Hi all,
The reason for this post is that I want to safeguard my idea from any
patenting attempts. Releasing the details to the public domain should do
the trick, so here they are:
Imagine a transformer built from two coils routed on a PCB on two
different layers (top and bottom for example). The thickness of the PCB
provides the isolation required. Transmission is performed by shorting one
coil, forming a closed loop - one end is grounded, the other connected to
a microcontroller pin. The micro grounds the pin and that's one state.
When the micro puts the pin in high impedance, the other state is
transmitted. A micro on the other side measures the inductance of the
other (coupled) coil. By observing a variation in inductance it can tell
if the coil on the other side is shorted or not.
Should anyone be interested, I have it implemented. We do this on
Microchip's microcontrollers and measure the inductance with the CTMU
hardware peripheral. Works at 80kbps full-duplex on a PIC24F. I have
written an application note and posted it on my company website. We call
the thing "Freesolator", since it requires almost no components (one
resistor, once you have CTMU on board). We have demo boards and can make
the source code available. See http://protronik.pl/freesolator-en.html
Hope you don't find this post too spammy. I couldn't think of a better
method of undeniable disclosure.
Andrzej Ekiert wrote:
> Hi all,
> The reason for this post is that I want to safeguard my idea from any
> patenting attempts. Releasing the details to the public domain should do
> the trick, so here they are:
> Imagine a transformer built from two coils routed on a PCB on two
> different layers (top and bottom for example). The thickness of the PCB
> provides the isolation required. Transmission is performed by shorting
> one coil, forming a closed loop - one end is grounded, the other
> connected to a microcontroller pin. The micro grounds the pin and that's
> one state. When the micro puts the pin in high impedance, the other
> state is transmitted. A micro on the other side measures the inductance
> of the other (coupled) coil. By observing a variation in inductance it
> can tell if the coil on the other side is shorted or not.
> Should anyone be interested, I have it implemented. We do this on
> Microchip's microcontrollers and measure the inductance with the CTMU
> hardware peripheral. Works at 80kbps full-duplex on a PIC24F. I have
> written an application note and posted it on my company website. We call
> the thing "Freesolator", since it requires almost no components (one
> resistor, once you have CTMU on board). We have demo boards and can make
> the source code available. See http://protronik.pl/freesolator-en.html
> Hope you don't find this post too spammy. I couldn't think of a better
> method of undeniable disclosure.
Looks like you have re-invented the inductive proximity sensor :-)
Dnia 25-09-2012 o 00:17:39 Joerg <inva...@invalid.invalid> napisał(a):
> Looks like you have re-invented the inductive proximity sensor :-)
Well, there were other inspirations as well. But the application area may
also matter - I don't think this was a known method for data transmission,
so it might have been patentable. Now it surely isn't ;-)
On Tue, 25 Sep 2012 00:31:19 +0200, "Andrzej Ekiert"
<dspic...@tlen.pl> wrote:
>Dnia 25-09-2012 o 00:17:39 Joerg <inva...@invalid.invalid> napisa?(a):
>> Looks like you have re-invented the inductive proximity sensor :-)
>Well, there were other inspirations as well. But the application area may
>also matter - I don't think this was a known method for data transmission,
>so it might have been patentable. Now it surely isn't ;-)
>ae
My method as well... keep it _art_, but _privately_ documented.
I'm expert witness in a case right now where a heathen patented a
block diagram... science fiction, then is suing now that technology
has caught up with fiction :-(
...Jim Thompson
-- | James E.Thompson, CTO | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona 85048 Skype: Contacts Only | |
| Voice:(480)460-2350 Fax: Available upon request | Brass Rat |
| E-mail Icon at http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |
I love to cook with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food.
