PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-11606637-B2
Application Number: US-202117223655-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Wireless listening device

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.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. 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, and wherein the multifunction input button further comprises a faceplate coupled to a button housing element such that the faceplate defines an exterior surface of the portable wireless listening device and the button housing element is part of the device housing; 
 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; and 
 wherein the faceplate is coupled to the bottom housing element by a retention clip at the distal end of the multifunction button and by a wireform axle at the proximal end of the multifunction button. 
 
     
     
       2. The portable wireless listening device of  claim 1  wherein the faceplate includes plunger located between the centerline and the distal end and the multifunction input button includes a switch disposed underneath the plunger. 
     
     
       3. 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, and wherein the multifunction input button further comprises a faceplate coupled to a button housing element such that the faceplate defines an exterior surface of the portable wireless listening device and the button housing element is part of the device housing; 
 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; and 
 wherein the multifunction input button further comprises a gasket disposed between the faceplate and button housing element at a location between the centerline and the proximate end, wherein the gasket provides internal spacing between the faceplate and the button housing element and is operatively coupled to bias the faceplate away from the button housing element. 
 
     
     
       4. The portable wireless listening device of  claim 3  wherein the gasket includes first and second legs at opposing ends of the gasket, and wherein the portable wireless listening device further includes a mesh disposed between the first and second legs and a microphone port formed through button housing element directly beneath the mesh. 
     
     
       5. The portable wireless listening device of  claim 3  further comprising a wireless antenna disposed between the faceplate and the button housing element. 
     
     
       6. 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; and 
 wherein the internal cavity includes a front volume and a back volume for the audio driver and the portable wireless listening device further includes a feedback microphone positioned within the front volume. 
 
     
     
       7. The portable wireless listening device of  claim 6  further comprising a voice microphone and a feed forward microphone positioned within the back volume. 
     
     
       8. The portable wireless listening device of  claim 6  wherein the multifunction button further comprises a faceplate defining an exterior surface of the portable wireless listening device and having a generally planar outer surface and an oval shape. 
     
     
       9. The portable wireless listening device of  claim 6  wherein the device housing includes a nozzle that defines the acoustic port at a first end of the device housing and a deformable ear tip removably coupled to the nozzle, and wherein the multifunction input button is disposed at a second end of the device housing opposite the first end. 
     
     
       10. 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, the device housing and audio driver combining form a front volume and a back volume for the audio driver; 
 a feedback microphone positioned within the front volume; 
 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, wherein the multifunction button comprises a faceplate coupled to a button housing element, wherein the faceplate defines an exterior surface of the portable wireless listening device and the button housing element is part of the device housing; 
 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. 
 
     
     
       11. The portable wireless listening device of  claim 10  wherein the faceplate is coupled to the bottom housing element by a retention clip at the distal end of the multifunction button and by a wireform axle at the proximal end of the multifunction button. 
     
     
       12. The portable wireless listening device of  claim 10  wherein the faceplate includes plunger located between the centerline and the distal end and the multifunction input button includes a switch disposed underneath the plunger. 
     
     
       13. The portable wireless listening device of  claim 10  further comprising a wireless antenna disposed between the faceplate and the button housing element. 
     
     
       14. A portable wireless listening system comprising:
 (i) a pair of earphones including a first earphone and a second earphone, each of the first and second earphones 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, and further comprises a faceplate coupled to a button housing element, wherein the faceplate defines an exterior surface of the portable wireless listening device and the button housing element is part of the device housing and is coupled to the bottom housing element by a retention clip at the distal end of the multifunction input button and by a wireform axle at the proximal end of the multifunction button; 
 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; and 
 
 (ii) a case for storing and charging the pair of earphones, the case comprising:
 a case body having a first pocket sized and shaped to receive the first earphone and a second pocket sized and shaped to receive the second earphone; 
 a lid attached to the case body and operable between a closed position where the lid is aligned over the first and second pockets and an open position that enables the first and second earphones to be placed in or removed from their respective pocket; 
 a battery; and 
 a charging system operatively coupled to the battery and configured to charge the first and second earphones when the earphones are positioned within their respective pockets. 
 
 
     
     
       15. The portable wireless listening device of  claim 14  wherein the faceplate in each of the first and second earphones includes plunger located between the centerline and the distal end and the multifunction input button includes a switch disposed underneath the plunger. 
     
     
       16. The portable wireless listening system set forth in  claim 14  wherein each of the first and second earphones further includes a retention magnet disposed within the earphone housing, wherein the retention magnet for the first earphone is positioned within the first earphone housing such that its north and south poles are aligned in a first orientation and the retention magnet for the second earphone is positioned within the second earphone housing such that its north and south poles are aligned in a second orientation, opposite the first orientation. 
     
