Granted Patent B2

US 12,001,599 · App. 18/519,802 · Granted Jun 4, 2024

Inventors: Thomas A. Howell (San Jose, CA); David Chao (Saratoga, CA); C. Douglass Thomas (Saratoga, CA); Peter P. Tong (Mountain View, CA)

Assignee: IngenioSpec, LLC

G06F3/01G02C5/001G02C5/14G02C5/143G02C11/10G06F1/163G10L15/22

Abstract

Claims (66)

1. A wireless wearable device, with at least a portion of the wireless wearable device configured to be worn in at least one ear of a user, to at least help the user hear audio outputs produced by the device, the wireless wearable device comprising:

a speaker at least partially in the wireless wearable device; and

an electrical connector at least partially in the wireless wearable device,

wherein the electrical connector includes at least two conductive areas, each area on a surface of the wireless wearable device, and

wherein the at least two conductive areas are configured to removably couple to corresponding conductive contacts of a counterpart connector external to and separate from the wireless wearable device, at least via spring-force, to at least enable each of the at least two conductive areas to be electrically connected to its corresponding conductive contact;

a rechargeable battery at least partially in the wireless wearable device, with the battery configured to be charged via at least the electrical connector; and

a microphone at least partially in the wireless wearable device.

2. A wireless wearable device as recited in claim 1 comprising another microphone at least partially in the wireless wearable device configured to capture at least sound in vicinity of the wireless wearable device.

3. A wireless wearable device as recited in claim 2 comprising electronic circuitry at least partially in the wireless wearable device configured to cancel at least a portion of the sound captured by the another microphone to produce the audio outputs.

4. A wireless wearable device as recited in claim 2 , wherein at least the microphone and the another microphone are configured to receive audio inputs, with at least some sound in the audio inputs configured to be cancelled based on using at least the microphone and the another microphone.

5. A wireless wearable device as recited in claim 2 , wherein the microphone is configured to be positioned closer to mouth of the user than the another microphone, when the wireless wearable device is worn by the user.

6. A wireless wearable device as recited in claim 2 comprising a storage medium at least partially in the wireless wearable device configured to store at least computer program codes for facilitating voice recognition to recognize at least a word received at least by the microphone for an operation of the wireless wearable device.

7. A wireless wearable device as recited in claim 2 comprising wireless communication circuitry at least partially in the wireless wearable device configured for coupling to at least a Bluetooth network.

8. A wireless wearable device as recited in claim 2 comprising:

a touch-sensitive input surface on a portion of the wireless wearable device; and

a storage medium at least partially in the wireless wearable device configured to store at least computer program codes for facilitating an operation of the wireless wearable device based on identifying a sliding user-input action across at least a portion of the touch-sensitive input surface.

9. A wireless wearable device as recited in claim 2 comprising a controller at least partially in the wireless wearable device configured to determine whether the wireless wearable device is being worn based on outputs from a sensor at least partially in the wireless wearable device.

10. A wireless wearable device as recited in claim 2 comprising a motion sensor at least partially in the wireless wearable device.

11. A wireless wearable device as recited in claim 2 comprising a touch-sensitive input surface on the wireless wearable device, wherein the touch-sensitive input surface is configured to facilitate generating at least an electrical signal for an operation of the wireless wearable device based on receiving at least a touch input.

12. A wireless wearable device as recited in claim 2 comprising an area configured for attachment via magnetic force.

13. A wireless wearable device as recited in claim 12 comprising a magnet in the area.

14. A wireless wearable device as recited in claim 12 comprising a storage medium at least partially in the wireless wearable device configured to store at least computer program codes for facilitating voice recognition to recognize at least a word received at least by the microphone for an operation of the wireless wearable device.

15. A wireless wearable device as recited in claim 14 comprising wireless communication circuitry at least partially in the wireless wearable device configured for coupling to at least a wireless network.

16. A wireless wearable device as recited in claim 15 comprising a pressure sensor at least partially in the wireless wearable device.

17. A wireless wearable device as recited in claim 15 comprising a controller at least partially in the wireless wearable device configured to determine whether the wireless wearable device is being worn based on outputs from a sensor at least partially in the wireless wearable device.

18. A wireless wearable device as recited in claim 17 comprising a motion sensor at least partially in the wireless wearable device.

19. A wireless wearable device as recited in claim 18 comprising a touch-sensitive input surface on the wireless wearable device, wherein the touch-sensitive input surface is configured to facilitate generating at least an electrical signal for an operation of the wireless wearable device based on receiving at least a touch input.