Andrzej Ekiert wrote:
> Hi all,
> The reason for this post is that I want to safeguard my idea from any
> patenting attempts. Releasing the details to the public domain should > do the trick, so here they are:
> Imagine a transformer built from two coils routed on a PCB on two
> different layers (top and bottom for example). The thickness of the PCB
> provides the isolation required. Transmission is performed by shorting > one coil, forming a closed loop - one end is grounded, the other > connected to a microcontroller pin. The micro grounds the pin and > that's one state. When the micro puts the pin in high impedance, the > other state is transmitted. A micro on the other side measures the > inductance of the other (coupled) coil. By observing a variation in > inductance it can tell if the coil on the other side is shorted or not.
> Should anyone be interested, I have it implemented. We do this on
> Microchip's microcontrollers and measure the inductance with the CTMU
> hardware peripheral. Works at 80kbps full-duplex on a PIC24F. I have
> written an application note and posted it on my company website. We > call the thing "Freesolator", since it requires almost no components > (one resistor, once you have CTMU on board). We have demo boards and > can make the source code available. See > http://protronik.pl/freesolator-en.html
> Hope you don't find this post too spammy. I couldn't think of a better
> method of undeniable disclosure.
> Hi all,
> The reason for this post is that I want to safeguard my idea from any > patenting attempts. Releasing the details to the public domain should
> do the trick, so here they are:
> Imagine a transformer built from two coils routed on a PCB on two
> different layers (top and bottom for example). The thickness of the
> PCB provides the isolation required. Transmission is performed by
> shorting one coil, forming a closed loop - one end is grounded, the
> other connected to a microcontroller pin. The micro grounds the pin
> and that's one state. When the micro puts the pin in high impedance,
> the other state is transmitted. A micro on the other side measures
> the inductance of the other (coupled) coil. By observing a variation
> in inductance it can tell if the coil on the other side is shorted or
> not.
> Should anyone be interested, I have it implemented. We do this on
> Microchip's microcontrollers and measure the inductance with the CTMU > hardware peripheral. Works at 80kbps full-duplex on a PIC24F. I have
> written an application note and posted it on my company website. We
> call the thing "Freesolator", since it requires almost no components
> (one resistor, once you have CTMU on board). We have demo boards and
> can make the source code available. See
> http://protronik.pl/freesolator-en.html
> Hope you don't find this post too spammy. I couldn't think of a better
> method of undeniable disclosure.
> Cheers,
> Andrzej Ekiert
Use an ethernet isolation transformer, they come in very small
footprints and are made for the purpose
(datatransmission with isolated in/out).
Jim Thompson wrote:
> On Tue, 25 Sep 2012 00:31:19 +0200, "Andrzej Ekiert"
> <dspic...@tlen.pl> wrote:
>> Dnia 25-09-2012 o 00:17:39 Joerg<inva...@invalid.invalid> napisa?(a):
>>> Looks like you have re-invented the inductive proximity sensor :-)
>> Well, there were other inspirations as well. But the application area may
>> also matter - I don't think this was a known method for data transmission,
>> so it might have been patentable. Now it surely isn't ;-)
>> ae
> My method as well... keep it _art_, but _privately_ documented.
> I'm expert witness in a case right now where a heathen patented a
> block diagram... science fiction, then is suing now that technology
> has caught up with fiction :-(
> ...Jim Thompson
To the best of my knowledge, one cannot patent a block diagram - not even as a design patent.
And design patents are essentially worthless since one minor aspect can be changed to generate a new design patent.
Crudely put, the shape of a paper clip cannot be patented in a way to protect its use; change the wiggle or bend here to make a different design and thus create competition that cannot be negated by "interference".
> Use an ethernet isolation transformer, they come in very small
> footprints and are made for the purpose
> (datatransmission with isolated in/out).
Not nearly as much isolation as FR-4, though -- certainly not reinforced. With that kind of isolation, you can drive IGBTs on any supply with impugnity.
<dspic...@tlen.pl> wrote:
>Hi all,
>The reason for this post is that I want to safeguard my idea from any
>patenting attempts. Releasing the details to the public domain should do
>the trick, so here they are:
>Imagine a transformer built from two coils routed on a PCB on two
>different layers (top and bottom for example). The thickness of the PCB
>provides the isolation required. Transmission is performed by shorting one
>coil, forming a closed loop - one end is grounded, the other connected to
>a microcontroller pin. The micro grounds the pin and that's one state.
