Patents by Inventor Darren Andrew Schumacher

Darren Andrew Schumacher 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: 11919662
    Abstract: A constellation of many satellites provide communication between devices such as user terminals (UTs) and ground stations that are connected to other networks, such as the Internet. A constellation management system (CMS) facilitates management and operation of the satellites in the constellation and facilitates information exchange with other authorized systems to provide for situationally aware operation. The CMS may ingest data such as satellite telemetry, space weather data, object ephemeris data about other orbital objects, and so forth. The CMS uses the ingested data to automatically operate satellites to perform routine activities such as station keeping maneuvers, maintenance activities, interference mitigation, and so forth. Confirmation from a human operator may be obtained before performing some activities. Activities may be planned and coordinated to minimize resource consumption for the individual satellite as well as the constellation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jason A. Rhoads, Darren Andrew Schumacher
  • Patent number: 11718147
    Abstract: A HVAC thermal conditioning system provides a macroclimate environment. An auxiliary thermal conditioning system has multiple microclimate devices in close proximity to a region of the occupant. The microclimate devices are arranged within an interior space that provides the macroclimate environment to an occupant. A controller communicates with the microclimate devices and calculates an occupant personal comfort based upon a thermal energy experienced by the occupant from thermal radiation sources, thermal convection sources, and thermal conduction sources, and to automatically command the microclimate devices in response to the calculated occupant personal comfort to achieve a desired occupant personal comfort. The automatic command adjusts and apportions the thermal conduction sources and/or thermal radiation sources to achieve the desired occupant personal comfort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
    Inventors: Darren Andrew Schumacher, Paul Cameron Giberson, Gregory Leo Steinl, Wayne Swoyer Kauffman, III, Vincenzo Sebastiano
  • Patent number: 11718146
    Abstract: A HVAC thermal conditioning system provides a macroclimate environment. An auxiliary thermal conditioning system has multiple microclimate devices. The microclimate devices are configured to be arranged within an interior space that provides the macroclimate environment to an occupant. The microclimate devices provide a microclimate environment to the occupant different than the macroclimate environment. The microclimate devices are in close proximity to a region of the occupant. A controller calculates an occupant personal comfort based upon a thermal energy experienced by the occupant from thermal radiation sources, thermal convection sources, and thermal conduction sources, and to automatically command the microclimate devices in response to the calculated occupant personal comfort based upon occupant characteristics to achieve a desired occupant personal comfort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
    Inventors: Darren Andrew Schumacher, Paul Cameron Giberson, Gregory Leo Steinl, Wayne Swoyer Kauffman, III, Vincenzo Sebastiano
  • Patent number: 11685394
    Abstract: An example method includes detecting a potential threat to a vehicle that is external to the vehicle, determining a severity level of the potential threat and a location of the potential threat relative to the vehicle, and displaying an indication of the potential threat on an electronic display in a particular portion of the electronic display corresponding to the location and with a particular display attribute corresponding to the severity level. The particular portion is one of a plurality of different portions of the electronic display each corresponding to different threat locations, and the particular display attribute is one of a plurality of different display attributes corresponding to different severity levels. A corresponding system that detects and displays notifications of potential threats is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: STONERIDGE ELECTRONICS, AB
    Inventor: Darren Andrew Schumacher
  • Patent number: 11358433
    Abstract: Features for a vapor compression system configured to cool and/or cat (i.e. thermally condition) two or more distinct climate controlled vehicle interior components via a common thermal bus are disclosed. Some embodiments employ a single compressor. Some embodiments employ multiple compressors and/or thermal buses, each servicing components located within respective interior thermal zones of a vehicle, for example a front row seat zone, second and/or third row seat zones, and/or an overhead zone and/or a trunk zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: GENTHERM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Ioannis Androulakis, Maurice Edward Phillips Gunderson, Wayne Swoyer Kauffman, III, Dmitri Kossakovski, Darren Andrew Schumacher, Scott Wolas
