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(Left) Eugene Polley (Right) The Flash-Matic remote control

The technology world mourns another loss of innovative inventers with the recent passing of Eugene J. Polley (11/29/1915 – 5/20/2012). Many know him as the inventor of the world’s first wireless remote control known as the ‘Flash-Matic,’ but he contributed much more to the electronics field with 18 US patents to his credit. Born in Chicago, Eugene attended City Colleges of Chicago as well as the Armour Institute of Technology (now called Illinois Institute of Technology) where he left before graduating. In 1935, where the aftermath of the Great Depression was still being felt, Eugene took a stock room job with the Zenith Radio Corporation (later becoming Zenith Electronics LLC). His work took him from the stock-room to the company’s parts department where he was successful in creating their first ever catalog. Mr. Polley soon worked his way up to Zenith’s engineering department when World War 2 broke out. He soon found himself working on various projects including the advancement of RADAR technology for the US. Department of Defense (DoD). After WW2, television became more popular over radio as the means for people to get news and entertainment which is where Eugene’s ‘claim to fame’ as an inventor arose.

In 1955, Eugene developed the Flash-Matic wireless remote control system for Zenith TV’s which was a vast improvement over the company’s ‘Lazy-Bone’ remote that was wired directly to the TV (consumers had a tendency to trip over the wire). His design was ingenious and made use of four photoelectric cells positioned into the four corners of the set that controlled powering on/off the set, raising/lowering the sound volume and changing the channel tuning dial through the use of flashlight-based remote called the ‘Flash-Gun’ (documentation states that any flashlight would work as well, which should be explored again to remedy lost remote problems). Once light hits the corresponding photocell it sends a signal to the remote receiver which activates the desired function. (MIT's Media Lab has taken this concept to smartphones, read how.)

Figure 1: remote receiver.

The receiver then activates the TV’s massive motor-drive gear assembly based off of the corresponding signal which in-turn adjusts volume and TV channels.

Figure 2: gear assembly.

While the Flash-Matic was a huge improvement over wired remotes, it had issues cause by other light sources, mostly sunlight. On sunny days, the set tended to change channels at random so the viewing room had to remain as dark as possible to prevent this from happening. A year later the design was improved upon, and Zenith released the ‘Space Command’ remote which worked using ‘ultrasonics’ or high frequency sound-waves instead of light. Eugene would eventually move on to become Zenith’s product engineer, mechanical engineer all the way up to the Assistant Division Chief for the company’s Mechanical Engineering Group and had a hand in push-button car radio design as well as developing early VCD’s (View CD’s precursor to DVD’s). His career with the company spanned an impressive 47 years. His work earned him and colleague Robert Alder the Technology and Engineering Emmy Award (given by NATAS) in 1996-97 for their pioneering achievements in wireless remote-controls for consumer television as well as IEEE Consumer Electronics Award in 2009 for his contributions to wireless remote-control technology.

While the youth of today may have a limited understanding of how the technology they currently use has evolved over time, they can certainly thank engineering innovators like Mr. Polley for leading the way in developing the technology we now take for granted.

Eugene J. Polley- November 29, 1915 – May 20, 2012

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The ULV chips in progress (via Intel)

Intel  announced the release of a series of mobile ULV (ultra-low voltage) processors for ultra-book manufacturers such as MSI, Acer, ASUS and a host of others. The chips include the entry-level Celeron family including the ULV 807 (1.05GHZ), 877 (1.04GHz) and the U3400 (1.03GHz) made using Intel’s new 32 nanometer wafer manufacturing process and cost $70 US, $86 US and $134 US respectively. The company states that these new chips are not only 32% smaller over the previous generation of Celeron mobile processors but also feature a 32% increase in overall performance.

