RICHARD ALLEN HOFER
Pilots at 159 Ter, Gardner, KS

7400103, Jul 15, 2008

Aug 8, 2006

11/463149

Richard A. Hofer - Gardner KS, US

Castle Creations, Inc. - Olathe KS

H02P 3/20

318276, 318259, 318260, 318263, 318271, 318270, 318274, 31840001

Control of rotational speed of a direct current multi-phase brushless motor is provided using an apparatus and method that works at low speed but does not depend upon Hall effect sensors. An apparatus for accelerating rotation of the motor shaft has a power stage circuit coupled to a back Electromotive Force (EMF) sensor circuit and a microprocessor. The power stage pulses at a duty cycle less than 100% under control of the microprocessor. The back EMF sensor circuit measures an order with respect to voltage of at least one phase relative to one or more other phases during off-time. The microprocessor determines one or more phases to be pulsed, and the polarity of the pulses based on the measured order. A method for sustaining rotation pulses the phases, measures order with respect to voltage of at least one phase relative to one or more other phases, and updates commutation state based on the measured order. A method of accelerating rotation generates one or more power pulses, determines an order with respect to voltage of one phase relative to one or more other phases, and generates subsequent pulses on phases and with polarity determined by the measured order.

7579796, Aug 25, 2009

Jun 24, 2008

12/145351

Richard A. Hofer - Gardner KS, US

Castle Creations, Inc. - Olathe KS

H02P 1/00

318276, 318259, 318260, 318263, 318271, 318270, 318274

Control of rotational speed of a direct current multi-phase brushless motor is provided using an apparatus and method that works at low speed but does not depend upon Hall effect sensors. An apparatus for accelerating rotation of the motor shaft has a power stage circuit coupled to a back Electromotive Force (EMF) sensor circuit and a microprocessor. The power stage pulses at a duty cycle less than 100% under control of the microprocessor. The back EMF sensor circuit measures an order with respect to voltage of at least one phase relative to one or more other phases during off-time. The microprocessor determines one or more phases to be pulsed, and the polarity of the pulses based on the measured order. A method for sustaining rotation pulses the phases, measures order with respect to voltage of at least one phase relative to one or more other phases, and updates commutation state based on the measured order. A method of accelerating rotation generates one or more power pulses, determines an order with respect to voltage of one phase relative to one or more other phases, and generates subsequent pulses on phases and with polarity determined by the measured order.

2013023, Sep 12, 2013

Jan 30, 2013

13/753913

Richard A. Hofer - Gardner KS, US
Jonathan R. Feldcamp - Gardner KS, US

H02P 6/14

31840009

Control of rotational speed of a motor is provided using an apparatus and method that provides a staging and a driving mode. A processor controls speed of the motor in three different modes to provide different control that is appropriate for different situations. Control-input indications are received by a processor indicating that a stepping mode is selected. In stepping mode, a sequence of commutation states are chosen in succession at a given stepping frequency for a given control selection. In an active-holding mode, the same phase in the commutation sequence is pulsed at low power to hold a motor location. In a closed-loop motor-control mode, the commutation state is sensed and state transition time is controlled relative to neutral timing. These modes may be used to advantage to simulate a drag race. An operator controls a remote-control vehicle in a stepping mode to drive toward a first beam at a drag start line. When the first beam at the start line is broken, but a second beam is not broken, the ESC begins to perform motor control to actively hold the vehicle in position until the race starts. After the race starts, the ESC receives a control-input indication to drive the motor in a closed-loop motor-control mode.

8353713, Jan 15, 2013

Sep 2, 2010

12/874867

Richard A. Hofer - Gardner KS, US
Patrick D. del Castillo - Olathe KS, US

Castle Creations, Inc. - Olathe KS

H01R 13/53

439181, 439851

When a hobby enthusiast has recharged the battery for a remote controlled vehicle, such as a scale facsimile automobile, boat, helicopter or airplane, the battery must be connected again to the vehicle drive system, to provide power. This operation is typically performed by connecting each lead of an electronic speed controller to each corresponding lead of the battery, through a removable barrel receptacle lead and a mating barrel plug lead respectively, attached to each corresponding lead. An improved connector lead is described herein that protects components that may be attached to either lead in a connection. The charge dissipates in a resistive member that is physically coupled to a conductive member to form at least in part a first lead. When an improved lead is connected to a mating lead, the connection initially provides a charge dissipation path through the resistive member, but subsequently provides a bypass, current carrying conductive path around the resistive member from one component to another. By making use of an improved connector, electrical components are protected, not only from hot-swap current, but also from electrostatic discharge in general.