>When the micro puts the pin in high impedance, the other state is
>transmitted. A micro on the other side measures the inductance of the
>other (coupled) coil. By observing a variation in inductance it can tell
>if the coil on the other side is shorted or not.
>Should anyone be interested, I have it implemented. We do this on
>Microchip's microcontrollers and measure the inductance with the CTMU
>hardware peripheral. Works at 80kbps full-duplex on a PIC24F. I have
>written an application note and posted it on my company website. We call
>the thing "Freesolator", since it requires almost no components (one
>resistor, once you have CTMU on board). We have demo boards and can make
>the source code available. See http://protronik.pl/freesolator-en.html
>Hope you don't find this post too spammy. I couldn't think of a better
>method of undeniable disclosure.
>Cheers,
>Andrzej Ekiert
You could put an LED on one side of the board and a photodiode on the
other. Punch a hole in any power/ground planes to let the light
through the FR4.
> Jim Thompson wrote:
>> On Tue, 25 Sep 2012 00:31:19 +0200, "Andrzej Ekiert"
>> <dspic...@tlen.pl> wrote:
>>> Dnia 25-09-2012 o 00:17:39 Joerg<inva...@invalid.invalid> napisa?(a):
>>>> Looks like you have re-invented the inductive proximity sensor :-)
>>> Well, there were other inspirations as well. But the application area
>>> may
>>> also matter - I don't think this was a known method for data
>>> transmission,
>>> so it might have been patentable. Now it surely isn't ;-)
>>> ae
>> My method as well... keep it _art_, but _privately_ documented.
>> I'm expert witness in a case right now where a heathen patented a
>> block diagram... science fiction, then is suing now that technology
>> has caught up with fiction :-(
>> ...Jim Thompson
> To the best of my knowledge, one cannot patent a block diagram - not
> even as a design patent.
> And design patents are essentially worthless since one minor aspect
> can be changed to generate a new design patent.
> Crudely put, the shape of a paper clip cannot be patented in a way to
> protect its use; change the wiggle or bend here to make a different
> design and thus create competition that cannot be negated by
> "interference".
The only thing that matters in the patent is the "claims" section.
Incidentally, if you don't want someone to patent an idea but rather have it open source, just patent it yourself and don't enforce the patent. There is no better prior art than a patent with that prior art.
>>> Dnia 25-09-2012 o 00:17:39 Joerg<inva...@invalid.invalid> napisa?(a):
>>>> Looks like you have re-invented the inductive proximity sensor :-)
>>> Well, there were other inspirations as well. But the application area may
>>> also matter - I don't think this was a known method for data transmission,
>>> so it might have been patentable. Now it surely isn't ;-)
>>> ae
>> My method as well... keep it _art_, but _privately_ documented.
>> I'm expert witness in a case right now where a heathen patented a
>> block diagram... science fiction, then is suing now that technology
>> has caught up with fiction :-(
>> ...Jim Thompson
> To the best of my knowledge, one cannot patent a block diagram - not >even as a design patent.
But they did. Your patent office at its finest.
> And design patents are essentially worthless since one minor aspect >can be changed to generate a new design patent.
> Crudely put, the shape of a paper clip cannot be patented in a way to >protect its use; change the wiggle or bend here to make a different >design and thus create competition that cannot be negated by "interference".
We go to court Nov 5
...Jim Thompson
-- | James E.Thompson, CTO | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona 85048 Skype: Contacts Only | |
| Voice:(480)460-2350 Fax: Available upon request | Brass Rat |
| E-mail Icon at http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |
I love to cook with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food.
miso <m...@sushi.com> writes:
> On 9/24/2012 9:29 PM, Robert Baer wrote:
>> Jim Thompson wrote:
>>> On Tue, 25 Sep 2012 00:31:19 +0200, "Andrzej Ekiert"
>>> <dspic...@tlen.pl> wrote:
>>>> Dnia 25-09-2012 o 00:17:39 Joerg<inva...@invalid.invalid> napisa?(a):
>>>>> Looks like you have re-invented the inductive proximity sensor :-)
>>>> Well, there were other inspirations as well. But the application area
>>>> may
>>>> also matter - I don't think this was a known method for data
>>>> transmission,
>>>> so it might have been patentable. Now it surely isn't ;-)
>>>> ae
>>> My method as well... keep it _art_, but _privately_ documented.
