Patents by Inventor John R. Shaffer

John R. Shaffer 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).

  • Publication number: 20240119405
    Abstract: Systems, method and computer readable medium are provided for automated storage and retrieval. User authentication information is received via a user interface for a dynamic storage and retrieval device. The user identity is verified based upon the authentication information and previously stored authentication data. Order information is retrieved for an order associated with the user following the verifying of user identity, the order information indicating one or more locations for items associated with the order. Instructions are transmitted to initiate a physical opening of at least one of the dynamic storage and retrieval device and at least one static storage location to enable the user to retrieve at least one item of the order, the static storage location including a controller controlling a locking mechanism and communicatively coupled to the dynamic storage and retrieval device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Paul Edward Durkee, Stuart William Clark, Colin Holmes, Jason D. Shaffer, Mark R. Ibbotson, John Suarez
  • Patent number: 8481839
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various systems and methods for audio and/or visual playback. A system can include a first data encoded according to a first file format, a second data encoded according to a second file format, and a file using the first and second data to enable synchronized audio and/or visual playback of the data on one or more receiving elements. In certain instances, at least a portion of the second data includes information relating to finger positions on a musical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Optek Music Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Shaffer, Ken Pletzer
  • Patent number: 8191883
    Abstract: A system uses a plurality of sensors to detect and manage conditions within a moving pocket, such as a pocket carrying a flat product from one location to another. The system is particularly useful in connection with a newspaper insert machine. One sensor detects whether the product has been opened properly at a particular time; another sensor detects whether the product has been properly gripped by a gripper at a particular time; another sensor detects whether the pocket is empty at a particular time and another sensor detects whether the pocket is open or closed at a particular time. In the event an error condition is detected, the error condition is corrected by a control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Muller Martini Corp.
    Inventors: Eric W. Bader, Timothy Goszka, James Baird, John R. Shaffer, Richard J. Sterner
  • Patent number: 8106288
    Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods of for displaying on a second instrument finger positions that were played on a first instrument. A teacher, for example, can play notes and/or chords on a first stringed instrument having a sensor. A processing having a decoder and a message generator can receive signals from the sensor and generate messages that are communicated to a light-system in the second instrument. The light-system displays the finger positions on the second instrument, each finger position corresponding to a finger position played on the first instrument. The processor can receive sensor information from the second information that can be used to determine whether a displayed finger position was correctly played on the second instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Optek Music Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: John R Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20110247478
    Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods of for displaying on a second instrument finger positions that were played on a first instrument. A teacher, for example, can play notes and/or chords on a first stringed instrument having a sensor. A processing having a decoder and a message generator can receive signals from the sensor and generate messages that are communicated to a light-system in the second instrument. The light-system displays the finger positions on the second instrument, each finger position corresponding to a finger position played on the first instrument. The processor can receive sensor information from the second information that can be used to determine whether a displayed finger position was correctly played on the second instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: Optek Music Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 7863514
    Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods of for displaying on a second instrument finger positions that were played on a first instrument. A teacher, for example, can play notes and/or chords on a first stringed instrument having a sensor. A processing having a decoder and a message generator can receive signals from the sensor and generate messages that are communicated to a light-system in the second instrument. The light-system displays the finger positions on the second instrument, each finger position corresponding to a finger position played on the first instrument. The processor can receive sensor information from the second information that can be used to determine whether a displayed finger position was correctly played on the second instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Optek Music Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: John R Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20100300260
    Abstract: A fingerboard (or fretboard) for use with a stringed instrument and light-system is disclosed and has a bottom surface adapted to mate or be attached to a neck of the instrument, and has wells extending from the bottom surface toward, but not through, a top surface. The wells are sized to receive a light-emitting device, such as LEDs, and are positioned along the fingerboard according to finger positions of the instrument. Illumination from the light-emitting devices is visible to a player of the instrument, however, when the devices are not illuminated, the fingerboard appears substantially as one made without the wells. The structure is useful for learning to play the instrument, while not appearing as a learning device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventor: John R. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 7732687
