Patents by Inventor Bernard A. Gonzalez

Bernard A. Gonzalez 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: 7113094
    Abstract: The present invention relates to RFID devices, including handheld RFID devices, and applications for such devices. The devices and applications may be used in connection with items that are associated with an RFID tag, and optionally a magnetic security element. The devices and applications are described with particular reference to library materials such as books, periodicals, and magnetic and optical media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Sharon R. Garber, Bernard A. Gonzalez, Mitchell B. Grunes, Richard H. Jackson, Gerald L. Karel, John M. Kruse, Richard W. Lindahl, James E. Nash, Chester Piotrowski, John D. Yorkovich
  • Publication number: 20060180665
    Abstract: The invention relates to the use of RFID systems for use with items of interest having RFID tags, such as in a library. The invention has particular applicability to determining the location, order, and other information regarding such items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Inventors: Sharon Garber, Bernard Gonzalez, Mitchell Grunes, Richard Jackson, Gerald Karel, John Kruse, Richard Lindahl, James Nash, Chester Piotrowski, John Yorkovich
  • Publication number: 20060145854
    Abstract: The present invention relates to RFID devices, including handheld RFID devices, and applications for such devices. The devices and applications may be used in connection with items that are associated with an RFID tag, and optionally a magnetic security element. The devices and applications are described with particular reference to library materials such as books, periodicals, and magnetic and optical media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Inventors: Sharon Garber, Bernard Gonzalez, Mitchell Grunes, Richard Jackson, Gerald Karel, John Kruse, Richard Lindahl, James Nash, Chester Piotrowski, John Yorkovich
  • Patent number: 7044373
    Abstract: The invention relates to the use of RFID systems for use with items of interest having RFID tags, such as in a library. The invention has particular applicability to determining the location, order, and other information regarding such items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Sharon R. Garber, Bernard A. Gonzalez, Mitchell B. Grunes, Richard H. Jackson, Gerald L. Karel, John M. Kruse, Richard W. Lindahl, James E. Nash, Chester Piotrowski, John D. Yorkovich
  • Publication number: 20050250089
    Abstract: A biological soil detector and a method for detecting bio soil are provided. The biological soil detector comprises: A solid support member; a specific indicator immobilized on the solid support member, the specific indicator comprising a material sensitive to the presence of blood; and the solid support and specific indicator positioned with respect to the detector to facilitate contact with a liquid that has been used to contact a surface. In the method for detecting bio soil, the method comprises: Contacting the surface with a liquid; after the liquid has contacted the surface, contacting the liquid with the solid support member and the specific indicator of the detector described herein; and inspecting the solid support member for a detectable response to determine whether the specific indicator has interacted with biological soil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2004
    Publication date: November 10, 2005
    Inventors: Sailaja Chandrapati, Bernard Gonzalez, Bonnie Hovde, Kevin Landgrebe
  • Publication number: 20050250168
    Abstract: A biological soil detector is provided, comprising: a solid support member; a specific indicator immobilized on the solid support member; and a retaining member holding the solid support thereon, the retaining member and solid support configured to facilitate contact between the solid support a surface. A method for the use of the foregoing detector is also provided, the method comprising: contacting the foregoing biological soil detector with a surface wherein the contacting initiates the modification of the specific indicator in the presence of bio soil; withdrawing the biological soil detector from the surface; and inspecting the solid support member of the detector for a detectable response to thereby determine whether the specific indicator immobilized on the solid support has interacted with biological soil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Publication date: November 10, 2005
    Inventors: Bernard Gonzalez, Kevin Landgrebe, Kimberley Klepzig, Sailaja Chandrapati, Susannah Clear, Mark Nelson, Elizabeth Endler
  • Publication number: 20050250169
    Abstract: A biological soil detector is provided, the detector comprising: a solid support member; a specific indicator immobilized on the solid support member; and the solid support and specific indicator positioned to facilitate contact with a liquid used to contact a surface. In another aspect, the invention provides a method for detecting bio soil associated with a surface, comprising: contacting the surface with a liquid; after the liquid has contacted the surface, contacting the liquid with the solid support member and the specific indicator of the foregoing detector; and inspecting the solid support member for a detectable response to determine whether the specific indicator has interacted with biological soil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Publication date: November 10, 2005
    Inventors: Bernard Gonzalez, Kevin Landgrebe, Kimberley Klepzig, Sailaja Chandrapati, Susannah Clear
  • Patent number: 6884394
    Abstract: A reader for a sterilization indicator having sterilizing agent sensitive indicia is described. The indicator allows a sterilization cycle to be monitored without the need for a user to subjectively distinguish between color, quality or intensity of display patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Rodney K. Hehenberger, Phillip A. Bolea, Bernard A. Gonzalez
  • Publication number: 20040201479
