Patents by Inventor Neal Hofmann
Neal Hofmann 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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Patent number: 9027015Abstract: A device and method of connecting an interactive communication system to a processing device. The device is a cable system that includes first and second ends. The first end of the cable system has a leg connector, while the second end of the connector system has first and second arm connectors. The method implements the cable system to load or run software onto the processing device, and includes connecting the leg connector to an interactive communication system; connecting the first arm connector having a memory device to the processing device, wherein the memory device includes predetermined software; loading/running the software on the processing device; disconnecting the first arm connector having the memory device from the processing device; and connecting a second arm connector to the processing device.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2008Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: Steelcase, Inc.Inventors: Peter W. Hildebrandt, Ian G. Hutchinson, James D. Watson, Michael H. Dunn, Neal A. Hofmann, Scott E. Wilson, Brent W. Anderson, Louis Ashford, Richard Meissner
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Patent number: 8723815Abstract: The present invention includes interactive communication systems that incorporate several beneficial embodiments including an interactive tray system, an electronic presentation messaging system, an interactive podium, and a key drive system. The interactive tray system enables a single, transferable interactive unit to be fastened to a communication medium, turning into a fully interactive medium. The electronic presentation messaging system enables the e-mailing of presentations and notes to and from components of the interactive communication system. The interactive podium increases conventional podium mobility, enabling both the presenter, and podium, to move and be moved about the room without attention to wired connections.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2010Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Steelcase, Inc.Inventors: Peter W. Hildebrandt, Ian G. Hutchinson, James D. Watson, Michael H. Dunn, Neal A. Hofmann, Scott E. Wilson, Brent W. Anderson, Louis Ashford, Richard Meissner
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Patent number: 8355892Abstract: A method and apparatus for diagnosing causes of a malfunction of an electronic whiteboard that includes a white-board surface, the method comprising the steps of linking a remote computer that includes a remote display to the electronic whiteboard from a remote location, interacting with the whiteboard surface to generate X and Y coordinates associated with surface activity, transmitting at least one of the X and Y coordinates associated with the surface activity to the remote computer, displaying at least a subset of the at least one of X and Y coordinates via the remote display and examining the at least a subset of the at least one of X and Y coordinates via the remote display to ascertain the cause of a board malfunction.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2007Date of Patent: January 15, 2013Assignee: Steelcase Inc.Inventors: Brand C. Kvavle, James D. Watson, Neal A. Hofmann, David W. Behner, Louis A. Ashford
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Publication number: 20120162061Abstract: An interactive system can include a display device, a control panel, a projector, a processing device, and an input device. The input device can detect indicia of its posture relative to the control panel or a display surface of the display device, so that the interactive system can recognize interactions between the input device and these components. Interactions between the input device and the display surface can be captured, analyzed by the processing device, and then represented in an image projected onto the display surface. The control panel can comprise a plurality of non-projected, tactile activation objects, each of which can correspond to an activity or function of the interactive system, such as, for example, powering on the projector. When the interactive system detects an interaction between the input device and an activation object, the activity corresponding to the selected activation object can be performed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2011Publication date: June 28, 2012Applicant: Polyvision CorporationInventors: Peter W. Hildebrandt, Neal A. Hofmann, Brand C. Kvavle
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Publication number: 20100275132Abstract: The present invention includes interactive communication systems that incorporate several beneficial embodiments including an interactive tray system, an electronic presentation messaging system, an interactive podium, and a key drive system. The interactive tray system enables a single, transferable interactive unit to be fastened to a communication medium, turning into a fully interactive medium. The electronic presentation messaging system enables the e-mailing of presentations and notes to and from components of the interactive communication system. The interactive podium increases conventional podium mobility, enabling both the presenter, and podium, to move and be moved about the room without attention to wired connections.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2010Publication date: October 28, 2010Applicant: PolyVision CorporationInventors: Peter W. HILDEBRANDT, Ian G. Hutchinson, James D. Watson, Michael H. Dunn, Neal A. Hofmann, Scott E. Wilson, Brent W. Anderson, Louis Ashford, Richard Meissner
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Patent number: 7750892Abstract: The present invention includes interactive communication systems that incorporate several beneficial embodiments including an interactive tray system, an electronic presentation messaging system, an interactive podium, and a key drive system. The interactive tray system enables a single, transferable interactive unit to be fastened to a communication medium, turning into a fully interactive medium. The electronic presentation messaging system enables the e-mailing of presentations and notes to and from components of the interactive communication system. The interactive podium increases conventional podium mobility, enabling both the presenter, and podium, to move and be moved about the room without attention to wired connections.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2005Date of Patent: July 6, 2010Assignee: Polyvision CorporationInventors: Peter W. Hildebrandt, Ian G. Hutchinson, James D. Watson, Michael H. Dunn, Neal A. Hofmann, Scott E. Wilson, Brent W. Anderson, Louis Ashford, Richard Meissner
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Publication number: 20100030505Abstract: A method and apparatus for diagnosing causes of a malfunction of an electronic whiteboard that includes a white-board surface, a position sensor for sensing surface activity and generating at least one of X and Y coordinates associated with the surface activity and a local computer that runs board software to convert the at least one of X and Y coordinates into operational commands, the method comprising the steps of linking a remote computer that includes a remote display to the electronic whiteboard from a remote location, interacting with the whiteboard surface to generate X and Y coordinates associated with surface activity, transmitting at least one of the X and Y coordinates associated with the surface activity to the remote computer, displaying at least a subset of the at least one of X and Y coordinates via the remote display and examining the at least a subset of the at least one of X and Y coordinates via the remote display to ascertain the cause of a board malfunction.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2007Publication date: February 4, 2010Inventors: Brand C. Kvavle, James D. Watson, Neal A. Hofmann, David W. Behner, Louis A. Ashford
