Patents by Inventor Zachary C. Rich

Zachary C. Rich 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: 11937037
    Abstract: A housing has a bud portion abutting an elongated stem portion. The bud portion is to fit within an ear. The bud portion has a primary sound outlet at its far end that is to be inserted into an outer ear canal, and abuts the stem portion at its near end. A speaker driver is inside the bud portion. Electronic circuitry inside the housing includes a wireless communications interface to receive audio content over-the-air and in response provides an audio signal to the speaker driver. A rechargeable battery as a power source for the electronic circuitry is located inside a cavity of the stem portion. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary C. Rich, Kurt R. Stiehl, Arun D. Chawan, Michael B. Howes, Jonathan S. Aase, Esge B. Andersen, Yacine Azmi, Jahan C. Minoo, David J. Shaw, Aarti Kumar, Augustin Prats, Robert D. Watson, Baptiste P. Paquier, Axel D. Berny, Benjamin W. Cook, Jerzy S. Guterman, Benjamin Adair Cousins
  • Publication number: 20220295169
    Abstract: A housing has a bud portion abutting an elongated stem portion. The bud portion is to fit within an ear. The bud portion has a primary sound outlet at its far end that is to be inserted into an outer ear canal, and abuts the stem portion at its near end. A speaker driver is inside the bud portion. Electronic circuitry inside the housing includes a wireless communications interface to receive audio content over-the-air and in response provides an audio signal to the speaker driver. A rechargeable battery as a power source for the electronic circuitry is located inside a cavity of the stem portion. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Zachary C. Rich, Kurt R. Stiehl, Arun D. Chawan, Michael B. Howes, Jonathan S. Aase, Esge B. Andersen, Yacine Azmi, Jahan C. Minoo, David J. Shaw, Aarti Kumar, Augustin Prats, Robert D. Watson, Baptiste P. Paquier, Axel D. Berny, Benjamin W. Cook, Jerzy S. Guterman, Benjamin Adair Cousins
  • Patent number: 11363363
    Abstract: A housing has a bud portion abutting an elongated stem portion. The bud portion is to fit within an ear. The bud portion has a primary sound outlet at its far end that is to be inserted into an outer ear canal, and abuts the stem portion at its near end. A speaker driver is inside the bud portion. Electronic circuitry inside the housing includes a wireless communications interface to receive audio content over-the-air and in response provides an audio signal to the speaker driver. A rechargeable battery as a power source for the electronic circuitry is located inside a cavity of the stem portion. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Zachary C. Rich, Kurt R. Stiehl, Arun D. Chawan, Michael B. Howes, Jonathan S. Aase, Esge B. Andersen, Yacine Azmi, Jahan C. Minoo, David J. Shaw, Aarti Kumar, Augustin Prats, Robert D. Watson, Baptiste P. Paquier, Axel D. Berny, Benjamin W. Cook, Jerzy S. Guterman, Benjamin Adair Cousins
  • Publication number: 20200260173
    Abstract: A housing has a bud portion abutting an elongated stem portion. The bud portion is to fit within an ear. The bud portion has a primary sound outlet at its far end that is to be inserted into an outer ear canal, and abuts the stem portion at its near end. A speaker driver is inside the bud portion. Electronic circuitry inside the housing includes a wireless communications interface to receive audio content over-the-air and in response provides an audio signal to the speaker driver. A rechargeable battery as a power source for the electronic circuitry is located inside a cavity of the stem portion. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Zachary C. Rich, Kurt R. Stiehl, Arun D. Chawan, Michael B. Howes, Jonathan S. Aase, Esge B. Andersen, Yacine Azmi, Jahan C. Minoo, David J. Shaw, Aarti Kumar, Augustin Prats, Robert D. Watson, Baptiste P. Paquier, Axel D. Berny, Benjamin W. Cook, Jerzy S. Guterman, Benjamin Adair Cousins
  • Patent number: 10742050
    Abstract: Simplified interfaces for charging and communication between accessories and docking stations. One example may provide an interface for charging and communication between an accessory and docking station where data and a charging voltage are provided over the same pins. An accessory may determine that it is in a powered docking station by receiving a charging voltage. The accessory may determine that it is in an unpowered docking station by providing a voltage to the unpowered docking station, where the unpowered docking station uses the voltage to power an oscillator. The oscillator signal may be received by the accessory, which may use the presence of the signal to determine that it is in an unpowered docking station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Zachary C. Rich, Daniel S. Naito, Kirill Kalinichev, Jahan C. Minoo, James L. McPeak, Jason W. Brinsfield
  • Patent number: 10567861
    Abstract: A housing has a bud portion abutting an elongated stem portion. The bud portion is to fit within an ear. The bud portion has a primary sound outlet at its far end that is to be inserted into an outer ear canal, and abuts the stem portion at its near end. A speaker driver is inside the bud portion. Electronic circuitry inside the housing includes a wireless communications interface to receive audio content over-the-air and in response provides an audio signal to the speaker driver. A rechargeable battery as a power source for the electronic circuitry is located inside a cavity of the stem portion. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary C. Rich, Kurt R. Stiehl, Arun D. Chawan, Michael B. Howes, Jonathan S. Aase, Esge B. Andersen, Yacine Azmi, Jahan C. Minoo, David J. Shaw, Aarti Kumar, Augustin Prats, Robert D. Watson, Baptiste P. Paquier, Axel D. Berny, Benjamin W. Cook, Jerzy S. Guterman, Benjamin Adair Cousins
