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There are other remote control antennas that have been patented. In fact
there is a patent already in the mix that uses exactly the same method as the STEPPER that was printed in RADCOM several years ago.What exactly did the new patent claim? Art "Minnie Bannister" wrote in message ... www.steppir.com Alan NV8A On 08/23/04 04:23 pm Jimmie put fingers to keyboard and launched the following message into cyberspace: How is it I get the feeling they are not trying to develope the remotely tunable antenna. Seem to me someone just wants to have the patent on the idea Huh? They developed it, making it and selling like a hotcakes. That's the idea, to have a patent on the idea for terrific product! Really, didnt know the things were on the market. |
"Minnie Bannister" wrote in message ... www.steppir.com Alan NV8A On 08/23/04 04:23 pm Jimmie put fingers to keyboard and launched the following message into cyberspace: How is it I get the feeling they are not trying to develope the remotely tunable antenna. Seem to me someone just wants to have the patent on the idea Huh? They developed it, making it and selling like a hotcakes. That's the idea, to have a patent on the idea for terrific product! Really, didnt know the things were on the market. What happens when one of these antennas takes a lightning strike. . |
The links to the patent application for the SteppIR are in the original
post that started this thread. *Perhaps* what was new was the microprocessor control unit that can sit between the rig and the antenna and readjust the antenna as the rig is tuned. But since I haven't seen the RadCom one to which you refer, I don't *know* what is new in the SteppIR. Alan NV8A On 08/23/04 09:26 pm put fingers to keyboard and launched the following message into cyberspace: There are other remote control antennas that have been patented. In fact there is a patent already in the mix that uses exactly the same method as the STEPPER that was printed in RADCOM several years ago.What exactly did the new patent claim? www.steppir.com |
Some SteppIR antennas have been up for a year or more already and have
survived high winds and ice storms, but I don't recall hearing of any lightning strikes. The antenna itself has only beryllium-copper tapes whose length is adjusted by stepper motors, the latter being pretty robust devices by all accounts. The sensitive electronics (microprocessor control unit) are in the shack rather than up on the tower, so the smart thing to do would be to disconnect and ground the control cable when not in use (after retracting the elements completely), just as one would disconnect and ground the feed line. Alan NV8A On 08/24/04 07:48 pm Jimmie put fingers to keyboard and launched the following message into cyberspace: www.steppir.com What happens when one of these antennas takes a lightning strike. . |
I'm not sure what the interest might be in the application, if a patent
has been issued. Typically, an application undergoes modification -- sometimes, extreme modification -- before the patent issues. And only the patent carries any prohibition about anyone making, using, or selling the item. The patent (6,677,914) is interesting in that it's a patent not for an antenna, or a method of tuning the antenna, but a system which includes the antenna, a transmitter/receiver, and "means to coordinate the means for adjusting the length of said conductive members to receive a desired frequency used by said radio transmitter/receiver." To see exactly what is patented, look up the patent at the USPTO's web site and read claims 1 and 16. Those describe exactly what is patented -- the patented system includes all the components in either claim. (The remaining claims are more restrictive, put there in case the less restrictive claims are deemed invalid in the future.) Only a system which includes all the components in a claim is covered under the patent, except for modifications "obvious to one skilled in the art". DISCLAIMER: I'm not an attorney, patent or otherwise. This is based on my limited and layman's knowledge of the law. Don't regard it as legal advice -- see a qualified patent attorney if you need real legal advice. Roy Lewallen, W7EL J. McLaughlin wrote: Dear Group: One may see a patent application for the "SteppIR" antenna on the PTO's web site. Look for: 20020171598 Tunable antenna system Punch in the above number he http://appft1.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/srchnum.html The application issued as patent 6,677,914. I can not remember if this has been posted. 73 Mac N8TT -- J. Mc Laughlin - Michigan USA Home: |
Alan,