  • Publication number: 20220161944
    Abstract: A constellation of many satellites provide communication between devices such as user terminals (UTs) and ground stations that are connected to other networks, such as the Internet. A constellation management system (CMS) facilitates management and operation of the satellites in the constellation and facilitates information exchange with other authorized systems to provide for situationally aware operation. The CMS may ingest data such as satellite telemetry, space weather data, object ephemeris data about other orbital objects, and so forth. The CMS uses the ingested data to automatically operate satellites to perform routine activities such as station keeping maneuvers, maintenance activities, interference mitigation, and so forth. Confirmation from a human operator may be obtained before performing some activities. Activities may be planned and coordinated to minimize resource consumption for the individual satellite as well as the constellation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: JASON A. RHOADS, DARREN ANDREW SCHUMACHER
  • Publication number: 20220032945
    Abstract: An example method includes detecting a potential threat to a vehicle that is external to the vehicle, determining a severity level of the potential threat and a location of the potential threat relative to the vehicle, and displaying an indication of the potential threat on an electronic display in a particular portion of the electronic display corresponding to the location and with a particular display attribute corresponding to the severity level. The particular portion is one of a plurality of different portions of the electronic display each corresponding to different threat locations, and the particular display attribute is one of a plurality of different display attributes corresponding to different severity levels. A corresponding system that detects and displays notifications of potential threats is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventor: Darren Andrew Schumacher
  • Publication number: 20210276393
    Abstract: A HVAC thermal conditioning system provides a macroclimate environment. An auxiliary thermal conditioning system has multiple microclimate devices. The microclimate devices are configured to be arranged within an interior space that provides the macroclimate environment to an occupant. The microclimate devices provide a microclimate environment to the occupant different than the macroclimate environment. The microclimate devices are in close proximity to a region of the occupant. A controller calculates an occupant personal comfort based upon a thermal energy experienced by the occupant from thermal radiation sources, thermal convection sources, and thermal conduction sources, and to automatically command the microclimate devices in response to the calculated occupant personal comfort based upon occupant characteristics to achieve a desired occupant personal comfort.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Darren Andrew Schumacher, Paul Cameron Giberson, Gregory Leo Steinl, Wayne Swoyer Kauffman, III, Vincenzo Sebastiano
  • Publication number: 20210276394
    Abstract: A HVAC thermal conditioning system provides a macroclimate environment. An auxiliary thermal conditioning system has multiple microclimate devices in close proximity to a region of the occupant. The microclimate devices are arranged within an interior space that provides the macroclimate environment to an occupant. A controller communicates with the microclimate devices and calculates an occupant personal comfort based upon a thermal energy experienced by the occupant from thermal radiation sources, thermal convection sources, and thermal conduction sources, and to automatically command the microclimate devices in response to the calculated occupant personal comfort to achieve a desired occupant personal comfort. The automatic command adjusts and apportions the thermal conduction sources and/or thermal radiation sources to achieve the desired occupant personal comfort.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Darren Andrew Schumacher, Paul Cameron Giberson, Gregory Leo Steinl, Wayne Swoyer Kauffman, III, Vincenzo Sebastiano
  • Patent number: 11014424
    Abstract: A vehicle microclimate system includes a microclimate device that is configured to be arranged within an interior space that provides a macroclimate environment to an occupant. The microclimate device is configured to provide a microclimate environment to the occupant. The microclimate device is configured to be in close proximity to a region of the occupant having an increased thermoreceptive response compared to other occupant regions exposed to the macroclimate environment. A controller is in communication with the microclimate device. The controller is configured to determine an occupant personal comfort and automatically command the microclimate device in response to the occupant personal comfort to achieve a desired occupant personal comfort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
