3M Innovative Properties Company

Edmund J Ring

Heinrich Bantli

Scott D Pearson

Jon A Kirschhoffer

John M Kruse

Mitchell B Grunes

Chester Piotrowski

Peter M Eisenberg

Robert A Sainati

Edward D Goff

Thomas I Bradshaw

Michele A Waldner

Janet T Keller

Ronald A Hagen

David P Erickson

Stephen W Mohn

Steven M Hamer

William J Kelliher, Jr

Diane E Morel

Wayne M Thomas

Theodore B Keyes

Kim K Christopher

Jeffrey D Haagenstad

Gene J Hickok

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.

Radio frequency identification in document management

An induction heating system is provided. The induction heating system comprises a power switch, a resonant heating circuit, and a pulse initiator. The resonant heating circuit is configured to generate an oscillating voltage in response to a DC pulse input. The pulse initiator is positioned across the power switch and configured to monitor a voltage across the power switch and to initiate application of a subsequent DC pulse to the resonant heating circuit upon detecting a substantially zero voltage crossing at the power switch during a first cycle of the oscillating voltage.

Induction heating system for reduced switch stress

An induction heating is provided. The induction heating system comprises a power switch, a resonant heating circuit, and a pulse initiator. The resonant heating circuit is configured to be coupled to a load and configured to generate an oscillating voltage in response to a DC pulse input having a DC voltage level. The pulse initiator is configured to provide a monitoring voltage having a value representative of an average value of a peak voltage of the oscillating voltage generated by the resonant heating circuit and to provide a pulse initiation signal to initiate application of a subsequent DC pulse to the resonant circuit when the value of the monitoring voltage is substantially equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value.

Induction heating system with resonance detection

An integrated retroreflective data communication display for visual and electromagnetic communication is described. The display may be configured as an integrated retroreflective electronic license plate, with printed visual information, similar to the information printed on traditional license plates, on retroreflective sheeting. An antenna network is integrated within the license plate for electromagnetic communication and may be connected to external electronic modules. The display may also be configured as an integrated retroreflective electronic road sign, also providing visual and electromagnetic information in a unitary structure.

Integrated retroreflective electronic display

An electronic license plate architecture is described wherein a license plate portion has a conventional license plate having visual information thereon and an identification device integrated therewith. The identification device stores restricted information. A license plate holder supports the license plate portion and houses communications and signal processing electronics. An antenna may be integrated with the license plate portion or may be housed in the license plate holder.

Electronic license plate architecture

An embedded system controller-based vehicle tracking system using vehicle positioning. An embedded system controller controls a traffic intersection using an optical system. The embedded system controller receives a vehicle location and a vehicle schedule. The embedded system controller calculates whether the vehicle is on time and reports the on-time status to the driver interface. The driver may -request that the system report a panic or emergency situation to the dispatch center through an external data communications network. The external data communications network may also send vehicle status, such as vehicle position and vehicle condition. A transit company using the system may provide vehicles equipped with the vehicle tracking system with schedules on a daily basis, using a portable data transfer device. The embedded system controller also communicates to the vehicle data network for the communication of vehicle position. A global positioning system receiver may be used to provide the position of the vehicle to the embedded system controller.

Vehicle tracking system incorporating traffic signal preemption

Growing community of inventors

Circle Pines, MN, United States of America

Edmund J Ring