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Patent MarketPlace: Consumer Electronics Patents and Trademarks for Sale

Multi-Directional 3D Audio (Sidhu): U.S. Patent No. 8,792,647

Significant improvements have been made in camera and video technology over just the last few years. The latest augmented reality googles create an incredibly realistic visual experience for the user, taking that user to places he or she could never go. Unfortunately, little progress has been made regarding the audio coming from today’s high-tech devices – smart phones, video players, sound systems, and other audio products. We have stereo music, but most of the audio we hear is flat and one dimensional. For example, the sound from a video recording does not help the listener determine from what direction the sound is coming. From the left or the right? From behind the listener? No indication – just flat, one-dimensional audio.

This patent changes all that. It does for audio what augmented reality did for video. It creates an analog circuit device that uses resistors, capacitors, and transistors to create an authentic three-dimensional sound system from which the listener can perceive sound coming from different directions. The circuit device accomplishes this by sensing the amplitude and phase difference between different sound signals. Just as the human hears from 360 degrees with two ears, this system used two microphones, creating a degree of realism not possible until now.

U.S. Patent No. 8,792,647 for a “Circuit device for providing a three-dimensional sound system” would enable any manufacturer of audio-enabled products to offer the next-generation in super-realistic sound for its devices.

Face Mask with Mic and Speaker (Lacy): U.S. Patent No. 11,423,882

While the pandemic might be in our rear-view mirror, face masks remain a constant accessory for healthcare professionals, food preparation workers, retail staff, immunocompromised individuals, and others such as educators prioritizing the safety of their students. The necessary safety measure of wearing a mask, however, often comes with the challenge of muffled speech and poor audibility. This patented solution addresses this issue head-on.

Its innovative design incorporates a face mask featuring a compartment for a microphone, amplifier, wireless transmitter, rechargeable battery, microprocessor, and a speaker. This revolutionary concept enables clear and loud communication, no matter the mask-wearer. The user has the flexibility to project his or her voice through an attached speaker or, using Bluetooth® technology, link it to a nearby speaker. Additionally, multiple employees can connect to a single Bluetooth speaker, facilitating effective communication within the team.

U.S. Patent No. 11,423,882 for a "Multi-purpose protective face mask" elevates the face mask's usability and functionality to new heights. It opens the door for an audio equipment manufacturer to carve out a unique niche in the consumer electronics sector, fostering innovation and ownership of a brand-new market segment.

Bluetooth is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG.

Musical Chimes Sound Generator (Elby Innovation): International Patent Portfolio

The quality of the environment at home and in the workplace is a function of several factors – colors, smells, textures, and sounds. Some consumers and businesses have resorted to buying devices that produce “white noise” or water fountains to create a neutral background sound that drowns out any unpleasant noises or as an alternative to dead silence. What is really needed in homes and businesses is an environment that is easy on the senses – sight, smell, taste, touch, and sound. An environment with the right background sounds can relieve tension, improve concentration, minimize tinnitus, aid in sleep, reduce boredom, and overcome distracting sounds.

This international patent family addresses that issue with a chime-based music generation system that is mounted within a device that has a chamber – a lamp or a vase, for example. The device covered by this portfolio includes a rotating belt or other means of transport that picks up beads from a reservoir at the bottom of the chamber and drops them from the top, hitting the chimes as they fall, creating pleasant and constantly changing music. The unit can be incorporated into a lamp or other device so it blends into the home or office décor.

Patent Portfolio

The acquirer or licensee of this portfolio will be able to create a device for the white noise product segment that produces an incredibly gentle and soothing musical background for any environment, and it can be offered in an unlimited variety of enclosures.

Computer-Enabled Breadboard (Haim): U.S. Patent No. 11,363,713

Designing and troubleshooting electronic circuits – especially when validating circuit designs with real components on a breadboard – is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and can be downright confusing with a bird's nest of cables to deal with. A breadboard (a prototyping tool) is typically used to test the layout and functionality of a PCB (printed circuit board) and its electronics before actual PC boards go into production. What is clearly needed is a smart breadboard, a computer-enabled protoboard to replace the current generation of fixed circuit trace breadboards and PC boards that can replace them with a dynamic universal electronics hardware platform. This patent creates just such a solution.

This patent details a hardware platform that streamlines design-to-production as tested and approved circuit traces can be downloaded in an instant into a ready-made universal hardware platform that will fit inside any electronics device. Time and money are not wasted routing or printing multiple iterations of PC boards. The computer-enabled hardware platform created by this patent can be programmed by connecting it to a tablet or PC that has SaaS (Software as a Service) EDA (Electronics Design Automation) standalone or add-on software like Flux.ai, Altium, or any appropriate PCB-design program. A wireless pen can be used to draw circuits, interfacing with the tablet or PC via standalone or add-on software.