>>> I'm expert witness in a case right now where a heathen patented a
>>> block diagram... science fiction, then is suing now that technology
>>> has caught up with fiction :-(
>>> ...Jim Thompson
>> To the best of my knowledge, one cannot patent a block diagram - not
>> even as a design patent.
>> And design patents are essentially worthless since one minor aspect
>> can be changed to generate a new design patent.
>> Crudely put, the shape of a paper clip cannot be patented in a way to
>> protect its use; change the wiggle or bend here to make a different
>> design and thus create competition that cannot be negated by
>> "interference".
> The only thing that matters in the patent is the "claims" section.
> Incidentally, if you don't want someone to patent an idea but rather
> have it open source, just patent it yourself and don't enforce the
> patent. There is no better prior art than a patent with that prior
> art.
It might well be the best way to stop someone else patenting it.
But it would not be a good way to let other people use it who might want
to. The mere fact that it is patented would put off most people I
think. What about explicitly releasing it into the public domain?
Although this seems to be discouraged for some reason. A better way
might be to use one of the "open hardware" sites that are springing up.
Dnia 25-09-2012 o 03:39:18 Sjouke Burry <s@b> napisał(a):
> Use an ethernet isolation transformer, they come in very small
> footprints and are made for the purpose
> (datatransmission with isolated in/out).
The whole point of this method is not to use any components one needs to
buy. You only pay for circa 3cm2 of PCB space, so building an isolated
data link between two microcontrollers is almost free.
>> Hi all,
>> The reason for this post is that I want to safeguard my idea from any >> patenting attempts. Releasing the details to the public domain should
>> do the trick, so here they are:
>> Imagine a transformer built from two coils routed on a PCB on two
>> different layers (top and bottom for example). The thickness of the
>> PCB provides the isolation required. Transmission is performed by
>> shorting one coil, forming a closed loop - one end is grounded, the
>> other connected to a microcontroller pin. The micro grounds the pin
>> and that's one state. When the micro puts the pin in high impedance,
>> the other state is transmitted. A micro on the other side measures
>> the inductance of the other (coupled) coil. By observing a variation
>> in inductance it can tell if the coil on the other side is shorted or
>> not.
>> Should anyone be interested, I have it implemented. We do this on
>> Microchip's microcontrollers and measure the inductance with the CTMU >> hardware peripheral. Works at 80kbps full-duplex on a PIC24F. I have
>> written an application note and posted it on my company website. We
>> call the thing "Freesolator", since it requires almost no components
>> (one resistor, once you have CTMU on board). We have demo boards and
>> can make the source code available. See
>> http://protronik.pl/freesolator-en.html
>> Hope you don't find this post too spammy. I couldn't think of a better
>> method of undeniable disclosure.
>> Cheers,
>> Andrzej Ekiert
>Use an ethernet isolation transformer, they come in very small
>footprints and are made for the purpose
>(datatransmission with isolated in/out).
Or just use the built in magnetometer on your iPad.
Dnia 25-09-2012 o 06:15:52 miso <m...@sushi.com> napisał(a):
> Incidentally, if you don't want someone to patent an idea but rather
> have it open source, just patent it yourself and don't enforce the
> patent. There is no better prior art than a patent with that prior art.
I did talk to a patent lawyer to estimate costs involved in having
something patented internationally. A costly hobby I would say. And if it
comes to court, then a small company cannot afford to defend.
