Patents by Inventor Robert A. Boyd
Robert A. Boyd 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: 12160698Abstract: Portable ear-worn acoustic devices having a wingtip anchor for improved anchoring for active users and to accommodate a wide range of ear sizes and shapes are provided herein. Such acoustic devices an include an earbud device body and a wingtip anchor that extends from an outer face of the device body. The wingtip anchor can include a base portion and a protruding portion that extends upwards and is angled or curved inwardly so as to engage the upper concha of the ear. The wingtip anchor can be flexible so that engagement of a distal portion of the anchor exerts an inwardly directed spring force on the device body to maintain the earbud device body within the ear. Such acoustic devices can further include a multi-function button that is integrated with the wingtip anchor such that the base portion of the wingtip anchor is a faceplate for the multi-function button.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2022Date of Patent: December 3, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Vijay Karthik Koneru, Robert A. Boyd, Matthew Costello, Duy P. Le, Joseph F. Dembs, Guillaume Raoult, Elvin Chu, Christopher Kuh
-
Publication number: 20230091575Abstract: Portable ear-worn acoustic devices having a wingtip anchor for improved anchoring for active users and to accommodate a wide range of ear sizes and shapes are provided herein. Such acoustic devices an include an earbud device body and a wingtip anchor that extends from an outer face of the device body. The wingtip anchor can include a base portion and a protruding portion that extends upwards and is angled or curved inwardly so as to engage the upper concha of the ear. The wingtip anchor can be flexible so that engagement of a distal portion of the anchor exerts an inwardly directed spring force on the device body to maintain the earbud device body within the ear. Such acoustic devices can further include a multi-function button that is integrated with the wingtip anchor such that the base portion of the wingtip anchor is a faceplate for the multi-function button.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2022Publication date: March 23, 2023Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Vijay Karthik Koneru, Robert A. Boyd, Matthew Costello, Duy P. Le, Joseph F. Dembs, Guillaume Raoult, Elvin Chu, Christopher Kuh
-
Patent number: 11606637Abstract: A portable listening device comprising: a device housing defining an internal cavity; an acoustic port formed through the device housing; an audio driver disposed within the device housing and aligned to emit sound through the acoustic port; a multifunction input button coupled to the device housing, the multifunction input button having a distal end and a proximate end, a centerline between the distal and proximate ends and an axis of rotation located between the center line and the proximate end; an electronic circuit disposed within the device housing that requires power to operate and is configured to detect activation of the button; and a battery disposed within the device housing and operable to provide power to the electronic circuit.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2021Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Duy P. Le, Ryan Ott, Robert A. Boyd, Christina J. Smiechowski, Kjell F. Ekman, Yufan Liao, Wenjie Zhuang
-
Publication number: 20220279263Abstract: A portable listening device comprising: a device housing defining an internal cavity; an acoustic port formed through the device housing; an audio driver disposed within the device housing and aligned to emit sound through the acoustic port; a multifunction input button coupled to the device housing, the multifunction input button having a distal end and a proximate end, a centerline between the distal and proximate ends and an axis of rotation located between the center line and the proximate end; an electronic circuit disposed within the device housing that requires power to operate and is configured to detect activation of the button; and a battery disposed within the device housing and operable to provide power to the electronic circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2021Publication date: September 1, 2022Inventors: Duy P. Le, Ryan Ott, Robert A. Boyd, Christina J. Smiechowski, Kjell F. Ekman, Yufan Liao, Wenjie Zhuang
-
Patent number: 11128943Abstract: An earpiece is described that includes a driver housing that encloses an audio driver. The driver housing is oriented so that a first end of the driver housing can be supported by a concha bowl of a user's ear and a second end opposite the first end can tilt outside of the user's ear so that the ear need not accommodate an entirety of the driver housing. The driver housing is held in place by an ear clip that engages an exterior portion of the user's ear and attaches to the driver housing by way of a bridge element that can enclose other electronic components such as a battery, antenna, processor and the like.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2019Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Dustin A. Hatfield, Eugene A. Whang, Robert A. Boyd, Duy P. Le, Yi-Fang D. Tsai, David J. Feathers, Shota Aoyagi, Sean S. Corbin
-
Publication number: 20200413179Abstract: An earphone comprising an ear hook having a body the bulk of which is made from a flexible material molded over a formable member and a plurality of wires. The ear hook includes a first end and a second end and a curved portion in between. The earphone further includes an earbud coupled to the first end of the ear hook and coupled to the plurality of wires. The plurality of wires extends within the ear hook along its length from the first end to the second end exiting the ear hook at the second end. The formable member extends within the ear hook from the first end along a portion of the ear hook length towards the second end and enables the ear hook to be bent along a portion of its length while retaining its bent shape.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2019Publication date: December 31, 2020Inventors: Robert A. Boyd, William R. Rochowicz, Carlos M. Santana, Sean S. Corbin, Matthew Costello, David H. Tan
-