An additional feature for OEMs, universities, hobbyists, PC assemblers, and end-users is that the electronic device would come pre-programmed by the provider to monitor and catalogue via the cloud the user’s electronic equipment for failure and provide troubleshooting assistance in the form of AI (Artificial Intelligence) automatic circuit correction and AI voice assistant for end consumers. For those users, the electronic device would be able to reconfigure their circuits to redundant components in the event of a chip failure, keeping the device running and relieving the end user of much frustration…and saving time and money. In the same manner, latent chips hidden inside motherboards could be completely isolated until the end user buys an upgrade, saving the manufacturer and the end user time and money in logistics by not needing new-product deployments too frequently.

U.S. Patent No. 11,363,713 for a “System and method for trace generation and reconfiguration on a breadboard or printed circuit board” would be a strategic acquisition for any electronics OEM.

Linear Actuator Controlled Guitar (Smith): U.S. Patent No. 11,437,005

Even the most skilled guitar players are limited to just ten fingers and two hands, while a guitar has six strings that each produce 20 to 24 notes. For someone who has arthritis, carpel tunnel syndrome, a hand injury, or is older and does not have the dexterity of a younger person, playing a guitar can be difficult, painful, and frustrating. A person missing a finger or hand simply cannot play a guitar.

This patent revolutionizes the guitar and other stringed instruments by installing linear actuators in the hollow interior of the instrument. Each actuator is connected to a fret which projects from the neck of the instrument and is in contact with a taught string. The actuator controls each fret, and each fret acts like the bridge of a violin. When strummed or plucked, the string vibrates to generate perfect tones! Chords can be played with slide guitar transitions, if desired. Very difficult chords on a conventional instrument can now be played easily. In fact, new chords can be created that would be impossible to produce by hand on a regular guitar. In a recording studio, guitar parts can be recorded quickly and flawlessly right after a song is composed, helping songwriters write better songs!

U.S. Patent No. 11,437,005 for a “Multi-stringed musical instrument tunable by means of linear actuators” would enable any guitar manufacturer to leapfrog the technology of all its competitors and offer the first major improvement in guitars since the introduction of the electric guitar in 1936.

Drone Powered Pest Control (Yu): U.S. and Chinese Patent Portfolio

When drones were first introduced, they were just for fun. Then cameras were added to make a drone an eye-in-the-sky. Commercial applications such as surveillance and package delivery soon followed. In fact, the largest operator of drones in the U.S. are the electric utilities that use drones to inspect their power lines. This portfolio creates yet another most ingenious application for drones – NO pesticide pest control!

This portfolio creates a drone that features a high-voltage trap that seeks, identifies, pursues, and zaps flying insects within its patrolling area. The drone has both a passive and active mode. The drone can land at a designated location and attract insects with light, sound, and scents, then electrocute them. Or the drone can hover close to insect nests and use its high-velocity propellers to produce a strong downdraft that disturbs the nest, forcing mosquitoes and other pests to scatter. The drone then pursues the fleeing insects, forcing them into contact with high-voltage electrified screens that zap them. Some insects are drawn into the fast-spinning propeller blades and are killed. The drone regularly returns to a charging pad that recharges the drone’s batteries.

A second drone configuration uses wide-bandwidth, high-energy acoustic wave generators to evict and eradicate non-airborne agricultural pests within its patrolling area. The drone hovers close to plants and emits high-energy acoustic waves that kill caterpillars, beetles, and other agricultural pests by forcing their bodies to vigorously vibrate. A drone based on this patent can also be used in hotel rooms to kill bed bugs! Most significantly, all of this pest control is done with the use of NO pesticides!

Patent Portfolio

This portfolio will enable any manufacturer of drones or other electrical and electronic devices to introduce a totally new concept in pest control that is chemical-free!

Soft Start for Electrical Devices (Raymond): U.S. Patent Nos. 10,580,554 and 11,394,198

It is a common occurrence in homes, offices, and businesses. A high-torque or high-current device clicks on, and the lights in the building flicker and other electrical devices dim. In some cases, PCs and other devices actually click off and have to re-boot. And sometimes a few circuit breakers pop and have to be reset. When a device that draws a significant electrical load clicks on, it draws power away from all the other devices in the building. In addition to the disquieting dimming of the lights, the large and immediate draw of power from the building’s electrical system can damage other equipment and even cause an electrical fire. There must be a way for high-torque and high-current devices to power up without shocking the entire electrical system of the building.

There is. These two patents add a “soft start” to any electric machine, device, or equipment. A soft-start product based on these patents creates a buffer that is inserted between the machine, device, or equipment and the building’s wiring. This soft-start product temporarily reduces the load and torque in the power train and electric current surge during start-up. The result is a softer start-up of any high-torque or high-current device. And that means less strain on the building’s electrical system, no dimmed lights, no power drop, no damage to other electrical devices in the building, and a longer life for the machine, device, or equipment that now has softer power start-ups. There is no need for special wiring or bringing in an electrician. The device created by this portfolio is plug-and-play. Just plug it into a wall outlet, then plug the high-torque or high-current device into it, and you are protected from power jolts at start-up.