     
       17. The portable wireless listening system set forth in  claim 16  wherein:
 the case for storing and charging the pair of earphones further includes first and second retention elements, the first retention element positioned within the case body adjacent to the first pocket and aligned to magnetically couple with the retention magnet of one of the earphones in the pair of earphones when the earphone is placed in the first pocket, the second retention element positioned within the case body adjacent to the second pocket and aligned to magnetically couple with one of the pair of earphones when the earphone is placed in the second pocket; 
 the first retention element generates a magnetic field that attracts the first retention magnet when the first earphone is placed in the first pocket and a magnetic field that repels the second earphone when the second earphone is placed in the first pocket; and 
 the second retention element generates a magnetic field that attracts the second retention magnet when the second earphone is placed in the second pocket and a magnetic field that repels the first earphone when the first earphone is placed in the second pocket; and 
 the multifunction button in each of the first and second earphones comprises a faceplate coupled to a button housing element, wherein the faceplate defines an exterior surface of the portable wireless listening device and the button housing element is part of the device housing.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/154,406, entitled “Wireless Listening Device,” filed on Feb. 26, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Portable listening devices, such as headphones, can be used with a wide variety of electronic devices such as portable media players, smart phones, tablet computers, laptop computers, stereo systems, and other types of devices. Portable listening devices have historically included one or more small speakers configured to be place on, in, or near a user&#39;s ear, structural components that hold the speakers in place, and a cable that electrically connects the portable listening device to an audio source. 
     Wireless portable listening devices that do not include a cable and instead, wirelessly receive a stream of audio data from a wireless audio source, have become ubiquitous. Such wireless portable listening devices can include, for instance, wireless earbud devices or wireless in-ear hearing devices that operate in pairs (one for each ear) or individually for outputting sound to, and receiving sound from, the user. 
     While wireless portable listening devices have many advantages over wired portable listening devices and have become a very popular with consumers, improved wireless portable listening devices are desirable. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure describes various embodiments of portable listening devices that can enable a user to experience high-end acoustic performance and a pleasant, positive user experience as well as various embodiments of a case for storing and/or charging one or more portable listening devices. 
     According to some embodiments, a portable listening device includes: 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. 
     In various implementations, the portable listening device can further include one or more of the following features. The multifunction button can include a faceplate coupled to a button housing element. The faceplate can define an exterior surface of the portable wireless listening device and the button housing element can be part of the device housing. The faceplate can be coupled to the bottom housing element by a retention clip at the distal end of the multifunction button and by a wireform axle at the proximal end of the multifunction button. The faceplate can include a plunger located between the centerline and the distal end and the multifunction input button can include a switch disposed underneath the plunger. The faceplate can have a generally planar outer surface and an oval shape. The multifunction input button can further include a gasket disposed between the faceplate and button housing element at a location between the centerline and the proximate end. The gasket can provide internal spacing between the faceplate and the button housing element and can be operatively coupled to bias the faceplate away from the button housing element. The gasket can include first and second legs at opposing ends of the gasket and the portable wireless listening device can further include a mesh disposed between the first and second legs and a microphone port formed through button housing element directly beneath the mesh. The portable wireless listening device can include a wireless antenna disposed between the faceplate and the button housing element. The internal cavity can include a front volume and a back volume for the audio driver. A feedback microphone can be positioned within the front volume. A voice microphone and a feed forward microphone can be positioned within the back volume. The device housing can include a nozzle that defines the acoustic port at a first end of the device housing and a deformable ear tip can be removably coupled to the nozzle. The multifunction input button can be disposed at a second end of the device housing opposite the first end where the nozzle is positioned. 
     According to some embodiments, a charging case for a portable wireless listening devices includes a case body having a pocket configured to receive the portable wireless listening device. The pocket can include an opening at an upper surface of the case body, an upper section extending from the opening to a first depth within the case body, a lower section extending from the opening to a second depth within the case body that is greater than the first depth, and a trough extending at a downward angle from the upper section to the lower section. The charging case can further include a lid attached to the case body and operable between a closed position where the lid is aligned over the pocket and an open position that enables the portable wireless listening device to be placed in or removed from the pocket; first and second electrical contacts disposed within the pocket on opposite sides of the trough; a battery; and a charging system operatively coupled to the battery and configured to charge the portable wireless listening device through the first and second electrical contacts. 
     In various implementations, case can have one or more of the following features. The pocket can be a first pocket having a first opening at the upper surface of the case body, and the case body can include a second pocket having a second opening at the upper surface of the case body spaced apart from the first opening. The second pocket can include a second upper section extending from the second opening to the first depth within the case body, a second lower section extending from the second opening to the second depth within the case body, and a second trough extending at a downward angle from the second upper section to the second lower section. A user-interface button can be disposed at an upper surface of the case body between the first and second pockets. The user interface button can be configured to, when activated and when the in-ear headphones are stored within the case, initiate a pairing routine that allows the in-ear headphones to be paired with a host device. The lid can be coupled to the body by a bistable hinge that has first and second stable states in which the first state the lid is in an opened position with respect to the body and in the second state the lid is in a closed position with respect to the body. 
     According to some embodiments, a portable wireless listening system is provided. The system can include a pair of earphones including a first earphone and a second earphone and a case for storing and charging the pair of earphones. Each of the first and second earphones can include: an earphone device housing defining an internal cavity for the earphone; an acoustic port formed through the earphone housing; an audio driver disposed within the earphone housing and aligned to emit sound through the acoustic port; one or more electronic circuits disposed within the earphone housing that require power to operate; a battery disposed within the earphone housing and operable to provide power to the electronic circuit; and a retention magnet disposed within the earphone housing, wherein the retention magnet for the first earphone is positioned within the first earphone housing such that its north and south poles are aligned in a first orientation and the retention magnet for the second earphone is positioned within the second earphone housing such that its north and south poles are aligned in a second orientation, opposite the first orientation. The case can include: a case body having a first pocket sized and shaped to receive the first earphone and a second pocket sized and shaped to receive the second earphone; a lid attached to the case body and operable between a closed position where the lid is aligned over the first and second pockets and an open position that enables the first and second earphones to be placed in or removed from their respective pocket; a case battery; a charging system operatively coupled to the battery and configured to charge the first and second earphones when the earphones are positioned within their respective pockets; and first and second retention elements, the first retention element positioned within the case body adjacent to the first pocket and aligned to magnetically coupled with the retention magnet of one of the earphones in the pair of earphones when the earphone is placed in the first pocket, the second retention element positioned within the case body adjacent to the second pocket and aligned to magnetically coupled with one of the pair of earphones when the earphone is placed in the second pocket. The first retention element generates a magnetic field that attracts the first retention magnet when the first earphone is placed in the first pocket and a magnetic field that repels the second earphone when the second earphone is placed in the first pocket, and the second retention element generates a magnetic field that attracts the second retention magnet when the second earphone is placed in the second pocket and a magnetic field that repels the first earphone when the first earphone is placed in the second pocket. 
