Patents by Inventor Pablo Seoane Vieites

Pablo Seoane Vieites 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).

  • Publication number: 20240171915
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to electronic devices having speakers such as microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) speakers. A MEMS speaker can include an electrostatically driven, corrugated MEMS structure to move air without a magnet, coil, or traditional speaker membrane, and thus provide a low-power, compact speaker with a large acoustically active area in a small volume. Neighboring folds in the corrugated MEMS structure may form pairs of MEMS electrodes that can be pushed together and/or pulled apart to deform the MEMS structure in a breathing motion that generates pressure differentials on opposing sides of the corrugated MEMS structure to generate sound. Additional modes of operation are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2024
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: Gokhan HATIPOGLU, Onur I. ILKORUR, Pablo Seoane VIEITES, Christopher WILK, Peter C. HRUDEY
  • Patent number: 11956594
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to a device comprising a moving-coil speaker including a diaphragm to play low-frequency signals from an audio-signal source, and a piezoelectric transducer coupled to the diaphragm to play high-frequency signals from the audio-signal source. A coupler couples the diaphragm to a housing of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Aneesh R. Kudekar, Onur I. Ilkorur, Pablo Seoane Vieites, Stuart M. Nevill
  • Patent number: 11917387
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to electronic devices having speakers such as microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) speakers. A MEMS speaker can include an electrostatically driven, corrugated MEMS structure to move air without a magnet, coil, or traditional speaker membrane, and thus provide a low-power, compact speaker with a large acoustically active area in a small volume. Neighboring folds in the corrugated MEMS structure may form pairs of MEMS electrodes that can be pushed together and/or pulled apart to deform the MEMS structure in a breathing motion that generates pressure differentials on opposing sides of the corrugated MEMS structure to generate sound. Additional modes of operation are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Gokhan Hatipoglu, Onur I. Ilkorur, Pablo Seoane Vieites, Christopher Wilk, Peter C. Hrudey
  • Publication number: 20240064464
    Abstract: Implementations of the subject technology provide an acoustic module with a dampening component integrated within the acoustic module to reduce deflection of a wire for a voice coil. The dampening component can take the form of an adhesive or a semisolid. During operation of the audio module, the wire vibrates and deflects in an oscillating manner. However, the dampening component can reduce the magnitude of deflection, while allowing the audio module to function in a desired manner, i.e., generate acoustical energy. By reducing the magnitude of deflection, the dampening component reduces the likelihood of mechanical fatigue of the wire, thus reducing the likelihood of damage to the wire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2022
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Marco BARATELLI, Dinesh BALAKRISHNAN, Logan A. ROTOLO, Pablo Seoane VIEITES, Matthew A. DONARSKI
  • Patent number: 11778367
    Abstract: A portable electronic device comprising: an enclosure having an enclosure wall that forms an interior chamber and a sound output port to an ambient environment; a speaker positioned within the interior chamber, the speaker having a front volume chamber coupling a sound output surface of the speaker to the sound output port and a back volume chamber acoustically coupled to the interior chamber by an aperiodic vent; and a valve operable to open and close the aperiodic vent in response to a pressure change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Onur I. Ilkorur, Christopher Wilk, Matthew A. Donarski, Pablo Seoane Vieites, Anthony P. Grazian
  • Publication number: 20230199404
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to a device comprising a moving-coil speaker including a diaphragm to play low-frequency signals from an audio-signal source, and a piezoelectric transducer coupled to the diaphragm to play high-frequency signals from the audio-signal source. A coupler couples the diaphragm to a housing of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2023
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Aneesh R. KUDEKAR, Onur I. ILKORUR, Pablo Seoane VIEITES, Stuart M. NEVILL
  • Publication number: 20230179920
