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#Post#: 58--------------------------------------------------
Apple sued by THX for allegedly misusing patented speaker tech i
niPhone, iPad
By: Apple Team Date: April 2, 2013, 10:28 am
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Apple sued by THX for allegedly misusing patented speaker tech
in iPhone, iPad
Illustration of one embodiment of the '483 patent (top), and
another of the narrow sound duct
situated at a right angle in relation to the driver units
(bottom)
THX, the sound innovation company founded by George Lucas,filed
suit against Apple in the U.S. District Court for the Northern
District of California on Thursday, claiming that various models
of the iPhone, iPad and iMac product lineups infringe on a
single speaker patent for a "narrow profile speaker."
According to the complaint, Apple knowingly infringed and
continues to infringe upon THX's U.S. Patent No. 7,433,483
for"Narrow profile speaker configurations and systems," a
property granted in 2008 describing methods to effectively
enhance sound quality in compact speaker arrangements integrated
into consumer electronics like computers and televisions.
As noted by Bloomberg, THX claims Apple's violation caused
monetary damages and irreparable harm, and seeks royalties or
damages to make up for lost profit.
Best known for its theater sound technology, THX was founded in
2002 and holds numerous patents relating to speaker hardware and
acoustics technology. With the company's compalint against
Apple, THX is leveraging a specific property covering a system
that delivers quality audio from a speaker disposed in a
confined area. More specifically, one of the patent's claims
notes the output aperture, sometimes referred to asthe speaker
duct, is relatively more narrow than the speaker face.
The '483 patent also describes a system in which a sound
reflecting surface is parallel with the the drive unit, or
speaker face, and mounting surface, with sound dampening
material placed around the reflecting and mounting surfaces to
create an acoustically isolated environment. Sound is channelled
toward a narrow sound duct which is positioned at a right angle
in relation to the drive unit.
Alleged infringing devicesinclude iPhone models from the 4S
onward and undisclosed iterations of the iPad and iMac. Looking
at the patent claims, there appears to be some correlation with
the configurations used inApple's products. Perhapsmost
compelling is the latest iMac's speakers, which features an
extremely thin profile with channeled acoustics exiting
down-facing apertures that are more narrow than the speaker
faces hidden within the machine. It is unknown if the speaker
housings actually employ '483 patent's designs, though the
structure looks to be similar to those described.
The new iMac's speaker aperture shown in red
For its part, Apple also owns a variety of speaker-centric
patents, including those directly related to implementation with
portable devices like the iPhone and iPad. Most recently, the
company was granted U.S. Patent No. 8,385,568 for "Low-profile
speaker arrangements for compact electronic devices," which
could substantially share some claims with the THX patent in
suit. The '568 patent will likely not be used in Apple's
defense, however, as it was filed for in 2010 and granted in
February 2013.
The Cupertino company does hold sound technology patents
pre-dating the '483 property, though it may come down to a
decision over patent validity, if the case moves forward at all.
As devices become increasingly thin, the number of methods in
which speakers can be effectively implemented within a given
chassis is greatly reduced.
Apple's last day to meet and confer with THX counsel and the
court over initial disclosure, an early settlement and other
stipulations is May 14. The deadline for initial disclosures is
June 7, while the initial case management conference is
scheduled for June 14.
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