Apple Invents a Multi-Driver Earbud

Apple's invention relates to earphones that fit within the use's ear canal, also referred to as earbuds that have multiple speaker drivers and a cross-over network.

In one embodiment, Apple notes that an earbud cup contains a low driver housing, a middle driver housing, and a high driver housing. The three housings are arranged relative to each other such that a more compact envelope results that is able to produce sound with good fidelity. In particular, the middle and the low driver housings are stacked on top of each other in the sense that a top face of the low housing lies essentially flat against a bottom face of the middle housing, while the high housing is oriented such that its rear face is disposed adjacent to the front side of the low housing and behind an exit of a sound output tube of the middle housing. A sound output opening is formed in the front face of the high housing, but essentially no sound output tube.

In yet another embodiment, the arrangement of the driver housings and the way they fit into the boot is such that there is space to house an inertial sensor integrated circuit (e.g., a digital accelerometer chip) located below the bottom face of the low driver housing, and behind the boot. The inertial sensor may be used as part of a non-acoustic microphone to detect speech of the user wearing the earphone.

In addition, an acoustic microphone, which can be used as an error microphone in an active noise cancellation system, may be fitted in the boot. A further hole may be formed in the boot that enables sound from the space that is between the front face of the boot and the rear face of the cap to reach an acoustic entry of the microphone. The hole may be positioned such that the entry of the acoustic microphone lies directly behind it, for example where the acoustic microphone is located below the bottom side of the second driver housing (or of the high driver housing), and in front of the front side of the first driver housing (or of the low driver housing). This enables the acoustic microphone to be used not just as an error microphone for an active noise control system, but also as a component of a near-end user or talker speech pickup system. This system may be particularly effective when outside acoustic background noise is being passively reduced by the sealing characteristics of the flexible ear tip.

Apple's patent FIG. 2B noted below is a perspective view of the three-way driver assembly.

In Apple's patent FIG. 4A is a cutaway view of an assembly having three driver housings, a boot, an accelerometer and an acoustic microphone, to be installed into an earbud housing.

Apple's patent application is very complex but might be enjoyed by audiophiles and engineers. For more details, see Apple's patent.

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