     In various implementations, the portable listening device system can include one or more of the following features. Each of the first and second retention elements can comprise a shunt and first and second magnets spaced apart from each other and disposed between the shunt and their respective pockets. The shunt for each of the first and second retention elements can include a first portion and a second portion bent at an angle with respect to the first portion and wherein one of the first and second magnets is coupled to the first portion of the shunt and the other of the first and second magnets is coupled to the second portion of the shunt enabling the first and second magnets to be generally aligned with a curvature of their respective pocket. The first and second magnets in the first retention element can be positioned in a mirrored relationship with respect to the first and second magnets in the second retention element with the poles of the first and second magnets in the first retention element flipped with respect to the poles of the first and second magnets in the second retention element. Each of the first and second retention elements can further include a third magnet disposed between the first and second magnets. The third magnet can have a magnetic polarity aligned to pull flux out of one of the first and second magnets and push the pulled flux into the other of the first and second magnets. 
     To better understand the nature and advantages of the present invention, reference should be made to the following description and the accompanying figures. It is to be understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the scope of the present invention. Also, as a general rule, and unless it is evident to the contrary from the description, where elements in different figures use identical reference numbers, the elements are generally either identical or at least similar in function or purpose. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a simplified illustration of an exemplary portable electronic listening device system having a host device configured as a smart phone, a case, and a pair of wireless listening devices configured as earphones, according to some embodiments; 
         FIG.  2    is a simplified block diagram of various components of a portable wireless listening system according to some embodiments; 
         FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  are simplified illustrations of first and second sides, respectively, of a portable wireless listening device according to some embodiments; 
         FIG.  4    is a simplified exploded view of a portable wireless listening device according to some embodiments; 
         FIGS.  5 A and  5 B  are simplified cross-sectional views, taken along different planes, of the portable wireless listening device depicted in  FIG.  4   ; 
         FIG.  6 A  is a simplified view of the portable wireless listening device depicted in  FIG.  4    looking towards multifunction button  330 ; 
         FIG.  6 B  is a simplified perspective view of a bottom portion of the faceplate assembly depicted in  FIG.  4    as viewed from a bottom portion of the button; 
         FIGS.  7 A- 7 C  are simplified cross-sectional views, taken along different planes, of the faceplate assembly depicted in  FIG.  6 A ; 
         FIG.  8 A  is a simplified front side view of a charging case for a pair of portable wireless listening devices according to some embodiments with a lid of the charging case in an open position; 
         FIG.  8 B  is a simplified front side view of the charging case depicted in  FIG.  8 B  with its lid in a closed position; 
         FIG.  9 A  is a simplified top view of the charging case depicted in  FIGS.  8 A and  8 B  shown without its lid and with a portable wireless charging device stored in one of the charging case&#39;s pockets; 
         FIGS.  9 B and  9 C  are simplified cross-sectional perspective views of a bottom portion of one of the pockets in the charging case depicted in  FIG.  9 A . 
         FIG.  10    is a simplified partial cross-sectional view of wireless in-ear headphone positioned within a pocket of charging case depicted in  FIG.  10   . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Some embodiments of the disclosure pertain to a portable wireless listening that can deliver high-end acoustic performance to a user along with a pleasant and intuitive user experience. Other embodiments pertain to a case for charging and storing one or more portable wireless listening devices. Still other embodiments pertain to a system that includes both a pair of portable wireless listening devices and a charging case for the devices. 
     As used herein, the term “portable listening device” includes any portable device configured to be worn by a user and placed such that a speaker of the portable listening device is adjacent to or in a user&#39;s ear. A “portable wireless listening device” is a portable listening device that is able to receive and/or send streams of audio data from or to a second device without a wire connecting the portable wireless listening device to the second device using, for example, a wireless communication protocol. 
     Headphones are one type of portable listening device, headsets (a combination of a headphone and an attached microphone) are another and hearing aids (in-ear devices that are designed to augment sounds from the surrounding environment to improve a user&#39;s hearing) are still an additional type of portable listening device. The term “headphones” represents a pair of small, portable listening devices that are designed to be worn on or around a user&#39;s head. They convert an electrical signal to a corresponding sound that can be heard by the user. Headphones include traditional headphones that are worn over a user&#39;s head and include left and right ear cups connected to each other by a headband, and earphones (very small headphones that are designed to be fitted directly in a user&#39;s ear). Traditional headphones include both over-ear headphones (sometimes referred to as either circumaural or full-size headphones) that have ear pads that fully encompass a user&#39;s ears, and on-ear headphones (sometimes referred to as supra-aural headphones) that have ear pads that press against a user&#39;s ear instead of surrounding the ear. 
     The term “earphones”, which can also be referred to as ear-fitting headphones, includes both small headphones, sometimes referred to as “earbuds”, that fit within a user&#39;s outer ear facing the ear canal without being inserted into the ear canal, and in-ear headphones, sometimes referred to as canal phones, that are inserted in the ear canal itself. Thus, earphones can be another type of portable listening device that are configured to be positioned substantially within a user&#39;s ear. As used herein, the term “ear tip”, which can also be referred to as ear mold, includes pre-formed, post-formed, or custom-molded sound-directing structures that at least partially fit within an ear canal. Ear tips can be formed to have a comfortable fit capable of being worn for long periods of time. They can have different sizes and shapes to achieve a better seal with a user&#39;s ear canal and/or ear cavity. 
     Example Wireless Listening System 
       FIG.  1    is an example of a wireless listening system  100  according to some embodiments. System  100  can include a host device  110 , a pair of portable wireless listening devices  130  and a charging case  150 . Host device  110  is depicted in  FIG.  1    as a smart phone but can be any electronic device that can transmit audio data to portable listening device  130 . Other, non-limiting examples of suitable host devices  110  include a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a tablet computer, a smart watch, an audio system, a video player, and the like. 
     As depicted graphically in  FIG.  1   , host device  110  can be wirelessly communicatively coupled with portable wireless listening devices  130  and charging case  150  through wireless communication links  160  and  162 . Similarly, portable wireless listening devices  130  can be communicatively coupled to charging case  150  via wireless communication link  164 . Each of the wireless communication links  160 ,  162  and  164  can be a known and established wireless communication protocol, such as a Bluetooth protocol, a WiFi protocol, or any other acceptable protocol that enables electronic devices to wirelessly communicate with each other. Thus, host device  110  can exchange data directly with portable wireless listening devices  130 , such as audio data, that can be transmitted over wireless link  160  to wireless listening devices  130  for play back to a user, and audio data that can be received by host device  110  as recorded/inputted from microphones in the portable wireless listening devices  130 . Host device  110  can also be wirelessly communicatively coupled with charging case  150  via wireless link  162  so that the host device  110  can exchange data with the charging case, such as data indicating the battery charge level data for case  150 , data indicating the battery charge level for portable wireless listening devices  130 , data indicating the pairing status of portable wireless listening devices  130 . 
