Patents by Inventor Mead C. Killion

Mead C. Killion 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: 11902750
    Abstract: Systems and methods for arranging two first-order directional microphones in tandem to form a second-order directional microphone system of an amplified listening device are provided. The amplified listening device includes a first directional microphone configured to provide a first electrical signal having a first phase, and a second directional microphone reversed in space and configured to provide a second electrical signal having a second phase opposite the first phase. Microphone inlet ports of the first and second directional microphones are linearly aligned in a same plane. The rear microphone inlet ports of the first and second directional microphones are positioned adjacent each other. The amplified listening device includes a resistive summing circuit without phase inverting circuitry. The resistive summing circuit is configured to combine the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal to generate a second order directional response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Team IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Mead C. Killion, Andrew Haapapuro, Viorel Drambarean
  • Publication number: 20220360916
    Abstract: Systems and methods for arranging two first-order directional microphones in tandem to form a second-order directional microphone system of an amplified listening device are provided. The amplified listening device includes a first directional microphone configured to provide a first electrical signal having a first phase, and a second directional microphone reversed in space and configured to provide a second electrical signal having a second phase opposite the first phase. Microphone inlet ports of the first and second directional microphones are linearly aligned in a same plane. The rear microphone inlet ports of the first and second directional microphones are positioned adjacent each other. The amplified listening device includes a resistive summing circuit without phase inverting circuitry. The resistive summing circuit is configured to combine the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal to generate a second order directional response.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Mead C. Killion, Andrew Haapapuro, Viorel Drambarean
  • Patent number: 11310605
    Abstract: A device to transmit an audio signal comprises at least one light source configured to transmit the audio signal with at least one wavelength of light. At least one detector is configured to detect the audio signal and generate at least one electrical signal in response to the at least one wavelength of light. A transducer is supported with and configured to vibrate at least one of an eardrum, an ossicle or a cochlea. Active circuitry is coupled to the transducer to drive the transducer in response to the at least one electrical signal, so as to provide the user with high quality sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Earlens Corporation
    Inventors: Sunil Puria, Jonathan P. Fay, Lee Felsenstein, James Stone, Mead C. Killion, Vincent Pluvinage
  • Patent number: 10624562
    Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a hearing testing probe apparatus. The hearing testing probe apparatus includes a probe tube detachably coupled at a first end to a probe body and extending through a center hole in an eartip to align proximate a face of the eartip at a second end. The probe tube includes a plurality of stimulus lumens for receiving and carrying stimulus from the first end of the probe tube for output at the second end of the probe tube. The probe tube includes one or more microphone lumens for receiving and carrying one or more measured responses from the second end of the probe tube to one or more microphones at the first end of the probe tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: ETYMOTIC RESEARCH, INC.
    Inventors: Steve Iseberg, Mead C. Killion, Jonathan Siegel, Sumitrajit Dhar, Viorel Drambarean, Dan Mapes-Riordan, Steve Viranyi
  • Publication number: 20200084551
    Abstract: A device to transmit an audio signal comprises at least one light source configured to transmit the audio signal with at least one wavelength of light. At least one detector is configured to detect the audio signal and generate at least one electrical signal in response to the at least one wavelength of light. A transducer is supported with and configured to vibrate at least one of an eardrum, an ossicle or a cochlea. Active circuitry is coupled to the transducer to drive the transducer in response to the at least one electrical signal, so as to provide the user with high quality sound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Sunil PURIA, Jonathan P. FAY, Lee FELSENSTEIN, James STONE, Mead C. KILLION, Vincent PLUVINAGE
  • Patent number: 10560786
    Abstract: A speech intelligibility system. Embodiments comprise a talker unit, a listener unit and an earpiece. The talker unit includes a microphone to receive audible speech content and to produce electrical signals representative of the speech content, and a transmitter coupled to the microphone to produce wireless transmissions containing the speech content. The listener unit includes a receiver to receive the wireless transmissions and to produce electrical signals representative of the speech content. At least one of the talker unit and the listener unit includes an amplifier to amplify spectral components of the speech content within a frequency range having a lower end between about 800 Hz and 1,700 Hz and an upper end between about 7,000 Hz and 11,000 Hz. The earpiece is coupled to the listener unit and includes a speaker to produce audible speech content having the amplified spectral components and a tube to direct the audible speech content from the speaker toward a user's ear canal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
    Inventors: Michael J. Cevette, Jan Stepanek, Mead C. Killion, Charles J. Aldous
  • Patent number: 10516949
    Abstract: A device to transmit an audio signal comprises at least one light source configured to transmit the audio signal with at least one wavelength of light. At least one detector is configured to detect the audio signal and generate at least one electrical signal in response to the at least one wavelength of light. A transducer is supported with and configured to vibrate at least one of an eardrum, an ossicle or a cochlea. Active circuitry is coupled to the transducer to drive the transducer in response to the at least one electrical signal, so as to provide the user with high quality sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Earlens Corporation
    Inventors: Sunil Puria, Jonathan P. Fay, Lee Felsenstein, James Stone, Mead C. Killion, Vincent Pluvinage
  • Patent number: 10505640
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a system and method that control idling current of a pulse modulated driver. The system may include an audio input device configured to receive an audio input signal. The system can include sliding bias control circuitry configured to generate a sliding bias control signal based on a level of the audio input signal. The system may include sliding bias generation circuitry configured to generate a sliding bias voltage superimposed onto the audio input signal to generate a pulse modulated driver input signal that is input into an amplifier. The sliding bias voltage may be based on the sliding bias control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: ETYMOTIC RESEARCH, INC.
