Patents by Inventor Peter Hefner

Peter Hefner 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).

  • System for maintaining large numbers of handheld electronic devices
    Patent number: 8190806
    Abstract: A system for maintaining a large number of Handheld Electronic Devices (HEDs) includes a drawer having a divider structure configured to define compartments that are sized to hold the HEDs while the HEDs are stored in the drawer. A 20 port USB hub is provided in the drawer so that 20 HEDs may be connected to the USB hub while stored in the drawer. The USB hub allows the HEDs to be charged at a low rate while being synchronized with a computer and at a high rate when not being synchronized. The USB hub is designed using a tree structure of available USB hub chips to enable a larger number of USB ports. A microcontroller is provided to control the manner in which the computer is allowed to recognize the HEDs connected to the USB ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Bretford Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Petrick, John Jaqua, John Poremba, Peter Hefner, Mark Anthony Kinsley
  • System for Maintaining a Large Number of Handheld Electronic Devices
    Publication number: 20110084583
    Abstract: A system for maintaining a large number of Handheld Electronic Devices (HEDs) includes a drawer having a divider structure configured to define compartments that are sized to hold the HEDs while the HEDs are stored in the drawer. A 20 port USB hub is provided in the drawer so that 20 HEDs may be connected to the USB hub while stored in the drawer. The USB hub allows the HEDs to be charged at a low rate while being synchronized with a computer and at a high rate when not being synchronized. The USB hub is designed using a tree structure of available USB hub chips to enable a larger number of USB ports. A microcontroller is provided to control the manner in which the computer is allowed to recognize the HEDs connected to the USB ports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: Bretford Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Petrick, John Jaqua, John Poremba, Peter Hefner, Mark Anthony Kinsley
  • System for Maintaining Large Numbers of Handheld Electronic Devices
    Publication number: 20110035525
    Abstract: A system for maintaining a large number of Handheld Electronic Devices (HEDs) includes a drawer having a divider structure configured to define compartments that are sized to hold the HEDs while the HEDs are stored in the drawer. A 20 port USB hub is provided in the drawer so that 20 HEDs may be connected to the USB hub while stored in the drawer. The USB hub allows the HEDs to be charged at a low rate while being synchronized with a computer and at a high rate when not being synchronized. The USB hub is designed using a tree structure of available USB hub chips to enable a larger number of USB ports. A microcontroller is provided to control the manner in which the computer is allowed to recognize the HEDs connected to the USB ports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: Bretford Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Petrick, John Jaqua, John Poremba, Peter Hefner, Mark Anthony Kinsley
  • Hub structure for enabling communication with a large number of handheld electronic devices
    Patent number: 7844770
    Abstract: A system for maintaining a large number of Handheld Electronic Devices (HEDs) includes a drawer having a divider structure configured to define compartments that are sized to hold the HEDs while the HEDs are stored in the drawer. A 20 port USB hub is provided in the drawer so that 20 HEDs may be connected to the USB hub while stored in the drawer. The USB hub allows the HEDs to be charged at a low rate while being synchronized with a computer and at a high rate when not being synchronized. The USB hub is designed using a tree structure of available USB hub chips to enable a larger number of USB ports. A microcontroller is provided to control the manner in which the computer is allowed to recognize the HEDs connected to the USB ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Bretford Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Petrick, John Jaqua, John Poremba, Peter Hefner, Mark Anthony Kinsley
  • System for maintaining large numbers of handheld electronic devices
    Publication number: 20090096336
    Abstract: A system for maintaining a large number of Handheld Electronic Devices (HEDs) includes a drawer having a divider structure configured to define compartments that are sized to hold the HEDs while the HEDs are stored in the drawer. A 20 port USB hub is provided in the drawer so that 20 HEDs may be connected to the USB hub while stored in the drawer. The USB hub allows the HEDs to be charged at a low rate while being synchronized with a computer and at a high rate when not being synchronized. The USB hub is designed using a tree structure of available USB hub chips to enable a larger number of USB ports. A microcontroller is provided to control the manner in which the computer is allowed to recognize the HEDs connected to the USB ports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: Bretford Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Petrick, John Jaqua, John Poremba, Peter Hefner, Mark Anthony Kinsley
  • Communication system for vehicles
    Patent number: 7298248
    Abstract: A communication system for a vehicle traveling over a road surface is provided with at least one detector for sensing speed detection signals impinging on the vehicle, to monitor the speed of the vehicle or a nearby vehicle. A radiofrequency transmitter communicates the detector output to a receiver adjacent the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The receiver controls one or more annunciators to output one or more annunciator indications to the system user. The radiofrequency transmitter in one embodiment directs transmissions along a ground skip path, reflecting information over the road surface so as to enter the receiver located in or near a passenger compartment of the vehicle. A wireless control unit provides indication of system operating status and allows a user to input commands to the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: K40 Electronics
    Inventors: Peggy Finley, Howard Dittmer, Peter Hefner, Glen Adrian Thompson
  • Communication system for vehicles
    Publication number: 20060012468
    Abstract: A communication system for a vehicle traveling over a road surface is provided with at least one detector for sensing speed detection signals impinging on the vehicle, to monitor the speed of the vehicle or a nearby vehicle. A radiofrequency transmitter communicates the detector output to a receiver adjacent the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The receiver controls one or more annunciators to output one or more annunciator indications to the system user. The radiofrequency transmitter in one embodiment directs transmissions along a ground skip path, reflecting information over the road surface so as to enter the receiver located in or near a passenger compartment of the vehicle. A wireless control unit provides indication of system operating status and allows a user to input commands to the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2005
    Publication date: January 19, 2006
    Inventors: Peggy Finley, Howard Dittmer, Peter Hefner, Glen Thompson
  • Drawer for storing handheld electronic devices
    Patent number: D660623
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Bretford Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Petrick, John Jaqua, John Poremba, Peter Hefner, Mark Anthony Kinsley