Patents by Inventor John Usher

John Usher 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: 12726752
    Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a method of determining hearing loss using audio cues whose spectrum is orthogonal to each other to identify a wearer's hearing loss, and using the information to adjust audio to normal listening levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2026
    Assignee: The Diablo Canyon Collective LLC
    Inventors: John Patrick Keady, John Usher
  • Publication number: 20260255115
    Abstract: A device to test the seal quality of an earpiece. Audio processing circuitry produces an audio signal for driving a speaker. Output from the microphone while the speaker is being driven by the audio signal is used to determine the seal. The device or method further includes control circuitry to evaluate a seal quality of the device. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2026
    Publication date: August 27, 2026
    Applicant: ST Portfolio Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: John Usher, John P. Keady
  • Patent number: 12718809
    Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a method and device for voice operated control with learning. The method can include measuring a first sound received from a first microphone, measuring a second sound received from a second microphone, detecting a spoken voice based on an analysis of measurements taken at the first and second microphone, learning from the analysis when the user is speaking and a speaking level in noisy environments, training a decision unit from the learning to be robust to a detection of the spoken voice in the noisy environments, mixing the first sound and the second sound to produce a mixed signal, and controlling the production of the mixed signal based on the learning of one or more aspects of the spoken voice and ambient sounds in the noisy environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2026
    Assignee: ST Portfolio Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: John Usher, Steven Goldstein, Marc Boillot
  • Patent number: 12718828
    Abstract: This disclosure provides methods, devices, and systems for audio signal processing. The present implementations more specifically relate to speech enhancement techniques that utilize multi-channel audio signals for audio source classification. In some aspects, a speech enhancement system may include an adaptive filter, a feature extractor, and a feature classifier. The adaptive filter is configured to receive a multi-channel audio signal, via at least a first microphone and a second microphone, and determine a relative impulse response (ReIR) between the microphones based on the multi-channel audio signal. The feature extractor is configured to extract a set of features from the ReIR based at least in part on a peak of the ReIR. The feature classifier is configured to classify the set of features as being associated with a target source or a distractor source based on a Gaussian mixture model (GMM).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2026
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventor: John Usher
  • Publication number: 20260247061
    Abstract: At least one embodiment is directed to a method for notification when a keyword is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2025
    Publication date: August 20, 2026
    Applicant: ST DetectTech, LLC
    Inventor: John Usher
  • Patent number: 12712974
    Abstract: A method and system of conferencing can include the steps of initiating a conference call at a communication device with two or more communication devices and selecting to suppress a voice communication of at least one communication device on the conference call where a modified electronic signal is generated with the selected at least one communication device so that the voice communication from the selected at least one communication device is inaudible. The method or system further includes sending the modified electronic signal to at least one other communication device on the conference call. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2026
    Assignee: ST Portfolio Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Jason McIntosh, Marc Boillot, John Usher, Steven Goldstein
  • Patent number: 12707215
    Abstract: A device to test the seal quality of an earpiece. Audio processing circuitry produces an audio signal for driving a speaker. Output from the microphone while the speaker is being driven by the audio signal is used to determine the seal. The device or method further includes control circuitry to evaluate a seal quality of the device. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2026
    Assignee: ST Portfolio Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: John Usher, John P. Keady
  • Publication number: 20260189872
    Abstract: A system is described that includes a display configured to visually display a mixed visual signal and audio signal, which includes a camera, a first microphone, a second microphone, two speakers, memory, a processor, that displays a mixed visual signal and the speakers emit a mixed audio signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2025
    Publication date: July 2, 2026
    Applicant: ST VRTech, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce Walker, John Usher, John P. Keady
  • Publication number: 20260189843
    Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a communication device that includes a microphone configured to detect an acoustic signal from an acoustic environment, and a processor, configured to detect an acoustical dampening between the acoustic environment and the microphone, based on a change in a characteristic of the acoustic signal and, responsive to the acoustical dampening, apply a compensation filter to the acoustic signal to form a compensated acoustic signal that is reproduced. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2025
    Publication date: July 2, 2026
    Applicant: ST DetectTech, LLC
    Inventors: John Usher, Steve Goldstein, John P. Keady
  • Publication number: 20260172768
    Abstract: A device to test the seal quality of an earpiece. Audio processing circuitry produces an audio signal for driving a speaker. Output from the microphone while the speaker is being driven by the audio signal is used to determine the seal. The device or method further includes control circuitry to evaluate a seal quality of the device. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2023
    Publication date: June 18, 2026
    Applicant: ST FamTech, LLC
    Inventors: John Usher, John P. Keady
  • Patent number: 12634653
    Abstract: A system is described that includes a display configured to visually display a mixed visual signal and audio signal, which includes a camera, a first microphone, a second microphone, two speakers, memory, a processor, that displays a mixed visual signal and the speakers emit a mixed audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2026
    Assignee: ST VRTech, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce Walker, John Usher, John P. Keady
