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).

  • Publication number: 20020167406
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: 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: 6464138
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James E. Fergen, John E. Nelson, Thomas J. Brace, Michael J. Kieffer, Gerald G. Marsolek, Joseph E. Schwietz, Jr., Mitchell B. Grunes, Kathleen M. McLeod
  • Patent number: 6448886
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: 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
  • Publication number: 20020113707
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Mitchell B. Grunes, Gerald L. Karel, Peter L. Olson
  • Patent number: 6437807
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David T. Berquist, Peter M. Eisenberg, Mitchell B. Grunes, Timothy A. Mertens, Cindy L. Munson, Martin A. Kenner, John M. Kruse
  • Patent number: 6424262
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: 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: 6411310
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: David T. Berquist, Peter M. Eisenberg, Mitchell B. Grunes, Martin A. Kenner, John M. Kruse, Timothy A. Mertens, Cindy L. Munson
  • Patent number: 6369709
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: 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: 20020017564
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Applicant: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: 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, Mitchell B. Grunes, Kathleen M. McLeod, Richard M. Willems, Ronald C. Wurz
  • Publication number: 20020008623
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: 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
  • Publication number: 20010013830
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Publication date: August 16, 2001
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: 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
  • Publication number: 20010008390
    Abstract: A user interface for a radio frequency identification interrogation system is disclosed, which interface may include graphics, sounds, lights, or combinations of the foregoing that provide information to a user in regard to the materials being interrogated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Publication date: July 19, 2001
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David T. Berquist, Peter M. Eisenberg, Mitchell B. Grunes, Robert J. Schilling
  • Patent number: 6232870
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: 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: 6151021
    Abstract: The present invention implements, in a data processing environment, many of the attributes of paper Post-it.RTM. 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: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David T. Berquist, Peter M. Eisenberg, Mitchell B. Grunes, Timothy A. Mertens, Cindy L. Munson, Martin A. Kenner, John M. Kruse
  • Patent number: 5821931
    Abstract: The present invention implements, in a data processing environment, many of the attributes of paper Post-it.RTM. 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: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: David T. Berquist, Peter M. Eisenberg, Mitchell B. Grunes, Martin A. Kenner, John M. Kruse, Timothy A. Mertens, Cindy L. Munson
  • Patent number: 5689666
    Abstract: Program code is executed in a data processing system in order to display a plurality of items so that each of the items is displayed as a different layer with respect to each of the other items and so that at least portions of items in lower layers are obscured by items in upper layers. Items may be, for example, icons, tool bars, directories, documents, notes, and/or the like. Program code is also executed in the data processing system in order to select an item so that each of the other items, which is displayed in a layer above the selected item and which would otherwise obscure the selected item, is cut out in order to expose at least a portion of the selected item and so as to reveal an otherwise obscured portion of an item which is layered below the selected item. A cut-out border may be provided around the selected item so that an item layered below the selected item is revealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: 3M
    Inventors: David T. Berquist, Peter M. Eisenberg, Mitchell B. Grunes, Martin A. Kenner, Janelle J. Kozak, John M. Kruse, Cindy L. Munson, Althea M. Robins
  • Patent number: 4926344
    Abstract: A computerized data storage structure for storing garment pattern data in machine-readable form for use in connection with a computerized structure for manipulating the garment pattern data. The structure comprises coordinate data storage for storing points and lines depicting parts of a garment. The structure further comprises garment description storage for storing a description of the garment. The garment description storage comprises geometric constraint storage for storing constraint descriptions that specify limits on relationships among the points and lines that depict the garment. The garment description storage further comprises measurement storage for storing one or more measurement constraints that map the physical dimensions of the garment onto the points and lines and specify relationships between the physical dimensions of the garment and standard or individual body measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: John E. Collins, Mitchell B. Grunes, Darryn J. Kozak
  • Patent number: 4916634
    Abstract: A computerized system for preparing garment pattern data to enable subsequent computerized prealteration based on standard or individual body measurements. The system comprises pattern storage for storing garment pattern data comprising points and lines depicting one or more garments. The system further comprises garment knowledge storage for storing generic garment knowledge for each of a plurality of garment styles. The garment knowledge storage comprises feature description storage for storing descriptions of landmarks and other garment features that are expected to be found in garments representative of the garment style. The garment knowledge storage further comprises generic constraint storage for storing at least one of algorithms and declarative structures for relating body measurements to changes in one or more of the landmarks and other garment features found in garments representative of the garment style.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Copany
    Inventors: John E. Collins, Mitchell B. Grunes, Darryn J. Kozak, AliciaMae H. Vittal
  • Patent number: 4916624
    Abstract: A computerized system for prealtering garment pattern data based on standard or individual body measurements. The system comprises a body measurement acceptance subsystem for accepting standard or individual body measurements and a pattern acceptance subsystem for accepting garment pattern data. The pattern acceptance subsystem comprises a coordinate data subsystem for accepting coordinate data comprising points and lines depicting a garment and a garment description subsystem for accepting a description of the garment. The garment description subsystem comprises geometric constraint subsystem for accepting geometric constraints that specify limits on relationships among the points and lines that depict the garment and a garment measurement subsystem for accepting one or more measurement constraints that map the physical dimensions of the garment onto the points and lines and specify relationships between the physical dimensions of the garment and the standard or individual body measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: John E. Collins, Mitchell B. Grunes, Darryn J. Kozak
  • Patent number: D435557
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Peter M. Eisenberg, Bernard A. Gonzalez, Mitchell B. Grunes, Robert J. Schilling