U.S. Patent No. 10,580,554 for an “Apparatus to provide a soft-start function to a high torque electric device” and U.S. Patent No. 11,394,198 for a “Soft starter for high-current electric devices” would enable any electrical products manufacturer to offer a new line of value-added products to its customer base.

Electric 3D Flame (Cullimore): U.S. Patent No. 10,900,627

Since man discovered fire, we’ve had a love affair with it. What is more comforting than a roaring fire on a cold winter night? Colleges launch their football seasons with a pep rally and bonfire. Every two years, the Olympic Torch is carried by a succession of runners from Greece to the location of the Olympics to light the Olympic Flame. We decorate our dining tables with candles. Churches use candles to signify the Light of God. We love fire – in large part because we have mastered it and we can control it. That is why house fires and forest fires are so devastating. They are fires we cannot control.

It is not always safe or practical or economical to have an actual fire. Sometimes we want the appearance of flames without the combustion, heat, smoke, and possible danger. That need is what this patent addresses. It creates a safe, non-combustion, natural flame effect using an RGB LED light source and lenses. The output of individually controlled LEDs is controlled by a flame-motion algorithm that simulates the motions of flames, and the look is enhanced by multilayer lenticular lens filters that refract the light waves emitted by the LEDs to create an amazingly real 3D flame effect!

U.S. Patent No. 10,900,627 for an “Apparatus and method for simulated 3D flame effect” would be a critical acquisition for any company that manufactures lighting products. This patented technology has applications in event lighting – night clubs, concerts, and sporting and other events – as well as lighting for retail displays, entrances, and fireplaces, plus outdoor architectural lighting for landscape, marine, and hospitality venues.

Electric Shoe Dryer (Karafinka): U.S. Patent No. 9,464,843

Wet shoes are uncomfortable and unhealthy. We’ve all been there. It is raining or snowing – or it was raining and snowing – and the streets, parking lots, and other surfaces are wet, and your shoes or other footwear get soaked. You take them off at night, but in the morning they are still wet and cold. Yuck. Brrrr. Grandpa back on the farm had a solution. He put his wet boots in front of the fireplace to dry. What does one do in the 21st Century with wet shoes other than put them on some newspaper and hope they dry out?

This patent addresses this need with a new category in home appliances – the shoe dryer. It is a simple device. You place your shoes, boots, or other footwear on a grate across the top of the device and it blows heated air across the shoes or other footwear to gently, but thoroughly, dry them. It includes a flexible pipe that also blows heated air into the insides of the footwear so they dry from both the outside and the inside. It includes a grate that catches mud and other debris from the wet shoes. It plugs into the wall like any other appliance. You can leave it in a permanent location so it is ready when you need it – like a toaster – or you put it away when not needed – like a vacuum cleaner – and bring it out and plug it in when needed.

U.S. Patent No. 9,464,843 for a “Shoe dryer” would be a critical asset for any manufacturer of electrical appliances that is ready to create and own a new marketing segment in the consumer electronics industry.

Residential Stovetop Fire Suppression (Bohrer): U.S. Patent No. 9,700,745

A fire in the kitchen is the Number One cause of home fires. Each year in the U.S., there are roughly 187,000 residential kitchen fires! While state and local building codes require commercial and institutional kitchens to have extinguishers that sense a fire and automatically extinguish it, no such requirements exist for homes and apartments, so very few residential kitchens have any protection from a fire. In most cases, the person who was cooking was distracted by another person, or a visitor, or a phone call, or someone or something else, and that person walked out of the kitchen. The result was a disaster!

This patent creates a fire extinguisher that is mounted over a residential stove top. When it senses a fire, it automatically releases fire retardant that extinguishes the fire. It also cuts off electric power to an electric stove or gas flow to a gas stove to further minimize damage to the residence. A product created from this patent would be compact, affordable, easy to install, and a home and life saver. It might, in fact, pay for itself in reducing insurance premiums.

U.S. Patent No. 9,700,745 for a “Fire extinguishing system for stove tops” would be a strategic acquisition for any residential stove manufacturer that wants to add value to its product line, or any manufacturer of fire extinguishers looking to create and own a new market segment.

Earphone Sterilization (Serino-Hann): U.S. Patent No. 10,251,962

The recent pandemic taught us a lot about proper hygiene. Like washing our hands regularly and not touching our fingers to our face or mouth. Our fingers touch everything – money, keys, door knobs, trash, countertops, and dozens of other surfaces – making them germ carriers. Just as we would not put something unsanitary in our mouths, we should not be putting something unsanitary in our ears. We take out our earphones with fingers that have been who-knows-where, lay them down on a surface of questionable cleanliness, and pick them back up and insert them with those same dirty fingers!

