Our New Favorite Video - Corning's Willow Glass

Corning unveiled the new Willow Glass Mon., June 4; Dipak Chowdhury, head of Corning’s ultra-flexible thin-glass project Willow will deliver a presentation on the technology at the Society for Information Display’s Display Week 2012 conference in Boston.



Flexible Glass!!  Aside from making thinner displays for our growing portfolio of electronic gadgets, flexible glass can be used for a range of photovoltaic uses - solar panels, OLED lighting, and more.

And, it's cheaper to make than traditional LCD technology so it will help reduce the costs of smartphones and our gizmos.

This is Clean Technology.


Enjoy the video.

A Magical Adventure in London

Researchers at the Science Museum in London are embarking on a magical journey to try to build Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine, the computational machine he invented in 1831.  The Analytical Engine is a mechanical device designed to handle mathematical computation.

The researchers are planning a 10 year, multi-million dollar (pounds really) adventure to take the blueprints of the various iterations of Mr. Babbage's invention and try to figure out how to actually build it.  The effort will include some crowd-sourced review of scanned copies of his drawings to seek suggestions from the public on the effort.

What is exciting about a project like this is the ability to see how the inventor's thinking about his invention evolved.  I have always been fascinated about the deep thinking of inventors and the convergence of how inventors invent and serendipitous discovery, serendipitous discovery being the ah ha moment or the discovery of something you didn't know you were looking for in the first place.  How did his ideas evolve, how did he change the way he described them - to himself.  How did Mr. Babbage translate his thinking onto paper?  Did his notes provide a road map to his discovery?  In today's digital age with a tendency to just keep modifying the same digital artifacts, do we lose that path to envision another's thought process?

One of the best narratives on Charles Babbage and his analytical inventions and his collaboration with Augusta Ada Kind, Countess of Lovelace can be found in James Gleick's, "The Information: A History, A Theory, A Flood." 

For the patent cognoscenti out there, it's interesting to consider how this clearly physical mechanical device, designed to handle algorithmic math complete with its physical input media, might be considered in light of business methods patents, patentability of algorithms, and the "it's not patentable if you can do it with a piece of paper and a pencil" argument in today's electrical computational discipline arena.

A Very Cool Invention

It's 82 degrees and it's still hockey season.  Time for some hockey inventions.


The Zamboni ice resurfacing machines are one of the  the added attractions of going to a hockey game or to the ice rink. Watching this elegant machine drive across the ice placing a new sheer surface on the ice is one of the highlights, the fans even cheer the Zamboni driver when the machine makes its way out of its game time hiding place.

The Zamboni Company finds itself in the same situation as Xerox (a photocopier) and Kleenex (a tissue). The company  works very hard to keep its trademarked product name from being turned into a noun. When that happens the IP world calls it trademark dilution. The 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games have got the people at Zamboni Company on the job.

Apparently the battery operated ice resurfacing machines built by the Zamboni Company's Canadian competitor, Resurfice Corp. failed to perform at the level of quality for Olympic level elite competition. When there were delays in the events because of problems, the media reported it as being caused by the Zamboni rather than by saying it was caused by the ice resurfacing machines.

Bloomberg.com's article on the subject clarifies the situation as did articles in other media outlets. The article also reported on Charles Schulz's love of the Zamboni Machine which began in 1980. Snoopy has even been seen driving his own Zamboni Machine.

The National Hockey League even sells team machine pins and die cast models of their machines. The Washington Capitals, who sadly didn't make it to the Finals this year, don't have their own Zamboni pin on their online store web site.  This is a disappointment.

If you are a gamer, you can even drive the Zamboni in your NHL 2K9game which features the Zamboni Achievement challenge that challenges you to clear the ice before the time runs out.

Check out Mr. Zamboni's early patent, 2,763,939 issued in September of 1956.  The patent for a complex invention had only 10 columns of text and and eight (8!!!) claims.  The Zamboni site also has a great archive section complete with pictures on the history of this iconic machine.

The bottom line, from an intellectual property perspective, it's bad for business when your product name becomes a noun. You need to protect your trademark. But for the rest of us who love the Zamboni Machine, we don't want it getting a bad rap because of a competitor.

