Patents by Inventor Justin D. Crosby
Justin D. Crosby 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: 10243613Abstract: An audio communication system which enables two-way audio communication between at least two users in separate locations includes a talker feedback system which commands a set of audio drivers to generate an acoustical feedback signal which includes at least a portion of an audio input received from the talker to be directed to the talker. The acoustical feedback signal can be generated in response to an intensity of the talker-generated acoustical signal meeting a threshold level, and the feedback can result in causing the talker to reduce the intensity of the talker-generated audio content. The acoustical feedback signal can be directed to a limited portion of the environment in which the talker is located. The talker feedback system can provide at least some of the feedback to the talker via a haptic feedback device.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2016Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Martin E. Johnson, Robert D. Silfvast, Tom-Davy W. Saux, Justin D. Crosby
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Publication number: 20190082253Abstract: An electronic device having several speaker modules that are acoustically in-phase and mechanically out-of-phase is disclosed. Embodiments include a pair of speaker modules mounted at respective ends of a lateral link, and the lateral link may be supported relative to a housing of the electronic device. The speaker modules may receive a same audio signal, and the audio signal may drive a first voicecoil in a first direction and a second voicecoil in a second direction. Accordingly, the speaker modules may be driven in mechanically different directions by the same audio signal, such that reactive forces cancel and/or mechanical energy is dissipate in the lateral link between the speaker modules. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2018Publication date: March 14, 2019Inventors: Justin D. Crosby, Daniel K. Boothe, Houtan R. Farahani, Edward T. Sweet
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Publication number: 20190025133Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to electronic devices having sensors such as pressure sensors. A pressure sensor may be integrated into an audio component of an electronic device such that the pressure sensor is fluidly coupled to an environment external to a device housing via at least a portion of an internal cavity of the audio component housing. The audio component housing may include an opening. The pressure sensor may be mounted adjacent to or within the opening. The opening may be sealed to prevent passage of gas or liquid through the opening. The pressure sensor may be integrally formed with an inner wall of the audio component housing. The audio component may be a speaker or a microphone.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2018Publication date: January 24, 2019Inventors: William S. LEE, Tyler B. CATER, Shannon X. YANG, Justin D. CROSBY, Timothy S. LUI, Eric N. NYLAND
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Patent number: 10162390Abstract: The described embodiments relate to an electronic assembly that includes multiple varied electrical components. In some embodiments, the electronic assembly can include electrical components susceptible to electromagnetic interference (EMI). In one particular embodiment, an antenna can be positioned along an exterior surface of an enclosure of the electronic assembly and another electrical component can be disposed within the enclosure. When the other electrical component is a speaker component, a port or opening for emitting audio output can be protected from EMI by surrounding the port with a conductive gasket that includes a closed cell foam substrate wrapped in an electrically conductive fabric. In some embodiments, the closed cell foam substrate defines a number of perforations that are plated with an electrically conductive material.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2016Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Edward T. Sweet, Jerzy S. Guterman, Houtan R. Farahani, Justin D. Crosby, Daniel K. Boothe
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Patent number: 10110991Abstract: An electronic device having several speaker modules that are acoustically in-phase and mechanically out-of-phase is disclosed. Embodiments include a pair of speaker modules mounted at respective ends of a lateral link, and the lateral link may be supported relative to a housing of the electronic device. The speaker modules may receive a same audio signal, and the audio signal may drive a first voicecoil in a first direction and a second voicecoil in a second direction. Accordingly, the speaker modules may be driven in mechanically different directions by the same audio signal, such that reactive forces cancel and/or mechanical energy is dissipate in the lateral link between the speaker modules. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2016Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Justin D. Crosby, Daniel K. Boothe, Houtan R. Farahani, Edward T. Sweet
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Patent number: 10044232Abstract: A first electronic device includes a first coil that is operative in at least two modes. In a first mode, the first coil may be utilized to moves a membrane to produce one or more sound waves, register movement of a membrane to detect one or more sound waves, or generates one or more haptic outputs. In the second mode, the first coil may be used to inductively transmit power to and/or inductively receive power from a second coil included in a second electronic device. In various cases, the second coil may be a dedicated inductive power transmission coil. In other cases, the second coil may be capable of multimode operation similar to the first coil.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2014Date of Patent: August 7, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Justin D. Crosby, Nikolas T. Vitt, Gary P. Geaves