    Abstract: The present invention relates to RFID devices, including handheld RFID devices, and applications for such devices. The devices and applications may be used in connection with items that are associated with an RFID tag, and optionally a magnetic security element. The devices and applications are described with particular reference to library materials such as books, periodicals, and magnetic and optical media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2004
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Sharon R. Garber, Bernard A. Gonzalez, Mitchell B. Grunes, Richard H. Jackson, Gerald L. Karel, John M. Kruse, Richard W. Lindahl, James E. Nash, Chester Piotrowski, John D. Yorkovich
  • Patent number: 6768419
    Abstract: The present invention relates to RFID devices, including handheld RFID devices, and applications for such devices. The devices and applications may be used in connection with items that are associated with an RFID tag, and optionally a magnetic security element. The devices and applications are described with particular reference to library materials such as books, periodicals, and magnetic and optical media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Sharon R. Garber, Bernard A. Gonzalez, Mitchell B. Grunes, Richard H. Jackson, Gerald L. Karel, John M. Kruse, Richard W. Lindahl, James E. Nash, Chester Piotrowski, John D. Yorkovich
  • Publication number: 20030206107
    Abstract: Antenna shelf tape is disclosed for use with items having radio frequency identification elements or tags associated with items of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Edward D. Goff, Bernard A. Gonzalez, Chester Piotrowski, Ching-Long Tsai
  • Patent number: 6600420
    Abstract: Antenna shelf tape is disclosed for use with items having radio frequency identification elements or tags associated with items of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Edward D. Goff, Bernard A. Gonzalez, Chester Piotrowski, Ching-Long Tsai
  • Publication number: 20030133830
    Abstract: A system for determining the efficacy of a sterilization process and communicating that determination to a remote device. The system includes a sterilization sensor and a reader adapted to receive that sterilization sensor. The sterilization sensor has an indicator that undergoes a predetermined optical change when exposed to a sterilization process. The reader has an illumination source for illuminating the sterilization sensor, a color sensor for evaluating the condition of the illuminated sterilization sensor, and an interpretation circuit for interpreting the output of the color sensor to determine whether the optical change has taken place. The reader also has a communication circuit for communicating data from the interpretation circuit to the remote device. In the preferred embodiments, the sterilization sensor is disposable and the reader is reusable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Bernard A. Gonzalez, Rodney K. Hehenberger
  • Publication number: 20030113937
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device, system and method for desiccation of liquid samples. The device includes multiple concentration chambers, each having a gas inlet and a gas vent. Methods of using the device to desiccate multiple liquid samples also are provided. The device may be assembled with a processing device to form a module. Such modules may be assembled to form a system designed, e.g., to provide automated chemical analyses of liquid samples. The system is particularly useful for modular, high-throughput chemical processing, especially in the fields of genomics and proteomics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Cary A. Kipke, Madhusudan Raghavachari, Jeffrey C. Pederson, Bernard A. Gonzalez, Donald L. Melvin
  • Patent number: 6486780
    Abstract: The present invention relates to RFID devices, including handheld RFID devices, and applications for such devices. The devices and applications may be used in connection with items that are associated with an RFID tag, and optionally a magnetic security element. The devices and applications are described with particular reference to library materials such as books, periodicals, and magnetic and optical media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Sharon R. Garber, Bernard A. Gonzalez, Mitchell B. Grunes, Richard H. Jackson, Gerald L. Karel, John M. Kruse, Richard W. Lindahl, James E. Nash, Chester Piotrowski, John D. Yorkovich
  • Publication number: 20020167406
    Abstract: The present invention relates to RFID devices, including handheld RFID devices, and applications for such devices. The devices and applications may be used in connection with items that are associated with an RFID tag, and optionally a magnetic security element. The devices and applications are described with particular reference to library materials such as books, periodicals, and magnetic and optical media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Sharon R. Garber, Bernard A. Gonzalez, Mitchell B. Grunes, Richard H. Jackson, Gerald L. Karel, John M. Kruse, Richard W. Lindahl, James E. Nash, Chester Piotrowski, John D. Yorkovich
  • Patent number: 6468678
    Abstract: Magnetic, conformable articles for use with traffic bearing surfaces are disclosed which comprise an organic binder having magnetic particles distributed therein. The articles may be employed in intelligent vehicle guidance systems, and in systems to guide other mobile objects such as farm animals, pets, or visually impaired pedestrians. Methods of making the articles and methods of using the systems to control and/or guide a mobile object using the magnetic field generated from the articles are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Dahlin, Gregory F. Jacobs, David M. Hopstock, Robert L. Keech, Richard E. Fayling, Richard G. Newell, Claud M. Lacey, Bernard A. Gonzalez
  • Patent number: D525507
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jon A. Kirschhoffer, Eric R. Cybulski, Ryan Patrick Simmers, Jonathan M. Lise, Bernard A. Gonzalez, Ian R. Owen, Jenny L. Hicks
  • Patent number: D527240
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jon A. Kirschhoffer, Eric R. Cybulski, Ryan Patrick Simmers, Bernard A. Gonzalez
  • Patent number: D470847
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Co.
    Inventors: Casey L. Carlson, Peter M. Eisenberg, Bernard A. Gonzalez, Paul A. Sevcik, Jonathan P. Van Dore