Patents by Inventor Antonio John Miller

Antonio John Miller 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: 11146891
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) coil assembly is presented herein. In some embodiments, the MEMS coil assembly includes a foldable substrate and a plurality of coil segments. Each coil segment includes a portion of the substrate, two conductors arranged on the portion of the substrate. The substrate can be folded to stack the coil segments on top of each other and to electrically connect first and second conductors of adjacent coil segments. In some other embodiments, the MEMS coil assembly includes a plurality of coil layers stacked onto each other. Each coil layer includes a substrate and a conductor to form a coil. The conductors of adjacent coil layers are connected through a via. The MEMS coil assembly can be arranged between a pair of magnets. An input signal can be applied to the MEMS coil assembly to cause the MEMS coil assembly to move orthogonally relative to the magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Porter, Chuming Zhao, Antonio John Miller, Peter Daniel Clyde
  • Publication number: 20210314720
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to calibrating head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) for a user of an audio system (e.g., as a component of a headset) using cartilage conducted sounds. A test sound is presented to a user using a transducer (e.g., cartilage conduction) and an audio signal is responsively received via a microphone at an entrance to the user's ear canal. The test sound and audio signal combination may be provided to an audio server where a model is used to determine one or more HRTFs for the user. Information describing the one or more HRTFs is provided to the audio system to be used for providing audio to the user. The audio server may also use a model to determine geometric information describing a pinna of the user based on the combination. In one embodiment, the geometric information is used to determine the one or more HRTFs for the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Morteza Khaleghimeybodi, Vamsi Krishna Ithapu, Antonio John Miller
  • Publication number: 20210306744
    Abstract: An eyewear device includes an audio system. In one embodiment, the audio system includes a microphone array that includes a plurality of acoustic sensors. Each acoustic sensor is configured to detect sounds within a local area surrounding the microphone array. For a plurality of the detected sounds, the audio system performs a direction of arrival (DoA) estimation. Based on parameters of the detected sound and/or the DoA estimation, the audio system may then generate or update one or more acoustic transfer functions unique to a user. The audio system may use the one or more acoustic transfer functions to generate audio content for the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Ravish Mehra, Antonio John Miller, Vladimir Tourbabin
  • Publication number: 20210281940
    Abstract: An in-ear device comprises a transducer section, a front volume section, and a rear volume section. The transducer section includes a frame and piezoelectric actuators coupled to the frame. The piezoelectric actuators are configured to generate an acoustic pressure wave. The transducer section includes a first side and a second side, the second side being opposite the first side. The front volume section is coupled to the first side to form a front cavity, the front volume section including an aperture from which the generated acoustic pressure wave exits the front volume section towards an ear drum of a user. The rear volume section is coupled to the second side to form a rear cavity. The transducer section, the front volume section, and the rear volume section are configured to fit entirely within the ear canal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Chuming Zhao, Scott Porter, Drew Stone Briggs, Antonio John Miller
  • Publication number: 20210248737
    Abstract: A design system generates a design for an in-ear device customized for a user. The in-ear device produces audio content for the user. The design system captures anthropometric data of the user. Using machine learning techniques, the design system determines features of an ear of the user from the anthropometric and generates a three dimensional (3D) geometry of the user's ear. A design for the in-ear device is generated based on the 3D geometry of the user's ear and includes a shell configured to fit in at least a portion of an ear canal of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Antonio John Miller, Morteza Khaleghimeybodi
  • Publication number: 20210227338
    Abstract: An audio system for user hearing assessment includes one or more audio capture devices, and processing circuitry. The one or more audio capture devices are configured to capture audio of a conversation of a user and convert the audio to audio signals. The processing circuitry is configured to use the audio signals to identify multiple conditions associated with user hearing difficulty. The conditions include any of words, phrases, frequencies, or phonemes, and environmental audio conditions that are followed by an indication of user hearing difficulty. The processing circuitry is configured to generate a hearing profile for the user based on the identified conditions associated with user hearing difficulty. The processing circuitry is configured to adjust an operation of an audio output device using the hearing profile to reduce a frequency of user hearing difficulty if the user requires audio enhancement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Haytham Mohamed Fayek Abdallah Abdelrehim Abokela, Antonio John Miller