     Portable wireless listening devices  130  can be stored within case  150 , which can protect the devices  130  from being lost and/or damaged when they are not in use and can also provide power to recharge the batteries of portable wireless listening devices  230  as discussed below. 
     According to some embodiments, each individual portable wireless listening device  130  can include a housing  132  having an ear tip  134  at one end of the housing and a multifunction button  136  positioned at an opposite end of the housing. Housing  132  can be formed of a monolithic outer structure and can include a nozzle (not visible in  FIG.  1   ) to which ear tip  134  can be removably attached. In some embodiments, housing  132  can define an acoustic port through the nozzle that can direct sound from an internal audio driver out of housing  132 , through ear tip  134  and into a user&#39;s ear canal. Ear tip  134  can be a deformable ear tip that can be inserted into a user&#39;s ear canal creating a seal within the user&#39;s ear canal and enabling the wireless listening devices  130  to have a noise canceling feature as described below. 
     As will be appreciated herein, portable wireless listening devices  130  can be sufficiently small and light that the devices to be comfortably worn by a user for extended periods of time and even all day. The wireless listening devices  130  can provide an audio interface to host device  110  so that the user may not need to utilize a graphical interface of host device  110 . In other words, wireless listening devices  130  can be sufficiently sophisticated that they can enable the user to perform certain day-to-day operations from host device  110  solely through interactions with wireless listening devices  130 . This can create further independence from host device  110  by not requiring the user to physically interact with, and/or look at the display screen of, host device  110 , especially when the functionality of wireless listening devices  130  is combined with the voice control capabilities of host device  110 . Thus, wireless listening devices  130  can enable a true hands free experience for the user. 
     In some embodiments user input to wireless listening devices  130 , and thus to host device  110 , can be realized through one or more microphones (not shown in  FIG.  1   ) and/or a multifunction button  136 . The multifunction button  136  can be, for example, a rocker switch that allows a user to input different commands based on the location that the user touches rocker button and the duration for which the multifunction button is depressed. 
     Housing  132  can also include electrical contacts  142 ,  144  disposed along an exterior surface of the housing for making contact with corresponding electrical contacts in charging case  150 . In some embodiments contacts  142 ,  144  can be flush with an exterior surface of housing  132  and tightly sealed with the housing to prevent moisture or particles from entering the housing through the openings for the contacts. 
       FIG.  2    is a simplified block diagram of various components of a wireless listening system  200  according to some embodiments that includes a host device  210 , a pair of portable wireless listening devices (PWLDs)  230  (e.g., a right PWLD  230  and a left PWLD  230 ) and a charging case  250 . System  200  can be representative of system  100  shown in  FIG.  1    and host device  210 , portable wireless listening devices  230  and charging case  250  can be representative of host device  110 , portable wireless listening devices  130  and charging case  150 , respectively. Each portable wireless listening device  230  can receive and generate sound to provide an enhanced user interface for host device  210 . For convenience, the discussion below refers to a single portable wireless listening device  230 , but it is to be understood that, in some embodiments, a pair of portable listening devices can cooperate together for use in a user&#39;s left and right ears, respectively, and each portable wireless listening device in the pair can include the same or similar components. 
     Portable wireless listening device  230  can include a computing system  231  that executes computer-readable instructions stored in a memory bank (not shown) for performing a plurality of functions for portable wireless listening device  230 . Computing system  231  can be one or more suitable computing devices, such as microprocessors, computer processing units (CPUs), digital signal processing units (DSPs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and the like. 
     Computing system  231  can be operatively coupled to a user interface system  232 , communication system  234 , and a sensor system  236  for enabling portable wireless listening device  230  to perform one or more functions. For instance, user interface system  232  can include a driver (e.g., speaker) for outputting sound to a user, one or more microphones for inputting sound from the environment or the user, one or more LEDs for providing visual notifications to a user, a pressure sensor or a touch sensor (e.g., a resistive or capacitive touch sensor) for receiving user input, and/or any other suitable input or output device. In some embodiments, user interface  232  can include a multifunction button, such as multifunction button  136 . 
     Communication system  234  can include wireless and wired communication components for enabling portable wireless listening device  230  to send and receive data/commands from host device  210 . For example, in some embodiments communication system  234  can include circuitry that enables portable wireless listening device  230  to communicate with host device  210  over wireless link  260  via a Bluetooth or other wireless communication protocol. In some embodiments communication system  234  can also enable portable wireless listening device  230  to wirelessly communicate with charging case  250  via wireless link  264 . Sensor system  236  can include optical sensors, accelerometers, microphones, and any other type of sensor that can measure a parameter of an external entity and/or environment. 
     Portable wireless listening device  230  can also include a battery  238 , which can be any suitable energy storage device, such as a lithium ion battery, capable of storing energy and discharging stored energy to operate portable wireless listening device  230 . The discharged energy can be used to power the electrical components of portable wireless listening device  230 . In some embodiments, battery  238  can be a rechargeable battery that enables the battery to be repeatedly charged as needed to replenish its stored energy. For instance, battery  238  can be coupled to battery charging circuitry (not shown) that is operatively coupled to receive power from charging case interface  239 . Case interface  239  can, in turn, electrically couple with PWLD interface  252  of charging case  250 . In some embodiments, power can be received by electrical contacts from charging case  250  via electrical contacts within case interface  239  (e.g., contacts  142 ,  144  at an exterior surface of portable wireless listening device  230 ). In some embodiments, power can be wirelessly received by portable wireless listening device  230  via a wireless power receiving coil within case interface  239 . 
     Charging case  250  can include a battery  258  that can store and discharge energy to power circuitry within charging case  250  and to recharge the battery  238  of portable wireless listening device  230 . As mentioned above, in some embodiments circuitry within PWLD interface  252  can transfer power to portable wireless listening device  230  through a wired electrical connection between contacts in charging case  250  that are electrically coupled to contacts in portable wireless listening device  250  to charge battery  238 . While case  250  can be a device that provides power to charge battery  238  through a wired interface with device  230  in some embodiments, in other embodiments case  250  can provide power to charge battery  238  through a wireless power transfer mechanism instead of or in addition to a wired connection. For example, PWLD interface  252  can include a wireless power transmitter coil that can couple with a wireless power receiving coil within portable wireless listening device  230 . 
     In addition to providing power to portable wireless listening device  230 , charging case  250  can also receive power from an external power source via power receiving circuitry  253 . Case power receiving circuitry  253  can include a wired and/or a wireless power receiving interface. For example, in some embodiments, charging case  250  can include a receptacle connector (e.g., a USB-C or a lightning connector) that enables an external energy source to be directly connected to the charging case to charge battery  258  or to be connected to the charging case via an appropriate power adapter. And, in some embodiments, charging case  250  can include a wireless power receiving coil that can wirelessly receive power from a corresponding wireless power transmitter coil in a power supply external to the charging case. 