The company is also releasing a next generation of Ivy Bridge dual-core mobile processors that include the Core i3 330M (2.13GHz), Core i5 520UM (1.06GHz) and Core i7 620M (2.66GHz) priced at $225 US, $241 US and $332 US respectively. These processors feature Hyper-Threading and Turbo-Boost technology, which overclocks the processor for increased speed based on workloads. In all, these new processors chew-up less power than the previous gen by more than 15% resulting in longer battery life for the up-coming netbooks. Intel say’s that more than 40 different designs from the various manufacturers are expected with their price-point based on 1000 units for the OEM’s only. It’s Intel’s hope that the reduced prices of the new processors will result in cheaper notebooks with prices starting at $699 US and dropping to $599 US by the end of this year or the beginning of next year (2013) and we can expect to see the first of these notebook designs starting in June.

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To note that the anti-moisture and dumped into the specifications, protection class of IP (INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION) by the IEC (INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION) the drafting of led driver 120w   applications. Fixtures will be graded according to their characteristics of the dust-proof moisture. Foreign objects including tools, referred to here people's fingers Dengjun can not come into contact with live parts within the lamp to avoid electric shock. IP protection class is composed by two digital, one figures that the lamps from the dust level to prevent the intrusion of foreign objects, 2-digit lamp against moisture and water penetrated the closed level, the higher the number of protection rating more high.

A marked digital definition:

0 No protection: no special protection to the persons or things outside

1 to prevent solid objects greater than 50mm intrusive: to prevent the body (such as the palm of your hand) due to accidental contact with the internal parts of lamps. Foreign matter to prevent a larger size (diameter greater than 50mm).

2 to prevent solid objects greater than 12mm intrusive: to prevent a human finger come into contact with parts inside the LED Flood light 10W lamp to prevent intrusion of foreign objects of medium size (diameter 12mm).

3 to prevent solid objects greater than 2.5mm invasion: Prevention of diameter or thickness greater than 2.5mm tools, wires or similar details of a small foreign object intrusion to come into contact with parts inside the lamp.

4 to prevent solid objects greater than 1.0mm invasion: Prevention of diameter or thickness greater than 1.0mm tools, wires or similar details of a small foreign object intrusion to come into contact with parts inside the lamp.

5 dust: to completely prevent the intrusion of foreign objects, though not completely prevent dust from entering, but the intrusion of dust and will not affect the normal working of the lamps.

6 dust: to completely prevent the intrusion of foreign objects, and can completely prevent dust from entering the

The second labeled figure definition:

0 No protection: no protection

To prevent dripping water intrusion: a vertical drops of water droplets (condensate) on the LED Spotlight 30W  will not cause harmful effects.

2 tilt of 15 degrees can still prevent dripping invade: When lighting vertical tilt to 15 degrees, the water dripping on the lamp will not cause harmful effects

3 to prevent the spraying of water intrusion: rain, or to prevent the lamps of less than 60 degrees with the vertical angle between the direction of spraying water into the damage caused.

4 to prevent the splashing of water intrusion: to prevent water splash from all directions into the lamp to cause damage.

5 to prevent the jet of water intrusion: to prevent the lamps from the direction of the water injection nozzles into the damage caused.

Prevent the intrusion of big waves: the installation of lighting on the deck, into the damage to prevent the invasion of the waves.

7 to prevent the intrusion of water flooding: the lamp is immersed in a certain period of time in water or water pressure below a certain standard to ensure that no water damage.

To prevent water intrusion in the sinking: LED Floodlight 80W  indefinitely sunk in the specified water pressure conditions, to ensure that the water caused the damage.

The IEC standard is the International Electrotechnical Commission IEC standard referred to as:

The International Electrotechnical Commission (International Electro technical Commission, referred to as IEC) was established in 1906, is the world's oldest non-governmental International Electrotechnical standardization bodies, Grade advisory bodies of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). ISO was established in 1947, the IEC has served as the electrical department incorporated into the ISO, but technically, financially, still maintain their independence. According to 1976 ISO and IEC, the new agreement, the two organizations are legally separate organization, the IEC is responsible for the international standardization work related to electrical and electronic fields, and other areas by the ISO is responsible for. IEC members include the vast majority of industrial countries and some developing countries. These countries have 80 percent of the world's population, its production and consumption of electricity accounted for 95 percent of the world's manufacture and use of electrical and electronic products accounted for 90 percent of the world's production. The object of the IEC is to promote the international harmonization of electrotechnical standards, electrical, electronic engineering standardization and other interested parties of international cooperation, to promote international mutual understanding. To achieve this objective, publishing various publications, including international standards and hope that the National Committees in their national conditions permit, the use of these international standards. IEC areas of work including electrical, electronic, telecommunications and atomic energy, electrical technology.