This patent provides an economical, practical, easy-to-use solution to unsanitary earphones. It creates a device that both stores and sanitizes your earphones. The device bombards the earphones with ultra-violet light (the same technology is used to treat drinking water) that is clinically proven to kill viruses and bacteria, thoroughly sanitizing the earphones without the use of any chemicals. No residue, smells, or other unpleasantries – just sanitary earphones that are ready to go!

U.S. Patent No. 10,251,962 for a “Single-pair earphone sterilizer with germicidal light” gives any earphone or consumer electronics manufacturer the opportunity to create a product for the hundreds of millions of earphone owners and users in the U.S. and elsewhere.

Combination LED/Smoke Detector (Athena): Four U.S. Patents

There was a time when cell phones just made phone calls. Today they are smart phones, and they take pictures and video, access your email, schedule your events, provide driving directions, and help you find the best chili in town. What happened to cell phones is about to happen to light bulbs and light fixtures. Since Thomas Edison invented the light bulb 140 years ago, the only major improvement has been the replacement of incandescent filament bulbs with LED fixtures. The next major advancement is here.

This intriguing patent portfolio converts an LED lamp into a combination lamp-and-smoke/CO/gas detector. No tools needed. Just screw it in. This portfolio enables each combo LED and smoke/CO/gas detector to communicate with each other and flash color-coded signals that guide residents to safety in the event of a fire or other emergency. They also broadcast warning messages, they are voice-activated, and they can be used to create an intercom system. These super-combo units can be used to supplement conventional smoke/CO/gas alarms, quickly install a smoke/CO/gas alarm where one is needed, be used in place of conventional smoke/CO/gas alarms, or be integrated into a Smart Home/Smart Office network. They run off rechargeable batteries so they work during power outages, and they can be configured to communicate with residents during an emergency.

Branded “LampLife Detector™” by the inventors, the products covered by this portfolio will forever change the lighting products, smoke/CO/gas alarm, and Smart Home/Smart Office industries! Applications include not just the replacement of current light bulbs with these multi-functional super-combo bulbs, the technology can also be incorporated into the next generation of residential and commercial renovations and all new construction to replace the unattractive conventional smoke/CO alarms with attractive lighting fixtures that perform multiple functions.

This portfolio will give any LED bulb manufacturer, or smoke/CO alarm manufacturer, or Smart Home/Smart Office equipment manufacturer, or systems integrator the opportunity to leapfrog all of its competitors and offer what will unquestionably be the next generation of LED lamps, smoke/CO/gas detectors, and Smart Home/Smart Office safety components!

Patent Portfolio

U.S. Patent No. 9,747,763: Networked audible and visual alarm apparatus and method of synchronized alerting
U.S. Patent No. 10,028,357: LED light bulb, lamp fixture with self-networking intercom, system and method therefore
U.S. Patent No. 10,176,805: Networked audible and visual alarm light system and method with voice command control and base station having alarm for smoke, carbon monoxide and gas
U.S. Patent No. 10,262,525: Networked audible and visual alarm apparatus for synchronized alerting with a base station and electronic coding for each alarm

This portfolio will give any LED bulb manufacturer, or smoke/CO alarm manufacturer, or Smart Home/Smart Office equipment manufacturer or systems integrator the opportunity to leapfrog all of its competitors and offer what will unquestionably be the next generation of LED lamps, smoke/CO/gas detectors and Smart Home/Smart Office safety components!

Zigbee is a registered trademark of Zigbee Alliance Corporation.

LampLife Detector is trademark of Athena Patent Development LLC.

Specialized Skin Exfoliation (Perez): U.S. Patent No. 8,585,621

The skin is the largest organ in the human body. The outer layer of skin is continually dying and being replaced by new skin that replaces it. When a person gets a tan, that tan is a layer of darker, dead skin. Elbows, however, create a special problem. Dead skin builds up on the elbows, causing them to get darker and darker, creating a condition known as “Dark Elbows.” While Dark Elbows are not a health hazard, they can be very unattractive. This patent creates a device that specifically addresses Dark Elbows and other specialized skin exfoliation needs.

This patent creates a tabletop or floor-based skin exfoliation device that is enclosed in a housing. The user turns it on and places his or her elbows on the top surface of the device. The vibrating abrasive surface gently cleans away the dead skin from the elbows, eliminating Dark Elbows, and leaving a consistent skin tone on the user’s arms. The unit can also be placed on the floor, and the user can place his or her feet on the device to remove dead skin from the heels and soles of the feet. For the treatment of Dark Elbows, and for exfoliating feet, this device is clearly superior to the current generation of handheld exfoliation devices that are on the market.