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Patent number: 9949032Abstract: Some embodiments provide a directivity speaker array, comprising multiple driver assemblies, which is configured to provide audio signal patterns, which include audio content, to one or more listeners where the signal patterns are associated with at least a certain threshold directivity across a range of frequencies in which the array can transition between the providing audio signal patterns via beamforming of signals generated by multiple driver assemblies and via an individual driver assembly, based on overlapping frequency ranges at which such provided audio signal patterns are associated with at least the certain threshold directivity. A driver assembly can include a release duct which progressively releases an audio signal generated by a coupled driver, via perforations in a perforated surface, as the signal propagates along a surface of an enclosure of the duct such that an intensity of the audio signal is maximized along the particular axis of propagation.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2016Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Martin E. Johnson, Tom-Davy W. Saux, Justin D. Crosby
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Publication number: 20180014115Abstract: An electronic device having several speaker modules that are acoustically in-phase and mechanically out-of-phase is disclosed. Embodiments include a pair of speaker modules mounted at respective ends of a lateral link, and the lateral link may be supported relative to a housing of the electronic device. The speaker modules may receive a same audio signal, and the audio signal may drive a first voicecoil in a first direction and a second voicecoil in a second direction. Accordingly, the speaker modules may be driven in mechanically different directions by the same audio signal, such that reactive forces cancel and/or mechanical energy is dissipate in the lateral link between the speaker modules. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2016Publication date: January 11, 2018Inventors: Justin D. Crosby, Daniel K. Boothe, Houtan R. Farahani, Edward T. Sweet
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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: 20170223462Abstract: An electronic device whose enclosure or housing panel is used as part of an acoustic system is described. The panel is divided into several sub-panels. For each sub-panel, the device includes one or more actuators attached to vibrate the sub-panel. The actuator and its attached sub-panel convert an audio signal to acoustic output. Each actuator and sub-panel combination may receive a separate audio signal. The device includes a digital signal processor for controlling each of the sub-panel driving audio signals. The device may further include one or more backing frames that are attached to the panel to provide boundary conditions to the sub-panels. The boundary conditions define a resonance frequency for each sub-panel.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2015Publication date: August 3, 2017Inventors: Matthew A. Donarski, Daniel K. Boothe, Justin D. Crosby, Mitchell R. Lerner
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Patent number: 9712921Abstract: A microspeaker includes a frame and a diaphragm having length sides that are longer than its width sides. A magnet is positioned below the diaphragm. A yoke includes a base portion positioned below the magnet and sidewalls which extend from the base portion, the yoke sidewalls positioned only along a length dimension of the magnet. A voice coil includes an upper end attached to a bottom face of the diaphragm and a lower end positioned within a gap formed between the length dimension of the magnet and the yoke sidewalls. A first suspension member is attached to the length sides and the width sides of the diaphragm and the frame. The first suspension member is within a first plane. A second suspension member is attached to the lower end of the voice coil and the frame. The second suspension member is in a second plane different from the first plane.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2014Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Alexander V. Salvatti, Pablo Seoane Vieites, Justin D. Crosby, Scott P. Porter, Edward T. Sweet, Daniel K. Boothe
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Patent number: 9654863Abstract: A computer system having a loudspeaker mounted on a main logic board by a hermetic seal, is disclosed. More particularly, embodiments of the computer system include an acoustic cavity defined between the loudspeaker, the main logic board, and the hermetic seal. Embodiments of the computer system may include a compressible seal separated from the hermetic seal by the loudspeaker and/or the main logic board. The compressible seal may define an acoustic channel and the loudspeaker may emit sound in a high frequency range through the acoustic channel toward a system exit. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2014Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Justin D Crosby, Matthew A Donarski, Andrew P Bright, Joss N Giddings, Ron A Hopkinson, Nathan A Johanningsmeier, William F Leggett, Mikael M Silvanto
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Patent number: 9525943Abstract: An electronic device includes an enclosure or housing panel that is used as part of an acoustic system. The panel is divided into several sub-panels. For each sub-panel, the device includes one or more actuators attached to vibrate the sub-panel. The actuator and its attached sub-panel convert an audio signal to acoustic output. Each actuator and sub-panel combination may receive a separate audio signal. The device includes a digital signal processor for controlling each of the sub-panel driving audio signals. The device may further include one or more backing frames that are attached to the panel to provide boundary conditions to the sub-panels. The boundary conditions define a resonance frequency for each sub-panel.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2014Date of Patent: December 20, 2016Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Matthew A. Donarski, Daniel K. Boothe, Justin D. Crosby, Mitchell R. Lerner
