Patents by Inventor Thomas Howard Burns

Thomas Howard 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: 20240105177
    Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a local assistant system responding to voice input using an ear-wearable device. The system detects a wake-up signal and receives a first voice input communicating a first query content. The system includes speech recognition circuitry to determine the first query content, speech generation circuitry, and an input database of locally-handled user inputs. If the first audio input matches one of the locally-handled user inputs, then the system takes a local responsive action. If the first audio input does not match one of the locally-handled user inputs, then the system transmits at least a portion of the first query content over a wireless network to a network resource.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Achintya Kumar Bhowmik, David Alan Fabry, Amit Shahar, Justin R. Burwinkel, Jeffrey Paul Solum, Thomas Howard Burns
  • Publication number: 20240089677
    Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for own-voice sensing in hearing assistance devices. One aspect of the present subject matter includes an in-the-ear (ITE) hearing assistance device adapted to process sounds, including sounds from a wearer's mouth. According to various embodiments, the device includes a hollow plastic housing adapted to be worn in the ear of the wearer and a differential sensor mounted to an interior surface of the housing in an ear canal of the wearer. The differential sensor includes inlets located within the housing and the differential sensor is configured to improve speech intelligibility of sounds from the wearer's mouth, in various embodiments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas Howard Burns, Lars Tuborg Jensen
  • Patent number: 11869505
    Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a local assistant system responding to voice input using an ear-wearable device. The system detects a wake-up signal and receives a first voice input communicating a first query content. The system includes speech recognition circuitry to determine the first query content, speech generation circuitry, and an input database of locally-handled user inputs. If the first audio input matches one of the locally-handled user inputs, then the system takes a local responsive action. If the first audio input does not match one of the locally-handled user inputs, then the system transmits at least a portion of the first query content over a wireless network to a network resource.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Achintya Kumar Bhowmik, David Alan Fabry, Amit Shahar, Justin R. Burwinkel, Jeffrey Paul Solum, Thomas Howard Burns
  • Patent number: 11856371
    Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for own-voice sensing in hearing assistance devices. One aspect of the present subject matter includes an in-the-ear (ITE) hearing assistance device adapted to process sounds, including sounds from a wearer's mouth. According to various embodiments, the device includes a hollow plastic housing adapted to be worn in the ear of the wearer and a differential sensor mounted to an interior surface of the housing in an ear canal of the wearer. The differential sensor includes inlets located within the housing and the differential sensor is configured to improve speech intelligibility of sounds from the wearer's mouth, in various embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Howard Burns, Lars Tuborg Jensen
  • Publication number: 20230247374
    Abstract: A set of one or more processing circuits obtains eye movement-related eardrum oscillation (EMREO)-related measurements from one or more EMREO sensors of a hearing instrument. The EMREO sensors are located in an ear canal of a user of the hearing instrument and are configured to detect environmental signals of EMREOs of an eardrum of the user of the hearing instrument. The one or more processing circuits may perform an action based on the EMREO-related measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Martin McKinney, Thomas Howard Burns, Yezihalem Mesfin, Kyle Walsh
  • Publication number: 20220217484
    Abstract: Examples of hearing assistance devices are described. The hearing assistance devices include an enclosing structure configured to house a receiver that generates sound waves into an ear canal of a user when the hearing assistance device is worn, and a tube coupled to the receiver to direct the sound waves into the ear canal of the user. The tube may include magnetized particles that form a magnetic field through the tube. The tube may include a portion of hydrophilic coating and a portion of hydrophobic coating. The hearing assistance device may include a coiled wire configured to carry an alternating current to generate an electro-magnetic field through the tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Timothy Brent Wilburn, SR., Thomas Howard Burns, Westley G. Gentry, Kent Williamson
  • Publication number: 20220210583
    Abstract: A set of one or more processing circuits obtains eye movement-related eardrum oscillation (EMREO)-related measurements from one or more EMREO sensors of a hearing instrument. The EMREO sensors are located in an ear canal of a user of the hearing instrument and are configured to detect environmental signals of EMREOs of an eardrum of the user of the hearing instrument. The one or more processing circuits may perform an action based on the EMREO-related measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Martin McKinney, Thomas Howard Burns, Yezihalem Mesfin, Kyle Walsh
