Patents by Inventor Edward Hoffman

Edward 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).

  • Publication number: 20240147413
    Abstract: Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for providing service to access nodes are presented. In some embodiments, a computing device may generate a geographical coverage map comprising a plurality of wireless access nodes respectively at a plurality of geographic locations and a wireless coverage range for each wireless access node. The computing device may receive from at least one wireless access node of the plurality of wireless access nodes an indication that the at least one wireless access node detected a first wireless access node of the plurality of wireless access nodes. The computing device may refine a first coverage range of the first wireless access node based on a respective geographic location of the at least one wireless access node. In some embodiments, a first wireless access node may receive and forward join emergency mesh (JEM) messages to establish a wireless network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Derrick Krening, Edward David Monnerat, Jonathan Alan Leech, Nicholas Adam Pinckernell, Andy Martushev, Jasbir Rajpal, Scott Moody, Garey Hoffman, David B. Leach, David O'hare
  • Patent number: 10990088
    Abstract: A method for transporting inventory items includes moving a mobile drive unit to a first point within a workspace. The first point is a location of an inventory holder. The method further includes docking the mobile drive unit with the inventory holder and moving the mobile drive unit and the inventory holder to a second point within the workspace. The second point is associated with conveyance equipment. The method further includes moving the inventory holder to a third point within the workspace using the conveyance equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Wurman, Raffaello D'Andrea, Michael T. Barbehenn, Andrew Edward Hoffman, Michael Cordell Mountz
  • Patent number: 10809706
    Abstract: A method for transporting inventory items includes moving a mobile drive unit to a first point within a workspace. The first point is a location of an inventory holder. The method further includes docking the mobile drive unit with the inventory holder and moving the mobile drive unit and the inventory holder to a second point within the workspace. The second point is associated with conveyance equipment. The method further includes moving the inventory holder to a third point within the workspace using the conveyance equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Wurman, Raffaello D'Andrea, Michael T. Barbehenn, Andrew Edward Hoffman, Michael Cordell Mountz
  • Patent number: 10344830
    Abstract: A transmission gearing arrangement includes four simple planetary gear sets, three brakes, and four clutches. The transmission produces two reverse gear ratios and twelve forward speed ratios in response to engagement of the brakes in clutches in combinations of three. The transmission is suitable for use with a range selector. In a low range, one of the reverse ratios and all twelve of the forward ratios are utilized. In a high range, the other reverse ratio and eleven of the forward ratios are utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Donald Edward Hoffman
  • Patent number: 10309506
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission includes four shift elements to establish three forward driving ranges and one reverse driving range. Two of the forward driving ranges utilize recirculating power flow paths in which the power transmitted through the variator is much smaller than the power transmitted by the transmission. Both variator sheaves rotate about axes that are offset from the input axis such that neither sheave is partially submerged in transmission fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Allen Janson, Donald Edward Hoffman
  • Patent number: 10247280
    Abstract: A four gearing-arrangement transmission having six shift-elements cooperatively engaging in combinations of three to provide nine forward speeds and one reverse speed. The transmission having a first gearing-arrangement with an end-gear fixedly coupled to a ground. A second gearing-arrangement with one end-gear fixedly coupled to an input and the other end-gear fixedly coupled to an interior-gear of the first gearing-arrangement. A third gearing-arrangement having an interior-gear fixedly coupled to an output. A fourth gearing-arrangement having a fourth interior-gear fixedly coupled to the input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donald Edward Hoffman, Gregory Daniel Goleski
  • Publication number: 20190064785
    Abstract: A method for transporting inventory items includes moving a mobile drive unit to a first point within a workspace. The first point is a location of an inventory holder. The method further includes docking the mobile drive unit with the inventory holder and moving the mobile drive unit and the inventory holder to a second point within the workspace. The second point is associated with conveyance equipment. The method further includes moving the inventory holder to a third point within the workspace using the conveyance equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Peter R. Wurman, Raffaello D'Andrea, Michael T. Barbehenn, Andrew Edward Hoffman, Michael Cordell Mountz
  • Publication number: 20180354893
    Abstract: A method for transporting inventory items includes moving a mobile drive unit to a first point within a workspace. The first point is a location of an inventory holder. The method further includes docking the mobile drive unit with the inventory holder and moving the mobile drive unit and the inventory holder to a second point within the workspace. The second point is associated with conveyance equipment. The method further includes moving the inventory holder to a third point within the workspace using the conveyance equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Peter R. Wurman, Raffaello D'Andrea, Michael T. Barbehenn, Andrew Edward Hoffman, Michael Cordell Mountz
  • Patent number: 10145453
    Abstract: A transmission gearing arrangement produces ten forward speed ratios and four reverse speed ratio by selective engagement of three shift elements in various combinations. Some embodiment includes four simple planetary gear sets and seven shift elements of which three or four are brakes. Another embodiment includes two axis transfer gear pairs in place of one of the planetary gear sets. One of the brakes is used only in reverse and may be a latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Scott Lippert, David Allen Janson, Donald Edward Hoffman, Reid Alan Baldwin
  • Patent number: 10133267
    Abstract: A method for transporting inventory items includes moving a mobile drive unit to a first point within a workspace. The first point is a location of an inventory holder. The method further includes docking the mobile drive unit with the inventory holder and moving the mobile drive unit and the inventory holder to a second point within the workspace. The second point is associated with conveyance equipment. The method further includes moving the inventory holder to a third point within the workspace using the conveyance equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Wurman, Raffaello D'Andrea, Michael T. Barbehenn, Andrew Edward Hoffman, Michael Cordell Mountz
