Patents by Inventor Stephen Wayne Hoffman

Stephen Wayne 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: 20040189797
    Abstract: A family entertainment video system for a motor vehicle integrated within a console unit comprises a console housing lid that is hingedly attached to a console base at a base end and defines a first space. The console housing lid includes a base plate and a cover plate hingedly attached at one lid end, wherein the base plate and the cover plate define a second space when in a closed configuration. A multimedia device is mounted to the base plate in the second space for providing a multimedia program signal. A video screen module is hingedly attached to the base plate for swinging out from the second space to a viewable position and for swinging back from the viewing position to a stowed position. The video screen module receives the multimedia program signal from the multimedia device and displays the video content of the output signal to a viewable area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Neal Jonathan Todd, Stephen Wayne Hoffman, Christopher E. Andrews, Brian Reece Howell
  • Patent number: 6443574
    Abstract: A removable vehicle entertainment system is provided. The system includes a video display screen for displaying entertainment to an occupant of the vehicle. The system can be removed from the docking bracket in the vehicle, and attached to an external docking station such that the system can be used independently of the power supply and speakers of the vehicle. Further, the system can be used as a self-contained personal entertainment system. The system includes mechanical and/or electrical componentry that determines the orientation of the video display screen, and allows the electronics of the system to display an image on the screen in an appropriate orientation, thus avoiding upside-down images in the various uses of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Reece Howell, Christopher Eugene Andrews, John Michael Dicky, Stephen Wayne Hoffman, Sachin V. Shah, Thomas Norfork, Jr.