Patents by Inventor Steve Kearey

Steve Kearey 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: 11968487
    Abstract: A microphone assembly can include a form-factor adapter housing including an interface opening and an external acoustic port, and an internal microphone assembly disposed at least partially within the adapter housing. The internal microphone assembly can include an internal housing having an internal acoustic port and electrical interface contacts, a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) motor disposed in the internal housing, and an integrated circuit disposed in the internal housing, the integrated circuit electrically coupled to the MEMS motor and to the electrical interface contacts. The assembly can include an adapter interface located at the interface opening and comprising external host device interface contacts electrically coupled to the electrical interface contacts, the external host device interface contacts exposed to an exterior of the microphone assembly. The internal acoustic port can be acoustically coupled to the external acoustic port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Janice LoPresti, Steve Kearey, Usha Murthy
  • Publication number: 20230254619
    Abstract: A microphone assembly can include a form-factor adapter housing including an interface opening and an external acoustic port, and an internal microphone assembly disposed at least partially within the adapter housing. The internal microphone assembly can include an internal housing having an internal acoustic port and electrical interface contacts, a MEMS motor disposed in the internal housing, and an integrated circuit disposed in the internal housing, the integrated circuit electrically coupled to the MEMS motor and to the electrical interface contacts. The assembly can include an adapter interface located at the interface opening and comprising external host device interface contacts electrically coupled to the electrical interface contacts, the external host device interface contacts exposed to an exterior of the microphone assembly. The internal acoustic port can be acoustically coupled to the external acoustic port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Janice LoPresti, Steve Kearey, Usha Murthy
  • Patent number: 11706561
    Abstract: A balanced armature receiver includes a gas permeable barrier located on a portion of the receiver defining a back volume to provide barometric relief. The barrier can be located in a wall portion or diaphragm of the receiver to vent the back volume to an exterior of the receiver directly, via a front volume, or via a nozzle. The gas permeable barrier is impermeable to liquid infiltration and can be configured to influence the low frequency response of the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Brenno Varanda, Chris Monti, Steve Kearey, Donald Verghese Jacob, Tim Wickstrom, Jose Salazar, Alex Grossman, Matt Manley
  • Publication number: 20230217153
    Abstract: A balanced armature receiver includes a gas permeable barrier located on a portion of the receiver defining a back volume to provide barometric relief. The barrier can be located in a wall portion or diaphragm of the receiver to vent the back volume to an exterior of the receiver directly, via a front volume, or via a nozzle. The gas permeable barrier is impermeable to liquid infiltration and can be configured to influence the low frequency response of the receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Brenno Varanda, Chris Monti, Steve Kearey, Donald Verghese Jacob, Tim Wickstrom, Jose Salazar, Alex Grossman, Matt Manley
  • Patent number: 11659310
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) microphone and form-factor adapter can include an adapter housing including an opening and an outer acoustic port and can include a MEMS microphone disposed at least partially within the adapter housing. The MEMS microphone can include a microphone housing, a MEMS motor disposed in the microphone housing and acoustically coupled to the outer acoustic port of the adapter housing via an acoustic port of the microphone housing, and an electrical circuit disposed in the microphone housing and electrically coupled to the MEMS motor and to electrical contacts on an exterior of the microphone housing. The electrical contacts can be physically accessible through the opening of the adapter housing. The adapter housing can change a form-factor of the MEMS microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Janice LoPresti, Steve Kearey, Usha Murthy
  • Patent number: 11533573
    Abstract: A hearing device and subassembly therefor includes a sleeve member configured for at least partial insertion into a user's ear canal, the sleeve member defining a cavity that receives and retains at least a portion of a sound-producing electroacoustic transducer. The sleeve member includes a cable interface, wherein an electrical interface of a sound-producing electroacoustic transducer received in the cavity is accessible via the cable interface. The device also includes on or more sensors integrated with the sleeve member and positioned to sense a biomarker or other condition when the sleeve member is at least partially inserted into the user's ear canal. The hearing device includes conductive traces integrated with the sleeve member, where at least one conductive trace is electrically connected to the sensor and electrically connectable via the cable interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: KNOWLES ELECTRONICS, LLC