Patent number: 10880632Abstract: An earphone comprising an ear hook having a body the bulk of which is made from a flexible material molded over a formable member and a plurality of wires. The ear hook includes a first end and a second end and a curved portion in between. The earphone further includes an earbud coupled to the first end of the ear hook and coupled to the plurality of wires. The plurality of wires extends within the ear hook along its length from the first end to the second end exiting the ear hook at the second end. The formable member extends within the ear hook from the first end along a portion of the ear hook length towards the second end and enables the ear hook to be bent along a portion of its length while retaining its bent shape.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2019Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Robert A. Boyd, William R. Rochowicz, Carlos M. Santana, Sean S. Corbin, Matthew Costello, David H. Tan
-
Publication number: 20200314518Abstract: An earpiece is described that includes a driver housing that encloses an audio driver. The driver housing is oriented so that a first end of the driver housing can be supported by a concha bowl of a user's ear and a second end opposite the first end can tilt outside of the user's ear so that the ear need not accommodate an entirety of the driver housing. The driver housing is held in place by an ear clip that engages an exterior portion of the user's ear and attaches to the driver housing by way of a bridge element that can enclose other electronic components such as a battery, antenna, processor and the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2019Publication date: October 1, 2020Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Dustin A. Hatfield, Eugene A. Whang, Robert A. Boyd, Duy P. Le, Yi-Fang D. Tsai, David J. Feathers, Shota Aoyagi, Sean S. Corbin
-
Patent number: 10652644Abstract: An earbud tip for an in-ear headphone can include an outer body; an inner tube extending at least partially within the outer body, the tube having opposing first and second ends and first and second openings at the opposing first and second ends, respectively, the first opening configured to emit audio signals provided by a speaker of an in-ear headphone into a user's ear canal during operation of the in-ear headphone and when the earbud tip seals the user's ear canal and the second opening configured to be removably coupled to a portion of the in-ear headphone; and one or more channels extending from an outer periphery of the earbud tip to the inner tube.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2019Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: John R. Bruss, Duy P. Le, Sean S. Corbin, Robert A. Boyd
-
Publication number: 20200100011Abstract: An earbud tip for an in-ear headphone can include an outer body; an inner tube extending at least partially within the outer body, the tube having opposing first and second ends and first and second openings at the opposing first and second ends, respectively, the first opening configured to emit audio signals provided by a speaker of an in-ear headphone into a user's ear canal during operation of the in-ear headphone and when the earbud tip seals the user's ear canal and the second opening configured to be removably coupled to a portion of the in-ear headphone; and one or more channels extending from an outer periphery of the earbud tip to the inner tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2019Publication date: March 26, 2020Inventors: John R. Bruss, Duy P. Le, Sean S. Corbin, Robert A. Boyd
-
Patent number: 10199784Abstract: A unidirectional cable connector that can be operatively connected between a host device and accessory device in the ecosystem of products. The cable includes first and second plug connectors at opposite ends of a wire where the two plug connectors share a common pinout but the insertion plug of the second connector is shortened in length as compared to the insertion plug of the first connector. The shortened plug prevents the second connector from being fully inserted into the host device that includes a standard depth receptacle connector, and thus prevents the second connector from being operatively coupled to the host device. The shortened plug can, however, be operatively connected with an electronic device having a shortened receptacle connector according to embodiments of the disclosure.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2017Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Eric T. SooHoo, Robert A. Boyd, Daniel C. Wagman
-
Publication number: 20190028791Abstract: Earphone assemblies with multiple subassembly housings are provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2018Publication date: January 24, 2019Inventors: John Bruss, Robert A. Boyd, Carlos M. Santana, Vijay Koneru
-
Patent number: 10085080Abstract: Earphone assemblies with multiple subassembly housings are provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2017Date of Patent: September 25, 2018Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: John Bruss, Robert A. Boyd, Carlos M. Santana, Vijay Koneru
-
Publication number: 20180070164Abstract: Earphone assemblies with multiple subassembly housings are provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2017Publication date: March 8, 2018Inventors: John Bruss, Robert A. Boyd, Carlos M. Santana, Vijay Koneru
-
Publication number: 20180069361Abstract: A unidirectional cable connector that can be operatively connected between a host device and accessory device in the ecosystem of products. The cable includes first and second plug connectors at opposite ends of a wire where the two plug connectors share a common pinout but the insertion plug of the second connector is shortened in length as compared to the insertion plug of the first connector. The shortened plug prevents the second connector from being fully inserted into the host device that includes a standard depth receptacle connector, and thus prevents the second connector from being operatively coupled to the host device. The shortened plug can, however, be operatively connected with an electronic device having a shortened receptacle connector according to embodiments of the disclosure.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2017Publication date: March 8, 2018Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Eric T. SooHoo, Robert A. Boyd, Daniel C. Wagman
-
Publication number: 20030070178Abstract: An electronic system for providing gaming tournaments in a computer-networked environment is disclosed comprising several servers and a database.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2002Publication date: April 10, 2003Inventors: Robert A. Boyd, Russell A. Boyd, Sami K. Vaaraniemi