Patents by Inventor Michael Alvin Lembke
Michael Alvin Lembke 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).
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Patent number: 11580812Abstract: Sensor-equipped display management systems and methods that may be used to calculate a number of products removed from a display management system based upon motion of one or more mechanisms within the display management system. Additionally, the systems and methods may be used to detect patterns from the sensor data, which may be indicative of attempted theft of products stored within the display management system.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2019Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: RTC Industries, Inc.Inventors: John Wesley Swafford, Jr., Michael Alvin Lembke
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Patent number: 11397914Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing information along a shelf edge of a retailer is described. On a display configured to be oriented along an edge of a shelf of a retailer, a first user interface including first information about a first product on the shelf is provided. At least one second user interface including at least one second information about at least one second product on the shelf is provided on the display. An individual is permitted to edit a parameter of the first user interface and/or the at least one second user interface. The parameter may include at least one of: a size of the user interface on the display, a shape of the user interface on the display, and a location of the user interface on the display. The first information and the at least one second information may be outputted concurrently to the display.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2019Date of Patent: July 26, 2022Assignee: RTC Industries, Inc.Inventors: Bradley Thomas Johnson, John Wesley Swafford, Jr., Michael Alvin Lembke, Joseph Christian Ernest
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Publication number: 20200066084Abstract: Sensor-equipped display management systems and methods that may be used to calculate a number of products removed from a display management system based upon motion of one or more mechanisms within the display management system. Additionally, the systems and methods may be used to detect patterns from the sensor data, which may be indicative of attempted theft of products stored within the display management system.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2019Publication date: February 27, 2020Inventors: John Wesley Swafford, Jr., Michael Alvin Lembke
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Patent number: 10535216Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for detecting and communicating the position of a pusher assembly on a shelf. In an embodiment, a system includes a control module, a pusher assembly, and a laser scanner. The laser scanner is configured to transmit a swept beam to a mirrored reflective surface located behind the pusher assembly. The control module analyzes the laser beam at the laser scanner to detect the position of the pusher assembly on the shelf. In another embodiment, a system includes a control module, a pusher assembly, and an infrared transceiver that sends and receives infrared signals. The transceiver may be located behind the pusher assembly. The control module analyzes the infrared signals to determine the position of the pusher assembly on the shelf.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2017Date of Patent: January 14, 2020Assignee: RTC Industries, Inc.Inventors: John Wesley Swafford, Jr., Michael Alvin Lembke
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Publication number: 20190220805Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing information along a shelf edge of a retailer is described. On a display configured to be oriented along an edge of a shelf of a retailer, a first user interface including first information about a first product on the shelf is provided. At least one second user interface including at least one second information about at least one second product on the shelf is provided on the display. An individual is permitted to edit a parameter of the first user interface and/or the at least one second user interface. The parameter may include at least one of: a size of the user interface on the display, a shape of the user interface on the display, and a location of the user interface on the display. The first information and the at least one second information may be outputted concurrently to the display.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2019Publication date: July 18, 2019Inventors: Bradley Thomas Johnson, John Wesley Swafford, JR., Michael Alvin Lembke, Joseph Christian Ernest
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Patent number: 10210478Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing information along a shelf edge of a retailer is described. On a display configured to be oriented along an edge of a shelf of a retailer, a first user interface including first information about a first product on the shelf is provided. At least one second user interface including at least one second information about at least one second product on the shelf is provided on the display. An individual is permitted to edit a parameter of the first user interface and/or the at least one second user interface. The parameter may include at least one of: a size of the user interface on the display, a shape of the user interface on the display, and a location of the user interface on the display. The first information and the at least one second information may be outputted concurrently to the display.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2018Date of Patent: February 19, 2019Assignee: RTC Industries, Inc.Inventors: Bradley Thomas Johnson, John Wesley Swafford, Jr., Michael Alvin Lembke, Joseph Christian Ernest
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Publication number: 20180189727Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing information along a shelf edge of a retailer is described. On a display configured to be oriented along an edge of a shelf of a retailer, a first user interface including first information about a first product on the shelf is provided. At least one second user interface including at least one second information about at least one second product on the shelf is provided on the display. An individual is permitted to edit a parameter of the first user interface and/or the at least one second user interface. The parameter may include at least one of: a size of the user interface on the display, a shape of the user interface on the display, and a location of the user interface on the display. The first information and the at least one second information may be outputted concurrently to the display.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2018Publication date: July 5, 2018Inventors: Bradley Thomas Johnson, John Wesley Swafford, JR., Michael Alvin Lembke, Joseph Christian Ernest