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to electronic devices having speakers such as microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) speakers. A MEMS speaker can include an electrostatically driven, corrugated MEMS structure to move air without a magnet, coil, or traditional speaker membrane, and thus provide a low-power, compact speaker with a large acoustically active area in a small volume. Neighboring folds in the corrugated MEMS structure may form pairs of MEMS electrodes that can be pushed together and/or pulled apart to deform the MEMS structure in a breathing motion that generates pressure differentials on opposing sides of the corrugated MEMS structure to generate sound. Additional modes of operation are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Gokhan HATIPOGLU, Onur I. ILKORUR, Pablo Seoane VIEITES, Christopher WILK, Peter C. HRUDEY
  • Patent number: 11627416
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to a device comprising a moving-coil speaker including a diaphragm to play low-frequency signals from an audio-signal source, and a piezoelectric transducer coupled to the diaphragm to play high-frequency signals from the audio-signal source. A coupler couples the diaphragm to a housing of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Aneesh R. Kudekar, Onur I. Ilkorur, Pablo Seoane Vieites, Stuart M. Nevill
  • Publication number: 20230069090
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to a device comprising a moving-coil speaker including a diaphragm to play low-frequency signals from an audio-signal source, and a piezoelectric transducer coupled to the diaphragm to play high-frequency signals from the audio-signal source. A coupler couples the diaphragm to a housing of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Aneesh R. KUDEKAR, Onur I. ILKORUR, Pablo Seoane VIEITES, Stuart M. NEVILL
  • Patent number: 11595758
    Abstract: A MEMS speaker can include an electrostatically driven, corrugated MEMS structure to move air without a magnet, coil, or traditional speaker membrane, and thus provide a low-power, compact speaker with a large acoustically active area in a small volume. Neighboring folds in the corrugated MEMS structure may form pairs of MEMS electrodes that can be pushed together and/or pulled apart to deform the MEMS structure in a breathing motion that generates pressure differentials on opposing sides of the corrugated MEMS structure to generate sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Gokhan Hatipoglu, Onur I. Ilkorur, Pablo Seoane Vieites, Christopher Wilk, Peter C. Hrudey
  • Patent number: 11310585
    Abstract: An electronic speaker comprising: a device housing defining an interior cavity and including a sidewall extending around the interior cavity between an upper portion and a lower portion of the device housing; first and second sound channels formed at opposing locations along the sidewall, each of the first and second sound channels comprising a plurality of openings formed through the sidewall; a passive radiator array comprising first and second passive radiators disposed within the interior cavity, spaced apart from each other in an opposing relationship and aligned to project sound through the first and second sound channels; an active driver disposed in the device housing and configured to generate sound in response to an electrical signal, the active driver comprising driver housing disposed at least partially between the first and second passive radiators, a magnet disposed within the driver housing, a voice coil and a diaphragm facing downwards towards the lower surface of the device housing; and an an
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Jason C. Della Rosa, Alexander R. Gould, Ethan W. Juhnke, John H. Sheerin, Glenn K. Trainer, Ariel A. Massias, Edward V. Anderson, Pablo Seoane Vieites, Junyi Yang
  • Publication number: 20220103934
    Abstract: A portable electronic device comprising: an enclosure having an enclosure wall that forms an interior chamber and a sound output port to an ambient environment; a speaker positioned within the interior chamber, the speaker having a front volume chamber coupling a sound output surface of the speaker to the sound output port and a back volume chamber acoustically coupled to the interior chamber by an aperiodic vent; and a valve operable to open and close the aperiodic vent in response to a pressure change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Onur I. Ilkorur, Christopher Wilk, Matthew A. Donarski, Pablo Seoane Vieites, Anthony P. Grazian
  • Publication number: 20220070576
    Abstract: An electronic speaker comprising: a device housing defining an interior cavity and including a sidewall extending around the interior cavity between an upper portion and a lower portion of the device housing; first and second sound channels formed at opposing locations along the sidewall, each of the first and second sound channels comprising a plurality of openings formed through the sidewall; a passive radiator array comprising first and second passive radiators disposed within the interior cavity, spaced apart from each other in an opposing relationship and aligned to project sound through the first and second sound channels; an active driver disposed in the device housing and configured to generate sound in response to an electrical signal, the active driver comprising driver housing disposed at least partially between the first and second passive radiators, a magnet disposed within the driver housing, a voice coil and a diaphragm facing downwards towards the lower surface of the device housing; and an an