U.S. Patent No. 8,585,621 for a “Skin exfoliation apparatus” would be a strategic acquisition for any manufacturer of exfoliation products looking to expand its product offerings, or for any medical device manufacturer seeking to expand into the huge exfoliation market with a unique, patent-protected product.

Advanced Cleaning of Electronic Equipment (Fitzpatrick): U.S. Patent No. 9,844,306

The biggest single enemy of electrical and electronic equipment is dust. Over time, dust settles on the surface of electronic components. In fact, dust is actually attracted to electronic devices. Most electronic equipment has a cooling fan that draws air – and the dust in the air – into the insides of the equipment. Dust is neutral – that is, it has neither a positive nor negative charge – causing the dust to drift toward the positive charge on the electronics and stick to them. Additionally, as dust is drawn into the device by the cooling fan, it has moisture from the outside air. The hotter air in the inside of the electronics equipment dries the dust, causing it to stick to the insides and not pass out of the unit with the exhaust air.

So – for multiple reasons – dust collects on the insides of electronic equipment from PCs and office equipment to electric tools and televisions. When enough dust builds up, it blocks the flow of air, and that can cause the device to overhead and fail. Not good. Every electronic device needs to have its insides “de-dusted” on a regular basis. This patent creates a downdraft table that is specially designed to quickly, easily, effectively, efficiently, and affordably remove dust from any electrical or electronic device or component. It uses both positive and negative air pressure to thoroughly remove all dust. Air is blasted against the insides of the device over a grid, while a fan below the grid creates a downdraft that pulls dust down and into the unit so it is not simply blown off the electronic components and into the air in the room. The table is grounded with a wire that connects to the electronic device being cleaned to protect from an electrostatic charge that could damage the device while it is being de-dusted.

U.S. Patent No. 9,844,306 for a “Downdraft table for cleaning electronic equipment” would be an excellent acquisition for any manufacturer of electronic cleaning, testing, or servicing equipment that is ready to offer an advanced cleaning apparatus for electronic equipment. One possible configuration is an electronic equipment cleaning vending machine for electronics retailers. Customers bring their electronic products into the store and use the vending unit to de-dust their own equipment. The unit can be built with wheels so it can be rolled from location to location within a facility, and a filter can be added to collect the dust. The inventor has working prototypes so the acquirer of this patent can go to market very quickly!

The Better Cup of Coffee (Valiquette): U.S. Patent No. 10,624,491

What does everyone really want? A better cup of coffee! Coffee that is rich and satisfying, but never bitter. Conventional coffee brewing uses hot water and ground coffee beans to make brewed coffee. This hot brew process picks up the bitter acids along with the desired solubles in the coffee beans and carries them into the brewed coffee. This gives coffee the harsh or bitter taste it can often have. So, how do we get that perfect cup of coffee that can be enjoyed hot or iced?

The solution is cold-brew coffee from a two-chamber coffee maker that uses vacuum pressure to make a completely delightful cup of coffee. Most currently available cold-brew coffee makers use room-temperature water, lots of ground coffee, and lots of time. It can take up to 24 hours or more to complete this process, so they are not very practical. Other coffee makers use pumps to circulate water to try and speed up the process, but the result is the same – under-brewed coffee that has a tangy flavor and uses way more coffee than traditional methods.

The invention covered by this patent takes cold-brew coffee to the next level. It vacuum-brews coffee in minutes, and it extracts more flavor and less acid. The result is an incredibly delicious coffee that can be heated or cooled to the desired temperature immediately after brewing. Dual chambers keep the water separated from the coffee grounds until brewing takes place. This helps prevent mold and bacterial growth that could occur if the coffee and water were mixed and allowed to sit at room temperature. During the brew process the water is drawn from the serving vessel into the brew chamber where the brewing process takes place. Upon completion of the brew process, the vacuum is released and atmospheric pressure pushes the brewed coffee through a filter and back into the serving vessel. This separates the grounds and unwanted oils from the brewed coffee. The vacuum extraction process covered by this patent extracts a greater percentage of the desirable dissolvable solids and flavors in the ground coffee. This means you use less ground coffee to make a properly brewed cup of coffee compared to other cold-brew methods – far more in line with what you would expect for a common drip coffee maker.

U.S. Patent No. 10,624,491 for a “Vacuum brewed beverage apparatus” would be a strategic acquisition for any commercial or consumer appliance manufacturer, especially those currently offering coffee-brewing products. The patent is available for license or acquisition, and a working prototype is available that will reduce time-to-market for the acquirer of this patent.