  • Publication number: 20220148597
    Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a local assistant system responding to voice input using an ear-wearable device. The system detects a wake-up signal and receives a first voice input communicating a first query content. The system includes speech recognition circuitry to determine the first query content, speech generation circuitry, and an input database of locally-handled user inputs. If the first audio input matches one of the locally-handled user inputs, then the system takes a local responsive action. If the first audio input does not match one of the locally-handled user inputs, then the system transmits at least a portion of the first query content over a wireless network to a network resource.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Achintya Kumar Bhowmik, David Alan Fabry, Amit Shahar, Justin R. Burwinkel, Jeffrey Paul Solum, Thomas Howard Burns
  • Patent number: 11264029
    Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a local assistant system responding to voice input using an ear-wearable device. The system detects a wake-up signal and receives a first voice input communicating a first query content. The system includes speech recognition circuitry to determine the first query content, speech generation circuitry, and an input database of locally-handled user inputs. If the first audio input matches one of the locally-handled user inputs, then the system takes a local responsive action. If the first audio input does not match one of the locally-handled user inputs, then the system transmits at least a portion of the first query content over a wireless network to a network resource.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Achintya Kumar Bhowmik, David Alan Fabry, Amit Shahar, Justin R. Burwinkel, Jeffrey Paul Solum, Thomas Howard Burns
  • Patent number: 11223915
    Abstract: A set of one or more processing circuits obtains eye movement-related eardrum oscillation (EMREO)-related measurements from one or more EMREO sensors of a hearing instrument. The EMREO sensors are located in an ear canal of a user of the hearing instrument and are configured to detect environmental signals of EMREOs of an eardrum of the user of the hearing instrument. The one or more processing circuits may perform an action based on the EMREO-related measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin McKinney, Thomas Howard Burns, Yezihalem Mesfin, Kyle Walsh
  • Publication number: 20210120347
    Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for own-voice sensing in hearing assistance devices. One aspect of the present subject matter includes an in-the-ear (ITE) hearing assistance device adapted to process sounds, including sounds from a wearer's mouth. According to various embodiments, the device includes a hollow plastic housing adapted to be worn in the ear of the wearer and a differential sensor mounted to an interior surface of the housing in an ear canal of the wearer. The differential sensor includes inlets located within the housing and the differential sensor is configured to improve speech intelligibility of sounds from the wearer's mouth, in various embodiments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas Howard Burns, Lars Tuborg Jensen
  • Patent number: 10932071
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for transferring programming information to a hearing instrument. Such programming information may include hearing loss compensation parameters and/or other information pertaining to device operation. In one embodiment, each of a pair of hearing instruments prescribed and configured for a particular hearing loss contains the necessary information for operation on either the left or right ear. The data from one hearing instrument may then be transferred to the other hearing instrument by means of wireless communication. In other embodiments, programming information is transferred wirelessly by an external device connected to a database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Paul Solum, Gregory John Haubrich, Brent Anthony Bauman, Stephen Paul Flood, Thomas Howard Burns
  • Patent number: 10880657
    Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for own-voice sensing in hearing assistance devices. One aspect of the present subject matter includes an in-the-ear (ITE) hearing assistance device adapted to process sounds, including sounds from a wearer's mouth. According to various embodiments, the device includes a hollow plastic housing adapted to be worn in the ear of the wearer and a differential sensor mounted to an interior surface of the housing in an ear canal of the wearer. The differential sensor includes inlets located within the housing and the differential sensor is configured to improve speech intelligibility of sounds from the wearer's mouth, in various embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Howard Burns, Lars Tuborg Jensen
  • Publication number: 20200275216
    Abstract: A set of one or more processing circuits obtains eye movement-related eardrum oscillation (EMREO)-related measurements from one or more EMREO sensors of a hearing instrument. The EMREO sensors are located in an ear canal of a user of the hearing instrument and are configured to detect environmental signals of EMREOs of an eardrum of the user of the hearing instrument. The one or more processing circuits may perform an action based on the EMREO-related measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Martin McKinney, Thomas Howard Burns, Yezihalem Mesfin, Kyle Walsh
