Patents by Inventor Lee M. Panecki
Lee M. Panecki 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: 11838716Abstract: An electronic device such as a pair of headphones may be configured to be worn on a head of a user. The headphones may have a headband and earcups that are coupled to the headband. The headband may have a frame and a headband frame cover that is removably attached to the frame. The cover may have protrusions, may be inflated using a pump, may include a battery and other components, and may include sensors. An earcup movement synchronization mechanism may be used to synchronize movement of a left earcup with a right earcup. A torsion spring with a stop mechanisms or other bend limiter may be configured to prevent overbending of the headband.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2021Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Kendall L. Helbert, Benjamin C. Creed, Chad J. Miller, Jenna L. Withrow, Joshua A. Hoover, Lee M. Panecki, Donald L. Olmstead, Bryan A. Cloyd
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Patent number: 11785372Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 7, 2021Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Lee M. Panecki, Michael B. Minerbi, Sean T. McIntosh
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Publication number: 20230269514Abstract: An earphone comprising: a device housing that defines an interior cavity within the device housing; an acoustic port formed through a wall of the device housing; an audio driver disposed within the device housing and aligned to emit sound through the acoustic port; a user input region disposed along an exterior surface of the device housing; a flex circuit disposed within the interior cavity, the flex circuit including a first portion bonded at a first location to an inner surface of the device housing directly beneath the user-input region, a second portion bonded at a second location to an inner surface of the device housing spaced apart from the first location, and a third portion extending between the first and second portions; a force pixel disposed within the interior cavity and mounted to the first portion of the flex circuit below the user input region; a plurality of touch pixels disposed within the interior cavity between the force pixel and the user input region; sensor control circuitry disposed wType: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2022Publication date: August 24, 2023Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventors: Benjamin A. Cousins, Travis Owens, Karan Jain, Lee M. Panecki, Mei Zhang, Julia Canning
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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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Publication number: 20220369015Abstract: This disclosure includes several different features suitable for use in circumaural and supra-aural headphones designs. Designs that include earpad assemblies that improve acoustic isolation are discussed. User convenience features that include automatically detecting the orientation of the headphones on a user's head are also discussed. Various power-saving features, design features, sensor configurations and user comfort features are also discussed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2022Publication date: November 17, 2022Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventors: Edward Siahaan, Daniel R. Bloom, Lee M. Panecki, Phillip Qian, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Christopher J. Stringer, Eugene A. Whang, David H. Narajowski, Scott Y. Oshita, Dustin A. Hatfield, Zachary G. Segraves, Sean J. Docherty
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Patent number: 11503399Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 27, 2021Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Mei Zhang, Benjamin A. Cousins, Mohammad Soroush Ghahri Sarabi, Phillip Qian, Sean T. McIntosh, Michael B. Minerbi, Lee M. Panecki
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Patent number: 11477558Abstract: This disclosure includes several different features suitable for use in circumaural and supra-aural headphones designs. Designs that include earpad assemblies that improve acoustic isolation are discussed. User convenience features that include automatically detecting the orientation of the headphones on a user's head are also discussed. Various power-saving features, design features, sensor configurations and user comfort features are also discussed.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2020Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Edward Siahaan, Daniel R. Bloom, Lee M. Panecki, Phillip Qian, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Christopher J. Stringer, Eugene A. Whang, David H. Narajowski, Scott Y. Oshita, Dustin A. Hatfield, Zachary G. Segraves, Sean J. Docherty
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Publication number: 20220217463Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2021Publication date: July 7, 2022Inventors: Lee M. Panecki, Michael B. Minerbi, Sean T. McIntosh
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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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Publication number: 20220103930Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2021Publication date: March 31, 2022Inventors: Mei Zhang, Benjamin A. Cousins, Mohammad Soroush Ghahri Sarabi, Phillip Qian, Sean T. McIntosh, Michael B. Minerbi, Lee M. Panecki
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Publication number: 20220086551Abstract: A headphone earcup including a frame defining a cavity dimensioned to surround an ear of a user; a damping component coupled to the frame and encircling the cavity; a wrap component that covers the damping component and defines a continuous acoustic opening around the cavity to acoustically connect the cavity to the damping component; and a cosmetic component that covers the wrap component and the continuous acoustic opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2020Publication date: March 17, 2022Inventors: Jarrett B. Lagler, Michael B. Minerbi, Miikka O. Tikander, Lee M. Panecki, Trang Fisher, Esge Andersen, Eugene Whang, Ben Shaffer, Edward Siahaan, Daniel R. Bloom, Kitty Yung, Tyler A. Green, Krithika Elangovan, Sarah Gysbers, Michael Burello, Matthew Zaverl, Christopher A. Sandieson, Casey L. Baran
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Patent number: 11277679Abstract: A headphone earcup including a frame defining a cavity dimensioned to surround an ear of a user; a damping component coupled to the frame and encircling the cavity; a wrap component that covers the damping component and defines a continuous acoustic opening around the cavity to acoustically connect the cavity to the damping component; and a cosmetic component that covers the wrap component and the continuous acoustic opening.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2020Date of Patent: March 15, 2022Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Jarrett B. Lagler, Michael B. Minerbi, Miikka O. Tikander, Lee M. Panecki, Trang Fisher, Esge Andersen, Eugene Whang, Ben Shaffer, Edward Siahaan, Daniel R. Bloom, Kitty Yung, Tyler A. Green, Krithika Elangovan, Sarah Gysbers, Michael Burello, Matthew Zaverl, Christopher A. Sandieson, Casey L. Baran
