Patents by Inventor Thomas Burns

Thomas Burns 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).

  • Publication number: 20260089424
    Abstract: A system includes a hearing device comprising a rechargeable power source, power management circuitry, and a first charging interface comprising a first cathode contact and a first anode contact spaced apart from the first cathode contact. A charging module comprises a second charging interface configured to detachably couple with the first charging interface of the hearing device. The second charging interface comprises a second anode contact having a contact surface and a displaceable second cathode contact. An arrangement is configured to displace at least a portion of the second cathode contact above the contact surface to facilitate electrical contact between the first and second cathode contacts prior to electrical contact between the first and second anode contacts. Charging circuitry of the charging module is coupled to the second charging interface and configured to charge the rechargeable power source of the hearing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2025
    Publication date: March 26, 2026
    Inventors: Erik Carlson, Thomas Burns, Kyle Olson, Kent Giswold
  • Patent number: 12531965
    Abstract: A device includes a housing, a first cover coupled to the housing, a second cover coupled to the housing, and a microphone assembly. The first cover includes a first channel. The microphone assembly includes a printed circuit board (PCB) having a microphone and a second channel, and a seal. The seal has a third channel configured to align with the first channel and the second channel, and a cavity. The seal is configured to transition between an unfolded state in which the PCB is insertable into the cavity, and a folded state in which the PCB is at least partially enclosed within the cavity and the microphone is enclosed within the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2026
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Burns, Michael James O'Connor, David Wai-Man Wong, Jonathan E. Cohn
  • Publication number: 20250381505
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a superamphiphobic filter and an ear-wearable electronic device including such filter are disclosed. The filter includes a microparticle layer formed from microparticles. The microparticle layer includes a first major surface, a second major surface, and microstructures disposed in the layer that extend from the first major surface. The filter further includes at least one acoustic passageway disposed through the layer between the first and second major surfaces, and nanoparticles disposed on the first major surface of the layer and one or more of the microstructures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2025
    Publication date: December 18, 2025
    Inventors: Tim Wilburn, Thomas Burns
  • Publication number: 20250203300
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a hearing device system are disclosed. The system includes a first hearing device, a second hearing device, and a receiver operatively coupled to one or both of the first hearing device and the second hearing device. The system further includes a controller configured to provide a receiver signal to the receiver based on at least one of a first audio signal received from the first hearing device or a second audio signal received from the second hearing device, determine a first signal to noise ratio of the first audio signal, and determine a second signal to noise ratio of the second audio signal. The controller is further configured to compare the first signal to noise ratio and the second signal to noise ratio, and modify the receiver signal based on a difference between the first signal to noise ratio and the second signal to noise ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2024
    Publication date: June 19, 2025
    Inventors: Jacques André Grange, Thomas Burns
  • Publication number: 20250113139
    Abstract: An ear-wearable device includes a receiver that produces sound into an ear canal and an inward-facing microphone determining sound pressure resulting from: the sound reproduced by the receiver into the ear canal; and acoustical noise leaking into the ear canal. A structural vibration sensor is coupled to detect at least one of body-induced vibrations and receiver-induced vibrations and produce a sensed vibration signal in response. A sound processor of the ear-wearable device is operable to determine an error signal from the inward-facing microphone and determine an active noise cancellation (ANC) signal based on the error signal. The vibration signal is used to reduce the impacts of vibrations on ANC processing within the ear-wearable device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2024
    Publication date: April 3, 2025
    Inventors: Masahiro Sunohara, Piero Rivera Benois, Thomas Burns, Kyle Olson, Jinjun Xiao
  • Publication number: 20250048012
    Abstract: A system includes a hearing device comprising a rechargeable power source, power management circuitry, and a first charging interface comprising a first cathode contact and a first anode contact spaced apart from the first cathode contact. A charging module comprises a second charging interface configured to detachably couple with the first charging interface of the hearing device. The second charging interface comprises a second anode contact having a contact surface and a displaceable second cathode contact. An arrangement is configured to displace at least a portion of the second cathode contact above the contact surface to facilitate electrical contact between the first and second cathode contacts prior to electrical contact between the first and second anode contacts. Charging circuitry of the charging module is coupled to the second charging interface and configured to charge the rechargeable power source of the hearing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2024