My opinion on patents is that the whole purpose of this system has been
circumvented in the recent decades. Patents now do not protect individual
inventors. They are only useful to corporations that already have money
and lawyers. Also, the patent databases are polluted with useless or
obvious "inventions". Worse - anything you do, you may fall into a patent
trap. I would like to see this whole system thrown to trash.
On a sunny day (Tue, 25 Sep 2012 08:30:17 +0200) it happened "Andrzej Ekiert"
<dspic...@tlen.pl> wrote in <op.wk6horpnf6r...@jabba.lan>:
>Dnia 25-09-2012 o 03:39:18 Sjouke Burry <s@b> napisa=C5=82(a):
>> Use an ethernet isolation transformer, they come in very small
>> footprints and are made for the purpose
>> (datatransmission with isolated in/out).
>The whole point of this method is not to use any components one needs to=
> =
>buy. You only pay for circa 3cm2 of PCB space, so building an isolated =
>data link between two microcontrollers is almost free.
>Regards,
>Andrzej
Not new I think, you could do it capacitively too, 2 close PCB layers,
1 pull down resistor NO CURRENT
> Hi all,
> The reason for this post is that I want to safeguard my idea from any
> patenting attempts. Releasing the details to the public domain should do
> the trick, so here they are:
> Imagine a transformer built from two coils routed on a PCB on two
> different layers (top and bottom for example). The thickness of the PCB
> provides the isolation required. Transmission is performed by shorting
> one coil, forming a closed loop - one end is grounded, the other
> connected to a microcontroller pin. The micro grounds the pin and that's
> one state. When the micro puts the pin in high impedance, the other
> state is transmitted. A micro on the other side measures the inductance
> of the other (coupled) coil. By observing a variation in inductance it
> can tell if the coil on the other side is shorted or not.
> Should anyone be interested, I have it implemented. We do this on
> Microchip's microcontrollers and measure the inductance with the CTMU
> hardware peripheral. Works at 80kbps full-duplex on a PIC24F. I have
> written an application note and posted it on my company website. We call
> the thing "Freesolator", since it requires almost no components (one
> resistor, once you have CTMU on board). We have demo boards and can make
> the source code available. See http://protronik.pl/freesolator-en.html
> Hope you don't find this post too spammy. I couldn't think of a better
> method of undeniable disclosure.
> Cheers,
> Andrzej Ekiert
Before you burn all your assets, have a look at Analog Devices
ADUM -series devices.
>>> Dnia 25-09-2012 o 00:17:39 Joerg<inva...@invalid.invalid> napisa?(a):
>>>> Looks like you have re-invented the inductive proximity sensor :-)
>>> Well, there were other inspirations as well. But the application area may
>>> also matter - I don't think this was a known method for data transmission,
>>> so it might have been patentable. Now it surely isn't ;-)
>>> ae
>> My method as well... keep it _art_, but _privately_ documented.
>> I'm expert witness in a case right now where a heathen patented a
>> block diagram... science fiction, then is suing now that technology
>> has caught up with fiction :-(
>> ...Jim Thompson
> To the best of my knowledge, one cannot patent a block diagram - not >even as a design patent.
You can't patent a block diagram, per se, and it would be silly to do so. You
certainly can use a block diagram in the teachings. The claims section is
text, so no, a block diagram won't do there, either. Why would you want to?
> And design patents are essentially worthless since one minor aspect >can be changed to generate a new design patent.
Depends on what it is. Design patents certainly are worthwhile in some
circumstances, like the shape of the iPhone.
> Crudely put, the shape of a paper clip cannot be patented in a way to >protect its use; change the wiggle or bend here to make a different >design and thus create competition that cannot be negated by "interference".
Of course, it would be stupid to file a design patent when the function needs
protection.
