I was just thinking...

[Sean_Goddard]

Trawling through the many threads on making a decent PI, I have seen a few points some have missed, so......I spoke to Dave Emery who passed on a few tips on how to stop the FET from avalanching. Sadly what he gave me was part of his patent and I am under threat of having vital parts of my manhood removed if I divulge them .

I needed other information also in my quest to make a PI which is capable of piking up a thin section gold ring at about 18" in air so I had a look around on here. What I found amazed me, SO much hard work and info from the likes of ApBerg, Aziz, KT315, Ivconic and MANY more and ALL posted for ALL to share.

So my thought was this..I am constantly amazed by how clever a great many of you guys are, and yet how selfless, so to ALL on the forum, I should like to say..."HAPPY NEW YEAR and MANY THANKS for EVERYTHING (so far) you have posted which has helped me learn more about metal detector design in the time I've been a member of this forum" and a GREAT BIG THANKS to Carl for setting up the forum in the first place.

WELL DONE ALL I hope 2012 is the BEST year ANY of you have had to date!

[golfnut]

nice

[Aziz]

Trawling through the many threads on making a decent PI, I have seen a few points some have missed, so......I spoke to Dave Emery who passed on a few tips on how to stop the FET from avalanching. Sadly what he gave me was part of his patent and I am under threat of having vital parts of my manhood removed if I divulge them .

I needed other information also in my quest to make a PI which is capable of piking up a thin section gold ring at about 18" in air so I had a look around on here. What I found amazed me, SO much hard work and info from the likes of ApBerg, Aziz, KT315, Ivconic and MANY more and ALL posted for ALL to share.

So my thought was this..I am constantly amazed by how clever a great many of you guys are, and yet how selfless, so to ALL on the forum, I should like to say..."HAPPY NEW YEAR and MANY THANKS for EVERYTHING (so far) you have posted which has helped me learn more about metal detector design in the time I've been a member of this forum" and a GREAT BIG THANKS to Carl for setting up the forum in the first place.

WELL DONE ALL I hope 2012 is the BEST year ANY of you have had to date!

Hi Sean,

we could share much much more, if there weren't the (unfair playing) patent trolls.
Unfortunately, a lot of good discussions and good ideas can't be made public.

Happy new year,
Aziz

[Carl-NC]

Aziz,

What do you mean by "patent trolls"? I suspect your usage is different than the norm.

- Carl

[Sean_Goddard]

Bruce Candy () et al. (allegedly) dropping in to steal our ideas and pass them off as their own by patenting them then claiming they came up with the idea 100 years before. Done before, so why stop now?

Leopards don't change their spots nor do fraudsters .

[Aziz]

Bruce Candy () et al. (allegedly) dropping in to steal our ideas and pass them off as their own by patenting them then claiming they came up with the idea 100 years before. Done before, so why stop now?

Leopards don't change their spots nor do fraudsters .

Well, I didn't mention him. But at last the penny's dropped!
Well, he could be one of the candidates.
But there are other black sheeps.

Aziz

PS: What's a patent troll?
Well, to me someone:
- patenting prior art
- patenting science laws (or algorithms or standards)
- patenting software
- patenting trivial ideas
- re-patenting expired patents
- patenting to block any competition (or innovative progress)
- patenting for monopoly purposes
...

[Gwil]

My understanding is that the purpose of a patent is to allow an invention to be revealed to the world, while at the same time giving the inventor the exclusive right to exploit it commercially. Once a patent has been obtained, its contents are effectively in the public domain and can be freely discussed by anyone, including the members of this forum. The invention itself may be copied and experimented with for research purposes (but not of course manufactured and marketed). In fact this is why the patent system was devised, as the alternative would be that developments would be kept secret and innovation would be stifled.

If Dave Emery has not yet obtained a patent protecting his ideas he is wise to keep the information secret, as anything already in the public domain cannot be patented. However once a patent has been granted everything in it is fair game to be discussed/criticised by anyone interested enough.

[Carl-NC]

PS: What's a patent troll?
Well, to me someone:
- patenting prior art
- patenting science laws (or algorithms or standards)
- patenting software
- patenting trivial ideas
- re-patenting expired patents
- patenting to block any competition (or innovative progress)
- patenting for monopoly purposes
...

OK, technically none of those fit the real definition of a patent troll (as I understand it to mean), but I'm flexible, and am willing to broaden my views! BTW, if you want to see a real patent troll, consider Patent Group LLC:

http://dockets.justia.com/docket/tex...cv00110/128410
http://dockets.justia.com/docket/tex...cv00132/128512

They go around suing companies for extremely minor patent technicalities. And that's all they do.

