Bose Corporation

Shawn J Prevoir

Kai Gao

Andrew D Dominijanni

Agota F Fehervari

Prateek Nath

Yang Liu

Wit Bushko

Raymond O England

Binu K Oommen

Eric Matthew Wallace

Michael Andrew Zalisk

Donna Marie Sullivan

Caitlin M Hanson

Liam Robert Kelly

Harsh Anilkant Mankodi

Mark R Bergeron

Han Zhang

Christian A Trott

Thomas J Peters, Jr

Christopher Borradaile

Christopher B Ickler

Ryan C Struzik

Lei Cheng

Guang Wei

Marko Orescanin

Natalie Zucker

Alexander Irwin

Harsh A Mankodi

Brian David Beaudoin

Ankita Singh

Martin J Schad

Corey Ann Le

Thomas Peters

Amrita Kumar

Philip Lawrence Smith

Zarif Farhana Mohd Aris

Kimpon Ngem

Shaun Michael Pelkey

This disclosure generally relates to compositions with omniphobic properties, and methods of preparing the compositions thereof. The omniphobic compositions can be used as coatings to make omniphobic materials, which can be used to manufacture a variety of apparatuses such as wearable devices, e.g., hearing aids.

Omniphobic compositions

Various implementations include in-ear wearable audio devices. In certain implementations, the in-ear audio devices include an eartip with a body having first and second ends, an inner wall extending between the first and second ends defining a hollow passage to conduct acoustic energy, and a deformable outer wall connected to the inner wall of the body at the first end and tapering away from the inner wall toward the second end, where the deformable outer wall is functionally graded from the first end to the second end to comply with an entrance of an ear canal of a user. In additional implementations, the eartip includes a retaining structure, and at least one of the inner wall or the outer wall of the body, or the retaining structure, has an integral electronic component and/or an electronic component signal trace.

In-ear wearable audio devices with functional grading and/or embedded electronics

The disclosure generally relates to compositions of a soft touch material, and methods of preparing the compositions thereof. The compositions are suitable for use in apparatuses such as wearable devices, e.g., in-ear earpieces.

Soft touch material

A method of fabricating a wearable device having one or more integrated electronic components, including providing a substrate having an elastomeric material, at least one metal additive, and/or a carbon source additive; forming electrical circuitry within the elastomeric material by structuring one or more electrically conductive traces and plating the one or more electrically conductive traces; and providing the electrical circuitry with a sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to come in direct contact with skin of an individual.

Wearable devices with integrated circuitry

An ear tip includes a body configured to be mounted onto an earbud. The body includes a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a first wall extending between the first and second ends. The first wall defines and surrounds a hollow passage that is configured to conduct sound waves. The first wall is configured to engage a nozzle on the earbud. The first wall includes a ring that is formed of a rigid material and engages the nozzle. The ring includes at least one C-shaped member with at least one gap and a compliant material is molded around the ring and fills the gap.

Ear tips and related devices and methods

A wearable device including a body having one or more embedded electronic components, the body further including a thermoset material having a polymeric backbone with at least one urethane linkage and a glass transition temperature. At a first temperature that is lower than the glass transition temperature, the body has an original shape. When the body is heated to a second temperature that is higher than the glass transition temperature, the body is deformable from the original shape to a first shape and when the body is cooled to a third temperature that is lower than the glass transition temperature, the first shape is maintained. The body is further configured to transition from the first shape to the original shape when the body is heated from the third temperature to a fourth temperature that is higher than the glass transition temperature.

Wearable devices using shape memory polymers

An ear tip includes a body configured to be mounted onto an earbud. The body includes a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and an inner wall extending between the first and second ends. The inner wall defines and surrounds a hollow passage that is configured to conduct sound waves. The body also includes an outer wall that is connected to the inner wall at the first end and extends away from the inner wall toward the second end. The inner wall has an oblong cross-sectional shape that is configured to accommodate a corresponding nozzle on the earbud. The inner wall includes a ring that is formed of a rigid material and engages and conforms to the oblong shape of the nozzle, which inhibits improper mounting and rotation of the ear tip relative to the nozzle.

An earpiece includes an earbud that supports at least one electrode, and an ear tip that includes a hydrogel. The ear tip is configured to be coupled to the earbud such that the hydrogel overlies the at least one electrode and such that the hydrogel is disposed between the at least one electrode and the user's skin when the earpiece is worn.

Electrically conductive ear tips

Ear tip

A method of forming a device having a compliant member includes providing an elastomeric layer in an uncured state. The elastomeric layer is pre-cured to increase its viscosity. Subsequently, a bobbin and housing, each having an end, can be positioned such that their ends extend at least partially into the elastomeric layer. The elastomeric layer is cured to secure it to the bobbin housing. Examples of pre-cure and cure operations include one or more of a thermal cure, evaporative cure and ultraviolet cure, and the application of moisture, microwave energy and chemical additive. Due to the increased viscosity after the pre-cure, the migration of elastomeric material is substantially reduced relative to an uncured elastomeric material. The reduction in elastomeric material migration results in smaller menisci formed along the walls of the housing and bobbin, and reduced thinning of the compliant member formed at their ends.

Method of fabricating a miniature device having an acoustic diaphragm

A method of forming a device having a compliant member includes applying heat to a thermoplastic elastomer to maintain the thermoplastic elastomer in a softened state. The thermoplastic elastomer is extruded in the softened state as a film of thermoplastic elastomer. One or more of a bobbin and a housing, each having and end, is positioned such that the end extends at least partially into the film of thermoplastic elastomer. The positioning occurs when the thermoplastic elastomer is in the softened state and/or the bobbin and/or housing is at a temperature that is greater than a temperature of the film of thermoplastic elastomer. The film is cooled so that the bobbin and/or housing are secured to the film and so that the thermoplastic elastomer is in a state that exhibits rubber-like properties.

A method of treating a wearable device to resist sebum, the method including providing a body having an elastic material having a polymeric backbone where a portion of the polymeric backbone is unsaturated and the body has an outer surface. The method further includes forming a crosslinked matrix within an outer layer of the body surrounding an inner layer of the body such that the outer layer has less affinity to sebum than the inner layer of the body.

Sebum resistance enhancement for wearable devices

An ear tip for an earpiece including a body having first and second ends, an inner wall extending between the first and second ends to define a hollow passage to conduct sound waves, and an outer wall connected to the inner wall of the body at the first end and tapering away from the inner wall toward the second end. The ear tip further includes first and second electrically conductive elements arranged on an outer surface of the deformable outer wall.

Ear tips capable of capturing bioelectrical signals and providing nerve stimulation

Growing community of inventors

Northborough, MA, United States of America

Shawn J Prevoir