On Tue, 25 Sep 2012 06:53:43 +0100, John Devereux <j...@devereux.me.uk> wrote:
>miso <m...@sushi.com> writes:
>> On 9/24/2012 9:29 PM, Robert Baer wrote:
>>> Jim Thompson wrote:
>>>> On Tue, 25 Sep 2012 00:31:19 +0200, "Andrzej Ekiert"
>>>> <dspic...@tlen.pl> wrote:
>>>>> Dnia 25-09-2012 o 00:17:39 Joerg<inva...@invalid.invalid> napisa?(a):
>>>>>> Looks like you have re-invented the inductive proximity sensor :-)
>>>>> Well, there were other inspirations as well. But the application area
>>>>> may
>>>>> also matter - I don't think this was a known method for data
>>>>> transmission,
>>>>> so it might have been patentable. Now it surely isn't ;-)
>>>>> ae
>>>> My method as well... keep it _art_, but _privately_ documented.
>>>> I'm expert witness in a case right now where a heathen patented a
>>>> block diagram... science fiction, then is suing now that technology
>>>> has caught up with fiction :-(
>>>> ...Jim Thompson
>>> To the best of my knowledge, one cannot patent a block diagram - not
>>> even as a design patent.
>>> And design patents are essentially worthless since one minor aspect
>>> can be changed to generate a new design patent.
>>> Crudely put, the shape of a paper clip cannot be patented in a way to
>>> protect its use; change the wiggle or bend here to make a different
>>> design and thus create competition that cannot be negated by
>>> "interference".
>> The only thing that matters in the patent is the "claims" section.
>> Incidentally, if you don't want someone to patent an idea but rather
>> have it open source, just patent it yourself and don't enforce the
>> patent. There is no better prior art than a patent with that prior
>> art.
>It might well be the best way to stop someone else patenting it.
There are places to publish such things that are far cheaper than a patent.
>But it would not be a good way to let other people use it who might want
>to. The mere fact that it is patented would put off most people I
>think. What about explicitly releasing it into the public domain?
<tauno.voi...@notused.fi.invalid> wrote:
>On 25.9.12 1:08 , Andrzej Ekiert wrote:
>> Hi all,
>> The reason for this post is that I want to safeguard my idea from any
>> patenting attempts. Releasing the details to the public domain should do
>> the trick, so here they are:
>> Imagine a transformer built from two coils routed on a PCB on two
>> different layers (top and bottom for example). The thickness of the PCB
>> provides the isolation required. Transmission is performed by shorting
>> one coil, forming a closed loop - one end is grounded, the other
>> connected to a microcontroller pin. The micro grounds the pin and that's
>> one state. When the micro puts the pin in high impedance, the other
>> state is transmitted. A micro on the other side measures the inductance
>> of the other (coupled) coil. By observing a variation in inductance it
>> can tell if the coil on the other side is shorted or not.
>> Should anyone be interested, I have it implemented. We do this on
>> Microchip's microcontrollers and measure the inductance with the CTMU
>> hardware peripheral. Works at 80kbps full-duplex on a PIC24F. I have
>> written an application note and posted it on my company website. We call
>> the thing "Freesolator", since it requires almost no components (one
>> resistor, once you have CTMU on board). We have demo boards and can make
>> the source code available. See http://protronik.pl/freesolator-en.html
>> Hope you don't find this post too spammy. I couldn't think of a better
>> method of undeniable disclosure.
>> Cheers,
>> Andrzej Ekiert
>Before you burn all your assets, have a look at Analog Devices
>ADUM -series devices.
They're certainly nice but they cost like they have part numbers starting with
"LTC".
> On Tue, 25 Sep 2012 20:37:52 +0300, Tauno Voipio
> <tauno.voi...@notused.fi.invalid> wrote:
>> On 25.9.12 1:08 , Andrzej Ekiert wrote:
>>> Hi all,
>>> The reason for this post is that I want to safeguard my idea from any
>>> patenting attempts. Releasing the details to the public domain should do
>>> the trick, so here they are:
>>> Imagine a transformer built from two coils routed on a PCB on two
>>> different layers (top and bottom for example). The thickness of the PCB
>>> provides the isolation required. Transmission is performed by shorting
>>> one coil, forming a closed loop - one end is grounded, the other
>>> connected to a microcontroller pin. The micro grounds the pin and that's
>>> one state. When the micro puts the pin in high impedance, the other
>>> state is transmitted. A micro on the other side measures the inductance
>>> of the other (coupled) coil. By observing a variation in inductance it
>>> can tell if the coil on the other side is shorted or not.
