Patents by Inventor David P. Erickson

David P. Erickson 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: 10401233
    Abstract: Some aspects of the present disclosure feature a sensing device comprising a magnetic bias layer, a resonator, a spacer, and a housing. The spacer includes an environmental change receptor. The thickness of the environmental change receptor rapidly increases in response to a change to an environment variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: David P. Erickson, Chaodi Li, Cheryl Lee Senger Elsbernd, Jia Hu, Andrew P. Bonifas, Orlin B. Knudson, Richard L. Rylander
  • Patent number: 10228319
    Abstract: Some aspects of the present disclosure feature a system for sensing a change in environment comprising a MMR sensor and a reader. The MMR sensor is configured to be disposed in the environment. The MMR sensor comprises a magnetic bias layer, a resonator, a spacer, and an environmental change receptor. The reader is configured to measure a frequency characteristic of the MMR sensor after the environmental variable changes and the change to the environmental variable is evaluated based on the frequency characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard L. Rylander, Andrew P. Bonifas, David P. Erickson, Jia Hu, Stephen J. Willett, Chaodi Li, Orlin B. Knudson
  • Publication number: 20170234741
    Abstract: Some aspects of the present disclosure feature a sensing device comprising a magnetic bias layer, a resonator, a spacer, and a housing. The spacer includes an environmental change receptor. The thickness of the environmental change receptor rapidly increases in response to a change to an environment variable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: David P. Erickson, Chaodi Li, Cheryl Lee Senger Elsbernd, Jia Hu, Andrew P. Bonifas, Orlin B. Knudson, Richard L. Rylander
  • Publication number: 20170227452
    Abstract: Some aspects of the present disclosure feature a system for sensing a change in environment comprising a MMR sensor and a reader. The MMR sensor is configured to be disposed in the environment. The MMR sensor comprises a magnetic bias layer, a resonator, a spacer, and an environmental change receptor. The reader is configured to measure a frequency characteristic of the MMR sensor after the environmental variable changes and the change to the environmental variable is evaluated based on the frequency characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Richard L. Rylander, Andrew P. Bonifas, David P. Erickson, Jia Hu, Stephen J. Willett, Chaodi Li, Orlin B. Knudson
  • Patent number: 8289163
    Abstract: The invention provides one or more signal line structures that produce an electromagnetic field having a magnitude of at least an interrogation threshold of a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag for a substantial portion of an interrogation region. The signal lines may be made from copper and laid across a shelf in a storage area. The electromagnetic field may cause the tag to backscatter radio frequency (RF) signals to an RFID reader via the signal line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David P. Erickson, Michele A. Waldner, James P. McGee, Swagata R. Banerjee
  • Publication number: 20090167502
    Abstract: A Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) system verifies proper placement and functionality of RFID tags with respect to particular end-use RFID systems at the time the RFID tag is applied to an item but before the item is deployed. A device for verifying a location and functionality of an RFID tag on an item includes an item holder, a power coupling mechanism attached to the item holder, and an RFID reader electrically connected to the power coupling mechanism. The power coupling mechanism creates a near field for transmission of read or write commands from the RFID reader to an RFID tag on an item placed on the item holder to verify the location and functionality of the RFID tag as applied to the item with respect to a near-field coupling mechanism of a particular end-use RFID system. The device may include additional power coupling mechanisms for testing the functionality of the tag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: David P. Erickson, James P. McGee, Michele A. Waldner, Ronald D. Jesme
  • Publication number: 20090085746
    Abstract: The invention provides one or more signal line structures that produce an electromagnetic field having a magnitude of at least an interrogation threshold of a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag for a substantial portion of an interrogation region. The signal lines may be made from copper and laid across a shelf in a storage area. The electromagnetic field may cause the tag to backscatter radio frequency (RF) signals to an RFID reader via the signal line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: David P. Erickson, Michele A. Waldner, James P. McGee, Swagata R. Banerjee
  • Publication number: 20090085750
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an extended radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag. The extended RFID tag includes an ultra-high frequency (UHF) RFID tag having a dipole antenna attached to a first surface of a substrate. The extended RFID tag further includes an antenna extension attached to the UHF RFID tag and overlapping at least a portion of the dipole antenna for electromagnetically coupling the antenna extension and the dipole antenna in operation. The extended RFID tag further includes an insulator positioned between the dipole antenna and the antenna extension to electrically isolate the dipole antenna from the antenna extension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Michele A. Waldner, David P. Erickson, James P. McGee, Swagata R. Banerjee, Robert A. Sainati