The highest authority of the IEC Council. There are currently 53 member countries, known as the IEC National Committees, each country can only have a body as its members. Each Member State are members of the Council, the Council meeting once a year, known as the IEC Annual Meeting, held alternately in each member. Executive Committee Council matters assigned. The IEC's technical work by the Executive Committee (CA) responsible. In order to improve the work efficiency of the Board, is divided into A, B, C, three groups, respectively, in different areas to deal with the standard-setting work in coordination. IEC currently has 104 technical committees, 143 sub-technical committee. The IEC has three Certification Board, an Electronic Components Quality Assessment Commission (IECQ), an electronic security Certification Committee (IECEE), an explosion-proof electrical Certification Commission (IECEx). In order to develop a unified certification guidelines, the IEC is still set up in 1996 Conformity Assessment Board (CAB) is responsible for the development of system certification, including certification and accreditation criteria.

There is a consensus in the electronics community that a quality power supply is crucial for computer engineering but most variable power supplies plug in to a wall outlet and they are large and very inconvenient to carry while traveling.

Mike, a systems architect and designer of the VariPower 500A device explains how the device came about. "Many times while traveling, I have had the need to debug my firmware on a circuit board. Unfortunately, I was not carrying a power supply. So in turn, I had to wait until I reached my lab before I could power my circuit board to test the new firmware. This new innovative project, the USB Based Variable Power Supply, will solve this issue effectively, affordably, and reliably."

VariPower-USB-500A is open source hardware, all hardware design files and firmware source code are released under the GPL v2 license.

With 24 pledges on Kickstarter and over $800 potentially raised the first day, this device appears to have caught the eye of their target audience.

Brad Hunter, also an inventor, designed the devices sticker and t-shirt that is a pledge reward. Brad says this about the VariPower USB power supply, "When Mike first asked me my opinion about the concept, I was floored that there was not something in the market already. The premise is simple and the function is needed. There is a whole community of students, hackers and engineers that can benefit from this device. Devices like Arduino and similar project boards will benefit greatly from a stable and easy to use power supply."

Kickstarter page:  

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/210251816/usb-based-variable-power-supply-for-small-projects-0?ref=live

USB connected interactive plant (via AkihabaraNews & Keio University)

If the Japanese have not already created enough unusual devices, they have one more invention to add to their list. Researchers from Keio University have created plants that interact with their surroundings. The plants are programmed to show different emotions through their movements by using data collected from sensors. The movements that match with specific emotions were chosen by having many people show how they think a happy plant or an angry plant would move.

The plant sits in a square pot that would look like any other Japanese plant holder on the outside, but on the inside is where the plants mechanics and electronics lie. The plant moves by two stepper motors connected to its leaves and twigs by very thin cords. Additionally, it monitors its surroundings using a microphone and motion sensors. According to the input from the sensors the plant will move based on the movements it picks up and the tones it hears.

The Japanese were hoping to make plants seem more alive and have a greater presence in areas. They have conducted their research for almost a year now and have not had any plants die or wilt, although some research states otherwise. In the future, they look to bring bigger plants to life and possibly trees, they would like environments people travel through to be fully interactive. Technology may soon creep into every aspect of our surrounding world. (The world would hate us)

Video Via AkihabaraNews & partner Diginfo.tv

Eavesdropper

Yet another example of how to enter the bigtime with your electrical ideas. Learn form example:

MIT Media Lab researchers Jay Silver and Eric Rosenbaum have designed an Arduino input device that lets you use any electricity-conducting material as a touchpad. Called ‘Makey Makey’, the device works by completing an electrical circuit with any conductive material such as vegitables, pencil lead or one's self to interact with the internet or programs on your computer. For example; you could play games Super Mario Bros by connecting the alligator clips to Play Doh buttons or play a piano program using bananas as the keys.