    Abstract: A fingerboard (or fretboard) for use with a stringed instrument and light-system is disclosed and has a bottom surface adapted to mate or be attached to a neck of the instrument, and has wells extending from the bottom surface toward, but not through, a top surface. The wells are sized to receive a light-emitting device, such as LEDs, and are positioned along the fingerboard according to finger positions of the instrument. Illumination from the light-emitting devices is visible to a player of the instrument, however, when the devices are not illuminated, the fingerboard appears substantially as one made without the wells. The structure is useful for learning to play the instrument, while not appearing as a learning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Optek Music Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20100107849
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various systems and methods for providing a neck assembly for a stringed instrument. The neck assembly can include a fingerboard structure having a well configured to receive a light-emitting device and permit light transmission from the light-emitting device to the top surface of the fingerboard structure, the well being located to represent a finger position of the stringed instrument. The neck assembly can further include a wooden neck structure attached to the fingerboard structure and have a lower surface substantially covered with a polymeric coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventor: John R. Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20100077306
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various systems and methods for audio and/or visual playback. A system can include a first data encoded according to a first file format, a second data encoded according to a second file format, and a file using the first and second data to enable synchronized audio and/or visual playback of the data on one or more receiving elements. In certain instances, at least a portion of the second data includes information relating to finger positions on a musical instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: John R. Shaffer, Ken Pletzer
  • Publication number: 20090243179
    Abstract: A system uses a plurality of sensors to detect and manage conditions within a moving pocket, such as a pocket carrying a flat product from one location to another. The system is particularly useful in connection with a newspaper insert machine. One sensor detects whether the product has been opened properly at a particular time; another sensor detects whether the product has been properly gripped by a gripper at a particular time; another sensor detects whether the pocket is empty at a particular time and another sensor detects whether the pocket is open or closed at a particular time. In the event an error condition is detected, the error condition is corrected by a control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: MULLER MARTINI MAILROOM SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Eric W. Bader, Timothy Goszka, James Baird, John R. Shaffer, Richard J. Sterner
  • Publication number: 20080127808
    Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods of for displaying on a second instrument finger positions that were played on a first instrument. A teacher, for example, can play notes and/or chords on a first stringed instrument having a sensor. A processing having a decoder and a message generator can receive signals from the sensor and generate messages that are communicated to a light-system in the second instrument. The light-system displays the finger positions on the second instrument, each finger position corresponding to a finger position played on the first instrument. The processor can receive sensor information from the second information that can be used to determine whether a displayed finger position was correctly played on the second instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: Optek Music Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 7323633
    Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods of for displaying on a second instrument finger positions that were played on a first instrument. A teacher, for example, can play notes and/or chords on a first stringed instrument having a sensor. A processing having a decoder and a message generator can receive signals from the sensor and generate messages that are communicated to a light-system in the second instrument. The light-system displays the finger positions on the second instrument, each finger position corresponding to a finger position played on the first instrument. The processor can receive sensor information from the second information that can be used to determine whether a displayed finger position was correctly played on the second instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Optek Music Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: John R Shaffer
  • Patent number: 7173175
    Abstract: A fingerboard (or fretboard) for use with a stringed instrument and light-system is disclosed and has a bottom surface adapted to mate or be attached to a neck of the instrument, and has wells extending from the bottom surface toward, but not through, a top surface. The wells are sized to receive a light-emitting device, such as LEDs, and are positioned along the fingerboard according to finger positions of the instrument. Illumination from the light-emitting devices is visible to a player of the instrument, however, when the devices are not illuminated, the fingerboard appears substantially as one made without the wells. The structure is useful for learning to play the instrument, while not appearing as a learning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Inventor: John R. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 5266735
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for learning to play a musical instrument retrieve a stored sequence of musical notes and other data from a source, and determine locations on the musical instrument corresponding to the sequential music data from the source, and then indicate to the user upon the musical instrument the locations thereon where the instrument should be engaged to produce the note or chord to be played in the sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: John R. Shaffer
    Inventors: John R. Shaffer, Craig Bradley
  • Patent number: 4915005
    Abstract: For a musical instrument, a fingering display apparatus that includes a number of electrical switches manually operable to designate a desired musical note, either alone or as the root note for a desired scale or chord. For each of the notes designated by the switches, means are provided to activate a sub-display showing all of the possible fingering positions for that note. If a scale or chord is designated, then all of the fingering positions for all of the notes of the entire scale or chord are displayed. One form of the display, using small electrical lamps, is mounted on the fret-board of a guitar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Inventors: John R. Shaffer, Robert W. Gorry, Jr.
  • Patent number: D324334
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Robert F. Thomas, John R. Shaffer