Patents by Inventor Joseph Christian Ernest
Joseph Christian Ernest 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: 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: 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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Patent number: 8938396Abstract: 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: September 7, 2010Date of Patent: January 20, 2015Assignee: RTC Industries, Inc.Inventors: John Wesley Swafford, Jr., Joseph Christian Ernest
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Patent number: 8864334Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to a lighting assembly and method for illuminating a vertical planar area, such as a merchandise display. The lighting assembly can comprise a circuit board having a plurality of LEDs arranged in a substantially straight line and an LED driver circuit, and an integral lens assembly. The integral lens assembly can have a plurality of lenses and each of the plurality of lenses can be placed over a corresponding one of the plurality of LEDs. The lenses capture the light from the respective LED, modify its beam pattern, and re-project the light such that the light emitted from the lighting assembly is distributed substantially evenly in a vertical plane or direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2010Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: RTC Industries, Inc.Inventors: John Wesley Swafford, Jr., David S. Breslow, Joseph Christian Ernest
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Patent number: 8537023Abstract: An automatic fault detector momentarily interrupts a provision of operating power to a load having a minimal forward-bias voltage requirement to thereby provide a testing window and then applies a test voltage during this window that is less than the minimal forward-bias voltage requirement to the load and monitors for a power-to-ground fault. By one approach the aforementioned momentarily interruption of power is neither frequent enough nor long enough in duration to substantially impair the provision of power to the load. Accordingly, load performance is not noticeably diminished. One can then responsively prohibit subsequent provision of the operating power to the load. One can then continue to monitor for the power-to-ground fault while continuing to prohibit provision of operating power to the load. If and when the fault disappears, these teachings will then accommodate automatically resuming an ordinary provision of power to the load.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2011Date of Patent: September 17, 2013Assignee: iLight Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Christian Ernest, Sean Edward Callahan, Edward Wayted Chen, Thomas Martin Kopera, Timothy Edward Canzano
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Publication number: 20120299740Abstract: An automatic fault detector momentarily interrupts a provision of operating power to a load having a minimal forward-bias voltage requirement to thereby provide a testing window and then applies a test voltage during this window that is less than the minimal forward-bias voltage requirement to the load and monitors for a power-to-ground fault. By one approach the aforementioned momentarily interruption of power is neither frequent enough nor long enough in duration to substantially impair the provision of power to the load. Accordingly, load performance is not noticeably diminished. One can then responsively prohibit subsequent provision of the operating power to the load. One can then continue to monitor for the power-to-ground fault while continuing to prohibit provision of operating power to the load. If and when the fault disappears, these teachings will then accommodate automatically resuming an ordinary provision of power to the load.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2011Publication date: November 29, 2012Applicant: ILIGHT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Joseph Christian Ernest, Sean Edward Callahan, Edward Wayted Chen, Thomas Martin Kopera, Timothy Edward Canzano
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Publication number: 20110282768Abstract: 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: July 29, 2011Publication date: November 17, 2011Applicant: RTC Industries Inc.Inventors: John Wesley Swafford, JR., Joseph Christian Ernest
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Publication number: 20110063844Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to a lighting assembly and method for illuminating a vertical planar area, such as a merchandise display. The lighting assembly can comprise a circuit board having a plurality of LEDs arranged in a substantially straight line and an LED driver circuit, and an integral lens assembly. The integral lens assembly can have a plurality of lenses and each of the plurality of lenses can be placed over a corresponding one of the plurality of LEDs. The lenses capture the light from the respective LED, modify its beam pattern, and re-project the light such that the light emitted from the lighting assembly is distributed substantially evenly in a vertical plane or direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2010Publication date: March 17, 2011Applicant: RTC INDUSTRIES, INC.Inventors: John Wesley Swafford, Jr., David S. Breslow, Joseph Christian Ernest
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Publication number: 20110055103Abstract: 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: September 7, 2010Publication date: March 3, 2011Applicant: RTC Industries, Inc.Inventors: John Wesley Swafford, JR., Joseph Christian Ernest