Patents by Inventor John E. Hoffmann
John E. 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).
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Publication number: 20210155424Abstract: An asphalt receiving vehicle includes a receiving hopper that is adapted to receive a load of asphalt paving material from a supply truck, and a conveyor that is adapted to convey the asphalt paving material received from the supply truck out of the receiving hopper. A plurality of guidance lights are mounted on the asphalt receiving vehicle so as to illuminate the roadway adjacent to the receiving hopper to provide a landing pattern to assist a driver of the supply truck to properly maneuver the supply truck as the supply truck is backed into position adjacent the receiving hopper. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the plurality of guidance lights may also be used individually as directional signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2020Publication date: May 27, 2021Applicant: Roadtec, Inc.Inventors: John E. Hoffmann, Nathan Beckman, Matthew Neisen
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Patent number: 10907310Abstract: A material transfer vehicle has a discharge conveyor with a discharge chute mounted thereon. A controller is operatively connected to the elevation control system and the steering control system for the discharge conveyor. The controller is adapted to communicate with the elevation control system for the discharge conveyor to adjust the elevation of the discharge conveyor. The controller is also adapted to communicate with the steering control system for the discharge conveyor so that the angular orientation of the discharge conveyor with respect to the longitudinal axis of the material transfer vehicle may be adjusted. A paver-locating sensor is operatively connected to the controller, and is located and adapted to execute multiple non-contact sensor scan passes across the front end of the paving machine to determine the distance and orientation of the paving machine with respect to the paver-locating sensor and to communicate this information.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2018Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: Roadtec, Inc.Inventors: Oleg Tkachenko, John E. Hoffmann, David Swearingen, Irina Brown
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Publication number: 20190377363Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the movement of a material transfer vehicle with respect to the front end of a paving machine that is being operated by a driver/operator and is being supplied with asphalt paving material by the material transfer vehicle includes a controller that is mounted on the material transfer vehicle and is operatively connected to control mechanisms for controlling the speed and braking of the material transfer vehicle. A sensor is mounted on the material transfer vehicle and is operatively connected to the controller. The sensor is located and adapted to execute non-contact sensor scan passes across the front end of the paving machine to determine the distance from the sensor to the paving machine. The sensor is also adapted to communicate information to the controller about the distance from the sensor to the paving machine. The apparatus includes no components that are mounted on the paving machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2019Publication date: December 12, 2019Applicant: Roadtec, Inc.Inventors: Lillian Nichole Shelton, John E. Hoffmann, David Swearingen, Irina Brown, Kerry Malone, Oleg Tkachenko
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Publication number: 20190003133Abstract: A material transfer vehicle that is adapted to supply asphalt paving material to a paving machine on a roadway has a discharge conveyor with an input end and an output end with a discharge chute mounted thereon. A controller is operatively connected to the elevation control system and the steering control system for the discharge conveyor. The controller is adapted to communicate elevation control signals to the elevation control system for the discharge conveyor so that the elevation of the discharge conveyor may be adjusted based upon communication from the controller. The controller is also adapted to communicate steering control signals to the steering control system for the discharge conveyor so that the angular orientation of the discharge conveyor with respect to the longitudinal axis of the material transfer vehicle may be adjusted based upon communication from the controller.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2018Publication date: January 3, 2019Applicant: Roadtec, Inc.Inventors: Oleg Tkachenko, John E. Hoffmann, David Swearingen, Irina Brown
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Publication number: 20180142427Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the movement of a material transfer vehicle with respect to the front end of a paving machine that is being supplied by the material transfer vehicle includes a controller that is mounted on the material transfer vehicle and is operatively connected to drive systems for controlling the steering and speed of the material transfer vehicle. A sensor is mounted on the material transfer vehicle and is operatively connected to the controller. The sensor is located and adapted to execute multiple non-contact sensor scan passes across the front end of the paving machine to determine the distance from the sensor to the paving machine. The sensor is also adapted to communicate information to the controller about the distance from the sensor to the paving machine. The apparatus includes no components that are mounted on the paving machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2017Publication date: May 24, 2018Applicant: Roadtec, Inc.Inventors: Oleg Tkachenko, John E. Hoffmann, David Swearingen, Irina Brown
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Patent number: 9913271Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed regarding a wireless field unit, which may receive a plurality of forward link assignment messages for the wireless field unit over at least one first code channel. Each of the forward link assignment messages may indicate a modulation type, a data rate and assigned channel codes for a respective assigned forward link transmission. Also, forward link transmissions may be time multiplexed between wireless field units. The wireless field unit may receive a plurality of assigned forward link transmissions. In addition, the wireless field unit my process each of the received assigned forward link transmissions in response to the respective received forward link assignment messages. Further, the wireless field unit may receive power control information in assigned time intervals on a time division multiplexed second code channel, wherein the time division multiplexed second code channel is time multiplexed between a plurality of wireless field units.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2016Date of Patent: March 6, 2018Assignee: IPR LICENSING, INC.Inventors: George R. Nelson, John E. Hoffmann, James A. Proctor, Antoine J. Rouphael