    Inventor: Mead C. Killion
  • Patent number: 10357402
    Abstract: Provided is a disclosure for measuring the occlusion effect due to the depth of seal of the earpiece in the ear canal using a single microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Etymotic Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Mead C. Killion
  • Patent number: 10306375
    Abstract: A speech intelligibility system. Embodiments comprise a talker unit, a listener unit and an earpiece. The talker unit includes a microphone to receive audible speech content and to produce electrical signals representative of the speech content, and a transmitter coupled to the microphone to produce wireless transmissions containing the speech content. The listener unit includes a receiver to receive the wireless transmissions and to produce electrical signals representative of the speech content. At least one of the talker unit and the listener unit includes an amplifier to amplify spectral components of the speech content within a frequency range having a lower end between about 800 Hz and 1,700 Hz and an upper end between about 7,000 Hz and 11,000 Hz. The earpiece is coupled to the listener unit and includes a speaker to produce audible speech content having the amplified spectral components and a tube to direct the audible speech content from the speaker toward a user's ear canal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignees: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Etymotic Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Cevette, Jan Stepanek, Mead C. Killion, Charles J. Aldous
  • Publication number: 20180310103
    Abstract: A speech intelligibility system. Embodiments comprise a talker unit, a listener unit and an earpiece. The talker unit includes a microphone to receive audible speech content and to produce electrical signals representative of the speech content, and a transmitter coupled to the microphone to produce wireless transmissions containing the speech content. The listener unit includes a receiver to receive the wireless transmissions and to produce electrical signals representative of the speech content. At least one of the talker unit and the listener unit includes an amplifier to amplify spectral components of the speech content within a frequency range having a lower end between about 800 Hz and 1,700 Hz and an upper end between about 7,000 Hz and 11,000 Hz. The earpiece is coupled to the listener unit and includes a speaker to produce audible speech content having the amplified spectral components and a tube to direct the audible speech content from the speaker toward a user's ear canal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Michael J. Cevette, Jan Stepanek, Mead C. Killion, Charles J. Aldous
  • Patent number: 10085677
    Abstract: A hearing screening system for testing hearing abilities of a patient includes an otoacoustic emission (OAE) module operable to perform OAE tests, a tympanometry (tymp) module operable to perform tymp tests, and at least one probe in communication with at least one of the OAE and tymp modules. The probe includes a probe tip that is configured to be positioned within an ear canal of a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: ETYMOTIC RESEARCH, INC.