     Charging case  250  can also include a case computing system  255  and a case communication system  251 . Case computing system  255  can be one or more processors, ASICs, FPGAs, microprocessors, and the like for operating case  250 . Case computing system  255  can be coupled to PWLD interface  252  and can control the charging function of case  250  to recharge batteries  238  of the portable wireless listening devices  230 , and case computing system  255  can also be coupled to case communication system  251  for operating the interactive functionalities of case  250  with other devices, including portable wireless listening device  230 . In some embodiments, case communication system  251  includes a Bluetooth component, or other suitable wireless communication component, that wirelessly sends and receives data with communication system  234  of portable wireless listening device  230 . Towards this end, each of charging case  250  and portable wireless listening device  230  can include an antenna formed of a conductive body to send and receive such signals. 
     Case  250  can also include a user interface  256  that can be is operatively coupled to case computing system  255  to alert a user of various notifications and a sensor system  257 . In some embodiments, the user interface  256  can include a speaker that can emit audible noise capable of being heard by a user and/or one or more LEDs or similar lights that can emit a light that can be seen by a user (e.g., to indicate whether the portable listening devices  230  are being charged by case  250  or to indicate whether case battery  258  is low on energy or being charged). Sensor system  257  can include optical sensors, accelerometers, microphones, and any other type of sensor that can measure a parameter of an external entity and/or environment. 
     Host device  210 , to which portable wireless listening device  230  is an accessory, can be a portable electronic device, such as a smart phone, tablet, or laptop computer. Host device  210  can include a host computing system  212  coupled to a battery  214  and a host memory bank  134  containing lines of code executable by host computing system  212  for operating host device  210 . Host device  210  can also include a host sensor system  215  and a user interface  216 . Sensor system  215  can include, for example, one or more of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a light sensor, and the like, for allowing host device  210  to sense the environment, while host user interface system  216  can include, for example, one or more of a display, a speaker, buttons, a touch screen, and the like, for outputting information to and receiving input from a user. 
     Additionally, host device  210  can also include a host communication system  218  for allowing host device  210  to send and/or receive data from the Internet or cell towers via wireless communication, e.g., wireless fidelity (WiFi), long term evolution (LTE), code division multiple access (CDMA), global system for mobiles (GSM), Bluetooth, and the like. In some embodiments, host communication system  218  can also communicate with communication system  234  in portable wireless listening device  230  via a wireless communication link  262  so that host device  210  can send audio data to portable wireless listening device  230  to output sound, and receive data from portable wireless listening device  230  to receive user inputs. The communication link  262  can be any suitable wireless communication line such as Bluetooth connection. By enabling communication between host device  210  and portable wireless listening device  230 , wireless listening device  230  can enhance the user interface of host device  210 . 
     In-Ear Headphones 
     Portable wireless devices according to some embodiments can include a number of different features that provide a user with improved audio quality and a superior user experience as compared to many previously known portable wireless listening devices. To illustrate and explain some such features, reference is made to  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B , which are simplified views of a wireless in-ear headphone  300  according to some embodiments. Specifically,  FIG.  3 A  is a simplified plan view of a first side of in-ear headphone  300  and  FIG.  3 B  is a simplified plan view of a second side, generally opposite the first side, of in-ear headphone  300 . In-ear headphone  300  can be representative of an embodiment of personal wireless listening devices  130  discussed with respect to  FIG.  1   . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B , in-ear headphone  300  can include a housing  310  having an ear tip  320  at one end of the housing and a multifunction button  330  positioned at an opposite end of the housing. Housing  310  can be formed of a monolithic outer structure and can include a nozzle  322  (depicted in dashed lines in  FIG.  3 B ) to which ear tip  320  can be removably attached. An acoustic port  324  can be formed through nozzle  322  to direct sound from an internal audio driver (not shown) out of housing  310 , through an opening  326  at a distal end of ear tip  320  into a user&#39;s ear canal. Ear tip  320  can be a deformable ear tip that can be inserted into a user&#39;s ear canal creating a seal within the user&#39;s ear canal and enabling the in-ear headphone  300  to have a noise canceling feature as described below. 
     In-ear headphone  300  can include a first microphone port  312  and a second microphone port  314  each of which provides an acoustic path from the external environment to a microphone disposed within the housing. In some embodiments, first microphone port  312  can be a relatively small opening through an external wall of housing  310  and a feed forward microphone (not shown in  FIG.  3 A or  3 B ) can be operatively coupled to receive audio waves through the microphone port  312 . In some embodiments, second microphone port  314  can be formed through a multifunction input button and a voice microphone can be operatively coupled to receive audio waves through second microphone port  314 . For example, microphone port  314  can be formed through bottom button housing  412  (shown in  FIGS.  4  and  5 A ) and an acoustic path to the voice microphone can extend through a gap  512  (shown in  FIG.  5 A ) between faceplate  412  and main housing  432 , and through the microphone port  314 . The feed forward microphone can receive audio waves before they reach a user&#39;s ear hear and provide input to a noise canceling circuit within in-ear headphone  300  to enable an active noise canceling feature of the in-ear headphone. The active noise canceling feature can selectively minimize distracting noise from the environment by outputting sound that specifically negates the sound received by the feed forward microphone from the external environment. 
     The voice microphone can be positioned to receive audio waves generated when a user is speaking so that the user&#39;s voice can be adequately captured and transmitted to a host device. In some embodiments, input from the voice microphone can also be fed into the active noise cancellation unit to improve the noise cancellation feature. Additionally, the first and second microphone ports can be positioned at locations along housing  310  that maximize the performance of the feed forward and voice microphones. For example, first microphone port  312  can be positioned along a rear-facing portion of the housing sidewall that is unlikely to be in physical contact with any portion of a user&#39;s ear when in-ear headphone  300  is inserted into the ear canal and that presents a reduced potential of obstruction with a user&#39;s fingers when engaging with the headphone. Additionally, having the feed forward and voice microphones spaced apart on opposite sides of housing  310  enables the audio processor (e.g., portable wireless listening device computing system  231 ) within in-ear headphone  300  to utilize beam forming techniques to improve the signal-to-noise ratio when capturing a user&#39;s speech or other sounds by, for example, isolating the user&#39;s speech from background noises. 
     Housing  310  can also include electrical contacts  316 ,  318  disposed along an exterior surface of the housing. The electrical contacts can be positioned such that, when in-ear headphone  300  is stored in an appropriate charging case, the electrical contacts  316 ,  318  can be in physical contact with and electrically coupled to electrical contacts disposed within the charging case enabling the in-ear headphone to receive power from the charging case to charge a rechargeable battery within the in-ear headphone  300  as discussed further below. 
     Internal Components 
       FIG.  4    is a simplified exploded view of a wireless in-ear headphone  400  according to some embodiments that can be representative of wireless in-ear headphone  300 . As depicted in  FIG.  4   , wireless in-ear headphone  400  includes three primary sub-assemblies that combine together to form the in-ear headphone including: a faceplate assembly  410 , a main housing assembly  430  and an audio driver housing assembly  450 . While not labeled in  FIG.  4    as such, when fully assembled, wireless in-ear headphone  400  can include the same primary components discussed above with respect to wireless in-ear headphone  300  including a housing  310 , an EARTIP  320  (not shown in  FIG.  4   ) and a multifunction button  330 . 
     Faceplate housing assembly  410  includes various components that define a multifunction button that can be operable to receive user input as described with respect to multifunction button  330 . The faceplate housing assembly  410  can include a top button housing  412  (sometimes referred to herein as a “faceplate  412 ”) and a bottom button housing  414 . The bottom button housing can be permanently affixed to main housing  432  described below and faceplate  412  can be coupled to bottom housing  414  by retention features  420  and  422  as discussed below. 