A Better Bush-Hog

A Better Bush-Hog

Last time, I mentioned that the same water treatment technology was found applying to inventions related to both hydraulic fracturing for natural gas production and the production of fertilizer from manure.

Here is another intersection (∩, for you set theory mathematicians) of technologies and innovation spaces.

Patent Number 8,066,043, for a “Combination forest biomass and tree harvester, harvesting head assembly, and methods for harvesting” was issued on November 29, 2011 to James R. Leist (Colombus, MS) and assigned to Weyerhaeuser NR Company (Federal Way, WA). The invention is a woodworking one, using timber harvesting or processing that results in felling a tree, according to the original classification (144/336) on the patent.

Leist’s Claim 1:

“1. A combination forest biomass and tree harvester comprising:

a self-propelled vehicle base;

a moveable arm attached to the self propelled vehicle base;

and a harvesting head assembly connected to the moveable arm, the harvesting head assembly comprising: a frame member comprising a base portion and a main portion; a grabbing assembly attached to the main portion of the frame member, the grabbing assembly being configured for grabbing trees or forest biomass; and a cutting assembly attached to the base portion of the frame member, the cutting assembly comprising: a primary cutting mechanism positioned on a center axis, the primary cutting mechanism being configured to cut trees; and a secondary cutting mechanism positioned in an orbital configuration around the primary cutting mechanism, the secondary cutting mechanism being configured to mow forest biomass; wherein the center axis is substantially perpendicular to the base portion of the frame member.”

The purpose of the invention is to provide more efficient forest biomass harvesting (hence its placement in the patentECO Resource Extraction & Harvesting Index) to provide “biomass as an alternative energy source” (patentECO Energy Index).

Inventions of forest biomass (i.e., wood) as an alternative energy fuel source are found in 44/606, wood, sawdust or paper which is defined as subject matter in which the vegetation or refuse is a solid derived from the trunk or branches of trees for bushes, or from manufactured cellulosic sheet materials. The first patent with this classification attached (as a cross-reference) was number 9,015 issued in 1852 for the “Manufacture of Granular Fuel From Brush-Wood and Twigs.”

So here is a conundrum. Many environmentalists, preservationists, forest advocacy groups, and wilderness advocacy groups deplore forest product harvesting, yet implore the government to mandate renewable energy use by electric utilities. Biomass, and specifically forest biomass, is an eminently renewable resource. Through this patent, Weyerhaeuser has developed more efficient technology to provide a renewable energy source, that many deplore and desire at the same time.

Staircase to No Where

From the traffic capital of the United States, the Washington DC Metropolitan area, a town where you can't  ever schedule a meeting with out adding, "I'll be there around...", a new report has surfaced.  Apparently people who have over a 45 minute commute in traffic are more depressed, weigh more, and eat more, a lot of it while in the car.  The report also notes that people with long commutes don't get as much exercise.  Who wants to get back in the car and drive to the gym after 45 minutes of bumper to bumper 15 mile an hour traffic.

All this brings me to Walter Harrison and Samuel Talbot, the inventors of the Exercise Escalator. The Exercise Escalator which appears to be the predecessor to the Stair Master, is an "in place" exerciser which resembles a reverse action escalator. Mr. Harrison and Mr Talbot's invention is covered by patent 3,497,215. It was filed in 1967.

The invention claims, "An escalator type apparatus for exercising a subject "in situ" in a simulated stair climbing activity, comprising a structure including a flight of steps movable in a closed loop, each step having a closed riser affixed thereto, and means operatively connected to said apparatus for measuring the effort of a subject in the act of simulated climbing of said movable steps." They invented the stair case to nowhere.

The Exercise Escalator is especially suited for multi-lead electrocardiography during the exercise of patients with coronary heart disease...presenting minimal danger to the weak and unsteady; one which exercises the muscles habitually used by nonathletic people..." I think the commuting crowd qualifies here.

So as you mount the stair master or what every stair climbing cardio device you find in your over crowded gym, that is if you get yourself there, think of Mr. Harrison and Mr. Talbot's invention and the their contribution to the exercise annual ritual.

