Patents by Inventor Michael Hoffman

Michael 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: 20200267449
    Abstract: Systems and associated methods are described for providing content recommendations. The system accesses content item consumption data for a plurality of users subscribed to a media service. Then, the system determines that a first subset of the plurality of users has unsubscribed from the media service and that a second subset of the plurality of users has not unsubscribed from the media service. The system identifies a time slot typical for the first subset of users and atypical for the second subset of users based on content item consumption data of the first subset of users and content item consumption data of the second subset of users. In response to determining that a user is consuming a first content item at the identified time slot, the system generates for display a recommendation for a second content item that is scheduled for a different time slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2019
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventor: Michael Hoffman
  • Patent number: 10697301
    Abstract: A turbine engine can include an airfoil comprising an outer wall bounding an interior, as well as an airfoil cooling circuit located within the interior and including a feed tube separating into at least first and second branches. A flow divider can be included in the airfoil and positioned to confront the feed tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Michael Hoffman, Weston Nolan Dooley, Matthew Lee Krumanaker, Aaron Ezekiel Smith, Steven Robert Brassfield
  • Publication number: 20200149769
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for remote control of a thermostat by a network-based server, when the thermostat is not connected to a local or wide-area network. A network-based server calculates a modified temperature profile for a thermostat based on a utility's time-of-use pricing and/or weather forecasts. After the server has calculated the modified temperature profile, it is provided to a mobile device via a wide-area network, and the mobile device provides the modified temperature profile directly to the thermostat when the mobile device is within range of the thermostat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventor: Michael Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20200149921
    Abstract: Athletic performance monitoring systems include GPS data to enhance various features of the workout as well as the post-workout data analysis. Such features include using output from multiple sensors to determine the most accurate data available for providing distance measurements for individual segments of a route. The most accurate data for each route segment, from whatever source, then is used to provide the overall route distance and as the basis for making other calculations, such as pace, calorie burn, etc. Another feature relates to the ability to both input and output geographically tagged messages while moving along a route during an athletic performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Hoffman, Miles W. Brown, Aaron B. Weast, Matt Capozzi, Tomislav Lakovic, James Molyneux, Jamian R. Cobbett
  • Patent number: 10646176
    Abstract: A radiation detector having an energy-integrating detection layer and at least one direct-conversion detection layer is described. In certain embodiments, the direct-conversion layer is impacted first by an incident X-ray beam, such that X-ray photons stopped at the direct-conversion layer are generally lower in energy than those which reach the energy-integrating detection layer. The data acquired using the direct-conversion layers and energy-integrating layers may be combined to provide additional spectral discrimination, such as in material decomposition or contrast-enhancement applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: David Michael Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20200129258
    Abstract: A tissue expander having an integrated drain includes an outer shell having an opening and one or more drainage holes. An injection port is disposed in the opening of the shell and forms a fluid-tight seal with the shell. The injection port includes a needle guard having a needle guard base with a top surface, and a barrier membrane that overlies the top surface of the needle guard base. The barrier membrane defines an inflation chamber located between the top surface of the needle guard base and a bottom surface of the barrier membrane, and a drainage chamber overlying a top surface of the barrier membrane. The tissue expander includes one or more inflation ports that are in fluid communication with the inflation chamber for inflating and deflating the outer shell with a first fluid. A drainage conduit is in fluid communication with and extends between the drainage chamber and the one or more drainage holes for draining a second fluid from outside the shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Marc Feinberg, Leo B. Kriksunov, Robert J. Tannhauser, Michael Hoffman, Jonathan Frenzel
  • Patent number: 10638555
    Abstract: Aspects and embodiments of systems for fluid transportation using inductive heating are described. In one embodiment, the system includes a first transportation pipe having a first diameter and a second transportation pipe having a second diameter. The first diameter is greater than the second diameter. An augur that causes a fluid flow is within the first transportation pipe. A control circuit is electrically coupled to the first inductive element and the second inductive element, and to a power supply to inductively heat the first transportation pipe and the second transportation pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Hydra Heating Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Hoffman, Shuping Wang
  • Patent number: 10560984
    Abstract: Aspects and embodiments of inductive heating systems are described. In one embodiment, the system includes a manifold assembly with number of manifold pipes that are connected to a manifold plate. An inductive coil is around the manifold assembly. A control circuit is electrically coupled to the inductive coil and to a power supply to inductively heat the manifold pipes of the manifold assembly using the inductive coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: HYDRA HEATING INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Hoffman, Shuping Wang, Anthony S. Deese
  • Patent number: 10556601
    Abstract: Aspects and embodiments of inductively heated tank cars are described. In one embodiment, an inductive heating system includes an inductive heating module with a radially-curved pancake coil. The heating module can be positioned by an actuator assembly to inductively heat the contents of a tank car. In one example, the actuator assembly includes an assembly base including at least one base pole, an extension channel, and an extension actuator. The actuator assembly also includes an extension arm to retract into and extend out from the extension channel based on the extension actuator, an inductive heating module pivotally secured about an end of the extension arm, and a heating module lift actuator to lift the inductive heating module about the pivot at the end of the extension arm. By lifting and/or pivoting the inductive heating module, it can be positioned proximate to the tank car for inductive heat transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Hydra Heating Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Hoffman
  • Patent number: 10539336
