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).

  • Patent number: 11838716
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: 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
  • 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: 20230269514
    Abstract: 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 w
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Cousins, Travis Owens, Karan Jain, Lee M. Panecki, Mei Zhang, Julia Canning
  • Patent number: 11589150
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: 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
  • Publication number: 20220369015
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Applicant: 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
  • 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: 11477558
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: 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
  • 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: 20220217462
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    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
  • 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: 20220086551
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    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
  • Patent number: 11277679
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: 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
  • Patent number: 11134327
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: 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
  • Publication number: 20210029435
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Applicant: 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
  • Patent number: 10785553
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Haochuan Sang, Craig M. Stanley, Benjamin A. Cousins, Arun D. Chawan, Lee M. Panecki, Jason J. LeBlanc
  • Publication number: 20200280784
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    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
  • Publication number: 20200107102
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Haochuan Sang, Craig M. Stanley, Benjamin A. Cousins, Arun D. Chawan, Lee M. Panecki, Jason J. LeBlanc
  • Patent number: 10397683
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jason J. LeBlanc, Lee M. Panecki
  • Patent number: 10284942
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: 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
  • Patent number: 10225637
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: 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