Patents by Inventor Michael Hoff

Michael Hoff 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: 20240088524
    Abstract: A system architecture for grid electrical energy storage comprising substantial numbers of cells connected in parallel. The lowest level of modularity comprising about eighteen or more individual cells connected in parallel. The disclosed architecture reduces the number of parts, complexity, and variability, while increasing one or more of reliability, service life, and energy capacity of a large-scale grid energy storage system, relative to a conventional multi-parallel string architecture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: C. Michael HOFF, Greg TREMELLING, Bud COLLINS, Scott Hampton REITSMA, Erik NELSON
  • Patent number: 10014697
    Abstract: Systems and methods of providing integrated battery protection for a plurality of series-connected batteries, in which a plurality of controllable switches are used to disconnect or otherwise isolate the respective batteries, substantially simultaneously, from an external circuit in response to certain fault or non-fault battery conditions. When the plurality of controllable switches are synchronously transitioned from a closed or “ON” state to an opened or “OFF” state, the voltages of the respective batteries become distributed among the controllable switches, allowing for the use of switches having a reduced voltage rating as well as a reduced cost. By connecting a balancing resistor across each of a plurality of series-connected battery/switch pairs, a more even distribution of the voltages of the respective batteries among the controllable switches can be achieved, providing the system with more predictable operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: NEC Energy Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Yevgeny Maltsev, Oleg Kerbel, C. Michael Hoff, Greg Tremelling
  • Patent number: 9971590
    Abstract: Solution packages for a product for deployment on a collection of servers can be designed using one or more designers that provide user interfaces for visually arranging and configuring elements of the product. A package object model includes a managed object model that represents a package or feature manifest as defined by a product manifest XML schema. The object model can be used to create references to other project item and feature definitions. The extended object model can be used to generate an equivalent package or feature manifest XML file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Phillip Michael Hoff, Shi Sun, Daniel A. Molina, Li Ma, Lubomir I. Birov
  • Patent number: 9845142
    Abstract: An aircraft skin panel includes a laminated composite layer and a ground plane coupled to the composite layer, wherein the ground plane is an electrically conductive elastic thermoplastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael P. Gleason, Mathew Albert Coffman, David G. Betterly, Michael A. Arrowsmith, John M. Robertson, Anthony Michael Hoff
  • Publication number: 20170147327
    Abstract: Solution packages for a product for deployment on a collection of servers can be designed using one or more designers that provide user interfaces for visually arranging and configuring elements of the product. A package object model includes a managed object model that represents a package or feature manifest as defined by a product manifest XML schema. The object model can be used to create references to other project item and feature definitions. The extended object model can be used to generate an equivalent package or feature manifest XML file.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Phillip Michael Hoff, Shi Sun, Daniel A. Molina, Li Ma, Lubomir I. Birov
  • Patent number: 9582257
    Abstract: Solution packages for a product for deployment on a collection of servers can be designed using one or more designers that provide user interfaces for visually arranging and configuring elements of the product. A package object model includes a managed object model that represents a package or feature manifest as defined by a product manifest XML schema. The object model can be used to create references to other project item and feature definitions. The extended object model can be used to generate an equivalent package or feature manifest XML file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Phillip Michael Hoff, Shi Sun, Daniel A. Molina, Li Ma, Lubomir I. Birov
  • Publication number: 20160257394
    Abstract: An aircraft skin panel includes a laminated composite layer and a ground plane coupled to the composite layer, wherein the ground plane is an electrically conductive elastic thermoplastic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: Michael P. Gleason, Mathew Albert Coffman, David G. Betterly, Michael A. Arrowsmith, John M. Robertson, Anthony Michael Hoff
  • Publication number: 20160072315
    Abstract: Systems and methods of providing integrated battery protection for a plurality of series-connected batteries, in which a plurality of controllable switches are used to disconnect or otherwise isolate the respective batteries, substantially simultaneously, from an external circuit in response to certain fault or non-fault battery conditions. When the plurality of controllable switches are synchronously transitioned from a closed or “ON” state to an opened or “OFF” state, the voltages of the respective batteries become distributed among the controllable switches, allowing for the use of switches having a reduced voltage rating as well as a reduced cost. By connecting a balancing resistor across each of a plurality of series-connected battery/switch pairs, a more even distribution of the voltages of the respective batteries among the controllable switches can be achieved, providing the system with more predictable operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Yevgeny Maltsev, Oleg Kerbel, C. Michael Hoff, Greg Tremelling
  • Patent number: 9093847
    Abstract: A method of controlling current in a parallel battery systems includes providing at least two parallel connected batteries, each said battery having an internal resistance and dissipating heat while operating; during operation, measuring at least the temperature and current of each individual battery; and providing instructions to a temperature control system having a temperature control module coupled with each said battery for individually cooling each said battery to adjust temperature of at least one battery in order to maintain the current at a target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: NEC Energy Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: C. Michael Hoff, David Colucci, Tom De Lucia, Bud Collins
  • Patent number: 8935111
    Abstract: The disclosed system includes a metering device for monitoring electrical power grid conditions, a controller for determining if the metering device is detecting a condition on an electrical grid that is indicative of a delayed voltage recovery event, and a communication device for communicating with one or more remotely located bi-directional power source modules connected to the electrical power grid, wherein the controller is programmed to send a notification via the communication device to the one or more remotely located bi-directional power source modules if the controller detects a condition indicative of delayed voltage recovery event. In some embodiments, the metering device includes a grid metering device. In some embodiments, the metering device measures power factor, and a change in the voltage and ratio of VARs to Watts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: NEC Energy Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Vartanian, C. Michael Hoff, David Colucci, Peter Gottlieb