  • Patent number: 10506324
    Abstract: A case for a portable wireless listening device (e.g., a pair of wireless earbuds) is configured to house a pair of wireless earbuds and charge the earbuds when they are in the case. The case is further configured to receive media received by the wireless earbuds and transmit the media to a non-wireless output device connected to the case. The case can further include its own wireless radio that can wirelessly communicate audio to the wireless earbuds when the earbuds are not in the case. The case can further include an input port to receive an audio signal from a non-wireless source and can be configured to wirelessly transmit the audio received from the source to the wireless earbuds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jahan C. Minoo, Zachary C. Rich, Patrick T. Ryan
  • Patent number: 10404235
    Abstract: Power transfer systems including a direct current source and a plurality of outputs operable in several modes. A ground mode may couple an output to circuit ground and a current mode may couple the output to the direct current source. The power transfer system may also include a controller configured to iteratively select a pair of outputs from the plurality of outputs. Once a pair is selected, the controller may set a first output of the pair of outputs to the current mode and the second to ground mode for a determined duration. After the duration has passed, the controller may set the first output to the ground mode and the second output to the current mode for the same duration. Thereafter the controller may select another pair of outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Brian C. Menzel, Jeffrey M. Alves, Kevin M. Keeler, Zachary C. Rich
  • Patent number: 10182282
    Abstract: A case for a pair of earbuds includes a housing having cavities to receive the pair of earbuds and charging circuitry that is configured to initiate charging of the pair of earbuds when an earbud detector detects that the earbuds are inserted within the cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: James L. McPeak, Chandrahas Aralaguppe Chandramohan, Rico L. Zörkendörfer, Lee M. Panecki, Darshan R. Kasar, Daniel C. Wagman, Zachary C. Rich
  • Publication number: 20190007763
    Abstract: A housing has a bud portion abutting an elongated stem portion. The bud portion is to fit within an ear. The bud portion has a primary sound outlet at its far end that is to be inserted into an outer ear canal, and abuts the stem portion at its near end. A speaker driver is inside the bud portion. Electronic circuitry inside the housing includes a wireless communications interface to receive audio content over-the-air and in response provides an audio signal to the speaker driver. A rechargeable battery as a power source for the electronic circuitry is located inside a cavity of the stem portion. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Zachary C. Rich, Kurt R. Stiehl, Arun D. Chawan, Michael B. Howes, Jonathan S. Aase, Esge B. Andersen, Yacine Azmi, Jahan C. Minoo, David J. Shaw, Aarti Kumar, Augustin Prats, Robert D. Watson, Baptiste P. Paquier, Axel D. Berny, Benjamin W. Cook, Jerzy S. Guterman, Benjamin Adair Cousins
  • Publication number: 20180367883
    Abstract: A case for a portable wireless listening device (e.g., a pair of wireless earbuds) is configured to house a pair of wireless earbuds and charge the earbuds when they are in the case. The case is further configured to receive media received by the wireless earbuds and transmit the media to a non-wireless output device connected to the case. The case can further include its own wireless radio that can wirelessly communicate audio to the wireless earbuds when the earbuds are not in the case. The case can further include an input port to receive an audio signal from a non-wireless source and can be configured to wirelessly transmit the audio received from the source to the wireless earbuds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Jahan C. Minoo, Zachary C. Rich, Patrick T. Ryan
  • Patent number: 10110984
    Abstract: The wireless earphone (1) comprises a housing (2) having a bud portion abutting an elongated stem portion. The bud portion is to fit within an ear. The bud portion has a primary sound outlet (5) at its far end that is to be inserted into an outer ear canal, and abuts the stem portion at its near end. A speaker driver (6) is inside the bud portion. Electronic circuitry (7,24) inside the housing (2) includes a wireless communications interface (4) to receive audio content over-the-air and in response provides an audio signal to the speaker driver. A rechargeable battery (3) as a power source for the electronic circuitry is located inside a cavity of the stem portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary C. Rich, Kurt R. Stiehl, Arun D. Chawan, Michael B. Howes, Jonathan S. Aase, Esge B. Andersen, Yacine Azmi, Jahan C. Minoo, David J. Shaw, Aarti Kumar, Augustin Prats, Robert D. Watson, Baptiste P. Paquier, Axel D. Berny, Benjamin W. Cook, Jerzy S. Guterman, Benjamin Adair Cousins
