Today the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially granted Apple a patent that relates to possible future AirPods including a textured exterior surface for input, and more particularly to electronic devices including a textured exterior surface that is used for controlling functions associated with the electronic device or another electronic device when an object moves along the textured exterior surface. This would replace the current AirPods Pro vent that's covered in mesh to minimize wind noise and more.

Apple's granted patent primarily relates to AirPods including a textured exterior surface for input including a textured exterior surface that is used for controlling functions associated with AirPods or another electronic device (AirPods Max, an iPhone+) when an object moves along the textured exterior surface.

In some examples, the textured exterior surface can be a multi-directional textured surface to enable multi-directional touch functionality. In some examples, an exterior surface of a housing of an electronic device includes a plurality of geometric features. When a finger (or an object such as a probe or stylus) contacts and moves along the plurality of geometric features of the exterior surface (e.g., a swipe gesture), sensors of the electronic device can detect signal inputs generated by vibrations (audible or inaudible) caused by the finger (or object) moving along the plurality of geometric features.

In some examples, the multi-directional textured surface includes a first plurality of geometric features and a second plurality of geometric features. The signal inputs can be processed to determine the directionality of the movement input.

In some examples, the processing can include determining whether the signal inputs satisfy one or more criteria, such as determining whether signal characteristics (e.g., pulse decay time characteristics, amplitude characteristics, frequency characteristics, etc.) of the signal inputs correspond to the characteristics of the first plurality of geometric features or the characteristics of the second plurality of geometric features.

When the criteria are satisfied such that the signal inputs correspond to the characteristics of the first plurality of geometric features, a first direction in which the finger is moving can be determined (e.g., up-swipe direction). When the criteria are satisfied such that the signal inputs correspond to the characteristics of the second plurality of geometric features, a second direction in which the finger is moving can be determined (e.g., down-swipe direction).

Determining the directionality of the finger can be used to generate a directional input for the electronic device to control a function associated with the electronic device (e.g., to adjust volume up or down for earbuds/headphones or for a cellular phone). The textured surface can thereby provide an input device for simplified and cost-effective integration into an electronic device to provide improved input modalities for improved user experience.

In some examples, the textured surface can reduce the number of inputs/operations needed to control a feature of the electronic device for improved user experience.

Apple's patent FIG. 1 below illustrates a conceptual illustration of an example of a method for determining a swipe direction of an object according to examples of the disclosure. FIG. 1 shows a finger (#103) contacting a patterned surface of an electronic device (AirPods #102) and moving in a designated direction along the patterned surface at #104.

In some examples, the swipe direction of the object can be determined using signal inputs generated by vibrations caused by the object moving along an exterior surface of AirPods. In some examples, the method includes detecting signal inputs at #106 corresponding to vibrations generated by an object moving along an exterior surface of the AirPods.

In some examples, AirPods includes a housing with a multi-directional textured pattern along a portion of the exterior surface. In some examples, the multi-directional textured pattern includes a plurality of geometric features that are arranged and distributed along the exterior surface in a various configurations and orientations (e.g., features variable in size, features uniform size, features spaced apart uniformly, variable shape of features, etc.).

Apple's patent FIG. 3 above illustrates an example of a wireless headphone which includes a first plurality of geometric features and a second plurality of geometric features along an exterior surface of the wireless headphone.

Further, a finger or an object contacting and swiping along the geometric features in a specific direction can result in an input signal detected by one or more sensors (not shown). The input signals can be processed to determine the swipe direction, which in turn can be used as an input to control various functions associated with the electronic device (or another device).

In some examples, the functions can include controlling the volume, answering phone calls, pausing or playing a song, skipping to the next song or moving back to a previous song, muting or unmuting a song, activating noise cancellation, etc.

Because the plurality of geometric features has unique patterns and characteristics, the signal inputs may be different based on the direction in which the plurality of geometric features are swiped. The signal inputs can be analyzed to determine if they correspond to the characteristics of the plurality of geometric features along a specific direction.

Apple's patent FIGS. 6A-6B above illustrate an example of a finger of a user swiping along a plurality of geometric features and a plot of the detected signal input caused by the swiping motion

To review the full details of this invention, check out granted patent 12216851.  Whether this new feature would replace the touch control on the current AirPods stem is unknown at this time. 

Another AirPods granted patent today is titled "Acoustic Detection Of In-ear Headphone Fit." For details, review patent number 12219315.

A Few of Apple's Inventors

• Travis Owens: Touch and Sensing Hardware - Engineering Manager
• Supratik Datta: Hardware Engineering Manager
• Daniel Bechstein: Sensor System Architect