US 12,348,924 B2
Wireless ear buds with proximity sensors
Ashley N. Saulsbury, Los Gatos, CA (US); and Travis J. McQueen, Lee, NH (US)
Filed by Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed on Apr. 12, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/299,675.
Application 18/299,675 is a division of application No. 17/328,913, filed on May 24, 2021, granted, now 11,711,643.
Application 17/328,913 is a continuation of application No. 16/167,394, filed on Oct. 22, 2018, granted, now 11,109,136, issued on Aug. 31, 2021.
Application 16/167,394 is a continuation of application No. 15/270,445, filed on Sep. 20, 2016, granted, now 10,117,012, issued on Oct. 30, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/233,848, filed on Sep. 28, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2023/0247341 A1, Aug. 3, 2023
Int. Cl. H04R 1/10 (2006.01); A61B 5/00 (2006.01)
CPC H04R 1/1016 (2013.01) [A61B 5/6803 (2013.01); A61B 5/6817 (2013.01); H04R 1/1041 (2013.01); H04R 2420/07 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A wireless ear bud, comprising:
a housing;
a speaker in the housing;
a first light-based sensor that produces a first output indicating whether the first light-based sensor is covered;
a second light-based sensor that produces a second output indicating whether the second light-based sensor is covered; and
control circuitry that determines that the ear bud has been placed in a user's ear based on the first and second outputs and that determines that the ear bud has been touched by a user based on the second output.