     A wireless antenna flex  416  can be positioned in the space between bottom housing  414  and faceplate  412 . Placing the antenna flex  416  near an outer extremity of the in-ear headphone (i.e., near a top portion of faceplate  412 ) provides separation between the antenna and the majority of the processing components within the in-ear headphone. In some embodiments, antenna flex  416  can be disposed in a portion of faceplate assembly  410  that is outside a sealed cavity and thus partially exposed to the environment. As shown in  FIG.  4   , antenna flex  416  can include a circular opening at one end through which a gasket  424  that seals off a plunger portion (shown in  FIG.  7 A  as plunger  622 ) of faceplate  412  can extend as discussed below. In some embodiments bottom button housing  414  and gasket  424  can be formed with a two shot process where the first shot forms the bottom button housing  414  and the second shot forms the gasket  424 . In some particular implementations, the bottom button housing can be a rigid plastic material and the second shot that forms gasket  424  can be, for example, a thermoplastic elastomer material that allows for some flex in the faceplate assembly when the multifunction button is depressed. 
     Faceplate housing assembly can also include a gasket  418  and a mesh  419 . Gasket  418  biases faceplate  412  upwards and provides internal spacing between the top and bottom button housings. Mesh  419 , which can fit within two opposing legs of gasket  418 , covers an acoustic opening (e.g., second microphone port  314 ) that extends through bottom housing  414  to voice microphone  438  and, in some embodiments, prevents the ingression of moisture or other contaminants passing through the acoustic opening. Retention features  420  and  422  can coupled faceplate  412  to bottom housing  414 . In some embodiments, retention feature  420  can be an axle that provides an axis of rotation for the multifunction switch and retention feature  422  can be a clip as discussed in more detail with respect to  FIGS.  7 A- 7 C . 
     Main housing assembly  430  includes a main housing  432  that, in addition to being bonded to bottom button housing  414 , can also be bonded to a speaker housing  452  portion of the speaker housing assembly  450 . Together, main housing  432 , speaker housing  452  and bottom button housing  414  define a primary internal cavity (cavity  505  discussed with respect to  FIGS.  5 A and  5 B ) for wireless in-ear headphone  400  in which the other various components of main housing assembly  430  and speaker housing assembly  450  are positioned. 
     Main housing assembly  430  can also include a bridge flex circuit  434  that is supported by a bridge frame  436 , a mesh  444  that covers a microphone port (e.g., first microphone port  312 ) to protect the feed forward microphone  446  and a set of elements  440  that are part of the voice microphone stack and help define the geometry of the voice microphone port  314 . Bridge frame  436  can fit against the sidewall of main housing  432  and creates the internal geometry for the feed forward microphone  446 . Bridge flex  434  can include switch  448  of the multifunction button, the voice and feed forward microphones  438  and  446 , respectively, and a board-to-board connector  442  that ties back to the main logic board  462  discussed below. 
     Speaker housing assembly  450  includes, in addition to speaker housing  452  discussed above, an audio driver  456  (i.e., a transducer), a rechargeable battery  454  and a multilayer board  462  among other elements. Audio driver  456  can sit within a transducer frame  460  that aligns the audio driver  456  with nozzle  465  so that sound generated by audio driver  456  is directed out of nozzle  465 . A protective mesh  466  can cover nozzle  465  and prevent particles and moisture from penetrating into the primary internal cavity. In some embodiments, protective mesh  466  can be a multilayer mesh that includes a hydrophobic mesh that enables mesh  466  to resist the ingress of water and other types of moisture into the housing and a structural mesh. 
     A flex circuit  464  sits between battery  454  and audio driver  456  and provides a mounting point for electrical contacts  470 ,  472 , which can be representative of contacts  316 ,  318  discussed above. The electrical contacts  470 ,  472  are aligned to fit within corresponding contact openings  474  (only one of which is visible in  FIG.  4   ) in the driver housing  452 . A feedback microphone  468  can also be mounted on the flex circuit  464  and positioned within a front volume of the audio driver  456  as discussed with respect to  FIGS.  5 A and  5 B  below. Flex circuit  464  can also include two board-to-board connectors  476 ,  478  that provide connections between the flex circuit  464  and the main logic board  462  and bridge flex circuit  434 , respectively. 
     A separate, MLB frame  458  can support the multilayer board  462  one a first side of the frame  458  and can fit over battery  454  on a second side of the frame  458 . And, a retention magnet  480  can be positioned fitted against speaker housing  452 . Retention magnet  480  can be aligned to cooperate with magnets within a corresponding charging case and act as the primary retention feature of wireless in-ear headphone  400  to retain the in-ear headphone within the charging case as discussed below. 
     Acoustic Volumes 
     As mentioned above, main housing  432 , speaker housing  452  and bottom button housing  414  define a primary internal cavity  505  for wireless in-ear headphone  400  that is shown more clearly in  FIGS.  5 A and  5 B , which are simplified cross-sectional views, taken along different planes, of portable wireless listening device  400 . The various housing components (bottom button housing  414 , primary housing  432  and speaker housing  452 ) can be chemically bonded or otherwise adhered together at annular junctions  502  and  504  in a manner such that overall in-earphone housing (e.g., housing  310 ) is essentially a unitary, monolithic structure that can have a substantially seamless appearance. For example, bottom button housing  414  can be bonded to primary housing  432  at annular junction  502  and primary housing  432  can be bonded to speaker housing  452  at annular junction  504 . In some embodiments, annular junctions  502 ,  504  can have a tongue and groove geometry that further strengthens the bonds between adjacent parts. 
     Internal cavity  505  both houses battery  454 , audio driver  456  and other components, and provides space for both a back volume  510  and a front volume  520  for wireless in-ear headphone  400 . Transducer frame  460  is sealed off against audio driver  456  and nozzle  465  defining a boundary for front volume  520  that extends through nozzle  465  between a user&#39;s ear canal (when the in-ear headphone is in use) and audio driver  456 . An O-ring  526  provides a seal between walls of speaker housing  452  and transducer frame  460  and an internal microphone  522  can be positioned within nozzle  465  and attached to a portion of the driver housing. A barometric vent  524  can extend through a sidewall of nozzle  465  fluidly coupling the external environment to front volume  520 . The barometric vent  524  enables allowing pressure within the front volume that might otherwise be trapped in the ear canal and be uncomfortable to a user to leak out through the vent  524 . 
     Back volume  510  extends from the outer edges of transducer frame  460  past the sidewalls and rear surface of driver  456  and encompassing the remainder of the space within primary cavity  505  that is not filled with components. 
     Multi-Function Button 
     In some embodiments, wireless in-ear headphone  400  can include a multi-function button  330  that enables a user to control certain features of the wireless in-ear headphone with a single button instead of multiple separate input buttons. In some embodiments, multifunction button  330  can be a rocker switch that can be activated to invoke different functions controlled by a host device wirelessly coupled to communicate with headphone  400  based on the number of times the button is depressed in rapid succession and/or the length of time that the button is depressed. For example, in one particular implementation, depressing the button a single, relatively short time (a single click) can invoke a “play/pause” command for music being streamed to the in-ear headphone by the host device, rapidly depressing the button twice in succession (a double click) can invoke a “next track” command, rapidly depressing the button three times in succession (a triple click) can invoke a “previous track” command and depressing the button for a relatively long continuous amount of time (e.g., half a second or more) can activate a digital voice assistant that can accept additional commands from a user via one of the microphones on headphone  400 . 
     One implementation of multifunction button  330  is shown in  FIGS.  6 A,  6 B  and  FIGS.  7 A- 7 C  in which  FIG.  6 A  is a simplified view of multifunction button  330  flipped over (i.e., looking from the inside of the multifunction button towards the outer faceplate  412  of the button);  FIG.  6 B  is a simplified internal perspective view of multifunction button  330  looking from a bottom portion of the button towards faceplate  412 ; and  FIGS.  7 A- 7 C  are simplified cross-sectional views, taken along different planes, of the faceplate assembly as indicated in  FIG.  6 A . 