U.S. Patent No. 10,543,424 for a “Programmable hand-held video gaming controller with integrated foot-pedal gaming controller platform” comes with a continuation, U.S. Patent Application 16/699,253, and this portfolio is available for licensing or acquisition. This patent would support a wide selection of products for a licensee or be a strategic acquisition for any video game console or video game accessories manufacturer. The continuation application enables the acquirer of this portfolio to take this invention to the next level with additional patents that share the Claims and Priority Date of the granted patent!

Free-Space Control with Feedback (Quantium Systems): U.S. Patent No. 10,101,157

Joysticks give users of video, virtual reality or augmented reality games – as well as operators of a wide variety of industrial machinery and equipment – greater mobility in directing and controlling the device or machinery. But a joystick must be two-handed or be mounted to a fixed surface, and that severely limits the input of the user. What users want is a control device that provides complete ambulatory movement and immediate torque responses as direct feedback to the user.

This patent creates a force feedback system that can be mounted to any input device and will provide its operator with complete ambulatory movement. The device detects the operator’s position, and receives both motion and torque input so it can interactively impart command torque vector force with from one to six degrees of freedom. At the same time, it provides highly realistic force feedback to the user of the input device. This patent creates a Multiple Axis Counter Spinning Disk that is mounted to the input/output device so it feeds back to the user command torque vectors. In other applications, the Multiple Axis Counter Spinning Disk may also be used to cancel the effect of external torque by creating an increased moment of inertia to the attached object in order to improve its angular stability and precision.

U.S. Patent No. 10,101,157 for a “Free-space force feedback system” will give its acquirer the ability to introduce the next generation of input control devices for video, virtual reality and augmented reality games and devices, as well as provide improved controls for other products that currently use a joystick such as cranes, winches, marine equipment, agricultural and forestry machines, construction equipment, material handling vehicles, robotics, medical apparatus, and factory production lines.

Never Get Locked Out Again (United Wellness): Two-Patent Portfolio

Conventional keys are going the way of pay phones and video rental stores. Multiple technologies are competing to offer smarter lock-and-key technology. This portfolio addresses that technology from two angles – first with an improved button that you use to activate a key, and second with wireless or Bluetooth connectivity that does not require an app for your smartphone.

The first patent covers what is essentially a button-pressing kit. It has a fixed plate that is attached to a transmitting device with a depressible button on its exterior. It uses a mechanical button that activates an electrical switch when depressed. There is a resilient ball between the button and an axially rotating plate. Rotation in one direction depresses the button, and a motor can cause this axial rotation. If the pressure on the button is too great, it can be considered depressed and the motor will rotate in the other direction, sending the movable plate back to its starting point. To depress the button, specific input – such as on a tactile sensor – may be needed. The resilient ball can actually stick to the button via an adhesive connection, thus the term “sticky ball” in the patent title.

The second patent addresses the challenge created by all of the remote-control devices in use today – devices for televisions, garage doors, home and office doors, gate locks, automobiles, window shades and drapes, and many other items. This patent uses the same transmission devices provided by the manufacturer, but each device uses a mechanical push button (from the first patent) that is pressed to operate the transmitter. It can be tapped, vibrated, or communicated with via a second, distinct wireless transmission. The user can use his or her smartphone or another hand-held wireless device to send a code that prompts mechanical movement that opens or unlocks the desired device or equipment. The wireless transmission can be a password via a short-range wireless connection between the wireless transmission device and the housing that contains the button.

This portfolio includes U.S. Patent Nos. 9,798,349 for a “Button pressing device with moving plate and sticky ball” and U.S. Patent No. 10,042,381 for a “Double wireless receipt and transmission with mechanical movement causing second wireless transmission.” This portfolio would be a strategic acquisition for any business in the Smart Home/Smart Office segment, a company currently making conventional key-and-lock products or remote locks such as garage-door openers, or a business looking to enter the Smart Home/Smart office business segment with next-generation technology.

Rolling Trigger (Arduini): U.S. Patent No. 8,522,466

It is not just guns that have triggers. Many devices – from saws, drills, sanders and toys to clutches, turbines and engines to hydraulic and pneumatic machinery and equipment – use a trigger to activate them. This patent takes triggers to the next generation by creating a rolling trigger that uses a roller bearing or bearings with very low friction to move past an over-center trigger point position and release a very high-force striker/armature assembly that transform high static, potential stored energy into high-dynamic, released energy. The solution offered by this patent is that there is no hint of the approaching trigger point for the user, and no changes in trigger pressure over the trigger’s travel distance, insuring precise activation of the device.

The patent also includes counterbalance weights to prevent external forces such as vibration or shock from triggering a false or unwanted triggering event, as well as a trigger-movable link to a movable armature, piston or striker, or firing pin. The invention additionally provides for storage of very high-static or potential energy to easily be released into high-moving or kinetic energy.

U.S. Patent No. 8,522,466 for a “Low force rolling trigger” would be a strategic acquisition for any manufacturer of firearms, tools, electronic games, or industrial machinery or equipment that wants to differentiate its products from the competition by offering an improved trigger mechanism.