>>> Should anyone be interested, I have it implemented. We do this on
>>> Microchip's microcontrollers and measure the inductance with the CTMU
>>> hardware peripheral. Works at 80kbps full-duplex on a PIC24F. I have
>>> written an application note and posted it on my company website. We call
>>> the thing "Freesolator", since it requires almost no components (one
>>> resistor, once you have CTMU on board). We have demo boards and can make
>>> the source code available. See http://protronik.pl/freesolator-en.html
>>> Hope you don't find this post too spammy. I couldn't think of a better
>>> method of undeniable disclosure.
>>> Cheers,
>>> Andrzej Ekiert
>> Before you burn all your assets, have a look at Analog Devices
>> ADUM -series devices.
> They're certainly nice but they cost like they have part numbers starting with
> "LTC".
>>> On 25.9.12 1:08 , Andrzej Ekiert wrote:
>>>> Hi all,
>>>> The reason for this post is that I want to safeguard my idea from any
>>>> patenting attempts. Releasing the details to the public domain should do
>>>> the trick, so here they are:
>>>> Imagine a transformer built from two coils routed on a PCB on two
>>>> different layers (top and bottom for example). The thickness of the PCB
>>>> provides the isolation required. Transmission is performed by shorting
>>>> one coil, forming a closed loop - one end is grounded, the other
>>>> connected to a microcontroller pin. The micro grounds the pin and that's
>>>> one state. When the micro puts the pin in high impedance, the other
>>>> state is transmitted. A micro on the other side measures the inductance
>>>> of the other (coupled) coil. By observing a variation in inductance it
>>>> can tell if the coil on the other side is shorted or not.
>>>> Should anyone be interested, I have it implemented. We do this on
>>>> Microchip's microcontrollers and measure the inductance with the CTMU
>>>> hardware peripheral. Works at 80kbps full-duplex on a PIC24F. I have
>>>> written an application note and posted it on my company website. We call
>>>> the thing "Freesolator", since it requires almost no components (one
>>>> resistor, once you have CTMU on board). We have demo boards and can make
>>>> the source code available. See http://protronik.pl/freesolator-en.html
>>>> Hope you don't find this post too spammy. I couldn't think of a better
>>>> method of undeniable disclosure.
>>>> Cheers,
>>>> Andrzej Ekiert
>>> Before you burn all your assets, have a look at Analog Devices
>>> ADUM -series devices.
>> They're certainly nice but they cost like they have part numbers starting with
>> "LTC".
> >> On 9/24/2012 9:29 PM, Robert Baer wrote:
> >>> Jim Thompson wrote:
> >>>> On Tue, 25 Sep 2012 00:31:19 +0200, "Andrzej Ekiert"
> >>>> <dspic...@tlen.pl> wrote:
> >>>>> Dnia 25-09-2012 o 00:17:39 Joerg<inva...@invalid.invalid> napisa?(a):
> >>>>>> Looks like you have re-invented the inductive proximity sensor :-)
> >>>>> Well, there were other inspirations as well. But the application area
> >>>>> may
> >>>>> also matter - I don't think this was a known method for data
> >>>>> transmission,
> >>>>> so it might have been patentable. Now it surely isn't ;-)
> >>>>> ae
> >>>> My method as well... keep it _art_, but _privately_ documented.
> >>>> I'm expert witness in a case right now where a heathen patented a
> >>>> block diagram... science fiction, then is suing now that technology
> >>>> has caught up with fiction :-(
> >>>> ...Jim Thompson
> >>> To the best of my knowledge, one cannot patent a block diagram - not
> >>> even as a design patent.
> >>> And design patents are essentially worthless since one minor aspect
> >>> can be changed to generate a new design patent.