     Referring first to  FIGS.  6 A and  6 B , faceplate  412  includes two ribs  612 ,  614  that have corresponding holes through which wireform axle  420  extends and butts up against the lower housing  414 . The wireform axle  420  sets a pivot point  600  for multifunction button  330  through the ribs  612 ,  614 , that in some embodiments is shifted towards one end of button  330  and can coincide with the dashed line indicating the location of the cross-section shown in  FIG.  7 C . At the other end of button  330 , the switch for the multifunction button  330  can be positioned directly below the intersection of the dashed lines indicating the locations of the cross-sections for  FIGS.  7 A and  7 B , respectively. In some embodiments, multifunction button  330  can have a center line  605  located between a distal end  610  and a proximal end  615  of the button. Pivot point  600  can be positioned away from center line  610  towards the proximal end  615  and thus can be said to be located within a portion of the multifunction button between the center line and proximal end. Having pivot point  600  located towards on end of button  330  (as opposed to being located on the centerline) enables an area of activation  620  for the button anywhere from pivot point  600  to distal end  610  of the button  330 . 
     Retention clip  422  and wireform axle  420  permanently affix the bottom button housing  414  to the faceplate  412  and the entire faceplate assembly  410  can be affixed to primary housing  432  with, for example, a mechanical tongue and grove joint  502  (shown in  FIG.  5 A ) and an appropriate adhesive. A plastic plunger  622 , which can be formed as part faceplate  412 , projects away from faceplate  412  towards bottom housing  414  and sits between gasket  424  and a shim  624 . When faceplate  412  is depressed in the activation area  620  of multifunction button, plunger  622  is pushed towards bottom housing  414  and activates switch  448 . Also shown in  FIG.  6 B  is a coax cable  626  that comes off the wireless antenna flex and microphone port  628  for the feed forward microphone  446 . 
       FIGS.  7 A and  7 B  are cross-sectional views of multifunction button  330  taken through the area that includes plunger  622  and switch  448  where the cross-sectional view in  FIG.  7 B  is rotated 90 degrees from the cross-sectional view of  FIG.  7 A . As shown in each of  FIGS.  7 A and  7 B , a switch  448  is mounted on bridge flex  434 , which sits atop and can be bonded to, bridge frame  436  by a PSA layer. While not shown in  FIG.  7 A or  7 B , bridge frame  436  can creates a geometry for the feed forward microphone. A bottom edge of plunger  622  is positioned directly above switch  448  so that when faceplate  412  is depressed, plunger  622  come in physical contact with and activates the switch  448 . The plunger  622  sits within an annular opening of gasket  424  that provides a seal between the two components. 
       FIG.  7 C  is a cross-sectional view of multifunction button  330  taken through the pivot point  600 . Wireform axle  420  is shown in  FIG.  76    protruding through the two ribs  612 ,  614 . Gasket  418 , which allows for a constant preload at the pivot end of faceplate  412  to ensure that the axle  420  is hard stocked to the underside of the faceplate to help set a gap between the faceplate and bottom button housing  414 . 
     Charging Case 
     Some embodiments of the disclosure pertain to a charging case that can store and charge a portable wireless listening device or a pair of portable wireless listening devices, such as a pair of in-ear headphones  300 . The charging case can protect the wireless listening devices from physical damage as well as provide a source of power for charging the wireless listening devices. 
       FIGS.  8 A and  8 B  are simplified plan views of a charging case  800  that can store a pair of portable wireless listening devices, such as in-ear headphones  300 , according to some embodiments. As shown in each of  FIGS.  8 A and  8 B , charging case  800  can include a lid  810  and a body  820  that forms an internal cavity for housing the pair of in-ear headphones, or other portable wireless listening devices, that can be worn in a user&#39;s left and right ears, respectively.  FIG.  8 A  is a simplified front side view of charging case  800  according to some embodiments with lid  810  of the charging case in an open position and  FIG.  8 B  is a simplified front side view of charging case  800  with lid  810  in a closed position. 
     Lid  810  can be attached to body  820  by a hinge (not shown in  FIG.  8 A or  8 B ) that enables the lid to be moved between an open position (in which the pair of in-ear headphones can be inserted into or removed from case  800 ) and a closed position (in which the lid  810  covers the pair of in-ear headphones thereby completely enclosing the headphones within the charging case  800 ). In some embodiments, the hinge can include a torsion spring that biases lid  810  to an open position. Magnetic elements in the lid and body cooperate to hold the lid in a close position. Once the lid is opened enough to have the torsion spring force overcome the strength of the magnets, the torsion spring flips the lid to the fully open position. Also, in some embodiments the hinge can be a bistable hinge that has two stable states: an open state and a closed state. Between the open and closed states, the hinge can have a neutral position where it does not pull to open or close the lid, but once the lid moves in one direction past the neutral position, the bistable hinge will either pull the lid open or pull the lid closed depending on which direction away from the neutral position the lid is moved. 
     In some embodiments, charging case  800  can include an internal frame (not visible in either of  FIG.  8 A or  8 B ) within body  820  including portions designed to provide contours and surface features against which the pair of in-ear headphones can rest in strategic positions to minimize the size of case  800 . The internal frame can also establish an upper surface  822  (see  FIG.  9 A ) of body  820  that includes two contoured pockets for left and right in-ear headphones, respectively. Similarly, the charging case can also include an internal frame that fits within lid  810  to provide a lower surface to the lid that includes two contoured upper pockets  814   a ,  814   b  that an upper portion of the left and right in-ear headphones fit within, respectively, when lid  810  is closed. 
     Case  800  can be configured to charge a pair of wireless in-ear headphones when the in-ear headphones are housed within the charging case. Towards this end, in some embodiments case  800  can include two pairs of electrical contacts (e.g., one pair of contacts  912  and  914  are shown in  FIG.  9 A ) for making electrical contact with respective contacts at the external surface of each in-ear headphone earbud so that charge can flow from an internal battery (not shown) of charging case  800  to internal batteries of the in-ear headphones. In some embodiments, each of the charging case contacts can include an electrically conductive pin that sits within a circular gasket that can be over molded around the pin. The gasket and pin can be supported by one side of a contact housing that has spring operatively coupled to an opposing side of the housing to bias the pin into the pocket and ensure a strong physical and electrical connection with a corresponding contact on the in-ear headphone. 
     The charging case internal battery can be charged by an external power supply that is electrically coupled to case  800  via a connector  830 . Connector  830  can be any appropriate physical connector interface, such as a lightning connector port developed by Apple, a USB-C port, a mini USB port or the like. In some embodiments charging case  800  also includes a wireless power receiving coil (not shown) to wirelessly receive power that can be used to charge the internal battery as discussed in more detail below. 
     Charging case  800  can also include a visual indicator  832  configured to emit different colors of light. Visual indicator  832  can change colors depending on the charge status of the case. As an example, indicator  832  can emit green light when the case is charged, emit orange light when the charging case battery is charging and/or when the charging case battery has less than a full charge, and red light when the charging case battery is depleted. When viewed from outside of case  800 , visual indicator  832  can have a circular shape, or any other suitable shape, such as square-like, rectangular, oval, and the like. Case  800  can also include a user-interface  834  (see  FIG.  9 A ), such as a button, that when activated and when the in-ear headphones are stored within case  800  with lid  810  open, initiates a pairing routine that allows the in-ear headphones to be paired with a host device. 
     Pocket Troughs 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS.  9 A- 9 C  in which  FIG.  9 A  is a simplified top view of the charging case  800  shown without lid  810  and with an in-ear headphone  300  stored in one of the charging case&#39;s pockets, and  FIGS.  9 B and  9 C  are simplified cross-sectional perspective views of a bottom portion of one of the pockets in charging case  800 . Charging case  800  includes two pockets  824   a ,  824   b  for storing left and right in-ear headphones, respectfully. As shown in  FIG.  9 A , an in-ear headphone  300  is stored in pocket  824   a  while pocket  824   b  is empty and ready to accept a second in-ear headphone  300 . 