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Publication number: 20090309853Abstract: An electronic whiteboard system and assembly with optical detection elements is disclosed. The electronic whiteboard system includes a writing/display surface and a retroreflective perimeter surrounding the edge of the surface. A user can mark upon the surface or interact with an image displayed on the surface using an input device. The perimeter can reflect light beams emitted from optical detection elements located at the corners of the surface to identify the position of the input device relative to the writing surface and/or projected image. The electronic whiteboard assembly includes one or more electronic whiteboard systems coupled together with a connector element having two retroreflective surfaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2008Publication date: December 17, 2009Applicant: POLYVISION CORPORATIONInventors: Peter W. Hildebrandt, James Watson, Neal Hofmann, Brent Anderson, Steve Takayama
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Publication number: 20090146965Abstract: A device and method of connecting an interactive communication system to a processing device. The device is a cable system that includes first and second ends. The first end of the cable system has a leg connector, while the second end of the connector system has first and second arm connectors. The method implements the cable system to load or run software onto the processing device, and includes connecting the leg connector to an interactive communication system; connecting the first arm connector having a memory device to the processing device, wherein the memory device includes predetermined software; loading/running the software on the processing device; disconnecting the first arm connector having the memory device from the processing device; and connecting a second arm connector to the processing device.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2008Publication date: June 11, 2009Applicant: PolyVision CorporationInventors: Peter W. Hildebrandt, Ian G. Hutchinson, James D. Watson, Michael H. Dunn, Neal A. Hofmann, Scott E. Wilson, Brent W. Anderson, Louis Ashford, Richard Meissner
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Publication number: 20080192017Abstract: The present invention is a whiteboard method and system (100) having automated projection calibration that does not require user interaction. The method and system are accomplished by placing sensors (302) beneath a target surface and projecting a projected pattern to discover a geometric correspondence between the target surface and the projecting device. Optical sensors (32) are preferably employed to sense the presence of the projected pattern on the whiteboard. The input data is used with a mapping function or translation matrix for converting whiteboard coordinates to screen coordinates, which are then used for mapping the coordinates to a cursor position. When the geometry of the whiteboard surface is known, and the locations of the optical sensors within this geometry are known, the information about which projector pixels illuminate which sensor can be used to calibrate the projecting device with respect to the whiteboard.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2005Publication date: August 14, 2008Applicant: Polyvision CorporationInventors: Peter W. Hildebrandt, Scott Wilson, James D. Watson, Brent W. Anderson, Neal A. Hofmann, Brand C. Kvavle, Jeffrey P. Hughes, Joseph Hubert
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Publication number: 20060176418Abstract: A method and apparatus for mounting a sensor module adjacent the edge of a display including a housing wherein the housing forms at least a first mounting surface, the apparatus including a first coupler, a first adhesive layer securing the first coupler to the first mounting surface and a second coupler linked to the sensor module and coupled to the first coupler wherein the second coupler is adjustable to modify the relative position of the sensor module to the display unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2006Publication date: August 10, 2006Inventors: Brent Anderson, Aaron Friedman, James Watson, Neal Hofmann, Richard Meissner
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Publication number: 20050280636Abstract: The present invention includes interactive communication systems that incorporate several beneficial embodiments including an interactive tray system, an electronic presentation messaging system, an interactive podium, and a key drive system. The interactive tray system enables a single, transferable interactive unit to be fastened to a communication medium, turning into a fully interactive medium. The electronic presentation messaging system enables the e-mailing of presentations and notes to and from components of the interactive communication system. The interactive podium increases conventional podium mobility, enabling both the presenter, and podium, to move and be moved about the room without attention to wired connections.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2005Publication date: December 22, 2005Applicant: PolyVision CorporationInventors: Peter Hildebrandt, Ian Hutchinson, James Watson, Michael Dunn, Neal Hofmann, Scott Wilson, Brent Anderson, Louis Ashford, Richard Meissner
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Publication number: 20040246236Abstract: A remote controllable electronic whiteboard system and method of operating the remote controllable electronic whiteboard system are provided. An exemplary remote controllable electronic whiteboard system includes an electronic whiteboard in communication with a remote control device. Methods of operating the electronic whiteboard system including the use of a remote control device are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2003Publication date: December 9, 2004Applicant: Greensteel, Inc.Inventors: Peter Hildebrandt, James D. Watson, Neal A. Hofmann, A. Joel Assaraf, Michael H. Dunn, Ian G. Hutchinson, Gregg Draudt, Sam Millen
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Patent number: 6821472Abstract: A method of controlling thermal loading of an electronic component material during ablation thereof provides a first laser light beam 42 at a certain power density and fluence and uses the first laser light beam to remove a portion of a first side 47 of the material 36. A second laser light beam 44 is provided at a certain power density and fluence and the second laser light beam is used to remove a portion of a side 49 of the material opposing the first side thereof substantially simultaneously as the portion of the first side is being removed.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2002Date of Patent: November 23, 2004Assignee: Siemens Dematic Electronics Assembly Systems, Inc.Inventors: Alexander F. Schreiner, Neal Hofmann
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Publication number: 20030193117Abstract: A method of controlling thermal loading of an electronic component material during ablation thereof provides a first laser light beam 42 at a certain power density and fluence and uses the first laser light beam to remove a portion of a first side 47 of the material 36. A second laser light beam 44 is provided at a certain power density and fluence and the second laser light beam is used to remove a portion of a side 49 of the material opposing the first side thereof substantially simultaneously as the portion of the first side is being removed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2002Publication date: October 16, 2003Inventors: Alexander F. Schreiner, Neal Hofmann