US 11,877,112 B2
In-ear wireless device
M. Evans Hankey, San Francisco, CA (US); Emery A. Sanford, San Francisco, CA (US); Christopher D. Prest, San Francisco, CA (US); and Way Chet Lim, San Francisco, CA (US)
Assigned to APPLE INC., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed by APPLE INC., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed on Apr. 18, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/659,573.
Application 17/659,573 is a continuation of application No. 16/944,092, filed on Jul. 30, 2020, granted, now 11,336,985.
Application 16/944,092 is a continuation of application No. 16/882,269, filed on May 22, 2020, granted, now 10,771,880, issued on Sep. 8, 2020.
Application 16/882,269 is a continuation of application No. 16/681,749, filed on Nov. 12, 2019, granted, now 10,993,011, issued on Apr. 27, 2021.
Application 16/681,749 is a continuation of application No. 16/212,623, filed on Dec. 6, 2018, granted, now 10,516,931, issued on Dec. 24, 2019.
Application 16/212,623 is a continuation of application No. 15/948,920, filed on Apr. 9, 2018, granted, now 10,165,346, issued on Dec. 25, 2018.
Application 15/948,920 is a continuation of application No. 15/590,970, filed on May 9, 2017, granted, now 9,967,646, issued on May 8, 2018.
Application 15/590,970 is a continuation of application No. 15/071,177, filed on Mar. 15, 2016, granted, now 9,854,343, issued on Dec. 26, 2017.
Application 15/071,177 is a continuation of application No. 13/847,103, filed on Mar. 19, 2013, granted, now 9,287,657, issued on Mar. 15, 2016.
Application 13/847,103 is a continuation of application No. 11/824,444, filed on Jun. 28, 2007, granted, now 8,401,219, issued on Mar. 19, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/879,177, filed on Jan. 6, 2007.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/879,195, filed on Jan. 6, 2007.
Prior Publication US 2022/0279265 A1, Sep. 1, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04R 1/10 (2006.01); H01R 13/62 (2006.01); H04R 25/00 (2006.01); H04M 1/05 (2006.01); H04M 1/60 (2006.01); H04W 52/02 (2009.01); H02J 7/00 (2006.01); H04M 1/02 (2006.01); H05K 1/14 (2006.01); H05K 1/18 (2006.01)
CPC H04R 1/1025 (2013.01) [H01R 13/6205 (2013.01); H02J 7/00 (2013.01); H02J 7/0042 (2013.01); H04M 1/05 (2013.01); H04M 1/6066 (2013.01); H04R 1/105 (2013.01); H04R 1/1016 (2013.01); H04R 1/1041 (2013.01); H04W 52/0274 (2013.01); H04M 1/0262 (2013.01); H04M 1/0274 (2013.01); H04M 1/0277 (2013.01); H04M 1/6058 (2013.01); H04M 2250/02 (2013.01); H04R 25/556 (2013.01); H04R 25/558 (2013.01); H04R 25/602 (2013.01); H04R 25/603 (2019.05); H04R 2201/105 (2013.01); H04R 2201/107 (2013.01); H04R 2420/07 (2013.01); H04R 2420/09 (2013.01); H05K 1/147 (2013.01); H05K 1/189 (2013.01); Y02D 30/70 (2020.08)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An earpiece comprising:
a housing defining a shape and form of the earpiece and having a speaker housing portion protruding away from a first end of a tubular housing portion, wherein the tubular housing portion includes one or more features on an inner surface of the tubular housing portion for supporting electronic components of the earpiece;
a first acoustic port formed through the speaker housing portion;
a speaker disposed in the speaker housing portion and aligned to emit sound through the first acoustic port;
a second acoustic port formed at a second end of the tubular housing portion opposite the first end;
a microphone disposed in the tubular housing portion and operatively coupled to receive sound through the second acoustic port; and
a plurality of electronic components disposed within the housing, the plurality of electronic components including at least a first electronic component disposed within the speaker housing portion and at least a second electronic component disposed within the tubular housing portion, wherein the plurality of electronic components comprises:
a rechargeable battery;
battery charging circuitry coupled to the rechargeable battery and operable to charge the rechargeable battery when coupled with an external power supply;
a wireless antenna;
circuitry configured to input and output signals for wireless communications over the wireless antenna; and
one or more processors that control functions of the earpiece.