20. A wireless wearable device, to at least help a user hear audio outputs produced by the device, with at least a portion of the wireless wearable device configured to be worn in an ear of the user, and the wireless wearable device comprising:

a speaker at least partially in the wireless wearable device;

an electrical connector at least partially in the wireless wearable device,

wherein the electrical connector includes at least two conductive areas, each area on a surface of the wireless wearable device, and

wherein the at least two conductive areas are configured to removably couple to corresponding conductive contacts of a counterpart connector external to and separate from the wireless wearable device, at least via spring-force, to at least enable each of the at least two conductive areas to be electrically connected to its corresponding conductive contact;

a rechargeable battery at least partially in the wireless wearable device, with the battery configured to be charged via at least the electrical connector;

a microphone at least partially in the wireless wearable device;

another microphone at least partially in the wireless wearable device configured to capture at least sound in vicinity of the wireless wearable device, wherein the microphone is configured to be positioned closer to mouth of the user than the another microphone, when the wireless wearable device is worn by the user;

a storage medium at least partially in the wireless wearable device configured to store at least computer program codes for facilitating voice recognition to recognize at least a word received at least by the microphone for an operation of the wireless wearable device;

wireless communication circuitry at least partially in the wireless wearable device; and

an area configured for attachment via magnetic force.

21. A wireless wearable device as recited in claim 20 comprising:

a touch-sensitive input surface on a portion of the wireless wearable device; and

electronic circuitry configured to identify a sliding user-input action across at least a portion of the touch-sensitive input surface.

22. A wireless wearable device to at least help a user hear audio outputs produced by the device, with at least a portion of the wireless wearable device to be worn in an ear of the user, and the wireless wearable device comprising:

a speaker at least partially in the wireless wearable device;

an electrical connector at least partially in the wireless wearable device,

wherein the electrical connector includes at least two conductive areas, each area on a surface of the wireless wearable device, and

wherein the at least two conductive areas are configured to removably couple to corresponding conductive contacts of a counterpart connector external to and separate from the wireless wearable device, at least via spring-force, to at least enable each of the at least two conductive areas to be electrically connected to its corresponding conductive contact;

a rechargeable battery at least partially in the wireless wearable device, with the battery configured to be charged via at least the electrical connector;

a microphone at least partially in the wireless wearable device;

another microphone at least partially in the wireless wearable device configured to capture at least sound in vicinity of the wireless wearable device, wherein the microphone is configured to be positioned closer to mouth of the user than the another microphone, when the wireless wearable device is worn by the user;

wireless communication circuitry at least partially in the wireless wearable device;

a touch-sensitive input surface on the wireless wearable device, wherein the touch-sensitive input surface is configured to facilitate generating at least an electrical signal for an operation of the wireless wearable device based on receiving at least a touch input; and

an area configured for attachment via magnetic force.

23. A wireless wearable device as recited in claim 22 comprising:

a pressure sensor at least partially in the wireless wearable device; and

a controller at least partially in the wireless wearable device configured to determine whether the wireless wearable device is being worn based on outputs from a sensor at least partially in the wireless wearable device.

24. A wireless wearable device to at least help a user hear audio outputs produced by the device, with at least a portion of the wireless wearable device to be worn in an ear of the user, the wireless wearable device comprising:

an electrical connector at least partially in the wireless wearable device,

wherein the electrical connector includes at least two conductive areas, each area on a surface of the wireless wearable device, and

wherein the at least two conductive areas are configured to removably couple to corresponding conductive contacts of a counterpart connector of an apparatus external to and separate from the wireless wearable device, at least via spring-force, to at least enable each of the at least two conductive areas to be electrically connected to its corresponding conductive contact;

a rechargeable battery in the wireless wearable device, with the battery configured to be charged via at least the electrical connector;

a speaker at least partially in the wireless wearable device, with the battery configured to provide power to the speaker;

a first microphone, at least partially in the wireless wearable device, configured to capture at least sound in vicinity of the wireless wearable device, with the battery configured to provide power to the first microphone; and

a second microphone, at least partially in the wireless wearable device,

wherein the battery is configured to provide power to the second microphone, and

wherein the second microphone is configured to be positioned closer to mouth of the user than the first microphone, when the wireless wearable device is worn by the user.

25. A wireless wearable device as recited in claim 24 comprising an area configured for attachment via magnetic force.

Continuity (19)

Cited By (6)

US 12,238,494 US 12,242,138 US 12,248,198 US 12,313,913 US 12,345,955 US 12,535,698