James Cleveland Mcgee

US Patent:

6600418, Jul 29, 2003

Filed:

Dec 12, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/735243

Inventors:

Robert C. Francis - Maplewood MN
James P. McGee - Cedar MN
Robert A. Sainati - Bloomington MN
Sai-Kit K. Tong - Roseville MN

Assignee:

3M Innovative Properties Company - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

G08B 1314

US Classification:

3405721, 340 592, 340 101, 340505, 700215, 700226, 700229, 705 28

Abstract:

An object tracking and management system and method using radio-frequency identification (âRFIDâ) tags is disclosed. Objects to be moved between locations are outfitted with RFID tags having information relating to the identities of the objects. The locations are also marked by RFID tags containing information on the locations. A transport vehicle for moving the objects is equipped with an RFID interrogator capable of detecting signals from the RFID tags. An onboard processor provides the operator of the vehicle with instructions on the movement of objects. The processor also determines the identities of the objects and locations from the detected signals and provides the operator with feedback as to the identity of an object being moved, the location of the vehicle and any error in carrying out the instructions. Numerous variations of the basic system and method using RFID tags are also described.

US Patent:

7411500, Aug 12, 2008

Filed:

Sep 14, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/226102

Inventors:

Michael E. Hamerly - Vadnais Heights MN, US
Barry W. Kostyk - Stillwater MN, US
Robert D. Lorentz - North Oaks MN, US
Robert A. Sainati - Bloomington MN, US
James P. McGee - Cedar MN, US
Subhalakshmi M. Ananthanarayanan - Woodbury MN, US
John W. Van Bogart - Minneapolis MN, US
Ronald D. Jesme - Plymouth MN, US

Assignee:

3M Innovative Properties Company - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

G08B 13/14

US Classification:

3405721, 3405724, 340 101

Abstract:

Methods of monitoring items and/or materials from a manufacturing process. One embodiment of the invention provides a method of monitoring items and/or materials from a manufacturing process using a plurality of RFID tagged containers, and a plurality of stations associated with different portions of the manufacturing process, where each station includes an RFID reader.

US Patent:

8289163, Oct 16, 2012

Filed:

Sep 27, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/904616

Inventors:

David P. Erickson - Stillwater MN, US
Michele A. Waldner - Minneapolis MN, US
James P. McGee - Cedar MN, US
Swagata R. Banerjee - North Oaks MN, US

Assignee:

3M Innovative Properties Company - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

G08B 13/14

US Classification:

3405721, 3405727, 705 22, 705 28, 343795

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.

US Patent:

20030089771, May 15, 2003

Filed:

Nov 12, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/992711

Inventors:

Eric Cybulski - Woodbury MN, US
Francis Dehn - Ramsey MN, US
Robert Francis - Maplewood MN, US
Peter Hogerton - White Bear Lake MN, US
Mary Kallestad - Hastings MN, US
Karl Kropp - St. Paul MN, US
James McGee - Cedar MN, US
Sai-Kit Tong - Roseville MN, US

Assignee:

3M Innovative Properties Company

International Classification:

G06F017/60

US Classification:

235/385000

Abstract:

An asset tracking system is provided, having particular usefulness in connection with the interrogation of RFID-tagged pallets by a forklift equipped with one or more RFID reader antennas. A useful embodiment of an RFID-tagged pallet is described, along with other beneficial components of such a system.

US Patent:

20050190072, Sep 1, 2005

Filed:

Feb 26, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/788061

Inventors:

Katherine Brown - Lake Elmo MN, US
Catherine Behun - White Bear Lake MN, US
Kaileen Chen - White Bear Lake MN, US
David Erickson - Stillwater MN, US
Ronald Jesme - Plymouth MN, US
Orlin Knudson - Vadnais Heights MN, US
Robert Lorentz - North Oaks MN, US
James McGee - Cedar MN, US
Robert Sainati - Bloomington MN, US
Lucien Solefack - Inver Grove Heights MN, US
Justin Tungjunyatham - Falcon Heights MN, US
Christopher Yungers - St. Paul MN, US

International Classification:

G08B005/22

US Classification:

340825360

Abstract:

An item monitoring system and method of using an item monitoring system. The present invention relates more particularly to an item monitoring system including a sensor, that senses a plurality of items in a first amount of space associated with the sensor and that senses both items containing metal and items containing no metal, a communications network, and a computer that receives information from the sensor through the communications network. The present invention also relates more particularly to a method of monitoring items to determine the number of items within a first amount of space associated with the sensor.

US Patent:

20060071774, Apr 6, 2006

Filed:

Aug 22, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/209118

Inventors:

Katherine Brown - Lake Elmo MN, US
Catherine Behun - White Bear Lake MN, US
Kaileen Chen - White Bear Lake MN, US
David Erickson - Stillwater MN, US
Ronald Jesme - Plymouth MN, US
Orlin Knudson - Vadnais Heights MN, US
Robert Lorentz - North Oaks MN, US
James McGee - Cedar MN, US
Robert Sainati - Bloomington MN, US
Lucien Solefack - Inver Grove Heights MN, US
Justin Tungjunyatham - Falcon Heights MN, US
Christopher Yungers - St.Paul MN, US
Michael Hamerly - Vadnais Heights MN, US
Scott Pearson - Woodbury MN, US

International Classification:

G08B 19/00
G08B 1/00
G08B 21/00

US Classification:

340522000, 340531000, 340686600

Abstract:

An item monitoring system and method of using an item monitoring system. The present invention relates more particularly to an item monitoring system including a sensor, that senses a plurality of items in a first amount of space associated with the sensor and that senses both items containing metal and items containing no metal, a communications network, and a computer that receives information from the sensor through the communications network. The present invention also relates more particularly to a method of monitoring items to determine the number of items within a first amount of space associated with the sensor.

US Patent:

20080218354, Sep 11, 2008

Filed:

Mar 9, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/684398

Inventors:

Robert D. Lorentz - North Oaks MN, US
Ronald D. Jesme - Plymouth MN, US
Robert A. Sainati - Bloomington MN, US
James P. McGee - Cedar MN, US
Michael E. Hamerly - Vadnais Heights MN, US
Subhalakshmi M. Ananthanarayanan - Woodbury MN, US

International Classification:

G08B 13/14

US Classification:

3405727, 3405721

Abstract:

Non-networked radio frequency identification (RFID) systems and methods are described that use RFID tags to exchange information between non-networked RFID readers. The RFID tags may store information about conditions the RFID-tagged items have encountered while being processed. RFID readers may dynamically update the information stored on the RFID tags as the RFID-tagged items are processed at nodes. An RFID tag may include a processor that dynamically determines process control instructions based on the information.

US Patent:

20090085750, Apr 2, 2009

Filed:

Sep 27, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/904625

Inventors:

Michele A. Waldner - Minneapolis MN, US
David P. Erickson - Stillwater MN, US
James P. McGee - Cedar MN, US
Swagata R. Banerjee - North Oaks MN, US
Robert A. Sainati - Bloomington MN, US

Assignee:

3M Innovative Properties Company - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

G08B 13/14

US Classification:

3405727

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.