Patents by Inventor David A. Hoffman

David A. 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: 12281296
    Abstract: A microbial sensor, system and method that can be used to determine the chemical environment and/or substrate concentrations in saturated and unsaturated natural and environments, such as soils, aquifers and sediments are disclosed. The system may be used for monitoring municipal and industrial treatment facilities and sites where chemicals or contaminants were released to natural environments. The electrochemical microbial sensor system can be referenced using either a cathode exposed to oxygen or a reference cell (silver/silver chloride or calomel) for monitoring natural or man-made environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: Burge Environmental, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott R. Burge, David A. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20240264114
    Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring microbial activity and microbial communication in an environment are disclosed. Exemplary methods include measuring a high impedance voltage between a reference electrode and one or more measurement electrodes to monitor microbial activity. Microorganisms form a biofilm that attaches to at least one of the one or more inert measurement electrodes and that allows for measuring the microbial activity, characterizing the environment, and/or monitoring microbial communication in the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2024
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Inventors: Scott R. Burge, Russell G. Burge, David A. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 11933758
    Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring microbial activity and microbial communication in an environment are disclosed. Exemplary methods include measuring a high impedance voltage between a reference electrode and one or more measurement electrodes to monitor microbial activity. Microorganisms form a biofilm that attaches to at least one of the one or more inert measurement electrodes and that allows for measuring the microbial activity, characterizing the environment, and/or monitoring microbial communication in the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Inventors: Scott R. Burge, Russell G. Burge, David A. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 11635406
    Abstract: A microbial sensor, system, and method that can be used to determine a chemical environment and/or substrate concentrations in anaerobic or aerobic environments, such as soils, sediments and ground waters, are disclosed. An exemplary system uses one or more (e.g., inert) measurement electrodes and a reference electrode. The reference electrode can include an electrode exposed to atmospheric oxygen (e.g., a cathode) or an electrode exposed to stable anaerobic or aerobic conditions. The exemplary microbial sensor system measures open-circuit voltage to characterize the chemical (oxidizing or reducing) environment and/or recovery voltage to measure substrate concentrations in the subsurface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Inventors: Scott R. Burge, Russell G. Burge, David A. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 11231385
    Abstract: A microbial sensor, system and method that can be used to determine the biochemical conditions of waters, saturated sediments, unsaturated soils, rhizosphere and other environments is disclosed. The flexibility of the microbial sensor design allows for the monitoring of surfaces (skin, ventilation conduits, etc.). An electrochemical microbial sensor system is composed of an indicator electrode(s) and a reference electrode. The reference electrode employs a hydrogen permeable membrane. The electrochemical system is interfaced into a signal/communication module allowing the manual or automated collection of data from field deployments and laboratory investigations. The data is transmitted using various communication technologies including Bluetoothâ„¢, cellular, satellite and radio telemetry to cloud-based data management systems. The stored data may be downloaded by users using open-source dashboard and visualization software to image the various environments and/or surfaces investigated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Burge Environmental, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott R. Burge, David A. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 11226306
    Abstract: A microbial sensor, microbial sensing system, and method that can be used to determine the chemical environment of unsaturated soils, rhizosphere, and/or plants are disclosed. The microbial sensing system can be used for monitoring the health of plants including nutrients, salinity, contaminants, chemicals (pesticides, herbicides) and diseases. A microbial sensing system can include one or more indicator electrodes and a reference electrode. The microbial sensing system can include a signal acquisition and/or communication module to allow the real-time collection of data from field deployments and laboratory investigations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Burge Environmental. Inc.