  • Publication number: 20180307235
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a human transport device and associated system to transport a user within an active workspace. The human transport device may include a platform to support a user, an enclosure coupled to the platform to surround the user, a drive subsystem to power the human transport device, and a control unit to control the movement of the human transport device in coordination with active mobile drive units moving within the workspace. A system implementing one or more human transport devices may include a management module to direct the movement of the one or more human transport devices and designate one or more areas within the workspace as protected areas. Unauthorized objects may be prohibited from entering the protected areas while the human transport device may be allowed within the protected areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Peter R. Wurman, Michael T. Barbehenn, Matthew David Verminski, Michael Cordell Mountz, Dennis Polic, Andrew Edward Hoffman, James Raymond Allard, Eryk Brian Nice
  • Patent number: 10067501
    Abstract: A method for transporting inventory items includes moving a mobile drive unit to a first point within a workspace. The first point is a location of an inventory holder. The method further includes docking the mobile drive unit with the inventory holder and moving the mobile drive unit and the inventory holder to a second point within the workspace. The second point is associated with conveyance equipment. The method further includes moving the inventory holder to a third point within the workspace using the conveyance equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Wurman, Raffaello D'Andrea, Michael T. Barbehenn, Andrew Edward Hoffman, Michael Cordell Mountz
  • Publication number: 20180223958
    Abstract: A transmission gearing arrangement includes four simple planetary gear sets, three brakes, and four clutches. The transmission produces two reverse gear ratios and twelve forward speed ratios in response to engagement of the brakes in clutches in combinations of three. The transmission is suitable for use with a range selector. In a low range, one of the reverse ratios and all twelve of the forward ratios are utilized. In a high range, the other reverse ratio and eleven of the forward ratios are utilized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventor: Donald Edward Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20180196413
    Abstract: A method for transporting inventory items includes moving a mobile drive unit to a first point within a workspace. The first point is a location of an inventory holder. The method further includes docking the mobile drive unit with the inventory holder and moving the mobile drive unit and the inventory holder to a second point within the workspace. The second point is associated with conveyance equipment. The method further includes moving the inventory holder to a third point within the workspace using the conveyance equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Peter R. Wurman, Raffaello D'Andrea, Michael T. Barbehenn, Andrew Edward Hoffman, Michael Cordell Mountz
  • Patent number: 9822856
    Abstract: A family of transmission gearing arrangements each establish at least one reverse gear ratio and between nine and fifteen forward gear ratios. A shiftable gearing arrangement establishes a variety of speed ratios between the input and a first shaft. In some embodiments, a fixed speed ratio is established upstream or downstream of the shiftable gearing arrangement. In reverse and low gear ratios, a low clutch couples the first shaft to the output. In the high gear ratios, a combining planetary gear set establishes a linear speed relationship between the first shaft, a second shaft rotating at a speed proportional to the input, and the output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Donald Edward Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20170328452
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission includes four shift elements to establish three forward driving ranges and one reverse driving range. Two of the forward driving ranges utilize recirculating power flow paths in which the power transmitted through the variator is much smaller than the power transmitted by the transmission. Both variator sheaves rotate about axes that are offset from the input axis such that neither sheave is partially submerged in transmission fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: David Allen Janson, Donald Edward Hoffman
  • Patent number: 9815318
    Abstract: A method of weathering scale and un-scale models comprising creating a custom illustration of a weathering effect such as rust streak, splashed and splattered mud, oil and grease, grime, a crease, a dent, burns and other effects on a background, making an image of the painting and printing the image onto a receptive coating to create a decal, and the decal is applied to the model thereby creating a weathering effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Inventors: Joseph Steimann, Edward Hoffman Bauer
  • Publication number: 20170130806
    Abstract: A transmission gearing arrangement produces ten forward speed ratios and four reverse speed ratio by selective engagement of three shift elements in various combinations. Some embodiment includes four simple planetary gear sets and seven shift elements of which three or four are brakes. Another embodiment includes two axis transfer gear pairs in place of one of the planetary gear sets. One of the brakes is used only in reverse and may be a latch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Robert Scott Lippert, David Allen Janson, Donald Edward Hoffman, Reid Alan Baldwin
  • Patent number: 9638291
    Abstract: A family of transmission gearing arrangements provides a plurality of forward speed ratios and one or more reverse speed ratios by selective engagement of shift elements in various combinations. Three simple planetary gear sets are located on the input axis. One of the simple planetary gear sets may have either a split-ring arrangement in which two ring gears are provided with one carrier and one sun gear, or a split-sun arrangement in which two sun gears are provided with one carrier and one ring gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Allen Janson, Donald Edward Hoffman
  • Patent number: 9625019
    Abstract: A family of transmission gearing arrangements utilize one or two ball variators to establish a continuous range of speed ratios between an input and an output. In each case, the range of speed ratios includes an infinite ratio in which the output is stationary as the input rotates. In some embodiments having two ball variators, the outputs of the variators are combining using a planetary gear set. In other embodiments having two variators, the outputs of the variators are combined using clutches, which may be switchable one-way clutches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Allen Janson, Donald Edward Hoffman