Patent Research
We track US and European applications, plus PCTs to stay abreast of the research and the development of both current and novel technologies. We place great importance in understanding the technologies at a fundamental level to ensure that both the capabilities and drawbacks of a particular approach are appreciated from the outset.
Detailed analysis of Silverbrook’s patent estate
A major desk-top printer manufacturer wished to understand the true capability of the Memjet technology under development by Silverbrook Research
We reviewed 3,400 US patents and applications, classified the filings, analysed the technology and reported our views on its current and future capabilities, strengths and limitations of the various printhead designs and peripheral systems. We were able to show how different designs had been developed and superceded others, and when the product design stage had begun.
Patent searching and classification
A desk-top printer manufacturer wished to easily find and evaluate the main patents of its two major competitors
We carried out extensive patent searching, filtering and classification and delivered a database of patents segmented into printheads, inks, media, maintenance etc. This enabled the client to advance their own technology with an understanding of where their competitors IPR was held.
Expert opinion on a key patent
A major corporation developing a new product was horrified to uncover a granted US patent that they would potentially infringe
We checked carefully the freedom to operate in this area, and found that there was plenty of prior art dating back to the early 1980’s covering this application. We went through the patent claim by claim listing previously published examples and explaining what was common practice within the industry.
Prediction of when printhead IPR would expire
An industrial printer manufacturer planned to use OEM printheads, but wished to understand when Asian manufacturers might offer an alternative
We searched and found the key patents relating to the printhead technology in question and found they were not as close to expiry as expected, so alternative sources from Asia were unlikely in the short term. We also found various system patents that would affect the applications the client had in mind.
Freedom to operate
Our client was developing a major new industrial printing system and needed to be sure of the patent situation
At the stage when most of the design issues for printer sub-systems had been solved, we were asked to search for prior art. This involved understanding each aspect of the printer design, then searching not just for this application but also other uses. We identified over 800 relevant patents, and rated them at three levels for degree of concern, with around 20 at the highest rating.
Printhead Manufacture
A company wanted to determine whether the expiration of certain patents would allow them to manufacture a design of piezo ink jet printheads
After analyzing the original developer’s patents, we were able to determine that this was possible. This was true despite the existence of several unexpired patents that represented enhancements to the original. We outlined the areas in which a design based on expired patents might fall short of newer, patented designs.
Intellectual Property Analysis
A reseller wanted to determine whether a supplier in the Far East had successfully worked around US patents to produce a non-infringing ink jet cartridge design
We disassembled and analyzed several models of ink jet cartridges from the OEM and the Asian supplier. We determined that progress had been made from earlier designs, but that certain claims were still infringed by the new designs.
Ink Jet Inks
A chemical company wanted a very quick review of the patent holdings of the major suppliers of ink jet inks for the desktop market, to support a possible acquisition
We were able to supply concise and accurate information on the number of such patents by category and analyzed the focus of recent patent activity by each company. This was completed with a very short turnaround, in support of a bid. The study included patents held by OEMs, independent ink suppliers, and aftermarket firms.