> >>> Crudely put, the shape of a paper clip cannot be patented in a way to
> >>> protect its use; change the wiggle or bend here to make a different
> >>> design and thus create competition that cannot be negated by
> >>> "interference".
> >> The only thing that matters in the patent is the "claims" section.
> >> Incidentally, if you don't want someone to patent an idea but rather
> >> have it open source, just patent it yourself and don't enforce the
> >> patent. There is no better prior art than a patent with that prior
> >> art.
> >It might well be the best way to stop someone else patenting it.
> There are places to publish such things that are far cheaper than a patent.
Such as Circuit Cellar.
> >But it would not be a good way to let other people use it who might want
> >to. The mere fact that it is patented would put off most people I
> >think. What about explicitly releasing it into the public domain?
> See above.
> >Although this seems to be discouraged for some reason. A better way
> >might be to use one of the "open hardware" sites that are springing up.
Cheers
Phil Hobbs
-- Dr Philip C D Hobbs
Principal Consultant
ElectroOptical Innovations LLC
Optics, Electro-optics, Photonics, Analog Electronics
160 North State Road #203
Briarcliff Manor NY 10510
845-480-2058
>> >> On 9/24/2012 9:29 PM, Robert Baer wrote:
>> >>> Jim Thompson wrote:
>> >>>> On Tue, 25 Sep 2012 00:31:19 +0200, "Andrzej Ekiert"
>> >>>> <dspic...@tlen.pl> wrote:
>> >>>>> Dnia 25-09-2012 o 00:17:39 Joerg<inva...@invalid.invalid> napisa?(a):
>> >>>>>> Looks like you have re-invented the inductive proximity sensor :-)
>> >>>>> Well, there were other inspirations as well. But the application area
>> >>>>> may
>> >>>>> also matter - I don't think this was a known method for data
>> >>>>> transmission,
>> >>>>> so it might have been patentable. Now it surely isn't ;-)
>> >>>>> ae
>> >>>> My method as well... keep it _art_, but _privately_ documented.
>> >>>> I'm expert witness in a case right now where a heathen patented a
>> >>>> block diagram... science fiction, then is suing now that technology
>> >>>> has caught up with fiction :-(
>> >>>> ...Jim Thompson
>> >>> To the best of my knowledge, one cannot patent a block diagram - not
>> >>> even as a design patent.
>> >>> And design patents are essentially worthless since one minor aspect
>> >>> can be changed to generate a new design patent.
>> >>> Crudely put, the shape of a paper clip cannot be patented in a way to
>> >>> protect its use; change the wiggle or bend here to make a different
>> >>> design and thus create competition that cannot be negated by
>> >>> "interference".
>> >> The only thing that matters in the patent is the "claims" section.
>> >> Incidentally, if you don't want someone to patent an idea but rather
>> >> have it open source, just patent it yourself and don't enforce the
>> >> patent. There is no better prior art than a patent with that prior
>> >> art.
>> >It might well be the best way to stop someone else patenting it.
>> There are places to publish such things that are far cheaper than a patent.
>>> The only thing that matters in the patent is the "claims" section.
>>> Incidentally, if you don't want someone to patent an idea but rather
>>> have it open source, just patent it yourself and don't enforce the
>>> patent. There is no better prior art than a patent with that prior
>>> art.
>> It might well be the best way to stop someone else patenting it.
> There are places to publish such things that are far cheaper than a patent.
>> But it would not be a good way to let other people use it who might want
>> to. The mere fact that it is patented would put off most people I
>> think. What about explicitly releasing it into the public domain?
The Washington area Consultants Network group of the IEEE recently sponsored a "Patent" town hall discussion with a patent consultant, a patent lawyer and two representatives of the patent office. One of the things I learned was that a great way to establish prior art is to file a preliminary patent application. I don't recall the exact term used for this filing, so I may not have it correct, but it only costs $300 and clearly establishes prior art so that no one else can ever patent the idea. I think the "preliminary" filing expires in a year so you also can't patent it if you don't follow up within the year.