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Jason C. Della Rosa, Alexander R. Gould, Ethan W. Juhnke, John H. Sheerin, Glenn K. Trainer, Ariel A. Massias, Edward V. Anderson, Pablo Seoane Vieites, Junyi Yang
  • Publication number: 20220014853
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to electronic devices having speakers such as microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) speakers. A MEMS speaker can include an electrostatically driven, corrugated MEMS structure to move air without a magnet, coil, or traditional speaker membrane, and thus provide a low-power, compact speaker with a large acoustically active area in a small volume. Neighboring folds in the corrugated MEMS structure may form pairs of MEMS electrodes that can be pushed together and/or pulled apart to deform the MEMS structure in a breathing motion that generates pressure differentials on opposing sides of the corrugated MEMS structure to generate sound. Additional modes of operation are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: Gokhan HATIPOGLU, Onur I. ILLKORUR, Pablo Seoane VIEITES, Christopher WILK, Peter C. HRUDEY
  • Patent number: 10623864
    Abstract: An audio speaker having a suspension system including a surround to support a diaphragm within a frame and to reduce non-pistonic motion of the diaphragm at several resonant frequencies is disclosed. More particularly, embodiments of the surround include a film that undulates in a peripheral direction around the diaphragm and includes several undulations above and below a radial gap between the diaphragm and the frame. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Pablo Seoane Vieites, Christopher Wilk, Suzanne Hardy, Alexander V. Salvatti, Oliver Leonhardt, Scott P. Porter
  • Publication number: 20190069093
    Abstract: An audio speaker having a suspension system including a surround to support a diaphragm within a frame and to reduce non-pistonic motion of the diaphragm at several resonant frequencies is disclosed. More particularly, embodiments of the surround include a film that undulates in a peripheral direction around the diaphragm and includes several undulations above and below a radial gap between the diaphragm and the frame. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Pablo Seoane Vieites, Christopher Wilk, Suzanne Hardy, Alexander V. Salvatti, Oliver Leonhardt, Scott P. Porter
  • Patent number: 10129652
    Abstract: An audio speaker having a suspension system including a surround to support a diaphragm within a frame and to reduce non-pistonic motion of the diaphragm at several resonant frequencies is disclosed. More particularly, embodiments of the surround include a film that undulates in a peripheral direction around the diaphragm and includes several undulations above and below a radial gap between the diaphragm and the frame. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Pablo Seoane Vieites, Christopher Wilk, Suzanne Hardy, Alexander V. Salvatti, Oliver Leonhardt, Scott P. Porter
  • Patent number: 10021480
    Abstract: An enclosure for an electronic device is enclosed. The enclosure includes rib structures configured to improve structural support to prevent damage and to dissipate vibration throughout the enclosure. The rib structure can receive a speaker module and a cap member. The rib structure and the speaker module can combine to form a three-dimensional volume allowing the speaker module in which the speaker module may project sound, thereby enhancing acoustic performance. Also, the cap member may be adhesively attached to the rib structure to provide additional structural support against vibration and abuse caused by load forces associated with a drop event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: G. Kyle Lobisser, Jason S. Keats, Ryan J. Mihelich, Pablo Seoane Vieites, Kevin M. Kenney, John Raff, Erik A. Uttermann, Melody L. Kuna, Oliver C. Ross
  • Patent number: 9942663
    Abstract: An electromagnetic transducer, such as an audio speaker, having a voicecoil disposed within a magnetic gap between a pair of magnetic arrays, e.g., Halbach arrays, is disclosed. In an example, the paired Halbach arrays include vertically-poled magnets to direct magnetic flux across the magnetic gap orthogonal to electrical current carried by a planar winding of the voicecoil. Accordingly, a Lorentz force may drive an oscillational mass, e.g., a speaker diaphragm, in a longitudinal direction orthogonal to the magnetic flux and the electrical current to generate vibration or sound. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Alexander V. Salvatti, Onur I. Ilkorur, Pablo Seoane Vieites
  • Patent number: 9820038
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: 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