Patents by Inventor Michael Edward Franks

Michael Edward Franks has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11733550
    Abstract: An in-ear device is implemented as part of an audio system to present a user with improved audio content within an artificial reality system. The in-ear device is a fully integrated device with an internal microphone, an external microphone, and a transducer in which portions of the transducer form portions of the body of the device. This integration of transducer into the body of the in-ear device reduces the size of the in-ear device and allows for placement deeper within the ear canal of the user. The transducer generates audio content based on instructions received from an audio system that may be located on a device that is external to the in-ear device. The external microphone provides hear-through functionality, while the internal microphone provides feedback information to the audio system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chuming Zhao, Drew Stone Briggs, Michael Edward Franks, Derek Wallin
  • Patent number: 11671739
    Abstract: A headset includes a tissue transducer on a carriage that translates along a temple portion of the headset. The carriage is configured to contact the helix root of a user's ear. The helix root provides a reference point, and when the carriage is contact with the helix root, the tissue transducer is configured to be located in a target area. By maintaining a fixed location of the tissue transducer relative to the helix root of the user's ear, the tissue transducer may be accurately positioned, even for users with different head shapes and sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Morteza Khaleghimeybodi, Michael Edward Franks
  • Publication number: 20220365375
    Abstract: An in-ear device is implemented as part of an audio system to present a user with improved audio content within an artificial reality system. The in-ear device is a fully integrated device with an internal microphone, an external microphone, and a transducer in which portions of the transducer form portions of the body of the device. This integration of transducer into the body of the in-ear device reduces the size of the in-ear device and allows for placement deeper within the ear canal of the user. The transducer generates audio content based on instructions received from an audio system that may be located on a device that is external to the in-ear device. The external microphone provides hear-through functionality, while the internal microphone provides feedback information to the audio system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Chuming Zhao, Drew Stone Briggs, Michael Edward Franks, Derek Wallin
  • Patent number: 11422392
    Abstract: An in-ear device is implemented as part of an audio system to present a user with improved audio content within an artificial reality system. The in-ear device is a fully integrated device with an internal microphone, an external microphone, and a transducer in which portions of the transducer form portions of the body of the device. This integration of transducer into the body of the in-ear device reduces the size of the in-ear device and allows for placement deeper within the ear canal of the user. The transducer generates audio content based on instructions received from an audio system that may be located on a device that is external to the in-ear device. The external microphone provides hear-through functionality, while the internal microphone provides feedback information to the audio system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chuming Zhao, Drew Stone Briggs, Michael Edward Franks, Derek Wallin
  • Publication number: 20220107515
    Abstract: An in-ear device is implemented as part of an audio system to present a user with improved audio content within an artificial reality system. The in-ear device is a fully integrated device with an internal microphone, an external microphone, and a transducer in which portions of the transducer form portions of the body of the device. This integration of transducer into the body of the in-ear device reduces the size of the in-ear device and allows for placement deeper within the ear canal of the user. The transducer generates audio content based on instructions received from an audio system that may be located on a device that is external to the in-ear device. The external microphone provides hear-through functionality, while the internal microphone provides feedback information to the audio system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: Chuming Zhao, Drew Stone Briggs, Michael Edward Franks, Derek Wallin
  • Publication number: 20210337300
    Abstract: A headset includes a tissue transducer on a carriage that translates along a temple portion of the headset. The carriage is configured to contact the helix root of a user's ear. The helix root provides a reference point, and when the carriage is contact with the helix root, the tissue transducer is configured to be located in a target area. By maintaining a fixed location of the tissue transducer relative to the helix root of the user's ear, the tissue transducer may be accurately positioned, even for users with different head shapes and sizes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: Morteza Khaleghimeybodi, Michael Edward Franks
  • Patent number: 11082765
    Abstract: A headset includes a tissue transducer on a carriage that translates along a temple portion of the headset. The carriage is configured to contact the helix root of a user's ear. The helix root provides a reference point, and when the carriage is contact with the helix root, the tissue transducer is configured to be located in a target area. By maintaining a fixed location of the tissue transducer relative to the helix root of the user's ear, the tissue transducer may be accurately positioned, even for users with different head shapes and sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Morteza Khaleghimeybodi, Michael Edward Franks
  • Publication number: 20210105552
    Abstract: A headset includes a tissue transducer on a carriage that translates along a temple portion of the headset. The carriage is configured to contact the helix root of a user's ear. The helix root provides a reference point, and when the carriage is contact with the helix root, the tissue transducer is configured to be located in a target area. By maintaining a fixed location of the tissue transducer relative to the helix root of the user's ear, the tissue transducer may be accurately positioned, even for users with different head shapes and sizes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventors: Morteza Khaleghimeybodi, Michael Edward Franks
  • Patent number: 8497657
    Abstract: A docking station for an electronic device includes a magnet that holds the electronic device in a mated orientation relative to the docking station. The docking station may include a mounting surface with two or more different charge-contact regions, each charge-contact region electrically coupled to a terminal of an electric power source and positioned to form an electrical connection with a charging terminal of the electronic device when the electronic device mates with the mounting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Edward Franks, Young Soo Kim, Steven Bathiche
  • Publication number: 20090322278
    Abstract: A docking station for an electronic device includes a magnet that holds the electronic device in a mated orientation relative to the docking station. The docking station may include a mounting surface with two or more different charge-contact regions, each charge-contact region electrically coupled to a terminal of an electric power source and positioned to form an electrical connection with a charging terminal of the electronic device when the electronic device mates with the mounting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Edward Franks, Young Soo Kim, Steven Bathiche