  • Patent number: 11068668
    Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method for performing natural language translation in AR may include accessing an audio input stream that includes words spoken by a speaking user in a first language. The method may next include performing active noise cancellation on the words in the audio input stream so that the spoken words are suppressed before reaching a listening user. Still further, the method may include processing the audio input stream to identify the words spoken by the speaking user, and translating the identified words spoken by the speaking user into a second, different language. The method may also include generating spoken words in the second, different language using the translated words, and replaying the generated spoken words in the second language to the listening user. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Lovitt, Antonio John Miller, Philip Robinson, Scott Selfon
  • Patent number: 11070912
    Abstract: An eyewear device includes an audio system. In one embodiment, the audio system includes a microphone array that includes a plurality of acoustic sensors. Each acoustic sensor is configured to detect sounds within a local area surrounding the microphone array. For a plurality of the detected sounds, the audio system performs a direction of arrival (DoA) estimation. Based on parameters of the detected sound and/or the DoA estimation, the audio system may then generate or update one or more acoustic transfer functions unique to a user. The audio system may use the one or more acoustic transfer functions to generate audio content for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ravish Mehra, Antonio John Miller, Vladimir Tourbabin
  • Publication number: 20210216271
    Abstract: A system creates an audio profile. The audio profile may be stored in a database. For example, the audio profile may be securely stored in a database of a social network and associated with a user account. The audio profile may contain data describing the way in which the specific user hears and interprets sounds. Systems and applications which present sounds to the user may access the audio profile and modify the sounds presented to the user based on the data in the audio profile to enhance the audio experience for the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Philip Robinson, Antonio John Miller, William Owen Brimijoin, II, Andrew Lovitt
  • Publication number: 20210183352
    Abstract: An audio system for a wearable device dynamically updates acoustic transfer functions. The audio system is configured to estimate a direction of arrival (DoA) of each sound source detected by a microphone array relative to a position of the wearable device within a local area. The audio system may track the movement of each sound source. The audio system may form a beam in the direction of each sound source. The audio system may identify and classify each sound source based on the sound source properties. Based on the DoA estimates, the movement tracking, and the beamforming, the audio system generates or updates the acoustic transfer functions for the sound sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Vladimir Tourbabin, Jacob Ryan Donley, Antonio John Miller, Ravish Mehra
  • Patent number: 10979236
    Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method may include (1) establishing a communication channel to indirectly convey a conversation, (2) receiving, via the communication channel, a portion of the conversation, (3) presenting the portion of the conversation to a user, (4) receiving, via the communication channel, an additional portion of the conversation, (5) detecting an additional communication channel capable of conveying the conversation, (6) determining a human-perceivable difference between how the conversation has been conveyed via the communication channel and how the conversation will be conveyed via the additional communication channel, and (7) compensating for the human-perceivable difference when presenting the additional portion of the conversation to the user in order to smoothly transition the conversation from the communication channel to the additional communication channel. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Lovitt, Antonio John Miller, Philip Robinson, Scott Selfon
  • Patent number: 10976991
    Abstract: A system creates an audio profile. The audio profile may be stored in a database. For example, the audio profile may be securely stored in a database of a social network and associated with a user account. The audio profile may contain data describing the way in which the specific user hears and interprets sounds. Systems and applications which present sounds to the user may access the audio profile and modify the sounds presented to the user based on the data in the audio profile to enhance the audio experience for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Philip Robinson, Antonio John Miller, William Owen Brimijoin, II, Andrew Lovitt
  • Patent number: 10979845
    Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method for performing directional beamforming according to an anticipated position may include accessing environment data indicating a sound source within an environment. The device may include various audio hardware components configured to generate steerable audio beams. The method may also include identifying the location of the sound source within the environment based on the accessed environment data, and then steering the audio beams of the device to the identified location of the sound source within the environment. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Lovitt, Scott Phillip Selfon, Antonio John Miller
