bright, Christopher R. Wilk
  • Publication number: 20170238087
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Arun D. Chawan, Kurt Stiehl, Benjamin A. Cousins, Jonathan S. Aase, Yacine Azmi, Paul Choiniere, Scott W. Slabaugh
  • Publication number: 20170156001
    Abstract: Intra-concha earphones are disclosed. In an embodiment, an intra-concha earphone includes a housing having a rear space divided into a back volume, a bass duct, and a vent chamber between a driver and a rear wall. The vent chamber may be acoustically coupled with the back volume through both an acoustic port and the bass duct. Furthermore, the vent chamber may be acoustically coupled with a surrounding environment through a vent port, which may be a sole acoustic opening in the rear wall. Thus, sound emitted by the driver may propagate through the acoustic port and the bass duct to meet in the vent chamber before being discharged through the vent port to the surrounding environment. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: Yacine Azmi, Esge B. Andersen, Jonathan S. Aase, Michael B. Howes
  • Patent number: 9640967
    Abstract: A headset can include a cable structure connecting non-cable components such as jacks and headphones. The cable structure can be constructed using a molding process. Different approaches can be used to ensure that a conductor bundle extending through the cable structure remains centered within the cable structure during the molding process. A movable tube can be placed in the mold such that the conductor bundle is retained within the tube. As material is injected into the mold and reaches the tube, the tube can be displaced and progressively removed from the mold. Alternatively, the movable tube can be constructed such that the tube may combine with injected material to form a shell of the cable structure. Gates from which material is provided in the mold can be positioned and controlled to facilitate the injection of material in the mold while maintaining the centered position of the conductor bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan S. Aase, Cameron P. Frazier, John E. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20170094397
    Abstract: A wireless earbud includes a housing having a stem portion coupled to an ear portion. The stem portion has an electrical connector disposed on a distal end that includes first and second electrical contacts coupled to receive power for recharging a battery within the wireless earbuds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Daniel C. Wagman, Benjamin A. Cousins, Darshan R. Kasar, Rico L. Zörkendörfer, Jonathan S. Aase
  • Publication number: 20170094390
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Arun D. Chawan, Kurt Stiehl, Benjamin A. Cousins, Jonathan S. Aase, Yacine Azmi, Paul Choiniere, Scott W. Slabaugh
  • Publication number: 20170094398
    Abstract: An earbud includes a housing having a touch sensitive region at an exterior surface of the housing. A capacitive sensor insert is disposed within the housing and has metallized circuitry formed on a first surface that is positioned adjacent an interior surface of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Cousins, Arun D. Chawan, Zachary C. Rich, Jonathan S. Aase, Marcus Albonico
  • Publication number: 20170085982
    Abstract: An earphone comprising an earphone housing having a wall comprising (1) a front side that joins (2) an end portion in which a primary sound output opening is formed, which joins (3) a face portion in which a secondary output opening is formed, which joins (4) a back side which joins the front side and encloses a driver, wherein the face portion and the front side form a tapered portion of the earphone housing that is dimensioned to be inserted into, and contact, an ear of a wearer, wherein the primary output opening is dimensioned to output sound generated by a diaphragm of the driver contained within the earphone housing into the ear, the secondary output opening is dimensioned to vent the ear to a surrounding environment, and wherein the primary output opening and the secondary output opening face different directions and are positioned over a sound output face of the driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Michael B. Howes, Yacine Azmi, Scott P. Porter, Jonathan S. Aase, Andrew P. Bright, Christopher R. Wilk
  • Publication number: 20170070808
    Abstract: An earphone comprising an earphone housing having a body portion, the body portion having an acoustic output opening to output sound from a driver positioned therein into an ear of a user. An acoustic tuning member is positioned within the body portion. The acoustic tuning member defines a back volume chamber of the driver and includes an acoustic output port for outputting sound from the back volume chamber of the driver to improve an acoustic performance of the earphone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventors: Michael B. Howes, Yacine Azmi, Scott P. Porter, Jonathan S. Aase