    Inventors: Steve Iseberg, Steve Viranyi, Gregory R. Shaw, Viorel Drambarean, John Stuhr French, Ron Scicluna, Mead C. Killion
  • Publication number: 20180213335
    Abstract: A device to transmit an audio signal comprises at least one light source configured to transmit the audio signal with at least one wavelength of light. At least one detector is configured to detect the audio signal and generate at least one electrical signal in response to the at least one wavelength of light. A transducer is supported with and configured to vibrate at least one of an eardrum, an ossicle or a cochlea. Active circuitry is coupled to the transducer to drive the transducer in response to the at least one electrical signal, so as to provide the user with high quality sound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Sunil PURIA, Jonathan P. FAY, Lee FELSENSTEIN, James STONE, Mead C. KILLION, Vincent PLUVINAGE
  • Patent number: 9961454
    Abstract: A device to transmit an audio signal comprises at least one light source configured to transmit the audio signal with at least one wavelength of light. At least one detector is configured to detect the audio signal and generate at least one electrical signal in response to the at least one wavelength of light. A transducer is supported with and configured to vibrate at least one of an eardrum, an ossicle or a cochlea. Active circuitry is coupled to the transducer to drive the transducer in response to the at least one electrical signal, so as to provide the user with high quality sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Earlens Corporation
    Inventors: Sunil Puria, Jonathan P. Fay, Lee Felsenstein, James Stone, Mead C. Killion, Vincent Pluvinage
  • Publication number: 20180035214
    Abstract: A speech intelligibility system. Embodiments comprise a talker unit, a listener unit and an earpiece. The talker unit includes a microphone to receive audible speech content and to produce electrical signals representative of the speech content, and a transmitter coupled to the microphone to produce wireless transmissions containing the speech content. The listener unit includes a receiver to receive the wireless transmissions and to produce electrical signals representative of the speech content. At least one of the talker unit and the listener unit includes an amplifier to amplify spectral components of the speech content within a frequency range having a lower end between about 800 Hz and 1,700 Hz and an upper end between about 7,000 Hz and 11,000 Hz. The earpiece is coupled to the listener unit and includes a speaker to produce audible speech content having the amplified spectral components and a tube to direct the audible speech content from the speaker toward a user's ear canal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Michael J. Cevette, Jan Stepanek, Mead C. Killion, Charles J. Aldous
  • Publication number: 20170134866
    Abstract: A device to transmit an audio signal comprises at least one light source configured to transmit the audio signal with at least one wavelength of light. At least one detector is configured to detect the audio signal and generate at least one electrical signal in response to the at least one wavelength of light. A transducer is supported with and configured to vibrate at least one of an eardrum, an ossicle or a cochlea. Active circuitry is coupled to the transducer to drive the transducer in response to the at least one electrical signal, so as to provide the user with high quality sound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Sunil PURIA, Jonathan P. FAY, Lee FELSENSTEIN, James STONE, Mead C. KILLION, Vincent PLUVINAGE
  • Patent number: 9591409
    Abstract: A device to transmit an audio signal comprises at least one light source configured to transmit the audio signal with at least one wavelength of light. At least one detector is configured to detect the audio signal and generate at least one electrical signal in response to the at least one wavelength of light. A transducer is supported with and configured to vibrate at least one of an eardrum, an ossicle or a cochlea. Active circuitry is coupled to the transducer to drive the transducer in response to the at least one electrical signal, so as to provide the user with high quality sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: EarLens Corporation
    Inventors: Sunil Puria, Jonathan P. Fay, Lee Felsenstein, James Stone, Mead C. Killion, Vincent Pluvinage
  • Patent number: 9566023
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an earphone apparatus adapted for use in audiometry examinations. The earphone apparatus comprises a housing and a receiver having an acoustic output adapted to connect with an audio signal source. The earphone apparatus can also include a circuit board with an electrical equalization network connected to the receiver. A coupling can be connected to the acoustic output of the receiver. A sound tube can be connected to the acoustic output and extends out from the housing to an ear piece. The earphone also includes a resonance cancellation assembly comprising a damping chamber and a tubing section acoustically connecting the damping chamber to the coupling. The damping chamber can provide an acoustic compliance to the sound delivered by the receiver. The earphone can also comprise an electrical connector with a protector that is adapted to connect with a female connector delivering electrical power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: ETYMOTIC RESEARCH, INC.
    Inventors: Mead C. Killion, Charles J. Aldous, Viorel Drambarean, Donald Wilson, Jonathan K. Stewart
  • Publication number: 20170041728
    Abstract: Provided is a disclosure for measuring the occlusion effect due to the depth of seal of the earpiece in the ear canal using a single microphone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2016
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventor: Mead C. Killion
  • Publication number: 20160134976
    Abstract: A device to transmit an audio signal comprises at least one light source configured to transmit the audio signal with at least one wavelength of light. At least one detector is configured to detect the audio signal and generate at least one electrical signal in response to the at least one wavelength of light. A transducer is supported with and configured to vibrate at least one of an eardrum, an ossicle or a cochlea. Active circuitry is coupled to the transducer to drive the transducer in response to the at least one electrical signal, so as to provide the user with high quality sound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: Sunil Puria, Jonathan P. Fay, Lee Felsenstein, James Stone, Mead C. Killion, Vincent Pluvinage