    Inventors: Darren Andrew Schumacher, Paul Cameron Giberson, Gregory Leo Steinl, Wayne Swoyer Kauffman, III, Vincenzo Sebastiano
  • Publication number: 20200215870
    Abstract: Features for a vapor compression system configured to cool and/or cat (i.e. thermally condition) two or more distinct climate controlled vehicle interior components via a common thermal bus are disclosed. Some embodiments employ a single compressor. Some embodiments employ multiple compressors and/or thermal buses, each servicing components located within respective interior thermal zones of a vehicle, for example a front row seat zone, second and/or third row seat zones, and/or an overhead zone and/or a trunk zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Ioannis Androulakis, Maurice Edward Phillips Gunderson, Wayne Swoyer Kauffman, III, Dmitri Kossakovski, Darren Andrew Schumacher, Scott Wolas
  • Patent number: 10603976
    Abstract: Features for a vapor compression system configured to cool and/or heat (i.e. thermally condition) two or more distinct climate controlled vehicle interior components via a common thermal bus are disclosed. Some embodiments employ a single compressor. Some embodiments employ multiple compressors and/or thermal buses, each servicing components located within respective interior thermal zones of a vehicle, for example a front row seat zone, second and/or third row seat zones, and/or an overhead zone and/or a trunk zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
    Inventors: Ioannis Androulakis, Maurice Edward Phillips Gunderson, Wayne Swoyer Kauffman, III, Dmitri Kossakovski, Darren Andrew Schumacher, Scott Wolas
  • Publication number: 20170361676
    Abstract: Features for a vapor compression system configured to cool and/or heat (i.e. thermally condition) two or more distinct climate controlled vehicle interior components via a common thermal bus are disclosed. Some embodiments employ a single compressor. Some embodiments employ multiple compressors and/or thermal buses, each servicing components located within respective interior thermal zones of a vehicle, for example a front row seat zone, second and/or third row seat zones, and/or an overhead zone and/or a trunk zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicant: Gentherm Incorporated
    Inventors: Ioannis Androulakis, Maurice Edward Phillips Gunderson, Wayne Swoyer Kauffman, III, Dmitri Kossakovski, Darren Andrew Schumacher, Scott Wolas
  • Publication number: 20170334263
    Abstract: A vehicle microclimate system includes a microclimate device that is configured to be arranged within an interior space that provides a macroclimate environment to an occupant. The microclimate device is configured to provide a microclimate environment to the occupant. The microclimate device is configured to be in close proximity to a region of the occupant having an increased thermoreceptive response compared to other occupant regions exposed to the macroclimate environment. A controller is in communication with the microclimate device. The controller is configured to determine an occupant personal comfort and automatically command the microclimate device in response to the occupant personal comfort to achieve a desired occupant personal comfort.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Darren Andrew Schumacher, Paul Cameron Giberson, Gregory Leo Steinl, Wayne Swoyer Kauffman, III, Vincenzo Sebastiano
  • Publication number: 20170182861
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include an automotive heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system (12) for an interior of a vehicle (10), comprising: an auxiliary HVAC system (32) that provides conditioned air to the interior, the auxiliary HVAC system including an auxiliary air conditioning device (50); a control module that operates the auxiliary HVAC system independently of the central HVAC system (30); and one or more sensors for detecting, calculating, or both when fog, ice, condensation, or a combination thereof are located on a window of an automobile; wherein the central HVAC system includes a central air conditioning device (40) that is separate from the auxiliary air conditioning device (50).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventors: Adam Joseph Steinman, Darren Andrew Schumacher, Maurice Edward Phiullips Gunderson, David Thomas, Wayne Swoyer Kauffman, III
  • Publication number: 20170135490
    Abstract: A support device or chair can include an inductive charging systems can be used to charge a battery. The chair or support device can include a climate control system to provide personal comfort to an occupant, such as an office worker, using personal thermal amenity devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventors: Dennis Craig Andrix, Vladimir Jovovic, Wayne Swoyer Kauffman, III, Dmitri Kossakovski, David Marquette, Daniel J. Pace, Darren Andrew Schumacher, John Terech, Robert M. Vidojevski