Patents by Inventor Kolleen C. Hughes

Kolleen C. Hughes 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).

  • Automatic vehicle control system
    Patent number: 4956777
    Abstract: The system includes a first computer for communicating with automatic guided vehicles on a guided vehicle loop and storing information related to vehicle position. A second computer determines vehicle destinations. The first computer and the second computer maintain separate databases. Information in the data of the first computer relating to vehicle position is copied into the database of the second computer to assist in making vehicle destination determinations and the vehicle destination information stored in the database of the second computer is copied into the first computer. The invention also includes a unique fast and slow polling routine to insure that data transfer to the vehicles requiring it most is achieved in any polling cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1990
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Thomas W. Cearley, Michael F. Donovan, Raymond A. Gardea, II, Kolleen C. Hughes, William R. Hunt, III, William R. Jarvis, Marvin R. Martin, Aftab Shamb, Michael D. Shepard, William F. Summers, David C. Twine, Lonnie M. Utt, Jr.