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Inventors: Erik Carlson, Thomas Burns, Kyle Olson, Kent Giswold
  • Publication number: 20240414465
    Abstract: A system includes a hearing device comprising a rechargeable power source, power management circuitry, and a first charging interface comprising a first cathode contact and a first anode contact spaced apart from the first cathode contact. A charging module comprises a second charging interface configured to detachably couple with the first charging interface of the hearing device. The second charging interface comprises a second anode contact having a contact surface and a displaceable second cathode contact. An arrangement is configured to displace at least a portion of the second cathode contact above the contact surface to facilitate electrical contact between the first and second cathode contacts prior to electrical contact between the first and second anode contacts. Charging circuitry of the charging module is coupled to the second charging interface and configured to charge the rechargeable power source of the hearing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2024
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Inventors: Erik Carlson, Thomas Burns, Kyle Olson, Kent Giswold
  • Patent number: 12101588
    Abstract: A system includes a hearing device comprising a rechargeable power source, power management circuitry, and a first charging interface comprising a first cathode contact and a first anode contact spaced apart from the first cathode contact. A charging module comprises a second charging interface configured to detachably couple with the first charging interface of the hearing device. The second charging interface comprises a second anode contact having a contact surface and a displaceable second cathode contact. An arrangement is configured to displace at least a portion of the second cathode contact above the contact surface to facilitate electrical contact between the first and second cathode contacts prior to electrical contact between the first and second anode contacts. Charging circuitry of the charging module is coupled to the second charging interface and configured to charge the rechargeable power source of the hearing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Carlson, Thomas Burns, Kyle Olson, Kent Giswold
  • Patent number: 11863935
    Abstract: A hearing device may include an earpiece, and ear-tip suspension element disposed in the earpiece, a solenoid actuator, and a controller. The earpiece and the ear-tip suspension element may include passageways that connect to form a vent through the earpiece. The solenoid actuator may include a solenoid and a core. The core may be movable between an open position and a closed position to open and close the vent. The controller may include one or more processors and may be operably coupled to the solenoid actuator to control movement of the core between the open and closed position. The controller may be configured to move the core using the solenoid based on at least a listening environment of the hearing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Burns
  • Patent number: D1002417
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Burns, Jonathan Howard Biddle, Paul Douglas Grearson, Mark Graziani, William Morris
  • Patent number: D1012160
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Burns, Jonathan Howard Biddle, Michael O'Connor
  • Patent number: D1016877
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Emmanuel Laffon de Mazieres, Michael O'Connor, Jonathan Howard Biddle, Paul Douglas Grearson, Thomas Burns
  • Patent number: D1031820
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Burns, Jonathan Howard Biddle, Michael O'Connor
  • Patent number: D1051971
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael James O'Connor, Thomas Burns, Paul Douglas Grearson, Emmanuel Laffon de Mazieres, David Wai-Man Wong, Jonathan E. Cohn
  • Patent number: D1061684
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Howard Biddle, Thomas Burns, Alexsandra M. Bowers, Paul Douglas Grearson, Alexandra Specht
  • Patent number: D1086268
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Burns, Michael O'Connor, Paul Douglas Grearson, Jonathan Howard Biddle
  • Patent number: D1089362
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2024
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2025
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael James O'Connor, Thomas Burns, Paul Douglas Grearson, Emmanuel Laffon de Mazieres, David Wai-Man Wong, Jonathan E. Cohn
  • Patent number: D1096910
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2024
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2025
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Howard Biddle, Thomas Burns, Alexsandra M. Bowers, Paul Douglas Grearson, Alexandra Specht
  • Patent number: D1098233
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2024
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2025
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Emmanuel Laffon De Mazieres, Michael O'Connor, Jonathan Howard Biddle, Paul Douglas Grearson, Thomas Burns
  • Patent number: D1121705
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2025
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2026
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Howard Biddle, Thomas Burns, Alexsandra M. Bowers, Paul Douglas Grearson, Alexandra Specht