  • Publication number: 20170064427
    Abstract: The wireless earphone (1) comprises a housing (2) having a bud portion abutting an elongated stem portion. The bud portion is to fit within an ear. The bud portion has a primary sound outlet (5) at its far end that is to be inserted into an outer ear canal, and abuts the stem portion at its near end. A speaker driver (6) is inside the bud portion. Electronic circuitry (7,24) inside the housing (2) includes a wireless communications interface (4) to receive audio content over-the-air and in response provides an audio signal to the speaker driver. A rechargeable battery (3) as a power source for the electronic circuitry is located inside a cavity of the stem portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Zachary C. Rich, Kurt R. Stiehl, Arun D. Chawan, Michael B. Howes, Jonathan S. Aase, Esge B. Andersen, Yacine Azmi, Jahan C. Minoo, David J. Shaw, Aarti Kumar, Augustin Prats, Robert D. Watson, Baptiste P. Paquier, Axel D. Berny, Benjamin W. Cook, Jerzy S. Guterman, Benjamin Adair Cousins
  • Patent number: 9578412
    Abstract: Intra-concha earphones are disclosed. In an embodiment, an intra-concha earphone includes a housing having a rear space divided into a back volume, a bass duct, and a vent chamber between a driver and a rear wall. The vent chamber may be acoustically coupled with the back volume through both an acoustic port and the bass duct. Furthermore, the vent chamber may be acoustically coupled with a surrounding environment through a vent port, which may be a sole acoustic opening in the rear wall. Thus, sound emitted by the driver may propagate through the acoustic port and the bass duct to meet in the vent chamber before being discharged through the vent port to the surrounding environment. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yacine Azmi, Esge B. Andersen, Michael B. Howes, Jonathan S. Aase
  • Patent number: 9524810
    Abstract: This is directed to a cable structure for use with an electronic device. The cable structure can include one or more conductors around which a sheath is provided. To prevent the cable structure from tangling, the cable structure can include a core placed between the conductors and the sheath, where a stiffness of the core can be varied along different segments of the cable structure to facilitate or hinder bending of the cable structure in different areas. The size and distribution of the stiffer portions can be selected to prevent the cable from forming loops. The resistance of the core to bending can be varied using different approaches including, for example, by varying the materials used in the core, varying a cross-section of portions of the core, or combinations of these.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan S. Aase, Cameron P. Frazier, Matthew D. Rohrbach, Peter N. Russell-Clarke, Dale N. Memering
  • Patent number: 9510086
    Abstract: An earphone comprising an earphone housing having a body portion, the body portion having an acoustic output opening to output sound from a driver positioned therein into an ear of a user. An acoustic tuning member is positioned within the body portion. The acoustic tuning member defines a back volume chamber of the driver and includes an acoustic output port for outputting sound from the back volume chamber of the driver to improve an acoustic performance of the earphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael B. Howes, Yacine Azmi, Scott P. Porter, Jonathan S. Aase
  • Patent number: 9510077
    Abstract: An earphone comprising an earphone housing having a wall comprising (1) a front side that joins (2) an end portion in which a primary sound output opening is formed, which joins (3) a face portion in which a secondary output opening is formed, which joins (4) a back side which joins the front side and encloses a driver, wherein the face portion and the front side form a tapered portion of the earphone housing that is dimensioned to be inserted into, and contact, an ear of a wearer, wherein the primary output opening is dimensioned to output sound generated by a diaphragm of the driver contained within the earphone housing into the ear, the secondary output opening is dimensioned to vent the ear to a surrounding environment, and wherein the primary output opening and the secondary output opening face different directions and are positioned over a sound output face of the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael B. Howes, Yacine Azmi, Scott P. Porter, Jonathan S. Aase, Andrew P. Bright, Christopher R. Wilk