    Inventors: Earl E. Houcek, Matthew Manley, Daryl Barry, Yahui Zhang, Steve Kearey
  • Publication number: 20220132231
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) microphone and form-factor adapter can include an adapter housing including an opening and an outer acoustic port and can include a MEMS microphone disposed at least partially within the adapter housing. The MEMS microphone can include a microphone housing, a MEMS motor disposed in the microphone housing and acoustically coupled to the outer acoustic port of the adapter housing via an acoustic port of the microphone housing, and an electrical circuit disposed in the microphone housing and electrically coupled to the MEMS motor and to electrical contacts on an exterior of the microphone housing. The electrical contacts can be physically accessible through the opening of the adapter housing. The adapter housing can change a form-factor of the MEMS microphone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Janice LoPresti, Steve Kearey, Usha Murthy
  • Patent number: 11259104
    Abstract: A microphone can include an adapter housing. The adapter housing can include an opening and an outer acoustic port. The microphone can include an internal microphone assembly disposed at least partially within the adapter housing. The internal microphone assembly can include an internal housing having an internal acoustic port. The internal microphone assembly can include a plurality of contacts disposed on the internal housing. The contacts can be accessible through the opening of the adapter housing. An interior of the internal housing can be acoustically coupled to the outer acoustic port via the internal acoustic port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Janice LoPresti, Steve Kearey, Usha Murthy
  • Publication number: 20210400366
    Abstract: A microphone can include an adapter housing. The adapter housing can include an opening and an outer acoustic port. The microphone can include an internal microphone assembly disposed at least partially within the adapter housing. The internal microphone assembly can include an internal housing having an internal acoustic port. The internal microphone assembly can include a plurality of contacts disposed on the internal housing. The contacts can be accessible through the opening of the adapter housing. An interior of the internal housing can be acoustically coupled to the outer acoustic port via the internal acoustic port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventors: Janice LoPresti, Steve Kearey, Usha Murthy
  • Publication number: 20200213787
    Abstract: A hearing device and subassembly therefor includes a sleeve member configured for at least partial insertion into a user's ear canal, the sleeve member defining a cavity that receives and retains at least a portion of a sound-producing electroacoustic transducer. The sleeve member includes a cable interface, wherein an electrical interface of a sound-producing electroacoustic transducer received in the cavity is accessible via the cable interface. The device also includes on or more sensors integrated with the sleeve member and positioned to sense a biomarker or other condition when the sleeve member is at least partially inserted into the user's ear canal. The hearing device includes conductive traces integrated with the sleeve member, where at least one conductive trace is electrically connected to the sensor and electrically connectable via the cable interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Earl E. Houcek, Matthew Manley, Daryl Barry, Yahui Zhang, Steve Kearey
  • Patent number: 6704427
    Abstract: An acoustic damper for covering a housing inlet of a transducer is disclosed. The damper includes a mesh panel and a non-mesh periphery. The non-mesh periphery of the damper is adhesively attached to the housing of the transducer wherein the mesh panel covers the inlet. The non-mesh periphery of the damper inhibits the adhesive from wicking into the mesh panel. The damper is adaptable for attachment of a film. The film is capable of cooperating with a backplate to form a motor assembly of the transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventor: Steve Kearey
  • Publication number: 20010033671
    Abstract: An acoustic damper for covering a housing inlet of a transducer is disclosed. The damper includes a mesh panel and a non-mesh periphery. The non-mesh periphery of the damper is adhesively attached to the housing of the transducer wherein the mesh panel covers the inlet. The non-mesh periphery of the damper inhibits the adhesive from wicking into the mesh panel. The damper is adaptable for attachment of a film. The film is capable of cooperating with a backplate to form a motor assembly of the transducer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Publication date: October 25, 2001
    Inventor: Steve Kearey