the article in RADCOM (UK) described the moveable radiator as a loop of material half of which contained a copper strip and the loop of material was driven by a motor such that the copper length was resonant. Now a stepper motor is still an electrical motor which turns the shaft in a series of steps which is nothing unusual. The use of a microprocessor to run a stepper motor is also normal as well as a comparitor system to control the length of the radiators to maintain resonance. There is also prior use of where the motors are enclosed and also controlled remotely. Roy makes the point that the design in its entirety was the main claim which appears to be in the design patent bracket. Thus it would appear that the patent design in its entirety is protected which to my mind makes it one of the most weakest things to claim court protection but that is just my opinion. For amateurs who make their own antennas a patent does not really have any powers unless manufacture is a business. It seems these days that those who move fast and take the cream and then quickly fade away can easily beat any justice system that reqiures a lot of cash and a strong push to get it moving on ones behalf. It is like the' pursuit of happiness' statement which gives one only the right to pursue but not to attain happiness" ART Minnie Bannister" wrote in message ... The links to the patent application for the SteppIR are in the original post that started this thread. *Perhaps* what was new was the microprocessor control unit that can sit between the rig and the antenna and readjust the antenna as the rig is tuned. But since I haven't seen the RadCom one to which you refer, I don't *know* what is new in the SteppIR. Alan NV8A On 08/23/04 09:26 pm put fingers to keyboard and launched the following message into cyberspace: There are other remote control antennas that have been patented. In fact there is a patent already in the mix that uses exactly the same method as the STEPPER that was printed in RADCOM several years ago.What exactly did the new patent claim? www.steppir.com |
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Agreed
Art "Roy Lewallen" wrote in message ... wrote: . . . Roy makes the point that the design in its entirety was the main claim which appears to be in the design patent bracket. . . The term "design patent" refers to a kind of patent that applies to an esthetic design, such as a unique shape for a vase or the classic Coca-Cola bottle. The patent in question isn't a design patent (even though the claims describe a whole system) but a "utility patent". Design and utility patents are different critters. Each has its own sequence of numbers, and I believe they have different application processes. When a technical person speaks of a patent, he or she almost always means a utility patent. I know this to be true only for U.S. patents; I don't know about the rules or terminology used in other countries. You can find more information about the two distinct kinds of U.S. patents at the USPTO website. Roy Lewallen, W7EL |
Dear Roy:
You have wondered about what the interest might be in the application. As you have accurately indicated, applications do sometimes undergo extreme modification before one or more patents issue. Only the claims in the issued patent constitute the meets-and-bounds of what is protected. However, comparing an application to the issued patent (or patents) can be very revealing of the PTO's view of the subject matter. Insight so gained can be of great help with further patent applications dealing with similar subject matter. In the days when it was not easy to compare applications with issued patents, I had a case where a claim in an issued patent appeared to encompass all archery targets having the appearance of an animal. Paying to get a copy of the proceedings led to the conclusion that what was actually protected were animal looking targets using two densities of plastic! -- I have abbreviated the case -- The short answer is that one can (sometimes) learn from examining the before and after. To follow-up on another of your cogent observations: Design patents protect the esthetic appearance of a useful article (and thus might not be eligible for copyright protection) and their numbers start with a "D." Plant patents have numbers that start with a "P." Warm regards, Mac N8TT -- J. Mc Laughlin - Michigan USA Home: "Roy Lewallen" wrote in message ... I'm not sure what the interest might be in the application, if a patent has been issued. Typically, an application undergoes modification -- sometimes, extreme modification -- before the patent issues. And only the patent carries any prohibition about anyone making, using, or selling the item. The patent (6,677,914) is interesting in that it's a patent not for an antenna, or a method of tuning the antenna, but a system which includes the antenna, a transmitter/receiver, and "means to coordinate the means for adjusting the length of said conductive members to receive a desired frequency used by said radio transmitter/receiver." To see exactly what is patented, look up the patent at the USPTO's web site and read claims 1 and 16. Those describe exactly what is patented -- the patented system includes all the components in either claim. (The remaining claims are more restrictive, put there in case the less restrictive claims are deemed invalid in the future.) Only a system which includes all the components in a claim is covered under the patent, except for modifications "obvious to one skilled in the art". DISCLAIMER: I'm not an attorney, patent or otherwise. This is based on my limited and layman's knowledge of the law. Don't regard it as legal advice -- see a qualified patent attorney if you need real legal advice. Roy Lewallen, W7EL J. McLaughlin wrote: Dear Group: One may see a patent application for the "SteppIR" antenna on the PTO's web site. Look for: 20020171598 Tunable antenna system Punch in the above number he http://appft1.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/srchnum.html The application issued as patent 6,677,914. I can not remember if this has been posted. 73 Mac N8TT -- J. Mc Laughlin - Michigan USA Home: |
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