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Patent number: 9898712Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing information along a shelf edge of a retailer is described. On a display configured to be oriented along an edge of a shelf of a retailer, a first user interface including first information about a first product on the shelf is provided. At least one second user interface including at least one second information about at least one second product on the shelf is provided on the display. An individual is permitted to edit a parameter of the first user interface and/or the at least one second user interface. The parameter may include at least one of: a size of the user interface on the display, a shape of the user interface on the display, and a location of the user interface on the display. The first information and the at least one second information may be outputted concurrently to the display.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: February 20, 2018Assignee: RTC Industries, Inc.Inventors: Bradley Thomas Johnson, John Wesley Swafford, Jr., Michael Alvin Lembke, Joseph Christian Ernest
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Publication number: 20180047243Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for detecting and communicating the position of a pusher assembly on a shelf. In an embodiment, a system includes a control module, a pusher assembly, and a laser scanner. The laser scanner is configured to transmit a swept beam to a mirrored reflective surface located behind the pusher assembly. The control module analyzes the laser beam at the laser scanner to detect the position of the pusher assembly on the shelf. In another embodiment, a system includes a control module, a pusher assembly, and an infrared transceiver that sends and receives infrared signals. The transceiver may be located behind the pusher assembly. The control module analyzes the infrared signals to determine the position of the pusher assembly on the shelf.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2017Publication date: February 15, 2018Inventors: John Wesley Swafford, JR., Michael Alvin Lembke
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Patent number: 9805539Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for detecting and communicating the position of a pusher assembly on a shelf. In an embodiment, a system includes a control module, a pusher assembly, and a laser scanner. The laser scanner is configured to transmit a swept beam to a mirrored reflective surface located behind the pusher assembly. The control module analyzes the laser beam at the laser scanner to detect the position of the pusher assembly on the shelf. In another embodiment, a system includes a control module, a pusher assembly, and an infrared transceiver that sends and receives infrared signals. The transceiver may be located behind the pusher assembly. The control module analyzes the infrared signals to determine the position of the pusher assembly on the shelf.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2014Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: RTC Industries, Inc.Inventors: John Wesley Swafford, Jr., Michael Alvin Lembke
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Publication number: 20140299620Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for detecting and communicating the position of a pusher assembly on a shelf. In an embodiment, a system includes a control module, a pusher assembly, and a laser scanner. The laser scanner is configured to transmit a swept beam to a mirrored reflective surface located behind the pusher assembly. The control module analyzes the laser beam at the laser scanner to detect the position of the pusher assembly on the shelf. In another embodiment, a system includes a control module, a pusher assembly, and an infrared transceiver that sends and receives infrared signals. The transceiver may be located behind the pusher assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2014Publication date: October 9, 2014Inventors: John Wesley Swafford, JR., Michael Alvin Lembke
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Patent number: 8812378Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for detecting and communicating the position of a pusher assembly on a shelf. In an embodiment, a system includes a control module, a pusher assembly, and a laser scanner. The laser scanner is configured to transmit a swept beam to a mirrored reflective surface located behind the pusher assembly. The control module analyzes the laser beam at the laser scanner to detect the position of the pusher assembly on the shelf. In another embodiment, a system includes a control module, a pusher assembly, and an infrared transceiver that sends and receives infrared signals. The transceiver may be located behind the pusher assembly. The control module analyzes the infrared signals to determine the position of the pusher assembly on the shelf.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2011Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: RTC Industries, Inc.Inventors: John Wesley Swafford, Jr., Michael Alvin Lembke
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Patent number: 7792711Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for tracking product on a shelf. In an embodiment, an indicia strip is placed on a self coiling sheet, and a sensor is configured to read the indicia strip. The data on the indicia strip corresponds to the location of a pusher assembly. In an embodiment, a store computer can use the data regarding the location of the pusher assembly to determine the amount of inventory on the shelf. In an embodiment, the store computer can automatically order additional inventory based on the levels of inventory on the shelf. In an embodiment, a deviation from normal customer purchasing habits can be used to prompt security measures so as to reduce the possibility of product theft.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2004Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: RTC Industries, Inc.Inventors: John Wesley Swafford, Jr., Michael Alvin Lembke