  • Patent number: 7511601
    Abstract: Various systems and methods of handling items such as files are disclosed, including systems and methods for polling RFID-tagged items while they are stored in storage areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Peter M. Eisenberg, David P. Erickson, Edward D. Goff, Mitchell B. Grunes, Gene J. Hickok, Janet T. Keller, William J. Kelliher, Jr., Jon A. Kirschhoffer, John M. Kruse, Diane E. Morel, Scott D. Pearson, Chester Piotrowski, Edmund J. Ring, Robert A. Sainati, Michele A. Waldner
  • Patent number: 7304577
    Abstract: Various radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are described that dynamically vary their resonant frequency to reduce or eliminate the potential effects of electromagnetic “tag-to-tag” coupling. An RFID tag, for example, includes a main antenna tuned to a first resonant frequency, and switching circuitry that dynamically changes the resonant frequency of the main antenna. The switching circuitry may selectively couple electrical elements, such as capacitive elements, inductive elements, or combinations thereof, to vary the resonant frequency of the RFID tag. The RFID tag may include a sensing circuit that determines when to selectively couple the electrical element to the main antenna to adjust the resonant frequency of the main antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Michele A. Waldner, David P. Erickson
  • Patent number: 7295120
    Abstract: A device for verifying a location of a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag on an item. One embodiment of the invention provides a device for verifying the location of an RFID tag on an item including: an item holder; and an RF antenna attached to the item holder, where the item holder includes a readable volume where the RF antenna can read or write to an RFID tag, and where the item holder includes a non-readable volume where the RF antenna cannot read or write to an RFID tag. The present invention also relates to methods of verifying the location of a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag on an item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Michele A. Waldner, David P. Erickson
  • Patent number: 7132946
    Abstract: Various radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are described that dynamically vary their resonant frequency to reduce or eliminate the potential effects of electromagnetic “tag-to-tag” coupling. An RFID tag, for example, includes a main antenna tuned to a first resonant frequency, and switching circuitry that dynamically changes the resonant frequency of the main antenna. The switching circuitry may selectively couple electrical elements, such as capacitive elements, inductive elements, or combinations thereof, to vary the resonant frequency of the RFID tag. The RFID tag may include a sensing circuit that determines when to selectively couple the electrical element to the main antenna to adjust the resonant frequency of the main antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Michele A. Waldner, David P. Erickson
  • Publication number: 20020196126
    Abstract: Various systems and methods of handling items such as files are disclosed, including systems and methods for polling RFID-tagged items while they are stored in storage areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Peter M. Eisenberg, David P. Erickson, Edward D. Goff, Mitchell B. Grunes, Gene J. Hickok, Janet T. Keller, William J. Kelliher, Jon A. Kirschhoffer, John M. Kruse, Diane E. Morel, Scott D. Pearson, Chester Piotrowski, Edmund J. Ring, Robert A. Sainati, Michele A. Waldner
  • Publication number: 20020180588
    Abstract: Various systems and methods of handling items such as files are disclosed, including systems and methods for polling RFID-tagged items while they are stored in storage areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2001
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: David P. Erickson, William J. Kelliher, Robert A. Sainati, Michele A. Waldner
  • Patent number: 5755226
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the direct noninvasive prediction of hematocrit in mammalian blood using photoplethysmography techniques and data processing. The method and apparatus also include optional prediction of other analytes of interest: percent oxygen saturation of mammalian blood and methemoglobin of stored blood. The method and apparatus can be used for the immediate, periodic, or continuous noninvasive diagnosis or monitoring of hematocrit levels in mammalian patients without pain to the patient or exposure of the health care practitioner to the blood of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Hatim M. Carim, Orlin B. Knudson, Bruce P. Ekholm, David P. Erickson, William J. Kelliher, Jr., Michael J. Rude
  • Patent number: 5553615
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the direct noninvasive prediction of hematocrit in mammalian blood using photoplethysmography techniques and data processing. The method and apparatus also include optional prediction of other analytes of interest: percent oxygen saturation of mammalian blood and methemoglobin of stored blood. The method and apparatus can be used for the immediate, periodic, or continuous noninvasive diagnosis or monitoring of hematocrit levels in mammalian patients without pain to the patient or exposure of the health care practitioner to the blood of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Hatim M. Carim, Orlin B. Knudson, Bruce P. Ekholm, David P. Erickson, William J. Kelliher, Jr., Michael J. Rude