Patents by Inventor Thomas L. Cheney

Thomas L. Cheney 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).

  • Patent number: 9088055
    Abstract: An apparatus may include a vehicle cover having a plurality of photovoltaic cells, an inverter, a vehicle battery connector, a plug, and a switch assembly configured to operatively couple the inverter selectively to one of the vehicle battery connector and the plug based, at least in part, on a charge level of the battery. Another apparatus may include a receptacle configured to receive a plug having an identification tag; an identification tag reader to obtain, from the identification tag, identification data associated with a customer of a power company providing a power distribution system; and a controller to receive the identification data and provide the identification data to an account server associated with the power company. A method may include receiving a plug including an identification tag, reading identification data, contacting an account server, and providing the identification data to the account server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John M. Adipietro, Darcee M. Kolevar-Brunson, Thomas L. Cheney, Paul C. Demshur
  • Publication number: 20120031963
    Abstract: An apparatus may include a vehicle cover having a plurality of photovoltaic cells, an inverter, a vehicle battery connector, a plug, and a switch assembly configured to operatively couple the inverter selectively to one of the vehicle battery connector and the plug based, at least in part, on a charge level of the battery. Another apparatus may include a receptacle configured to receive a plug having an identification tag; an identification tag reader to obtain, from the identification tag, identification data associated with a customer of a power company providing a power distribution system; and a controller to receive the identification data and provide the identification data to an account server associated with the power company. A method may include receiving a plug including an identification tag, reading identification data, contacting an account server, and providing the identification data to the account server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John M. Adipietro, Darcee M. Kolevar-Brunson, Thomas L. Cheney, Paul C. Demshur