    Inventors: Scott R. Burge, David A. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20210246412
    Abstract: A microbial sensor, system and method that can be used to determine the chemical environment and/or substrate concentrations in saturated and unsaturated natural and environments, such as soils, aquifers and sediments are disclosed. The system may be used for monitoring municipal and industrial treatment facilities and sites where chemicals or contaminants were released to natural environments. The electrochemical microbial sensor system can be referenced using either a cathode exposed to oxygen or a reference cell (silver/silver chloride or calomel) for monitoring natural or man-made environments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Scott R. Burge, David A. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20200333287
    Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring microbial activity and microbial communication in an environment are disclosed. Exemplary methods include measuring a high impedance voltage between a reference electrode and one or more measurement electrodes to monitor microbial activity. Microorganisms form a biofilm that attaches to at least one of the one or more inert measurement electrodes and that allows for measuring the microbial activity, characterizing the environment, and/or monitoring microbial communication in the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Scott R. Burge, Russell G. Burge, David A. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20200256829
    Abstract: A microbial sensor, system, and method that can be used to determine a chemical environment and/or substrate concentrations in anaerobic or aerobic environments, such as soils, sediments and ground waters, are disclosed. An exemplary system uses one or more (e.g., inert) measurement electrodes and a reference electrode. The reference electrode can include an electrode exposed to atmospheric oxygen (e.g., a cathode) or an electrode exposed to stable anaerobic or aerobic conditions. The exemplary microbial sensor system measures open-circuit voltage to characterize the chemical (oxidizing or reducing) environment and/or recovery voltage to measure substrate concentrations in the subsurface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Scott R. Burge, Russell G. Burge, David A. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 10656116
    Abstract: A microbial sensor, system, and method that can be used to determine a chemical environment and/or substrate concentrations in anaerobic or aerobic environments, such as soils, sediments and ground waters, are disclosed. An exemplary system uses one or more (e.g., inert) measurement electrodes and a reference electrode. The reference electrode can include an electrode exposed to atmospheric oxygen (e.g., a cathode) or an electrode exposed to stable anaerobic or aerobic conditions. The exemplary microbial sensor system measures open-circuit voltage to characterize the chemical (oxidizing or reducing) environment and/or recovery voltage to measure substrate concentrations in the subsurface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Inventors: Scott R. Burge, Russell G. Burge, David A. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20190369041
    Abstract: A microbial sensor, system and method that can be used to determine the biochemical conditions of waters, saturated sediments, unsaturated soils, rhizosphere and other environments is disclosed. The flexibility of the microbial sensor design allows for the monitoring of surfaces (skin, ventilation conduits, etc.). An electrochemical microbial sensor system is composed of an indicator electrode(s) and a reference electrode. The reference electrode employs a hydrogen permeable membrane. The electrochemical system is interfaced into a signal/communication module allowing the manual or automated collection of data from field deployments and laboratory investigations. The data is transmitted using various communication technologies including Bluetoothâ„¢, cellular, satellite and radio telemetry to cloud-based data management systems. The stored data may be downloaded by users using open-source dashboard and visualization software to image the various environments and/or surfaces investigated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Scott R. Burge, David A. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 10265613
    Abstract: A method and system for conducting a challenge event from which a computer code that supports software development for a client computer is obtained. The challenge event is communicated to at least two participants in a form of an event specification. A proposal for a solution that meets the event specification is received from each participant. Only one participant is chosen from the at least two participants, based on the proposal previously received from each participant. The solution is received in a form of a computer code from the chosen only one participant. The received solution is validated for quality and the received solution is accepted. In response to the validating and accepting of the received solution, the received solution is delivered to the client computer. The received solution is configured to be used by the client computer to support software development for the client computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric H. Bokelberg, Blain A. Dillard, David A. Hoffman, Patrick Howard, Brian T. Paulsen, Jose A. Tano
  • Patent number: 10265614
    Abstract: A method and system for managing a challenge event from which a computer code that supports software development for a client computer is obtained. At least two participants are selected to participate in the challenge. Assets of software code are provided to the participants for assisting the participants to deliver respective submissions as outcomes of participation by the participants in the challenge event. A solution to the challenge event in a form of a computer code is received from only one participant previously chosen from the selected at least two participants as the only participant to submit the solution. The received solution is validated for quality and is accepted. In response to the validating and accepting of the received solution, the received solution is delivered to the client computer. The received solution is configured to be used by the client computer to support software development for the client computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric H. Bokelberg, Blain A. Dillard, David A. Hoffman, Patrick Howard, Brian T. Paulsen, Jose A. Tano
