Patents by Inventor Mitchell B. Grunes
Mitchell B. Grunes 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: 7123151Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 20, 2004Date of Patent: October 17, 2006Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: 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: 7113094Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 1, 2005Date of Patent: September 26, 2006Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: 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: 7044373Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 5, 1999Date of Patent: May 16, 2006Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: 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: 6857568Abstract: A library terminal permits a user to execute a loan transaction without assistance. The library terminal (i) provides a visible scan line from a bar code reader indicating the correct positioning of the bar code on a circulating item, (ii) leads a user through a loan transaction, (iii) provides an explicit feedback to a user when an article has an improper position on the article receiving area, (iv) both checks out and checks in circulating items, (v) stores fonts in bit maps of screen displays instead of in a separate font memory, (vi) integrates a security marker reader, a printer, and a controller in the same housing, (vii) processes financial transactions related to the borrowing of circulating items, and/or (viii) displays actions for helping the user to correct errors in use of the terminal.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2000Date of Patent: February 22, 2005Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: James E. Fergen, John E. Nelson, Michael J. Kieffer, John D. Yorkovich, Gerald G. Marsolek, Joseph E. Schwietz, Jr., Mitchell B. Grunes, Kathleen M. McLeod
-
Publication number: 20040257231Abstract: Methods and systems for collecting, tagging, searching for, retrieving, inventorying, and transferring evidence by law enforcement officials are described, in which RFID tags associated with pieces of evidence can be interrogated to assist in locating information relating to that evidence.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2004Publication date: December 23, 2004Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Mitchell B. Grunes, Gerald L. Karel, Peter L. Olson
-
Patent number: 6816075Abstract: Methods and systems for collecting, tagging, searching for, retrieving, inventorying, and transferring evidence by law enforcement officials are described, in which RFID tags associated with pieces of evidence can be interrogated to assist in locating information relating to that evidence.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2001Date of Patent: November 9, 2004Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Mitchell B. Grunes, Gerald L. Karel, Peter L. Olson
-
Publication number: 20040211833Abstract: A library terminal permits a user to execute a loan transaction without assistance. The library terminal (i) provides a visible scan line from a bar code reader indicating the correct positioning of the bar code on a circulating item, (ii) leads a user through a loan transaction, (iii) provides an explicit feedback to a user when an article has an improper position on the article receiving area, (iv) both checks out and checks in circulating items, (v) stores fonts in bit maps of screen displays instead of in a separate font memory, (vi) integrates a security marker reader, a printer, and a controller in the same housing, (vii) processes financial transactions related to the borrowing of circulating items, and/or (viii) displays actions for helping the user to correct errors in use of the terminal.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2004Publication date: October 28, 2004Inventors: James E. Fergen, John E. Nelson, Michael J. Kieffer, John D. Yorkovich, Gerald G. Marsolek, Joseph E. Schwietz, Mitchell B. Grunes, Kathleen M. McLeod
-
Publication number: 20040201479Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2004Publication date: October 14, 2004Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: 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: 6768419Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 20, 2002Date of Patent: July 27, 2004Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: 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: 6750777Abstract: A library terminal permits a user to execute a loan transaction without assistance. The library terminal (i) provides a visible scan line from a bar code reader indicating the correct positioning of the bar code on a circulating item, (ii) leads a user through a loan transaction, (iii) provides an explicit feedback to a user when an article has an improper position on the article receiving area, (iv) both checks out and checks in circulating items, (v) stores fonts in bit maps of screen displays instead of in a separate font memory, (vi) integrates a security marker reader, a printer, and a controller in the same housing, (vii) processes financial transactions related to the borrowing of circulating items, and/or (viii) displays actions for helping the user to correct errors in use of the terminal.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2001Date of Patent: June 15, 2004Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Roger D. Larson, James E. Fergen, John E. Nelson, Thomas J. Brace, Michael J. Kieffer, John D. Yorkovich, Gerald L. Karel, Gerald G. Marsolek, Joseph E. Schwietz, Jr., Mitchell B. Grunes, Kathleen M. McLeod, Richard M. Willems, Ronald C. Wurz
-
Publication number: 20040069851Abstract: The present invention includes a variety of improvements in RFID readers, one of which is the use of a removable, and preferably non-volatile, date storage medium with the RFID reader to facilitate the transfer of data to the RFID reader, from the RFID reader, or both. This enables a user to receive real-time information related to items being interrogated by the RFID reader, which is a considerable advantage when compared to conventional RFID readers.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2003Publication date: April 15, 2004Inventors: Mitchell B. Grunes, David T. Berquist
-