Next Generation Coaxial Loudspeakers (Novinex): International Patent Portfolio

The “Magnexial” technology covered by this portfolio uses a perpendicular magnet arrangement to yield larger air-gap induction in a loudspeaker. The result is clearly superior acoustics in three important dynamics:

The magic behind Magnexial technology is perpendicular magnetic polarization and the arrangement of the speaker’s components. In current-generation coaxial loudspeakers, the arrangement of the magnets, ferrite cores and voice coils determine the strength of the magnetic field in the air gaps where voice coils move, a key factor that determines the characteristics of the loudspeaker. Magnexial technology arranges the inner-ring and outer-ring magnets perpendicular so there is north-and-south-pole magnetic polarization. The result of this critical design change is that the magnetic field within the air gaps – this is where voice coils move – is much stronger, producing higher performance and better sound quality. Additionally, the Magnexial placement of magnets can be used to reduce the size of the speaker, reducing raw material costs.

Patent Portfolio

U.S. Patent No. 9,538,290: Coaxial loudspeaker arrangement
European Patent 2896218: Coaxial loudspeaker arrangement
Japanese Patent 6242398: Coaxial loudspeaker arrangement
Chinese Patent 104782143: Coaxial speaker construction
Hungarian Patent 230260: Coaxial loudspeaker arrangement
Korean Patent Application 20150056822: Coaxial loudspeaker arrangement
Canadian Patent Application 2885171: Coaxial loudspeaker arrangement
PCT Patent Application 2014045070: Coaxial loudspeaker arrangement

This portfolio would be a critical acquisition for any global supplier of sound equipment, giving the acquirer of this portfolio the next generation of loudspeakers with patent protection on three continents!

Integrated Wireless Headset for Electronic Devices (Beal): U.S. Patent No. 9,467,763

Remember when you had both a cell phone AND a camera? The two technologies have merged. Today, smart phones take both still images and videos. You can also use them to surf the web, link you to friends and family, keep your appointments, provide driving directions, and serve as your ticket when you go to the movies. Oh, and they also send and receive phone calls!

Merging several devices into one smarter device is what technology is all about today, and that is what the integrated headset covered by this patent does. It eliminates the need for a separate charger for your headset, saving you time, space, money and aggravation. This patent creates a headset that charges as the device to which it is attached is also charging. That saves time. It eliminates the need for two chargers – one for the device and a second for the headset – and that saves money. The headset can easily be stored with the device. That saves space. And since the headset is small enough that it can be stored with the device, the likelihood that it will get lost is greatly reduced. That can save a ton of aggravation! The technology covers both mono and stereo sound delivery, and the headset connects to virtually any device. You can use the same headset to listen to your iPod, smartphone, PDA, PC, desktop, car radio, home entertainment system, you name it. It also connects to the smart and sport watches coming onto the market, and it will connect to whatever technology comes next!

U.S. Patent No. 9,467,763 for an "Integrated Wireless Headset for Electronic Devices" would be a critical acquisition for any company in the audio or consumer electronics sector that is ready to create – and own with patent protection – a totally new market segment!

Obtaining Information about Overhead Aircraft (Wessels): U.S. Patent No. 8,599,066

We spot airplanes in the sky every day. Many people wonder if the aircraft is military, commercial or personal, as well as where it is going. This patent covers technology that creates a device that airplane aficionados can use to answer those and other questions about an aircraft they spot in the sky and that piques their curiosity. The system created by this patent creates a communication device that determines the estimated location of the aircraft, a flight database that includes data about a specified aircraft based on a provided location, and a network that enables communication between the handheld device and the flight database. The communication device provides the estimated location of the sighted aircraft to the flight database, and the flight database provides information on the sighted aircraft back to the communication device – similarly to how navigation devices communicate road and traffic data back and forth between the user device and the GPS database.

U.S. Patent No. 8,599,066 for a "System, method, and apparatus for obtaining information of a visually acquired aircraft in flight" would be a significant acquisition for any consumer electronics or navigation device manufacturer that is prepared to create and own a new product segment – an aircraft information device for airplane junkies!

Laser Pick-Up of a Stringed Instrument (Wessels): U.S. Patent No. 8,431,814

Since Thomas Edison invented sound recording over 100 years ago, there has been an ongoing challenge: Recording JUST the music and NOT any of the background noise. This patent addresses that challenge by using a laser beam and a photodetector that converts the detected light into electrical signals. The laser beam is deflected off the strings of the guitar, violin or other stringed instrument, and the photodetector sends electric signals that provide sound to an amplifier! No microphone is used, so there is NO background noise. Also NO echos, NO interference, NO air conditioning fan, NO distortion. Just the music being generated by the strings of the instrument is picked-up and recorded!