  • Publication number: 20190107509
    Abstract: A microbial sensor, microbial sensing system, and method that can be used to determine the chemical environment of unsaturated soils, rhizosphere, and/or plants are disclosed. The microbial sensing system can be used for monitoring the health of plants including nutrients, salinity, contaminants, chemicals (pesticides, herbicides) and diseases. A microbial sensing system can include one or more indicator electrodes and a reference electrode. The microbial sensing system can include a signal acquisition and/or communication module to allow the real-time collection of data from field deployments and laboratory investigations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Scott R. Burge, David A. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20190040351
    Abstract: A microbial sensor, system and method that can be used to determine the chemical environment and/or substrate concentrations in saturated and unsaturated natural and environments, such as soils, aquifers and sediments are disclosed. The system may be used for monitoring municipal and industrial treatment facilities and sites where chemicals or contaminants were released to natural environments. The electrochemical microbial sensor system can be referenced using either a cathode exposed to oxygen or a reference cell (silver/silver chloride or calomel) for monitoring natural or man-made environments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Scott R. Burge, David A. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20190011397
    Abstract: A microbial sensor, system, and method that can be used to determine a chemical environment and/or substrate concentrations in anaerobic or aerobic environments, such as soils, sediments and ground waters, are disclosed. An exemplary system uses one or more (e.g., inert) measurement electrodes and a reference electrode. The reference electrode can include an electrode exposed to atmospheric oxygen (e.g., a cathode) or an electrode exposed to stable anaerobic or aerobic conditions. The exemplary microbial sensor system measures open-circuit voltage to characterize the chemical (oxidizing or reducing) environment and/or recovery voltage to measure substrate concentrations in the subsurface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Scott R. Burge, Russell G. Burge, David A. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 10113990
    Abstract: A microbial sensor, system, and method that can be used to determine a chemical environment and/or substrate concentrations in anaerobic or aerobic environments, such as soils, sediments and ground waters, are disclosed. An exemplary system uses one or more (e.g., inert) measurement electrodes and a reference electrode. The reference electrode can include an electrode exposed to atmospheric oxygen (e.g., a cathode) or an electrode exposed to stable anaerobic or aerobic conditions. The exemplary microbial sensor system measures open-circuit voltage to characterize the chemical (oxidizing or reducing) environment and/or recovery voltage to measure substrate concentrations in the subsurface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Inventors: Scott R. Burge, Russell G. Burge, David A. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20180096280
    Abstract: A method includes reading project data describing a plurality of projects in a project database. The plurality of projects are associated with a plurality of skill sets, where each project of the plurality of projects is associated with a skill set needed to complete the project. A set of principal skill sets is determined, to include a set of frequent skill subsets that each appear in the plurality of skill sets with at least a threshold frequency. A new project is received and associated with a requested skill set. The requested skill set is mapped, using a computer processor, to a corresponding principal skill set of the set of principal skill sets, where the corresponding principal skill set represents the requested skill set. The corresponding principal skill set is used for at least one of staffing the new project and updating organizational staffing plans related to the plurality of projects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Yi-Min Chee, Blain A. Dillard, David A. Hoffman, Ta-Hsin Li
  • Publication number: 20170304715
    Abstract: A method and system for managing a challenge event from which a computer code that supports software development for a client computer is obtained. At least two participants are selected to participate in the challenge. Assets of software code are provided to the participants for assisting the participants to deliver respective submissions as outcomes of participation by the participants in the challenge event. A solution to the challenge event in a form of a computer code is received from only one participant previously chosen from the selected at least two participants as the only participant to submit the solution. The received solution is validated for quality and is accepted. In response to the validating and accepting of the received solution, the received solution is delivered to the client computer. The received solution is configured to be used by the client computer to support software development for the client computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Eric H. Bokelberg, Blain A. Dillard, David A. Hoffman, Patrick Howard, Brian T. Paulsen, Jose A. Tano
  • Publication number: 20170304714
    Abstract: A method and system for conducting a challenge event from which a computer code that supports software development for a client computer is obtained. The challenge event is communicated to at least two participants in a form of an event specification. A proposal for a solution that meets the event specification is received from each participant. Only one participant is chosen from the at least two participants, based on the proposal previously received from each participant. The solution is received in a form of a computer code from the chosen only one participant. The received solution is validated for quality and the received solution is accepted. In response to the validating and accepting of the received solution, the received solution is delivered to the client computer. The received solution is configured to be used by the client computer to support software development for the client computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Eric H. Bokelberg, Blain A. Dillard, David A. Hoffman, Patrick Howard, Brian T. Paulsen, Jose A. Tano