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Patent number: 11134327Abstract: This disclosure includes several different features suitable for use in circumaural and supra-aural headphones designs. Designs that include earpad assemblies that improve acoustic isolation are discussed. User convenience features that include automatically detecting the orientation of the headphones on a user's head are also discussed. Various power-saving features, design features, sensor configurations and user comfort features are also discussed.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2020Date of Patent: September 28, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Jason J. LeBlanc, Daniel R. Bloom, Edward Siahaan, Phillip Qian, Lee M. Panecki, Eugene Antony Whang, Jared M. Kole, Audrey L. Sheng, Tian Shi Li
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Publication number: 20210029435Abstract: This disclosure includes several different features suitable for use in circumaural and supra-aural headphones designs. Designs that include earpad assemblies that improve acoustic isolation are discussed. User convenience features that include automatically detecting the orientation of the headphones on a user's head are also discussed. Various power-saving features, design features, sensor configurations and user comfort features are also discussed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2020Publication date: January 28, 2021Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Edward Siahaan, Daniel R. Bloom, Lee M. Panecki, Phillip Qian, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Christopher J. Stringer, Eugene A. Whang, David H. Narajowski, Scott Y. Oshita, Dustin A. Hatfield, Zachary G. Segraves, Sean J. Docherty
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Patent number: 10785553Abstract: Embodiments describe a hinge for a case that stores wireless listening devices, including: a first shaft forming a first pivot point for the hinge; a second shaft forming a second pivot point for the hinge, the first shaft and the second shaft defining a conversion axis; a piston rod having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the second shaft and a second end opposite from the first end coupled to a stopper; a piston guide slidably coupled to the piston rod between the first end and the second end of the piston rod; a third shaft forming a third pivot point for the piston guide, the third shaft allowing the piston guide to rotate and maintain concentric alignment with the piston guide; and a spring positioned between the second shaft and the piston guide and wound around the piston rod.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2019Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Haochuan Sang, Craig M. Stanley, Benjamin A. Cousins, Arun D. Chawan, Lee M. Panecki, Jason J. LeBlanc
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Publication number: 20200280784Abstract: This disclosure includes several different features suitable for use in circumaural and supra-aural headphones designs. Designs that include earpad assemblies that improve acoustic isolation are discussed. User convenience features that include automatically detecting the orientation of the headphones on a user's head are also discussed. Various power-saving features, design features, sensor configurations and user comfort features are also discussed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2020Publication date: September 3, 2020Inventors: Jason J. LeBlanc, Daniel R. Bloom, Edward Siahaan, Phillip Qian, Lee M. Panecki, Eugene Antony Whang, Jared M. Kole, Audrey L. Sheng, Tian Shi Li
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Publication number: 20200107102Abstract: Embodiments describe a hinge for a case that stores wireless listening devices, including: a first shaft forming a first pivot point for the hinge; a second shaft forming a second pivot point for the hinge, the first shaft and the second shaft defining a conversion axis; a piston rod having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the second shaft and a second end opposite from the first end coupled to a stopper; a piston guide slidably coupled to the piston rod between the first end and the second end of the piston rod; a third shaft forming a third pivot point for the piston guide, the third shaft allowing the piston guide to rotate and maintain concentric alignment with the piston guide; and a spring positioned between the second shaft and the piston guide and wound around the piston rod.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2019Publication date: April 2, 2020Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Haochuan Sang, Craig M. Stanley, Benjamin A. Cousins, Arun D. Chawan, Lee M. Panecki, Jason J. LeBlanc
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Patent number: 10397683Abstract: A case for a listening device includes a housing and a lid attached to the housing with a pivotable joint allowing the lid to rotate between a closed position and an open position. An over center mechanism for the lid includes a torsion spring that impels the lid to either the open or the closed position.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2016Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Jason J. LeBlanc, Lee M. Panecki
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Patent number: 10284942Abstract: An accessory such as a wireless earbud may have an antenna for transmitting and receiving wireless signals. A housing for the earbud may have a main body portion and an extended portion that forms a stalk protruding from the main body portion. The earbud may have a speaker aligned with a speaker port in the main body portion. The antenna may have an elongated shape and may extend along the stalk. The stalk may have a plastic housing wall portion. The antenna may be formed from first and second metal traces on opposing sides of a printed circuit substrate. The first metal trace may form an antenna resonating element arm and may lie between the substrate and the plastic housing wall portion. The second metal trace may be a ground trace. A feed for the antenna may be located at a juncture between the main body portion and the stalk.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2017Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Erin A. McAuliffe, Carlo Di Nallo, Huan-Chu Huang, Joel D. Barrera, Mattia Pascolini, Jerzy S. Guterman, Arun Chawan, Benjamin Cousins, Lee M. Panecki
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Patent number: 10225637Abstract: A case for an earbud includes a receiving cavity sized and shaped to accept the earbud within the receiving cavity. The case includes one or more housing magnetic components configured to magnetically attract and secure the earbud within the receiving cavity.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2016Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Lee M. Panecki, Marcus Albonico, Shannon X. Yang, Arun D. Chawan, Kurt Stiehl, Daniel C. Wagman, Rico L. Zörkendörfer, Benjamin A. Cousins, Daniel Max Strongwater, Eric S. Jol