  • Publication number: 20260133748
    Abstract: An analysis system has at least one monitoring assembly that includes at least one microphone to monitor an acoustic field proximate the monitoring assembly. The at least one microphone produces at least one microphone signal responsive to the acoustic field. The analysis system further includes a data storage device configured to buffer the at least one microphone signal and an audio analysis system configured to analyze a content of the data storage device where the audio analysis system is configured to analyze the content of the buffer to process at least a sound into a response or action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2025
    Publication date: May 14, 2026
    Applicant: ST FamTech, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Wayne Goldstein, John Usher
  • Patent number: 12626683
    Abstract: Earpieces and methods for acute sound detection and reproduction are provided. A method can include measuring an external ambient sound level (xASL), monitoring a change in the xASL for detecting an acute sound, estimating a proximity of the acute sound, and upon detecting the acute sound and its proximity, reproducing the acute sound within an ear canal, where the ear canal is at least partially occluded by an earpiece. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2026
    Assignee: ST FamTech, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Wayne Goldstein, John Usher, Marc Andre Boillot
  • Patent number: 12621598
    Abstract: At least one embodiment is directed to a method for automatically activating ambient sound pass-through in an earphone in response to a detected keyword in the ambient sound field of the earphone user, the steps of the method comprising at least receiving at least one ambient sound microphone (ASM) signal; receiving at least one audio content (AC) signal; and comparing the ASM signal to a keyword and if the ASM signal matches a keyword then an AC gain is created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2026
    Assignee: ST FamTech, LLC
    Inventor: John Usher
  • Patent number: 12621596
    Abstract: The invention relates to an ear worn device (1), particularly a wireless headphone or a hearing aid, comprising a first module (10) configured to be inserted at least partially into an ear canal (2a) of a user, wherein the first module (10) comprises a loudspeaker (11) configured to emit sound into the ear canal (2a) of the user, and wherein the first module (10) comprises at least one microphone (12, 13) configured to pick up sound, and a second module (20) configured to be arranged outside of the concha cava (2b) adjacent to said ear canal (2a) of the user when the first module (10) is inserted into said ear canal (2a), wherein the second module (20) comprises at least one electronic component (21) which is operatively coupled to the loudspeaker (11) and/or the at least one microphone (12, 13) of the first module, wherein the first ambient microphone (12) is configured to be arranged behind the tragus (2c) of the ear (2) of the user adjacent to the ear canal (2a) and faces away from the ear canal (2a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2026
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Pauline O'Callaghan, John Usher
  • Publication number: 20260120557
    Abstract: A control device configurable to couple to one or more devices having different control functions and a method of facilitating remote control of at least one device having different control functions includes a processor that receives an instruction for at least one of the control functions and additional information from the at least one device, the processor including a plurality of processing algorithms, the additional information received from the at least one device including at least a locally transmitted data signal. The processor selectably processes the additional information using at least one of the processing algorithms and controls a touch sensitive display reconfigurable for the different control functions, such that the at least one control function and the selectably processed additional information are presented on the touch sensitive display. The processor also generates at least one control signal responsive to receiving the locally transmitted data signal. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2024
    Publication date: April 30, 2026
    Inventors: Steven Wayne Goldstein, John Usher
  • Patent number: 12597513
    Abstract: An earpiece, with two ambient sound microphones and an ear canal microphone detects whether the user is speaking and if so then detects an event, saving audio to memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2026
    Assignee: ST FamTech, LLC
    Inventors: Steven W. Goldstein, John Usher, Marc Andre Boillot
  • Patent number: 12591407
    Abstract: An electronic device or method for adjusting a gain on a voice operated control system can include one or more processors and a memory having computer instructions. The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the operations of receiving a first microphone signal, receiving a second microphone signal, updating a slow time weighted ratio of the filtered first and second signals, and updating a fast time weighted ratio of the filtered first and second signals. The one or more processors can further perform the operations of calculating an absolute difference between the fast time weighted ratio and the slow time weighted ratio, comparing the absolute difference with a threshold, and increasing the gain when the absolute difference is greater than the threshold. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2026
    Assignee: ST R&DTech, LLC
    Inventor: John Usher
  • Patent number: 12586680
    Abstract: An accident detector includes a processor, one or more sensors operatively coupled to the processor where the one or more sensors acquire at the ear, on the ear or within an ear canal, one or more of acceleration, blood oxygen saturation, blood pressure or heart-rate, and the one or more sensors configured to monitor a biological state or a physical motion or both for an event. The accident detection can be a detection of a discrepancy when compared with a set of reference data by the one or more sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2026
    Assignee: ST FamTech, LLC
    Inventors: Steven W. Goldstein, John Usher, Marc Andre Boillot
  • Publication number: 20260080855
    Abstract: A method can include measuring an external ambient sound level (xASL), monitoring a change in the xASL for detecting an acute sound, estimating a proximity of the acute sound, and upon detecting the acute sound and its proximity, reproducing the acute sound within an ear canal, where the ear canal is at least partially occluded by an earpiece. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2025
    Publication date: March 19, 2026
    Applicant: STAwareTech,LLC
    Inventors: Steven Wayne Goldstein, John Usher, Marc Andre Boillot