The research team designed Makey Makey around an Atmel ATMega32u4 8-bit AVR RISC-based microcontroller that runs Arduino Leonardo boot-loader and uses a USB 2.0 port to interface with a computer running an up to date OS (Windows XP, Vista, 7 and Mac OSX). The touchpad device requires no software to run as the PC recognizes it as a regular input device such as a keyboard or mouse and ,therefore, can run anything that uses those peripheral input devices. The team used Kickstarter to fund the Makey Makey project and was successful in reaching over $190,000 US with a target goal of $25,000. The device sells for $35 US (through Kickstarter) and comes with the board, USB cable, a set of alligator clips and your imagination.

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Google's high-profile acquisition of Motorola Mobility is set to go ahead after regulators in China gave their official backing for the move. The deal, which is worth as much as $12.5 billion, means that Google will soon seize control of Motorola's patents.

Consequently, Google's ongoing battle with Apple has moved up another notch. Of course, Larry Page, the Google co-founder, is determined to ensure that the search engine giant soon competes on an even footing with Apple's iPhone, which currently dominates the lucrative smartphone market. Google has ambitious plans to extend its hardware business and this deal is seen as a key component of that.

Similarly, the takeover is seen as significant in terms of the continuing disputes over patents. Google is, of course, already the world's biggest maker of smartphone software and as a result of the acquisition, it will soon gain control of around 17,000 additional patents. With the new patents under its control, Google will be in a stronger position to protect Android devices in legal disputes with competitors, such as Apple.

The deal was first announced in 2011, but Google have been waiting on regulatory approval in China. In a statement, Google said: "Our stance since we agreed to acquire Motorola has not changed and we look forward to closing the deal."

Interestingly, though, the deal now puts Google in direct competition with other handset makers, like HTC, which work on the Android operating system. Under the terms of the deal, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said that Android software versions must be free and open over the next five years.

Additionally, it has been confirmed that Google will be required to report to an independent monitor in China on its progress in meeting the terms of the agreement.

1. TO PATENT OR NOT TO PATENT

Before taking steps to protect an invention by way of a patent, it is essential that appropriate searches be conducted in order to determine whether the invention is novel and whether the protection that could be obtained is broad enough to prevent third parties from plagiarising a business opportunity simply by avoiding infringement of a narrow monopoly.

2. THE PATENT SEARCH

A search for prior art in relation to an new development may be conducted through the patent disclosures that are available on the Espacenet patents data base.

Patent disclosures may be searched by:
a) subject matter;
b) patent number(s);
c) names of inventor(s) and/or applicant(s); and,
d) classification(s) of subject matter in which a development is classified.

3. APPRAISAL OF PATENT SEARCH RESULTS

The appraisal of search results is something that is best undertaken by an IP expert and especially an IP expert whose qualifications are those within which an invention falls. Copies of disclosures found during an Espacenet search may be downloaded free of charge as long as they are used only for research and appraisal purposes.

4. OTHER SEARCH ACTIVITY

In order to ensure that a development, patented or otherwise, has a chance of success in a commercial market, it is also essential to effect an appraisal of the products and services that are currently available, or have been available at sometime, because it may prove to be a fruitless exercise if the launch of a business and/or the exploitation of a development is undermined by products and/or services that exist in the market place at present, or have been marketed in the past only to be replaced by improved products and/or services.

One place that is readily searched for products and/or services that may impinge upon a proposed commercial venture is the ‘Google’ network where results of a search may be readily downloaded for further appraisal.

*John Grant is Senior Patent Attorney at Trevor Baylis Brands (TBB) plc. TBB has provided advice to thousands of individuals and companies on the best way to develop their business and protect their intellectual property. Building Enterprise (BE) Ltd is a new development from TBB  offering a one-stop shop for innovation development,  helping to take initial ideas through to a successful commercial outcome.*

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