  • Publication number: 20140157254
    Abstract: Solution packages for a product for deployment on a collection of servers can be designed using one or more designers that provide user interfaces for visually arranging and configuring elements of the product. A package object model includes a managed object model that represents a package or feature manifest as defined by a product manifest XML schema. The object model can be used to create references to other project item and feature definitions. The extended object model can be used to generate an equivalent package or feature manifest XML file.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Phillip Michael Hoff, Shi Sun, Daniel A. Molina, Li Ma, Lubomir I. Birov
  • Patent number: 8661427
    Abstract: Solution packages for a product for deployment on a collection of servers can be designed using one or more designers that provide user interfaces for visually arranging and configuring elements of the product. A package object model includes a managed object model that represents a package or feature manifest as defined by a product manifest XML schema. The object model can be used to create references to other project item and feature definitions. The extended object model can be used to generate an equivalent package or feature manifest XML file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Phillip Michael Hoff, Shi Sun, Daniel A. Molina, Li Ma, Lubomir I. Birov
  • Patent number: 8593015
    Abstract: A battery system comprises a first battery unit; a DC voltage bus; a second battery unit electrically connected to the DC voltage bus; a current-limiting component; and switching circuitry for connecting the first battery unit to the DC voltage bus, where the switching circuitry is configured to electrically connect the first battery unit to the DC voltage bus either directly or through a current-limiting component, depending on an operating parameter of the first battery unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: A123 Systems LLC
    Inventors: Peter Gottlieb, C. Michael Hoff, Thomas Farkas
  • Patent number: 8581547
    Abstract: A system for charging a battery includes a battery pack having at least two lithium ion cells. A controller detects a rate of change of voltage with respect to a state of charge (dV/dSOC) of the battery pack based on a calculated dV/dSOC that represents the battery pack as a whole, without calculating dV/dSOC individually on a cell-by-cell basis. Charging is terminated when dV/dSOC reaches a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: A123 Systems LLC
    Inventor: C. Michael Hoff
  • Patent number: 8472439
    Abstract: One aspect relates to a communication protocol for communicating between one or more entities, such as devices, hosts or any other system capable of communicating over a network. A protocol is provided that allows communication between entities without a priori knowledge of the communication protocol. In such a protocol, for example, information describing a data structure of the communication protocol is transferred between communicating entities. Further, an authentication protocol is provided for providing bidirectional authentication between communicating entities. In one specific example, the entities include a master device and a slave device coupled by a serial link. In another specific example, the communication protocol may be used for performing unbalanced transmission between communicating entities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Schneider Electric IT Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel C. Cohen, James S. Spitaels, David A. Colucci, Matthew Fletcher Bush, C. Michael Hoff, Robert Joseph Backofen, Vishwas Mohaniraj Deokar
  • Patent number: 8418165
    Abstract: Solution packages for a product for deployment on a collection of servers can be designed using one or more designers that provide user interfaces for visually arranging and configuring elements of the product. A package object model includes a managed object model that represents a package or feature manifest as defined by a product manifest XML schema. The object model can be used to create references to other project item and feature definitions. The extended object model can be used to generate an equivalent package or feature manifest XML file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Phillip Michael Hoff, Shi Sun, Daniel A. Molina, Li Ma, Lubomir I. Birov
  • Publication number: 20130009602
    Abstract: A method of controlling current in a parallel battery systems includes providing at least two parallel connected batteries, each said battery having an internal resistance and dissipating heat while operating; during operation, measuring at least the temperature and current of each individual battery; and providing instructions to a temperature control system having a temperature control module coupled with each said battery for individually cooling each said battery to adjust temperature of at least one battery in order to maintain the current at a target value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: A123 SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: C. Michael Hoff, David Colucci, Tom De Lucia, Bud Collins
  • Patent number: 8296730
    Abstract: When objects are called by a program written in a strongly-typed language using an interface written in a loosely-typed manner, incompatibilities between the programming languages can cause problems. Extension methods can simplify the interface between objects in an object model and a program written in a strongly-typed programming language by providing method overloads that accept strongly-typed parameters. Extension methods are provided that use method overloads that accept strongly-typed parameters, improving type safety by allowing the compiler to enforce type safety rather than relying on type checking at runtime. Nullable types and object initialization may be used to provide strongly-typed optional parameters. Extension methods can be used to support parameterized properties and to support class indexers, enabling query of collections of in-memory objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: David Andrew Whitechapel, Vladimir Morozov, Phillip Michael Hoff
  • Publication number: 20120104856
    Abstract: A battery system comprises a first battery unit; a DC voltage bus; a second battery unit electrically connected to the DC voltage bus; a current-limiting component; and switching circuitry for connecting the first battery unit to the DC voltage bus, where the switching circuitry is configured to electrically connect the first battery unit to the DC voltage bus either directly or through a current-limiting component, depending on an operating parameter of the first battery unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: A123 SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Peter GOTTLIEB, C. Michael HOFF, Thomas FARKAS
  • Patent number: 8098048
    Abstract: A battery charger containing circuitry including integrated cell balancing and automatic cell configuration determination is presented. The charger automatically adapts output current to different battery configurations. The charger also ensures that all the cells within a battery configuration are at roughly the same voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventor: Michael Hoff