  • Patent number: 10966043
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to calibrating head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) for a user of an audio system (e.g., as a component of a headset) using cartilage conducted sounds. A test sound is presented to a user using a transducer (e.g., cartilage conduction) and an audio signal is responsively received via a microphone at an entrance to the user's ear canal. The test sound and audio signal combination may be provided to an audio server where a model is used to determine one or more HRTFs for the user. Information describing the one or more HRTFs is provided to the audio system to be used for providing audio to the user. The audio server may also use a model to determine geometric information describing a pinna of the user based on the combination. In one embodiment, the geometric information is used to determine the one or more HRTFs for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Morteza Khaleghimeybodi, Vamsi Krishna Ithapu, Antonio John Miller
  • Publication number: 20210089266
    Abstract: An audio system presented herein includes a transducer array, a sensor array, and a controller. The transducer array presents audio content to a user. The controller controls the transducer array to adjust a level of tactile content imparted to the user via actuation of at least one transducer in the transducer array while presenting the audio content to the user. The audio system can be part of a headset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Morteza Khaleghimeybodi, Buye Xu, Peter Gottlieb, Scott Porter, Antonio John Miller
  • Patent number: 10957299
    Abstract: An audio system for a wearable device dynamically updates acoustic transfer functions. The audio system is configured to estimate a direction of arrival (DoA) of each sound source detected by a microphone array relative to a position of the wearable device within a local area. The audio system may track the movement of each sound source. The audio system may form a beam in the direction of each sound source. The audio system may identify and classify each sound source based on the sound source properties. Based on the DoA estimates, the movement tracking, and the beamforming, the audio system generates or updates the acoustic transfer functions for the sound sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vladimir Tourbabin, Jacob Ryan Donley, Antonio John Miller, Ravish Mehra
  • Publication number: 20210044891
    Abstract: An ear-plug assembly presents audio content to an ear canal of a user. The audio content may be based in part on sound in a local area surrounding the user. The ear-plug assembly detects, via one or more acoustic sensors, sound in the area around the user. The sound waves travel through an aperture in a body of the ear-plug assembly and are propagated to a waveguide to the one or more acoustic sensors. The ear-plug assembly processes the detected sound data in a controller, which instructs a speaker assembly to present audio content based in part on the detected sound data. The detected sounds may be amplified, attenuated, filtered, and/or augmented when presented by the speaker assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Tetsuro Oishi, Morteza Khaleghimeybodi, Pablo Francisco Faundez Hoffmann, Alan Ng, Antonio John Miller, Gongqiang Yu, Chuming Zhao
  • Patent number: 10917735
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to obtaining head-related transfer function (HRTF) through performing simulation using images of a user's head. The geometry of the user's head is determined based in part on one or more images of the user's head. The simulation of sound propagation from an audio source to the user's head is performed based on the generated geometry. The geometry may be represented in a three-dimensional meshes or principal component analysis (PCA)-based where the user's head is represented as a combination of representative three-dimensional shapes of test subjects' heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Antonio John Miller, Ravish Mehra
  • Patent number: 10897668
    Abstract: An audio system for customizing sound fields for increased user privacy. A microphone array of a headset detects sounds from one or more sound sources in a local area of the headset. The audio system estimates array transfer functions (ATFs) associated with the sounds, and determines determining sound field reproduction filters for a loudspeaker array of the headset using the ATFs. The audio system presents audio content, via the loudspeaker array, based in part on the sound field reproduction filters. The presented audio content has a sound field that has a reduced amplitude in a first damped region of the local area that includes a first sound source of the one or more sound sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Antonio John Miller, Jacob Ryan Donley, Scott Porter
  • Publication number: 20200387341
    Abstract: A system creates an audio profile. The audio profile may be stored in a database. For example, the audio profile may be securely stored in a database of a social network and associated with a user account. The audio profile may contain data describing the way in which the specific user hears and interprets sounds. Systems and applications which present sounds to the user may access the audio profile and modify the sounds presented to the user based on the data in the audio profile to enhance the audio experience for the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Philip Robinson, Antonio John Miller, William Owen Brimijoin, II, Andrew Lovitt