  • Patent number: 10097913
    Abstract: A case for a pair of earbuds includes a housing having cavities to receive the pair of earbuds and charging circuitry that is configured to initiate charging of the pair of earbuds when an earbud detector detects that the earbuds are inserted within the cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Rico L. Zörkendörfer, Lee M. Panecki, James L. McPeak, Chandrahas Aralaguppe Chandramohan, Daniel C. Wagman, Zachary C. Rich, Darshan R. Kasar
  • Patent number: 10085083
    Abstract: A case for a portable wireless listening device (e.g., a pair of wireless earbuds) is configured to house a pair of wireless earbuds and charge the earbuds when they are in the case. The case is further configured to receive media received by the wireless earbuds and transmit the media to a non-wireless output device connected to the case. The case can further include its own wireless radio that can wirelessly communicate audio to the wireless earbuds when the earbuds are not in the case. The case can further include an input port to receive an audio signal from a non-wireless source and can be configured to wirelessly transmit the audio received from the source to the wireless earbuds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jahan C. Minoo, Zachary C. Rich, Patrick T. Ryan
  • Patent number: 10003881
    Abstract: An earbud includes a housing having a touch sensitive region at an exterior surface of the housing. A capacitive sensor insert is disposed within the housing and has metallized circuitry formed on a first surface that is positioned adjacent an interior surface of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Cousins, Arun D. Chawan, Zachary C. Rich, Jonathan S. Aase, Marcus Albonico
  • Patent number: 9967649
    Abstract: A case for a pair of wireless earbuds includes a lid and a lid sensor configured to generate a detect signal when the lid is moved from a closed position to an open position. The case further includes circuitry configured to, in response to receiving the detect signal, send a signal to the wireless earbuds to turn them on and to initiate a pairing sequence between the wireless earbuds and an electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Chandrahas Aralaguppe Chandramohan, Rico L. Zörkendörfer, Robert Doran Watson, Patrick L. Coffman, Zachary C. Rich, Jason W. Brinsfield
  • Patent number: 9961431
    Abstract: A case for a portable listening device includes a lid and a lid sensor to detect if the lid is in an open or a closed position. The case further includes circuitry configured to turn on a wireless radio within the portable listening device when the lid sensor detects the lid is moved from the closed position to the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: James L. McPeak, Chandrahas Aralaguppe Chandramohan, Robert Doran Watson, Lee M. Panecki, Shannon X. Yang, Zachary C. Rich
  • Patent number: 9949015
    Abstract: A case for a wireless electronic listening device (e.g., a pair of wireless earbuds) is configured to house a pair of wireless earbuds and charge the earbuds when they are in the case. The case is further configured to receive media received by the wireless earbuds and transmit the media to a non-wireless output device connected to the case. The case may further include its own wireless radio that can wirelessly communicate audio to the wireless earbuds when the earbuds are not in the case. The case may further include an input port to receive an audio signal from a non-wireless source and may be configured to wirelessly transmit the audio received from the source to the wireless earbuds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jahan C. Minoo, Lee M. Panecki, Zachary C. Rich, Patrick T. Ryan
  • Publication number: 20180091884
    Abstract: A case for a portable wireless listening device (e.g., a pair of wireless earbuds) is configured to house a pair of wireless earbuds and charge the earbuds when they are in the case. The case is further configured to receive media received by the wireless earbuds and transmit the media to a non-wireless output device connected to the case. The case can further include its own wireless radio that can wirelessly communicate audio to the wireless earbuds when the earbuds are not in the case. The case can further include an input port to receive an audio signal from a non-wireless source and can be configured to wirelessly transmit the audio received from the source to the wireless earbuds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: Jahan C. Minoo, Zachary C. Rich, Patrick T. Ryan
  • Publication number: 20180091887
    Abstract: A case for a wireless electronic listening device (e.g., a pair of wireless earbuds) is configured to house a pair of wireless earbuds and charge the earbuds when they are in the case. The case is further configured to receive media received by the wireless earbuds and transmit the media to a non-wireless output device connected to the case. The case may further include its own wireless radio that can wirelessly communicate audio to the wireless earbuds when the earbuds are not in the case. The case may further include an input port to receive an audio signal from a non-wireless source and may be configured to wirelessly transmit the audio received from the source to the wireless earbuds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: Jahan C. Minoo, Lee M. Panecki, Zachary C. Rich, Patrick T. Ryan