     Charging case  800  and wireless in-ear headphone  300  can be proportioned and designed such that faceplate  330  for each in-ear headphone  300  stored in the charging case is disposed at the top of the in-ear headphone (i.e., the faceplate is presented to a user) and the charging contacts  316 ,  318  are disposed at the bottom of the in-ear headphone when the wireless in-ear headphone  300  is stored in the charging case. 
     In some embodiments, each pocket  824   a ,  824   b  is contoured such that the pocket includes an upper section  920  and a lower section  940 . Additionally, a trough  930  can be formed at the bottom surface of upper section  920  proximate the charging case contacts  912 ,  914 . The trough  930  can provide a continuous ramped surface extending from upper section  920  to lower section  940  to facilitate the movement of sweat or other liquids that might collect on the wireless in-ear headphone and drip into the pocket away from contacts  316 ,  318  on the in-ear headphone  300  and away from contacts  912 ,  914  in the charging case  800 . Transporting moisture away from both sets of contacts in this manner can help prevent possible corrosion of the contacts. Additionally, referring back to  FIG.  3 B , charging contacts  316 ,  318  can be positioned as far apart as possible from each other as housing  310  allows (e.g., at opposing edges of the housing) while still facing the same general direction. When the in-ear headphones are stored in the charging case, such positioning of the charging contacts allows the contacts to be at the bottom of the in-ear headphone  300  and on opposing sides of trough  930  and allows the width of trough  930  to be as wide as reasonably possible to collect and transport a higher volume of moisture away from the contacts. 
     Retention Magnets 
       FIG.  10    is a simplified partial cross-sectional view of wireless in-ear headphone  300  positioned within a pocket  824  (e.g., one of pockets  824   a ,  824   b ) of charging case  800 . As shown in  FIG.  10   , retention magnet  452  of the wireless in-ear headphone  300  is positioned along a bottom surface of housing  310  and aligned with a retention element  1000  disposed within the charging case adjacent to a wall that forms upper portion  920  of pocket  824 . When the wireless in-ear headphone  300  is positioned within pocket  824 , retention element  1000  and retention magnetic  452  cooperate to form a magnetic circuit that retains the in-ear headphone within the pocket. 
     In some embodiments retention element  1000  can include left and right magnets  1012 ,  1014 , a center magnet  1016  and a shunt  1018 . The magnets  1012  and  1016  can be aligned such that the poles of each magnet are attracted to the poles at opposite ends of retention magnet  452 . For example, as shown in  FIG.  10   , retention magnet  452  can have a north pole at an upper end of the magnet  452  that aligns with magnet  1012  and a south pole at a lower end of the magnet  452  that aligns with magnet  1016 . The poles of magnets  1012  and  1016  can be arranged such that a south pole is at an upper portion of magnet  1012  and a north pole is at an upper surface of magnet  1016 . This arrangement creates a magnetic circuit in which flux flows from the north pole of retention magnet  452 , through magnet  1012 , into magnet  1016  and back to the south pole of retention magnet  452 . 
     The center magnet  1014  can be arranged to push flux in the magnetic circuit and orient the flux in the right direction thereby increasing the strength of the magnetic field generated by the circuit. For example, center magnet  1014  can pull flux out of left magnet  1012  and push the flux into right magnet  1016 . Thus, the center magnet  1014  can strengthen the magnetic circuit formed between retention element  1000  and retention magnet  452  without directly acting upon on the retention magnet  452 . 
     Magnets  1012 ,  1014 ,  1016  can be disposed on a shunt  1018  and positioned between the shunt  1018  and pocket  824 . In some embodiments, the magnets  1012 ,  1014 ,  1016  can be coupled to shunt  1018  by an adhesive layer (not shown), such as a pressure sensitive adhesive. Shunt  1018  collects flux leaving the non-acting pole of the magnet and redirects the flux into the magnetic circuit allowing the magnets in the circuit to be smaller than otherwise might be required to generate the same amount of retention force. Shunt  1018  can include a bend such that magnet  1012  and magnet  1016  are coupled to the shunt at different angles enabling the magnets to be more closely aligned with a curvature of the pocket  824  the magnets are positioned adjacent to. 
     Charging case  800  can include retention elements  1000  within the housing of the charging case under each of the pockets  824   a ,  824   b . In some embodiments, the retention elements under each pocket  824   a ,  824   b  are arranged as mirror images of each other with the polarity of the magnets flipped. Similarly, the left and right wireless in-ear headphones that correspond to the charging case  800  can have the polarity of the retention magnet  452  switched between the two headphones. Thus, for example, one of the in-ear headphones  300  (e.g., a left headphone) that is intended to be stored in pocket  824   a  can have retention magnet  452  with poles arranged as shown in  FIG.  10    while retention element  1000  adjacent pocket  824   a  includes magnets  1012 ,  1014  and  1016  having poles as also shown in  FIG.  10   . The other of the in-ear headphones  300  (e.g., a right headphone) that is intended to be stored in pocket  824   b  can have retention magnet  452  with poles opposite that shown in  FIG.  10    (e.g., a south pole at the upper end of the retention magnet and a north pole at the lower end of the retention magnet) while retention element  1000  adjacent pocket  824   b  includes magnets  1012 ,  1014  and  1016  that also have poles arranged opposite of what is shown in  FIG.  10    (e.g., magnet  1012  can have its south pole at an upper portion of the magnet and magnet  1016  can have its north pole at an upper end of the magnet). A mirrored and flipped arrangements of the magnets in such embodiments helps a user correctly place the left and right in-ear headphones in their dedicated and respective pockets as retention element  1000  in each pocket will attract the retention magnet  452  of the in-ear headphone that is intended to be stored in that pocket and repel the retention magnet  452  of the in-ear headphone that is intended to be stored in the other pocket. 
     The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the described embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the specific details are not required in order to practice the described embodiments. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of the specific embodiments described herein are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not target to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. Also, while different embodiments of the invention were disclosed above, the specific details of particular embodiments may be combined in any suitable manner without departing from the spirit and scope of embodiments of the invention. Further, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. 
     Finally, it is well understood that the use of personally identifiable information should follow privacy policies and practices that are generally recognized as meeting or exceeding industry or governmental requirements for maintaining the privacy of users. In particular, personally identifiable information data should be managed and handled so as to minimize risks of unintentional or unauthorized access or use, and the nature of authorized use should be clearly indicated to users.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20210406
Publication Date: 20230314
Grant Date: 20230314
Priority Date: 20210226
Inventors: LE, DUY P.
OTT, RYAN
BOYD, ROBERT A.
SMIECHOWSKI, CHRISTINA J.
EKMAN, KJELL F.
LIAO, YUFAN
ZHUANG, Wenjie
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H04R1/1025", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B1/086", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2201/103", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2201/103", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B1/1607", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/1025", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2460/11", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/1041", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B1/16", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J7/0042", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K5/0086", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/1041", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2460/11", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/1016", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2420/07", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/1016", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/1025", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2420/07", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/1041", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K5/0086", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/1041", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2460/11", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/1025", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2420/07", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2201/103", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/1016", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 82974730