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for remote control of a thermostat by a network-based server, when the thermostat is not connected to a local or wide-area network. A network-based server calculates a modified temperature profile for a thermostat based on a utility's time-of-use pricing and/or weather forecasts. After the server has calculated the modified temperature profile, it is provided to a mobile device via a wide-area network, and the mobile device provides the modified temperature profile directly to the thermostat when the mobile device is within range of the thermostat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: RCS Technology, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Hoffman
  • Patent number: 10525988
    Abstract: Aspects and embodiments of inductively heated tank cars are described. In one embodiment, an inductive heating system for tank cars includes a radially-curved pancake coil, a coil housing that surrounds at least a portion of the radially-curved pancake coil, and a frame structure comprising at least one attachment mechanism to secure the frame structure to an exterior surface of a tank car. The system can also include an induction heating power supply to supply power for inductively heating the tank car using the radially-curved pancake coil. When installed to the tank car, the coil housing is assembled with the frame structure to secure the radially-curved pancake coil to the exterior surface of the tank car. Any number of radially-curved pancake coils can be secured to the exterior surface of the tank car to heat the contents of the tank car through inductive heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: HYDRA HEATING INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Hoffman
  • Patent number: 10508548
    Abstract: An airfoil assembly for a turbine engine can comprise a platform having first and second opposing surfaces, an airfoil extending from the first surface, a base extending from the second surface, and a platform cooling circuit including a feed tube, a first branch, a second branch, and a flow divider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Michael Hoffman, Weston Nolan Dooley, Aaron Ezekiel Smith, Steven Robert Brassfield
  • Publication number: 20190377374
    Abstract: A thermostat relay device is described. The thermostat relay device provides a communication link to a battery-powered thermostat that allows the battery-powered thermostat to transmit and receive wireless communication signals while maintaining long battery life.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventor: Michael Hoffman
  • Patent number: 10443400
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for an airfoil in a gas turbine engine can include an outer surface bounding an interior and spanning from a root to a tip. At least one flow channel can be defined among one or more full-length and partial-length ribs to further define an air flow channel within the airfoil. The air flow channel can have at least one tip turn at the partial-length rib, having at least one hole, for example a film hole, in a portion of the tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: James Michael Hoffman
  • Patent number: 10443403
    Abstract: An apparatus relating to engineering the geometry for a ball-chute support feature in an investment casting core. The investment casting core is for an airfoil region having at least one serpentine feature and at least one inlet feature coupled to the at least one serpentine feature by a ball-chute support feature. The investment casting core is leached out to form cooling passages in the airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Weston Nolan Dooley, James Michael Hoffman, Steven Robert Brassfield
  • Publication number: 20190301763
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for remote control of a thermostat by a network-based server, when the thermostat is not connected to a local or wide-area network. A network-based server calculates a modified temperature profile for a thermostat based on a utility's time-of-use pricing and/or weather forecasts. After the server has calculated the modified temperature profile, it is provided to a mobile device via a wide-area network, and the mobile device provides the modified temperature profile directly to the thermostat when the mobile device is within range of the thermostat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventor: Michael Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20190301301
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine that includes a turbomachinery core operable to produce a core gas flow and that includes a combustor. A first duct is positioned downstream of and in flow communication with the combustor. A component is positioned within the first duct and extends between radially outward and radially inward walls of the first duct. The component that includes a first cooling passageway formed therein. The first cooling passageway extends between an inlet communicating with the first duct and positioned facing towards the turbomachinery core, and an outlet communicating with a pressure sink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: James Michael Hoffman, Jeffrey Ryan Trimmer, Dennis Robert Jonassen, Mark Stephen Zlatic, Patrick John Lonneman
  • Patent number: 10312066
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating digital waveforms with high-resolution duty cycles are disclosed. A smoothed sinusoidal waveform set to a voltage other than ground may be generated and/or received. A rectangular waveform may be generated based on the sinusoidal waveform using a comparator. The rectangular waveform may be utilized to adjust the duty cycle of a current applied to a mass analyzer to improve duty-cycle resolution of a mass analyzer of a mass spectrometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Washington State University
    Inventors: Peter T. A. Reilly, Brian Herbert Clowers, Zachary Philip Gotlib, Nathan Michael Hoffman
  • Patent number: 10290155
    Abstract: There is provided a 3D virtual environment interaction system comprising: a processing unit for generating a 3D virtual environment comprising a planar reference frame for allowing a user to perform a user interaction with the 3D virtual environment; a display unit for displaying the generated 3D virtual environment; a portable input device for allowing the user to control the position and orientation of the planar reference frame within the generated 3D virtual environment, the portable input device comprising a planar input surface; a position and orientation sensor for monitoring the position and orientation of the planar input surface in a real-world space, the position and orientation sensor allowing the processing unit to modify at least one of the position and the orientation of the planar reference frame in response to a change in a corresponding one of the position and orientation of the planar input surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Valorisation-Recherche, Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Tomas Dorta, Michael Hoffman, Gokce Kinayoglu
  • Patent number: 10232459
    Abstract: Various welding chambers are disclosed herein. A welding chamber body has a glove tube attached to its sidewall. A windowed hood structure is attached to the welding chamber body using a hinge assembly. A manifold assembly has a main branch and perforated secondary branches. A cross sectional area of the main branch is greater than a second cross sectional area of one of the secondary branches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Hydra Heating Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Hoffman, Shuping Wang, Chris Endres