Patents by Inventor James W. Hoffman

James W. Hoffman 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: 11938326
    Abstract: Implantable medical systems enter an exposure mode of operation, either manually via a down linked programming instruction or by automatic detection by the implantable system of exposure to a magnetic disturbance. A controller then determines the appropriate exposure mode by considering various pieces of information including the device type including whether the device has defibrillation capability, pre-exposure mode of therapy including which chambers have been paced, and pre-exposure cardiac activity that is either intrinsic or paced rates. Additional considerations may include determining whether a sensed rate during the exposure mode is physiologic or artificially produced by the magnetic disturbance. When the sensed rate is physiologic, then the controller uses the sensed rate to trigger pacing and otherwise uses asynchronous pacing at a fixed rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Hyun J. Yoon, Wade M. Demmer, Matthew J. Hoffman, Robert A. Betzold, Jonathan D. Edmonson, Michael L. Ellingson, Mark K. Erickson, Ben W. Herberg, Juliana E. Pronovici, James D. Reinke, Todd J. Sheldon, Paul R. Solheim
  • Patent number: 4910409
    Abstract: A sensing cavity is directed towards the radiation to be measured. An identical reference cavity is directed towards a heat sink which is maintained at a constant temperature. An electric heater and a temperature sensor are mounted on both the sensing cavity and the reference cavity. The temperature sensors are connected to a bridge which is powered only when an observation is made. The heater on the sensing cavity is controlled by bridge imbalance to equalize the temperature of the two cavities. The heater power is then a direct measure of the difference in the power entering the sensing cavity and the power entering the reference cavity. By knowing the power entering the reference cavity, the power entering the sensing cavity can be calculated. The two cavities are mounted together to a common heat sink and have a directly associated preamplifier circuit included in the modular mounting. A plurality of such sensors is used to obtain radiance measurements in many directions simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Assignee: James W. Hoffman
    Inventors: James W. Hoffman, Ronald C. Grush
  • Patent number: 4092044
    Abstract: A convertible livestock/grain hauling trailer has front, center and rear compartments, with a second livestock floor in the center compartment. Means are provided for pivoting the floor boards of the second floor downward towards front and rear to define a pair of grain hoppers, and adjustable grain outlet doors are provided in the floor board at the base of the hoppers. Support rail hangers are provided along the side walls of the trailer corresponding to both the horizontal and slope positions of the second story floor boards, and support rails for the edges of the floor boards are movable from either set of hangers to support the floor board in its corresponding position. Front and rear bull gates are optionally pivotable towards the front and rear respectively to further define the grain hoppers, and support rails are provided to hold them in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1978
    Inventor: James W. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 3936826
    Abstract: Each of the parameters of objects in the field of view is measured and inidually compared with standard parameters. Differences in these parameters are multiplied by individual weighting factors and they are summed for each object. Object having the lowest sum is the desired target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1974
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1976
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: James W. Hoffman