Patents by Inventor Johann Hoffmann

Johann Hoffmann 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: 7270513
    Abstract: Apparatus for generating power from a water current in a body of water comprises a longitudinally extending flotation platform for maintaining the apparatus afloat in the body of water and a water turbine operatively carried by the platform for generating power in response to water current in the body of water. The platform is configured to enhance the flow of water current over the turbine blades and, as well, to enable a number of like platforms each with an associated turbine or turbines to be arrayed in a cooperative manner. The water turbine may comprise a turbine rotor with a plurality of relatively narrow, flexible elongated blades arranged in circumferentially spaced rows extending along the rotor. In each row, the blades are distanced from each other in succession by a space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Inventors: Colin Regan, Johann Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20040096310
    Abstract: Apparatus for generating power from a water current in a body of water comprises a longitudinally extending flotation platform for maintaining the apparatus afloat in the body of water and a water turbine operatively carried by the platform for generating power in response to water current in the body of water. The platform is configured to enhance the flow of water current over the turbine blades and, as well, to enable a number of like platforms each with an associated turbine or turbines to be arrayed in a cooperative manner. The water turbine may comprise a turbine rotor with a plurality of relatively narrow, flexible elongated blades arranged in circumferentially spaced rows extending along the rotor. In each row, the blades are distanced from each other in succession by a space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Colin Regan, Johann Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 6133834
    Abstract: A method of tuning the resonance frequency of a transponder to a target frequency is described, wherein a transponder comprises a film antenna with an IC (IC) mounted to the film antenna (L) and an integrated resonance capacitor (C) is part of a IC. During testing of IC at chip probe to determine the pass/fail of the IC, the integrated resonance capacitor (C) is measured and the value is stored with the pass/fail data of the wafer map. Then after mounting a passed IC (IC) to a film antenna (L) with variable inductance, retrieve the integrated resonance capacitance value from the wafer map and calculate the amount of inductance necessary to achieve the target frequency. Tune the film antenna (L) to achieve the necessary inductance, measure the transponder resonance frequency, and compare the transponder resonance frequency to the target frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Deutschland, GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Eberth, Heiner Brenninger, Alfons Lichtenegger, Christian Ecker, Adolf Baumann, Wolfgang Ramin, Johann Hoffmann, Konstantin Aslanidis
  • Patent number: 4425996
    Abstract: Transportation apparatus comprising two parallel chains extending in the transport direction. Workpiece carriers are disposed between the chains and extend parallel to each other. Each workpiece carrier includes two support elements extending parallel to each other and are rigidly connected together. On each workpiece carrier, a plurality of workpiece clamps are disposed. Each workpiece clamp comprises two clamp members, respectively connected to the support elements. At least one clamp member of each workpiece clamp is pivotal about the support element with which it is connected, between a closed position and an open position. The chains are fed between a charging station, at which the workpiece clamps are changed with workpieces, and a discharge station at which the workpieces are released from the clamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1984
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Johann Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 4221522
    Abstract: A vertical magazine well accommodates a plurality of magazines lying on each other so that they can move downwardly under the action of gravity. Each magazine accommodates a plurality of strip-like workpieces at predetermined intervals above each other and which at a withdrawal or loading station level can be withdrawn from or inserted into the magazine by displacement in a longitudinal direction. Accommodated in the magazine well is a pair of cylindrical drums having vertical axes about which they are rotated in synchronism with each other by a step-drive mechanism. The surface of each drum has a helical array of pins projecting radially therefrom and which can be projected in turn into the vertical path of movement of a magazine in the magazine well. Initially, a magazine is supported by the uppermost pins of the helical arrays of the two drums and in this position the lowermost strip-like member in the magazine can be withdrawn from (or loaded into) the magazine at the loading station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1980
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Hoffmann, Richard Heim, Georg Fischer