Organic Fertilizers Through Electrochemistry

Organic Fertilizers Through Electrochemistry

Timothy Camisa, Colchester, VT, invented an improved system for processing a liquid manure and producing organic fertilizer. Issued Patent Number 7,563,302 on July 21, 2009, Camisa’s intellectual property is titled “Apparatus and method for manure reclamation” and is assigned to Vermont Organics Reclamation Inc (Williston, VT). Classified by USPTO as 71/21, the invention joins 298 others pertaining to guano, stable manure or other animal-produced fertilizers. The first of these with the same original classification was issued in 1862.

Camisa’s claim 1 states:

“A method for processing liquid manure comprising:

transferring said liquid manure into an input station;

separating a first manure component and a first overflow liquor from said liquid manure at a first processing station via a first mechanical separation equipment;

adding a flocculant material to said first overflow liquor at said first processing station;

separating a second manure component and a second overflow liquor from said first overflow liquor at a second processing station via a second mechanical separation equipment;

performing direct current electrocoagulation cleaning of said second overflow liquor at a third processing station and separating a third manure component and a third overflow liquor;

and performing clarifying cleaning of said third overflow liquor at an output station and separating a fourth manure component and water.”

Note the term “electrocoagulation” in the 5th clause of the claim following the preamble (according to the USPTO Manual of Patent Examination Practice, “ "Preamble language" is that language in a claim appearing before the transitional phase, e.g., before "comprising," "consisting essentially of," or "consisting of." “). This is the same process used in US Patent  7,731,854 highlighted in my earlier post on hydraulic fracturing and wastewater treatment. Thus, we have a linkage of wastewater treatment technology found patentECO Water and Agriculture Index inventions.

The Art of Prior Art

We have come to love the art of excellent prior art. Finding really good prior art is one of those serendipitous search moments. Just doing a prior art search makes you smarter but when you find an elegant, amazing piece of prior art it's great. The best prior art quests tend to be part of invalidity efforts with big money, big principles, or both at stake. The one we discuss here is a big principle example.

A refresher on what USPTO says about prior art:

Under 35 U.S.C. 102(b) states: "A person shall be entitled to a patent unless -- (b) the invention was patented or disclosed in a printed publication in this or a foreign country or in public use or on sale in this country, more than one year prior to the date of application for patent in the United States."

Excellent prior art was found by the people at Public Patent (PubPat) Foundation at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law; a not-for-profit legal services organization whose mission is to protect freedom in the patent system. PubPat.org says that they represent the public's interest against undeserved patents and unsound patent policy. We are nonpartisan about their mission but impressed by their finely honed prior art skills.

In September of 2008, Pubpat asked USPTO to re-examine a patent for photomosaic images (6,137,498) The patent was filed in October 27, 1997 based on a provisional application dated January 2, 1997. The patent was granted in October 24, 2000. The reexamination appears to have triggered when the inventor, Robert Silvers of Cambridge, Mass. was sending cease and desist letters and asserting his patent against individuals, small businesses, and against the GIMP open source software program. On June 11th, 2009, PubPat received a copy of the USPTO Office Action invalidating 41 of the 63 claims including all of the independent claims. While the fight wasn't totally over, this was a major victory.

What was the primary piece of prior art cited in the USPTO Office Action? The cover of the "Being Double Digital, The Media Lab at 10" November 1995 issue of WIRED magazine. The cover featured a photomosaic portrait of Nicolas Negroponte. This piece of prior art was actually created by Mr. Silvers himself. A piece of art previously submitted to USPTO.

To add to the sublime nature of this particular piece of prior art is the fact that Mr. Silvers' bio cites the Media Lab under his educational credits. Mr. Silvers published a paper titled "Mosaics: Putting Pictures in their Place". The paper was submitted to the Program in Media Arts and Sciences, School of Architecture and Planning as part of the requirements for a Degree of Master of Science in Media Arts and Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) That paper, published in 1996. The document itself states "In 1994, he entered the Media Laboratory at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge. The very institution that the WIRED magazine profiled in the November 1995 issue that was used to invalidate Mr. Silver's patent. It's interesting that Mr. Silver's own work is not cited on the patent document.
Mr. Silver passes the patent number test. Mr. Silvers' web site includes his patent number on the bottom of every page. Perhaps Mr. Silver will need to modify his website now.