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GEN-ERIC Patent News Tuesday, February 25,
2003
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Licensing Patent Employment Opportunities
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Version ================================================== HEADLINES (patents issued a few hours
ago..) The Smart Pad Patent of the Day goes to
Motorola, Inc. of Illinois for a Method and apparatus for an
optical laser keypad
The Say Cheese Patent of the Day goes
to an Inventor from Colorado for a Method and system for obtaining
person-specific images in a public venue
Index ================================================== NEWS Lucent alleges patent infringement by Dell
http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2003/02/17/daily58.html Lucent
makes computer networking products and telephone equipment. In a lawsuit filed
in federal court in Delaware, Lucent claims Dell is wrongly using inventions
owned by Lucent for color memory, for video search functions and for controlling
a computer with a stylus, all patented since 1984, according to the Bloomberg
report. Lucent is seeking unspecified damages after a jury trial and seeking a
judge's order to stop Dell from selling computer systems that use the patented
technology.
Index U.S. court allows Palm to challenge Xerox Corp.
patent http://www.cp.org/english/online/full/technology/030220/z022032A.html Handheld
computer maker Palm Inc. received a partial reprieve in a patent infringement
case Thursday, when a judge ruled it has a right to challenge a patent owned by
Xerox Corp. for handwriting recognition software. While the U.S. Court of
Appeals in Washington upheld a ruling that Palm infringed on Xerox's patent, it
gave Palm an additional chance to show the patent is invalid. In December 2001,
a federal court in Rochester, N.Y., ruled that Palm's handheld organizers, which
use handwriting technology marketed as Graffiti, infringe on patents held by
Xerox.
Index Oakley Sues Fossil on Designs http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/109950_sunglass25.shtml Oakley
Inc., the maker of sunglasses worn by baseball players such as the Seattle
Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki, has filed a lawsuit accusing rival Fossil Inc. of
copying Oakley's patented designs. Fossil's "Rave" and "Surge" models copy the
design of Oakley's popular "Twenty" sunglasses and "Flaming O" ear stems, Oakley
contends in the federal lawsuit, filed Thursday in San Diego. The suit also
accuses Fossil of using Oakley's patented coating for colored lenses, which
Oakley sells under the name "Iridium." Oakley is using its patents to fight off
competition as consumers reduce spending. On Feb. 12, Oakley reported that
sunglasses sales increased only 1.4 percent in the fourth quarter; the company
abandoned its first-quarter earnings forecast in part because of the struggling
global economy.
Index ================================================== PATENTS OF THE DAY
6,525,677
Method and apparatus for an
optical laser keypad
Abstract: An optical
laser numeric keypad provides a digital signal indicative of which of a
plurality of key locations is selected. The optical laser numeric keypad
comprises a plurality of optical sensors each configured to respond to a change
in a received light quantity and to provide an electrical signal in response to
a selection of a key at a key location. The received light quantity of at least
one of the plurality of optical sensors is changeable by selection of a key
location. Index
6,526,158
Method and system for obtaining
person-specific images in a public venue
Abstract: A method
whereby personalized photographic images are obtained of patrons in an
entertainment venue, such as a theme park. The system employs a unique
machine-readable identification tap located in a device such as a card, pin, or
bracelet, which is attached to the patron. The identification tag is decoded by
readers positioned at various locations within the entertainment venue. This
identification information is matched with electronic images of the patron
carrying the identification tag that are captured by digital cameras. The
electronic images along with the matched patron identities are collected at a
storage device. At a distribution station, the patron can view images
corresponding to his tap identification, and the images may be printed or may be
delivered in electronic form on a videotape, CD, or e-mail. The images
distributed to patrons may be single-frame images or video recorded images with
audio. The images may be modified for entertainment effect prior to
distribution.
Index ================================================== PATENTS AVAILABLE FOR
LICENSING Contact Us to Learn More or to List a
Patent
Implantable fuel cell This invention makes use of an
electrostrictive material to increase the efficiency of a fuel cell as used
for the production of power within a human.
Powder conveying and
dispensing method and apparatus using traveling wave transport This
invention is a major advance in printing technology by resolving a problem
with "toner clouds".
Embedded Display A material that looks
like paper functions like a display, with excellent contrast. It can be read in
ordinary light and looks just like ordinary paper. It is expected to
revolutionize publishing in our lifetimes, allowing for electronic newspapers
and magazines. A pending patent cover several exciting applications for this new
medium, including intelligent maps, low cost paper brochures with full motion
video display and interactive web pages, cereal boxes with built in games, and
much more. This invention teaches how an ordinary sheet of paper, or a substrate
having the appearance of paper, can contain information related to the document
itself. This might take the form of voice annotation that can be played back on
a host of devices.
Other Patents ALL-TERRAIN, ALL WEATHER
WHEELCHAIR EARTHQUAKE DETECTOR FREEZER ORGANIZER SYSTEM
Index ================================================== PATENT EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITIES Contact Us to Learn More or to List a
Job
Patent Litigator Well-respected and profitable public
pharmaceutical corporation seeks a patent litigator. Duties include hands-on
trial and pre-trial experience, as well as supervision of outside counsel. Also,
preparation of validity, infringement, patentability and other
opinions.
Patent Attorney Aerospace company is seeking a patent
attorney. Develop and execute business-specific IP processes and strategies for
assigned business unit. Manage IP portfolios and supervise outside counsel cost
effectively. Identify, evaluate and support company's technology licensing and
patent enforcement opportunities. Perform freedom to practice and novelty
studies. Support transactions involving intellectual property rights. Prepare
and prosecute U.S. and foreign patent applications. Educate management and
technical staff regarding intellectual property matters. JD, BS or graduate
degree in EE, physics or equivalent preferred.
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