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Patent number: 9807714Abstract: Multiple field units in a CDMA system are synchronized for communication with a base station using a shared forward and reverse link channel. Each field unit is assigned a time slot in a forward link channel to receive messages from the base station. Likewise, each field unit is assigned a time slot on a common reverse link channel for transmitting messages to the base station. Timing alignment among each of many field units and the base station is achieved by analyzing messages received at the base station in a corresponding time slot from each field unit. Thereafter, a message is transmitted in a corresponding time slot to a particular field unit from the base station for adjusting its timing so that future messages transmitted from the field unit are received in the appropriate time slot at the base station.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2016Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: INTEL CORPORATIONInventors: G. Rodney Nelson, Jr., John E. Hoffmann, Antoine J. Rouphael, James A. Proctor
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Patent number: 9780930Abstract: A mobile device may generate reference bits. The mobile device may also produce a frame to send in an uplink transmission having two portions selectively with the reference bits or data bits.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2015Date of Patent: October 3, 2017Assignee: IPR Licensing, Inc.Inventors: John E. Hoffmann, George Rodney Nelson, James A. Proctor, Antoine J. Rouphael
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Patent number: 9661583Abstract: In an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a reference signal including pilot information is transmitted from a base station to one or multiple field units over a pilot channel. A message is also sent to the field units over a paging channel to indicate an effective radiated power level at which the reference signal is transmitted on the pilot channel. Based on a received power level of the reference signal at a field unit and the effective radiated power level of the reference signal, a forward path loss is estimated at the field unit for the forward link between the base station and field unit. Assuming the path loss in the reverse link is approximately the same as the estimated forward link path loss, the field unit can transmit, a reply message in the reverse link so that the base station generally receives a message at-a desired power level.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2013Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: IPR Licensing, Inc.Inventors: George R. Nelson, Jr., James A. Proctor, Jr., John E. Hoffmann, Antoine J. Rouphael
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Publication number: 20170064682Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed regarding a wireless field unit, which may receive a plurality of forward link assignment messages for the wireless field unit over at least one first code channel. Each of the forward link assignment messages may indicate a modulation type, a data rate and assigned channel codes for a respective assigned forward link transmission. Also, forward link transmissions may be time multiplexed between wireless field units. The wireless field unit may receive a plurality of assigned forward link transmissions. In addition, the wireless field unit my process each of the received assigned forward link transmissions in response to the respective received forward link assignment messages. Further, the wireless field unit may receive power control information in assigned time intervals on a time division multiplexed second code channel, wherein the time division multiplexed second code channel is time multiplexed between a plurality of wireless field units.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2016Publication date: March 2, 2017Applicant: IPR LICENSING, INC.Inventors: George R. Nelson, John E. Hoffmann, James A. Proctor, Antoine J. Rouphael
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Patent number: 9497761Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed regarding a field unit, which may receive a plurality of forward link assignment messages for a plurality of time slots for a plurality of forward link transmissions, each message including an indication of a modulation and a code rate associated with a respective forward link transmission. The unit may receive at least one of the forward link transmissions in at least two of the time slots at the respective indicated modulation and code rate. The unit may receive a plurality of reverse link assignment messages for a plurality of time slots for a plurality of reverse link transmissions, each message including an indication of a modulation and a code rate associated with a respective reverse link transmission. The unit may transmit at least one of the reverse link transmissions in at least two of the time slots at the respective indicated modulation and code rate.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2015Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: IPR Licensing, Inc.Inventors: George R. Nelson, John E. Hoffmann, James A. Proctor, Antoine J. Rouphael
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Publication number: 20160323074Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding digital communication signals is described herein. A wireless communication unit may comprise a processor configured to produce first symbols derived from data bits and parity bits. The wireless communication unit may transmit a wireless signal including the first symbols and reference symbols in a time interval including a plurality of symbol time intervals. In one of the symbol time intervals a plurality of the reference symbols may be transmitted in a predetermined pattern, which may have the reference symbols not adjacent to each other. A base station may receive a wireless signal including first and reference symbols. In one of the symbol time intervals a plurality of the reference symbols may be received in a predetermined pattern. The base station may then demodulate the first symbols using the reference symbols, wherein the first symbols are derived from data bits and parity bits.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2016Publication date: November 3, 2016Applicant: IPR Licensing, Inc.Inventors: John E. Hoffmann, George R. Nelson, James A. Proctor, Antoine J. Rouphael
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Patent number: 9461698Abstract: A communications device may include a transmit path, a receive path operable simultaneously with the transmit path and at a same frequency as the transmit path, and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry may be configured to generate a baseband signal for the transmit path, generate a feedforward signal based upon the baseband signal, and use the feedforward signal to reduce self-interference in the receive path from the transmit path.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2013Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: HARRIS CORPORATIONInventors: Christopher D. Moffatt, John E. Hoffmann, Richard Lilley