  • Publication number: 20200219506
    Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a local assistant system responding to voice input using an ear-wearable device. The system detects a wake-up signal and receives a first voice input communicating a first query content. The system includes speech recognition circuitry to determine the first query content, speech generation circuitry, and an input database of locally-handled user inputs. If the first audio input matches one of the locally-handled user inputs, then the system takes a local responsive action. If the first audio input does not match one of the locally-handled user inputs, then the system transmits at least a portion of the first query content over a wireless network to a network resource.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Achintya Kumar Bhowmik, David Alan Fabry, Amit Shahar, Justin R. Burwinkel, Jeffrey Paul Solum, Thomas Howard Burns
  • Publication number: 20200112805
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for transferring programming information to a hearing instrument. Such programming information may include hearing loss compensation parameters and/or other information pertaining to device operation. In one embodiment, each of a pair of hearing instruments prescribed and configured for a particular hearing loss contains the necessary information for operation on either the left or right ear. The data from one hearing instrument may then be transferred to the other hearing instrument by means of wireless communication. In other embodiments, programming information is transferred wirelessly by an external device connected to a database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Inventors: Jeffrey Paul Solum, Gregory John Haubrich, Brent Anthony Bauman, Stephen Paul Flood, Thomas Howard Burns
  • Patent number: 10440486
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for transferring programming information to a hearing instrument. Such programming information may include hearing loss compensation parameters and/or other information pertaining to device operation. In one embodiment, each of a pair of hearing instruments prescribed and configured for a particular hearing loss contains the necessary information for operation on either the left or right ear. The data from one hearing instrument may then be transferred to the other hearing instrument by means of wireless communication. In other embodiments, programming information is transferred wirelessly by an external device connected to a database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Paul Solum, Gregory John Haubrich, Brent Anthony Bauman, Stephen Paul Flood, Thomas Howard Burns
  • Publication number: 20190149931
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for transferring programming information to a hearing instrument. Such programming information may include hearing loss compensation parameters and/or other information pertaining to device operation. In one embodiment, each of a pair of hearing instruments prescribed and configured for a particular hearing loss contains the necessary information for operation on either the left or right ear. The data from one hearing instrument may then be transferred to the other hearing instrument by means of wireless communication. In other embodiments, programming information is transferred wirelessly by an external device connected to a database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Jeffrey Paul Solum, Gregory John Haubrich, Brent Anthony Bauman, Stephen Paul Flood, Thomas Howard Burns
  • Patent number: 10097937
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for transferring programming information to a hearing instrument. Such programming information may include hearing loss compensation parameters and/or other information pertaining to device operation. In one embodiment, each of a pair of hearing instruments prescribed and configured for a particular hearing loss contains the necessary information for operation on either the left or right ear. The data from one hearing instrument may then be transferred to the other hearing instrument by means of wireless communication. In other embodiments, programming information is transferred wirelessly by an external device connected to a database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Paul Solum, Gregory John Haubrich, Brent Anthony Bauman, Stephen Paul Flood, Thomas Howard Burns
  • Publication number: 20180160238
    Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for own-voice sensing in hearing assistance devices. One aspect of the present subject matter includes an in-the-ear (ITE) hearing assistance device adapted to process sounds, including sounds from a wearer's mouth. According to various embodiments, the device includes a hollow plastic housing adapted to be worn in the ear of the wearer and a differential sensor mounted to an interior surface of the housing in an ear canal of the wearer. The differential sensor includes inlets located within the housing and the differential sensor is configured to improve speech intelligibility of sounds from the wearer's mouth, in various embodiments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas Howard Burns, Lars Tuborg Jensen