U.S. Patent No. 8,431,814 for a "Laser pick-up for a stringed musical instrument" covers the most significant advancement in music technology since multitrack recording! The company that acquires this patent will be able to offer next-generation recording of guitar, violin and other stringed instruments that will be far superior to any microphone-generated recordings!

Video Display Viewing Angle Correction (Flex Creations): U.S. Patent No. 8,854,553

The image a person sees on a large-screen television or computer monitor is best if that person is sitting directly in front of the screen. Even the newer, curved screens create a distorted image for those who are not sitting directly in front of the screen. Being able to mount a television screen – especially HD TV – so that everyone in the room has an optimal view is either very difficult or just not an option. With 3D and 4D screens, the viewer must be directly in front of the screen to enjoy the dynamic picture quality. Until now, the only option was to mount the TV screen on a bracket that would put it at the optimal angle for viewing.

The technology covered by this patent addresses that issue, using software to adjust the angle of the image on the screen to where the viewer or viewers are sitting. And the adjustment is made totally through software, so no hardware modifications need to be made! U.S. Patent No. 8,854,553 for "Video Display Correction to Provide On-Axis View at an Off-Axis Angle" will enable its acquirer to leapfrog the technology of all of its competitors and offer a next-generation viewing experience! This patent would be a critical IP asset for any television OEM.

“DECIBEL” (EpiCrystals): International Trademark Package

The word “decibel” is an international term for the measurement of audio volume. It translates – or almost translates – into any language. In German it is “dezibel” and in French it is “décibel.” Available for acquisition are the international rights to the “Decibel” trademark. The word is trademarked in Taiwan, China and Japan, as well as Finland. It also has a European Union trademark, and it carries an International Trademark (Serial No. 831245) from WIPO (the World Intellectual Property Organization).

A seller or manufacturer of audio products and equipment can acquire this instantly recognizable trademark to create an incredibly valuable international brand!

Solar-Powered ReChargeable Device (Oakley): U.S. Patent and Two Continuation Applications

Imagine being able to charge your smart phone or laptop – even your car, truck, boat, ATV or motorcycle – from anywhere! At the beach, in the woods, camping or fishing, or at a construction site or other remote location that does not have conventional AC power. That problem is solved by the invention covered by this portfolio! The charging device covered by this portfolio includes a concentrator configured to collect and direct solar radiation towards a solar panel. The concentrator enhances the efficiency of the solar panels to generate optimal electric current. And…the concentrator permits the use of a much smaller solar module with greater photo-efficiency by reducing material and manufacturing costs.

This portfolio includes U.S. Patent No. 9,166,424 for a "Solar powered rechargeable device for use with an electronic device and method thereof," plus U.S. Patent Applications 14,886,551 and 15/864,130, and would be a strategic acquisition for any consumer electronics or automotive OEM, or any company serving the consumer electronics and automotive aftermarkets.

Next Generation User Interfaces (HonHai Precision): 10 U.S. Patents

This portfolio discloses dynamic user interfaces that provide several key advantages over current technology:

Patent No.Description
8,250,471Electronic devices and method for controlling the user interface thereof
8,302,027Graphic user interface management system and method
8,335,997Electronic device and method for sorting menu options of a program menu in the electronic device
8,433,049Communication device and communication method thereof
8,471,813Handheld electronic device and function control method thereof
8,521,791Electronic device and file management method
8,624,928System and method for magnifying a webpage in an electronic device
8,660,314Motion-controlled device and method thereof
8,837,783Motion-controlled electronic device and method therefor
8,913,038Electronic device and electronic reader device with a proximity sensing button

This portfolio would be a key acquisition for a manufacturer of mobile phones, televisions, laptop and desktop computers, tablets, gaming consoles and eBook readers.

Wearable Modular Strap (Moixa): U.S. Patent No. 7,618,260

U.S. Patent No. 7,618,260 “Wearable Modular Interface Strap" relates to supporting multiple modules that are electronically and mechanically connected to the strap. The technology covered in this patent has multiple applications:

This patent would be a key acquisition for any business currently in the fast-growing wearable electronics market, or a business seeking a foothold in that segment.

iConnect® Trademark: U.S. Trademark Registration 3538782 and EU Application Reference 3064140

This Standard Character Mark is valid in both the United States and the European Union, and is applicable to electronic devices and the next generation “connected cars.” An alliance of Audi, GM, Google, Honda, Hyundai and NVidia are developing an Android-based platform for automobiles. Along a similar track, Apple announced Apple CarPlay that enables an iPhone to take over the in-dash display of an automobile with the Siri voice addressing aspects such as navigation, calling functions, messaging and music. Both of these new technologies are ideal applications for this trademark.

The iConnect trademark would be a significant acquisition for companies selling electronic devices or, more specifically, products and services related to automotive communications and connectivity.

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