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: 12160698
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: 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: 20230091575
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: 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: 11606637
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Duy P. Le, Ryan Ott, Robert A. Boyd, Christina J. Smiechowski, Kjell F. Ekman, Yufan Liao, Wenjie Zhuang
  • Publication number: 20220279263
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventors: Duy P. Le, Ryan Ott, Robert A. Boyd, Christina J. Smiechowski, Kjell F. Ekman, Yufan Liao, Wenjie Zhuang
  • Patent number: 11128943
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: 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: 20200413179
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Robert A. Boyd, William R. Rochowicz, Carlos M. Santana, Sean S. Corbin, Matthew Costello, David H. Tan
  • Patent number: 10880632
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Boyd, William R. Rochowicz, Carlos M. Santana, Sean S. Corbin, Matthew Costello, David H. Tan
  • Publication number: 20200314518
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: 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: 10652644
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Bruss, Duy P. Le, Sean S. Corbin, Robert A. Boyd
  • Publication number: 20200100011
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: John R. Bruss, Duy P. Le, Sean S. Corbin, Robert A. Boyd
  • Patent number: 10199784
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Eric T. SooHoo, Robert A. Boyd, Daniel C. Wagman
  • Publication number: 20190028791
    Abstract: Earphone assemblies with multiple subassembly housings are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: John Bruss, Robert A. Boyd, Carlos M. Santana, Vijay Koneru
  • Patent number: 10085080
    Abstract: Earphone assemblies with multiple subassembly housings are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: John Bruss, Robert A. Boyd, Carlos M. Santana, Vijay Koneru
  • Publication number: 20180070164
    Abstract: Earphone assemblies with multiple subassembly housings are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: John Bruss, Robert A. Boyd, Carlos M. Santana, Vijay Koneru
  • Publication number: 20180069361
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Eric T. SooHoo, Robert A. Boyd, Daniel C. Wagman
  • Publication number: 20030070178
    Abstract: An electronic system for providing gaming tournaments in a computer-networked environment is disclosed comprising several servers and a database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Inventors: Robert A. Boyd, Russell A. Boyd, Sami K. Vaaraniemi