2012033, Dec 27, 2012

Jun 24, 2011

13/168643

Jonathon R. Feldkamp - Olathe KS, US
Richard A. Hofer - Gardner KS, US

Castle Creations, Inc. - Olathe KS

G06F 17/00

701 2

Electronic components that are operable within remote control vehicles include Electronic Speed Controllers, radio control receivers, and telemetry transmitters. Hardware and software are described that support communication between a user computer and electronic components. A data link device has analog input and output interfaces that communicate to a mobile computing device such as smartphone. The data link device communicates with a electronic component to send and receive data such as parameters or operational data over a wired bidirectional bus interface. Software for performing data link operations run for example on an electronic component, a mobile computing device, a smartphone, a data link device, or a telemetry receive radio, or a combination of the above. Embodiments include software operable on a smartphone and a data link device that enables parameter or operational data communication between a smartphone and an electronic component using the microphone and speaker interface on the smartphone. Embodiments include software operable on an electronic component and a data link device for performing live-mode communication to a mobile computing device that displays live data.

8049601, Nov 1, 2011

Apr 27, 2007

11/741357

Richard A. Hofer - Gardner KS, US
Jonathan R. Feldkamp - Gardner KS, US

Castle Creations, Inc. - Olathe KS

G08C 19/12

340 1334, 340 11, 340 132, 340 1333, 701 2, 701 33, 701 36, 701102, 701110, 446 6, 446 31, 446454, 901 6, 901 8, 901 32, 901 36

Systems and methods are provided for controlling one or more servos coupled to a model vehicle. An input signal having a series of input pulses encoded at an input pulse repetition frequency is received at a receiver coupled to a model vehicle having one or more servos. The input signal is decoded at the receiver. A servo control pulse is generated using at least one of the input pulses at the receiver. The servo control pulse is outputted to at least one of the servos at an output pulse repetition frequency that is different from the input pulse repetition frequency.

2008024, Oct 2, 2008

Mar 6, 2008

12/074739

Russell D. Hofer - Saint Louis MO, US
Jonathan Robert Feldkamp - Gardner KS, US
Gary R. Hannah - Shawnee MO, US
Richard Allen Hofer - Gardner KS, US

A63H 27/10, A63H 33/26, F21K 7/00, G09G 3/32, G09F 21/10

446220, 446485, 362 35, 345 82, 34081545

Described herein is a novelty led-projection message balloon for allowing a delightful and novel method of communicating endearing messages and/or animation. The inventive device includes a circuit board, lens assembly, housing, and power source. The circuit board consists of LEDs, a microcontroller, interfacing circuitry, spring brushes, a position detector, and a motor. The power supply provides power to the housed circuit board mounted inside a balloon. The circuit board spins with light emitting elements that are projected via a lens assembly onto the balloon inner wall. The elements are rapidly turned on-off in a sequenced manner to give the illusion of a message or animation (through the persistence of vision) being projected onto the exterior of the balloon.

7492122, Feb 17, 2009

Jan 3, 2006

11/325012

Richard A. Hofer - Gardner KS, US

Castle Creations, Inc. - Olathe KS

H01M 10/46

320106

A method and apparatus for detecting a number of battery cells in a battery pack is provided which includes an electronic detection circuit with a memory. The electronic detection circuit may be an electronic speed controller for a radio controlled model. The electronic speed controller measures the battery pack voltage on power up to determine the cell count and the appropriate cutoff voltage for the determined cell count. The electronic speed controller provides an indication to the operator to verify that the correct cell count was determined.

7831351, Nov 9, 2010

Apr 27, 2007

11/741342

Richard A. Hofer - Gardner KS, US
Jonathan R. Feldkamp - Gardner KS, US

Castle Creations, Inc. - Olathe KS

G06F 19/00

701 36, 701 33

Systems and methods are provided for processing control inputs at a receiver for one or more servos coupled to a vehicle. A signal containing a plurality of control inputs generated in response to an activation of at least one control element on a transmitter is received at a receiver mounted on a vehicle. The plurality of control inputs is mapped to a vehicle-specific set of servo control signals at the receiver using operations such as reversing, shifting, scaling, delaying, and mixing.