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Patent number: 9497529Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with a microphone in a microphone port. A shield may cover a microelectromechanical systems microphone device on a microphone substrate. An opening in the microphone substrate may form a sound port for the microphone. The microphone port may be formed by perforations in the microphone substrate or other layers such as a flexible printed circuit layer, a sheet metal layer, a layer of adhesive, a flexible polymer carrier layer in an adhesive tape, or an electronic device housing. The perforations may be sufficiently small to help resist the intrusions of foreign material such as liquid and dirt into the sound port of the microphone. Larger openings may be formed in other structures such as an electronic device housing. The larger openings may serve as sound passageways for the microphone port while being sufficiently large to resist clogging.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2014Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Peter N. Jeziorek, Justin D. Crosby, Trang Thi-Thanh Nguyen, Michelle R. Goldberg
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Patent number: 9491541Abstract: An electronic device for buzz reduction is described. The electronic device is to be used with a speaker driver that is built onto an enclosure and is to be driven by an audio signal which could cause the enclosure to produce buzz. The electronic device includes a filter that is to attenuate a frequency component of the audio signal before driving the speaker driver. The electronic device also includes a controller that is to configure the filter to attenuate the frequency component of the audio signal in response to determining that strength of the audio signal at the frequency component exceeds a threshold. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2014Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Hannes Breitschaedel, Aram M. Lindahl, Justin D. Crosby
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Publication number: 20160212892Abstract: The described embodiments relate to an electronic assembly that includes multiple varied electrical components. In some embodiments, the electronic assembly can include electrical components susceptible to electromagnetic interference (EMI). In one particular embodiment, an antenna can be positioned along an exterior surface of an enclosure of the electronic assembly and another electrical component can be disposed within the enclosure. When the other electrical component is a speaker component, a port or opening for emitting audio output can be protected from EMI by surrounding the port with a conductive gasket that includes a closed cell foam substrate wrapped in an electrically conductive fabric. In some embodiments, the closed cell foam substrate defines a number of perforations that are plated with an electrically conductive material.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2016Publication date: July 21, 2016Inventors: Edward T. SWEET, Jerzy S. GUTERMAN, Houtan R. FARAHANI, Justin D. CROSBY, Daniel K. BOOTHE
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Publication number: 20160212526Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2013Publication date: July 21, 2016Applicant: 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: 20160165327Abstract: A computer system having a loudspeaker mounted on a main logic board by a hermetic seal, is disclosed. More particularly, embodiments of the computer system include an acoustic cavity defined between the loudspeaker, the main logic board, and the hermetic seal. Embodiments of the computer system may include a compressible seal separated from the hermetic seal by the loudspeaker and/or the main logic board. The compressible seal may define an acoustic channel and the loudspeaker may emit sound in a high frequency range through the acoustic channel toward a system exit. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2014Publication date: June 9, 2016Inventors: Justin D. Crosby, Matthew A. Donarski, Andrew P. Bright, Joss N. Giddings, Ron A. Hopkinson, Nathan A. Johanningsmeier, William F. Leggett, Mikael M. Silvanto
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Publication number: 20160150318Abstract: An electronic device whose enclosure or housing panel is used as part of an acoustic system is described. The panel is divided into several sub-panels. For each sub-panel, the device includes one or more actuators attached to vibrate the sub-panel. The actuator and its attached sub-panel convert an audio signal to acoustic output. Each actuator and sub-panel combination may receive a separate audio signal. The device includes a digital signal processor for controlling each of the sub-panel driving audio signals. The device may further include one or more backing frames that are attached to the panel to provide boundary conditions to the sub-panels. The boundary conditions define a resonance frequency for each sub-panel.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2014Publication date: May 26, 2016Inventors: Matthew A. Donarski, Daniel K. Boothe, Justin D. Crosby, Mitchell R. Lerner
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Patent number: 9332352Abstract: A diaphragm for an audio speaker includes an outer shell and an inner shell. Each shell has a face portion and an edge portion that is formed to be substantially perpendicular to the face portion. The inner shell is inserted into the outer shell such that at least a part of the edge portion of each shell is in contact with at least a part of the edge portion of the other shell and a space is formed between the face portions of each shell. A cellular core fills the space formed between the face portions of each shell and is bonded to the face portion of each shell. The outer and inner shells may have identical sizes and shapes such that there is an interference fit between the contacting edge portions. A voice coil may be supported by the edge portions.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2013Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Justin D. Crosby, Martin E. Johnson, Christopher Wilk