In any case, now that the US has joined the rest of the world as a "first-to-file" nation, if you want to prevent someone from enforceably patenting a method, simply write up a public disclosure and post it. Preferably in several places, and then get a few screen captures with dates for documentation. Notice I said "enforceably"... it is pretty easy to pull one over on the USPTO and get a patent on just about anything, even perpetual motion. But with clearly documented prior art, the patent will be unenforceable.

BTW, I agree that many Minelab patent claims are borderline, and some clearly should not have been granted. I can say the same thing about most patents I'm thoroughly familiar with, even some I've written (in hind sight, of course!). But I've also seen many criticisms by Minelab-bashers that are just plain wrong, mostly by people who simply don't know how to read a patent. If anyone can point out a clear case where ML/BC has filed a patent on a publicly-disclosed method, I'd like to hear it.

- Carl

[turtlebowl]

Humm, all very interesting discussion. Entertaining even. But I'd like to go back to the original post by Sean and say.............well put.
This is the greatest forum ever with some of the best minds..........ever. Thanks to all for constantly sharing openly where possible. And making us all think.....more.
My most sincere gratitude and love for this place. And yes,, the best fresh year ever.
PM

[Aziz]

OK, technically none of those fit the real definition of a patent troll (as I understand it to mean), but I'm flexible, and am willing to broaden my views! BTW, if you want to see a real patent troll, consider Patent Group LLC:

http://dockets.justia.com/docket/tex...cv00110/128410
http://dockets.justia.com/docket/tex...cv00132/128512

They go around suing companies for extremely minor patent technicalities. And that's all they do.

In any case, now that the US has joined the rest of the world as a "first-to-file" nation, if you want to prevent someone from enforceably patenting a method, simply write up a public disclosure and post it. Preferably in several places, and then get a few screen captures with dates for documentation. Notice I said "enforceably"... it is pretty easy to pull one over on the USPTO and get a patent on just about anything, even perpetual motion. But with clearly documented prior art, the patent will be unenforceable.

BTW, I agree that many Minelab patent claims are borderline, and some clearly should not have been granted. I can say the same thing about most patents I'm thoroughly familiar with, even some I've written (in hind sight, of course!). But I've also seen many criticisms by Minelab-bashers that are just plain wrong, mostly by people who simply don't know how to read a patent. If anyone can point out a clear case where ML/BC has filed a patent on a publicly-disclosed method, I'd like to hear it.

- Carl

Hi Carl,

yes indeed, the original "patent troll" meaning was limitted to such companies (like the IPCom we have in Munich). A bunch of (criminal) lawyers, who can't get enough. Hey, the only thing they can do is to sue and rip-off successful companies. That's their business.

Well, I have my own "patent troll" interpretation. Everybody is free to extend the interpretation of course.

That's the reason, why I archive almost everything (forum postings, publications, etc. ) .

"If anyone can point out a clear case where ML/BC has filed a patent on a publicly-disclosed method, I'd like to hear it."

Unfortunately, this has been happened late time (2010/2011).

Aziz

[Carl-NC]

Unfortunately, this has been happened late time (2010/2011).

Example?

[Aziz]

Example?

Carl,

do a quick search and go through some patents, which are available for inspection (PDF):
http://pericles.ipaustralia.gov.au/o...resultsPerPage

White's should do this?


Aziz

PS: A new patent has been lodget: "A transmit signal of a metal detector"
???
(Let's look, what it really is - no patent documents available yet.)

[Sean_Goddard]

Well if it's a composite waveform generated in real time by a DSP then I will contest the patent as I made this system public on this forum over a YEAR ago...wait no I've done more research, Bruce Candy has........Patented the BFO!!!

[Carl-NC]

Carl,

do a quick search and go through some patents, which are available for inspection (PDF):
http://pericles.ipaustralia.gov.au/o...resultsPerPage

White's should do this?

Yes, yes, I have looked at ML patents. I'm asking for specific examples of what people seem to be making a Big Deal about. If there is anything to it, I want to know it.

[Aziz]

Yes, yes, I have looked at ML patents. I'm asking for specific examples of what people seem to be making a Big Deal about. If there is anything to it, I want to know it.

Sorry Carl,

can't give you hints. You have to go through all the patents.
I'm sure, you will find something.

Aziz