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Publication number: 20160212720Abstract: A method for use in a field unit operable in a wireless communication network. The method includes receiving an indication of a plurality of access identifiers from a base station. The field unit selects an access identifier from the plurality of access identifiers received from the base station. The selected access identifier is associated with a type of field unit request. The field unit transmits the selected access identifier to the base station. The field unit then receives a message from the base station. The message is based on the transmitted selected access identifier. The message contains a timing adjustment that indicates an amount to advance timing. A corresponding field unit apparatus, a base station method, and corresponding base station apparatus is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2016Publication date: July 21, 2016Inventors: G. Rodney Nelson, Jr., John E. Hoffmann, Antoine J. Rouphael, James A. Proctor
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Patent number: 9397808Abstract: A technique for encoding digital communication signals. Data symbols are augmented in pilot symbols inserted at predetermined positions. The pilot augmented sequence is then fed to a deterministic error correction block encoder, such as a turbo product coder, to output a coded sequence. The symbols in the error correction encoded sequence are then rearranged to ensure that the output symbols derived from input pilot symbols are located at regular, predetermined positions. As a result, channel encoding schemes can more easily be used which benefits from power of two length block sizes.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2014Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: IPR Licensing, Inc.Inventors: John E. Hoffmann, George R. Nelson, James A. Proctor, Antoine J. Rouphael, III
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Patent number: 9369235Abstract: The present invention provides for making code rate adjustments and modulation type adjustments in a pseudonoise (PN) encoded CDMA system. Coding rate adjustments may be made by changing the number of information bits per symbol, or Forward Error Code (FEC) coding rate. A forward error correction (FEC) block size is maintained at a constant amount. Therefore, as the number of information bits per symbol are increased, an integer multiple of bits per epoch is always maintained. The scheme permits for a greater flexibility and selection of effective data rates providing information bit rates ranging from, for example, approximately 50 kilobits per second to over 5 mega bits per second (Mbps) in one preferred embodiment.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2015Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: John E. Hoffmann, George Rodney Nelson, Daniel I. Riley, Antoine J. Rouphael, James A. Proctor
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Patent number: 9301274Abstract: Multiple field units in a CDMA system are synchronized for communication with a base station using a shared forward and reverse link channel. Each field unit is assigned a time slot in a forward link channel to receive messages from the base station. Likewise, each field unit is assigned a time slot on a common reverse link channel for transmitting messages to the base station. Timing alignment among each of many field units and the base station is achieved by analyzing messages received at the base station in a corresponding time slot from each field unit. Thereafter, a message is transmitted in a corresponding time slot to a particular field unit from the base station for adjusting its timing so that future messages transmitted from the field unit are received in the appropriate time slot at the base station.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2013Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: G. Rodney Nelson, Jr., John E. Hoffmann, Antoine J. Rouphael, James A. Proctor
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Publication number: 20160066323Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed regarding a field unit, which may receive a plurality of forward link assignment messages for a plurality of time slots for a plurality of forward link transmissions, each message including an indication of a modulation and a code rate associated with a respective forward link transmission. The unit may receive at least one of the forward link transmissions in at least two of the time slots at the respective indicated modulation and code rate. The unit may receive a plurality of reverse link assignment messages for a plurality of time slots for a plurality of reverse link transmissions, each message including an indication of a modulation and a code rate associated with a respective reverse link transmission. The unit may transmit at least one of the reverse link transmissions in at least two of the time slots at the respective indicated modulation and code rate.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2015Publication date: March 3, 2016Applicant: IPR LICENSING, INC.Inventors: George R. Nelson, John E. Hoffmann, James A. Proctor, Antoine J. Rouphael
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Patent number: 9185604Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed regarding data rate and resource allocation decisions which are made for a communications channel, such as a wireless reverse connection. The wireless reverse connection may be between stations. One of the stations may be a base station and another station may be a field unit. The field unit may transmit data to a base station at a first data rate, based on a first resource allocation. Also, the field unit may transmit, to the base station, an indication, such as a digital data word, that the field unit has the capability to support the transmission of uplink data at a second data rate. The base station may transmit a second resource allocation to the field unit. After receiving the second resource allocation, the field unit may transmit additional uplink data to the base station at the second data rate based on the second resource allocation.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2014Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: IPR Licensing, Inc.Inventors: George R. Nelson, John E. Hoffmann, James A. Proctor, Antoine J. Rouphael
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Publication number: 20150222392Abstract: The present invention provides for making code rate adjustments and modulation type adjustments in a pseudonoise (PN) encoded CDMA system. Coding rate adjustments may be made by changing the number of information bits per symbol, or Forward Error Code (FEC) coding rate. A forward error correction (FEC) block size is maintained at a constant amount. Therefore, as the number of information bits per symbol are increased, an integer multiple of bits per epoch is always maintained. The scheme permits for a greater flexibility and selection of effective data rates providing information bit rates ranging from, for example, approximately 50 kilobits per second to over 5 mega bits per second (Mbps) in one preferred embodiment.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2015Publication date: August 6, 2015Inventors: John E. Hoffmann, George Rodney Nelson, Daniel I. Riley, Antoine J. Rouphael, James A. Proctor