Publication number: 20030083899Abstract: A library terminal permits a user to execute a loan transaction without assistance. The library terminal (i) provides a visible scan line from a bar code reader indicating the correct positioning of the bar code on a circulating item, (ii) leads a user through a loan transaction, (iii) provides an explicit feedback to a user when an article has an improper position on the article receiving area, (iv) both checks out and checks in circulating items, (v) stores fonts in bit maps of screen displays instead of in a separate font memory, (vi) integrates a security marker reader, a printer, and a controller in the same housing, (vii) processes financial transactions related to the borrowing of circulating items, and/or (viii) displays actions for helping the user to correct errors in use of the terminal.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2002Publication date: May 1, 2003Inventors: Roger D. Larson, James E. Fergen, John E. Nelson, Michael J. Kieffer, Gerald L. Karel, Gerald G. Marsolek, Joseph E. Schwietz, Mitchell B. Grunes, Kathleen M. McLeod, Richard M. Willems
-
Patent number: 6549141Abstract: A library terminal permits a user to execute a loan transaction without assistance. The library terminal(i) provides a visible scan line from a bar code reader indicating the correct positioning of the bar code on a circulating item, (ii) leads a user through a loan transaction, (iii) provides an explicit feedback to a user when an article has an improper position on the article receiving area, (iv) both checks out and checks in circulating items, (v) stores fonts in bit maps of screen displays instead of in a separate font memory, (vi) integrates a security marker reader, a printer, and a controller in the same housing, (vii) processes financial transactions related to the borrowing of circulating items, and/or (viii) displays actions for helping the user to correct errors in use of the terminal.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2000Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: James E. Fergen, John E. Nelson, Michael J. Kieffer, Gerald G. Marsolek, Joseph E. Schwietz, Jr., Mitchell B. Grunes, Kathleen M. McLeod
-
Publication number: 20030069815Abstract: An improved method of keeping track of time is provided, and specifically an improved method of tracking the amount of time spent by an individual working on a project. The person scans an RFID tag associated with a file using an RFID reader, and a software program begins counting time and associating it with the matter with which the file is related. When the person scans the RFID tag again, the time is stopped, and the elapsed time is billed to a client in regard to the matter associated with the file.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2001Publication date: April 10, 2003Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Peter M. Eisenberg, Mitchell B. Grunes, Gerald L. Karel, John M. Kruse
-
Patent number: 6542070Abstract: A library terminal permits a user to execute a loan transaction without assistance. The library terminal (i) provides a visible scan line from a bar code reader indicating the correct positioning of the bar code on a circulating item, (ii) leads a user through a loan transaction, (iii) provides an explicit feedback to a user when an article has an improper position on the article receiving area, (iv) both checks out and checks in circulating items, (v) stores fonts in bit maps of screen displays instead of in a separate font memory, (vi) integrates a security marker reader, a printer, and a controller in the same housing, (vii) processes financial transaction related to the borrowing of circulating items, and/or (viii) displays actions for helping the user to correct errors in use of the terminal.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2000Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Roger D. Larson, James E. Fergen, John E. Nelson, Michael J. Kieffer, Gerald L. Karel, Gerald G. Marsolek, Joseph E. Schwietz, Jr., Mitchell B. Grunes, Kathleen M. McLeod, Richard M. Willems
-
Publication number: 20020196126Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2002Publication date: December 26, 2002Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: 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: 20020196284Abstract: The present invention implements, in a data processing environment, many of the attributes of paper Post-it® notes. The note program of the present invention need not be resident in an application program, and the notes of the present invention may be moved directly between windows or between regions without being saved in an intermediate memory, may be easily dispensed either from a note dispenser of a window or on a desktop, may overlap the boundary of a window, may be automatically saved, may be attached to a document within a window so that the note moves with the document, may overlap a boundary of a window, may be resized with the constraint that the note may not be resized off of a window, may be moved across a window boundary, and may be attached to an object, such as a character, a word, a sentence, or paragraph of a document.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2002Publication date: December 26, 2002Inventors: David T. Berquist, Peter M. Eisenberg, Mitchell B. Grunes, Martin A. Kenner, John M. Kruse
-
Publication number: 20020190862Abstract: Certain improvements related to the transfer and use of information are disclosed, including a the transfer of information from an existing database to a database used in conjunction with an RFID device of the type that may be used to interrogate RFID tags associated with items associated with entries in the existing database.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2001Publication date: December 19, 2002Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: David T. Berquist, Peter M. Eisenberg, Mitchell B. Grunes, Daniel K. McIntyre, Diane E. Morel, Robert J. Schilling, Paul A. Sevcik
-
Publication number: 20020185532Abstract: The present invention relates to various methods of collecting and using data from RFID tags associated with items of interest. In one embodiment, the permissible error tolerance associated with the location of an RFID-tagged item may be altered, either manually or automatically. In another embodiment, RFID-tagged items may be associated with certain categories of items, based either on default or user-specified categories.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2001Publication date: December 12, 2002Inventors: David T. Berquist, Peter M. Eisenberg, Mitchell B. Grunes, Daniel K. McIntyre, Diane E. Morel, Robert J. Schilling, Paul A. Sevcik
-
Patent number: 6486780Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 19, 2000Date of Patent: November 26, 2002Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: 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