On the history of the transistor

Posted on May 16, 2008 in Generic pharmaceuticals

At the IBM site (http://www-106.ibm.com/developerworks/library/pa-microhist.html), one can find an interesting statement that Bell Labs did not get patents on the transistor. Although prior art by Lilienfeld did stop some applications of Bell Labs from going forward, both Bardeen/Brattain and Shockley did get patents, which were licensed to many companies, including TI and the predecessor of Sony. At all relevant times, Bell Labs, Bardeen, Brattain, and Shockley knew, understood, and foresaw applications for the transistor beyond a use in hearing aids. The relevant text at ibm.com states: -->Independent contemporaneous (and not so contemporaneous) discovery would remain a recurring theme in electronics. So it was with the invention of the vacuum tube -- invented by Fleming, who was investigating the Effect named for and discovered by Edison; it was refined four years later by de Forest (but is now rumored to have been invented 20 years prior by Tesla). So it was with the transistor: Shockley, Brattain and Bardeen were awarded the Nobel Prize for turning de Forest's triode into a solid state device -- but they were not awarded a patent, because of 20-year-prior art by Lilienfeld. So it was with the integrated circuit (or IC) for which Jack Kilby was awarded a Nobel Prize, but which was contemporaneously developed by Robert Noyce of Fairchild Semiconductor (who got the patent). And so it was, indeed, with the microprocessor. **The issued patents of Bardeen/Brattain and Shockley cite to the earlier work of Lilienfeld, which was considered by the USPTO in its decision to grant patents to the Bell Labs workers. **The patent application of Kilby of TI preceded the application of Noyce of Fairchild. Further, embodiments of TI may have been seen by Fairchild workers PRIOR to the Fairchild application. However, the Fairchild application (which prevailed in an interference proceeding) was more descriptive of the IC as it came to be. **Fleming's knowledge of the Edison Effect arose through work Fleming did on behalf of Edison's company. Knowledge of the "Edison effect" preceded Edison's discovery, although Edison did get a US patent employing the Edison effect. Fleming patented the diode (valve) to use as a detector for spark-gap radio transmissions, and it was a commercial failure because it was inferior to then-existent solid state devices (eg, cat whisker). Generic Viagra cheap cialis Cheap Viagra generic cialis

Tags: transistor, patent, labs, bell, shockley

Does Your E-Prescribing Software Pass the Test?

Posted on May 09, 2008 in Prescriptions

Crowd are key mechanism of a solid e-prescribing ideology. Does your e-prescribing ezine rendition the probation? Patient Motive * Does the e prescribing ezine bolster patient demographic list? * Can it be interfaced to running operation newsletter programs? * Can dossier be manually appeared concluded the physician or medical assistant? * Can you upload demographic scholarship from a repository? * Does it linger medication details (current/discontinued)? * Does it foster a index of known allergies? * Does it cram a catalog of scrapes? * Determination it absorb patient safety measure conjointly eligibility case? Medications Management * Admiration it automatically look for dosages based upon bundle/reign whyfors? * Can it bolsters individualized lists of most mostly compulsatory drugs? * Does it allow due to redound gone of drugs completed solitary criteria, further character nickname, generic matronymic including division? * Does the e-prescribing disposal catechism due to drug-drug interactions, drug-allergy interactions and drug-problem interactions? * Does it receipt over reproduction therapies? * Does it shape formulary assessing? * Intent it withhold multiple prescription formularies? * Does it recommend term Also/or generic drug runnerups? * Does it allow being alerts or warnings to be either turned off or attenuated? * Is the software integrated with a drug advertence library? * Can the physician replica prescriptions? * Can the user fax prescriptions to pharmacy? * Is the e-RX ezine able to post prescriptions electronically to pharmacy? * Intent the e-prescription computation warn you if transmission to pharmacy fails? * Does it make certains patient drilling statistics? * Does it automate the renewals/refill going?

Tags: drug, prescription, prescribing, patient, ezine

Foley resigns

Posted on May 09, 2008 in Generic prescription drugs

What a disgrace. Sexually explicit emails to a 16 year-old are appropriate wrong. When I deem these things I always ask myself: How stupid are folk? Electronic communications are a permanent charts -- for sure conjecture at the livelihood Elliott Spitzer has been able to father Because himself done searching owing to emails. There were longtime rumors Foley was gay or bi. Who cares? This however is mismatched, along if the stories are right he should reserve resigned.

Tags: emails, foley, searching, owing, longtime

World Nanotubes to 2009

Posted on May 06, 2008 in Generic drugs

For more than a decade, carbon nanotubes have shown tremendous promise for a myriad of uses but have primarily remained a plaything for chemists and physicists. While nanotubes have demonstrated spectacular performance properties, so far they have failed to establish a substantial market presence due to problems with production scaling and noncompetitive pricing. However, improved production techniques are now leading to larger yields, higher purity rates and greater consistency. This has resulted in the use of nanotubes in a few specialized applications, the implementation of a large number of pilot and experimental programs, and the expectation that nanotubes will eventually become commonplace materials in electronics, construction materials, motor vehicle and aircraft parts, and a wide variety of other markets.Nanotube demand to reach $250 million in 2009Demand for nanotubes is expected to reach $250 million worldwide in 2009 and by 2020 will likely approach $10 billion. (This forecast assumes continued success in production technology improvements to bring pricing to a competitive level.) Early successes will be in electronics, where performanceenhancing attributes offered by nanotubes will allow manufacturers of displays and other electronic components to meet increasingly demanding goals. However, nanotubes are also expected to see increasing use in more mundane applications such as motor vehicle components, where they can be used in very small amounts to provide safety or performance advantages. While in the longer run, electronics will continue to dominate nanotube applications as broader use in semiconductors occurs, strong opportunities are also expected in medical and energy markets.Asia/Pacific nanotube market to top US by 2009The importance of electronics as an early application for nanotubes will drive demand in the Asia/Pacific region, which will overtake the United States as the leading market for nanotubes by 2009. Strong growth is expected in South Korea, Japan and China. The US, however, will present significant opportunities due to its more widespread application of this technology. Western Europe viagra Generic Viagra buy cheap cialis generic viagra online

Tags: nanotube, electronic, application, market, expected

FEIC news with BASF chemical giant. BASF ramping up nanotech R&D expenditures allocating euros 1.15 billion in 2006

Posted on May 06, 2008 in Generic drugs

BASF Chooses FEI System for Nanoparticle R&DMonday March 6, 8:00 am ETSelection of FEI DualBeam(TM) Demonstrates Growing Industrial Demand and Investment in Nanotechnology Enabling ToolsHILLSBORO, Ore., March 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- FEI Company (Nasdaq: FEIC - News) today announced that BASF, the world's leading chemical company, has ordered one of FEI's top-of-the-line DualBeam systems, the Strata(TM) 400. The system features a focused ion beam (FIB) for nanoscale milling and deposition, and a scanning electron microscope (SEM) for ultra-high resolution imaging below 100 nm.The Strata will be utilized in BASF laboratories, along with previously installed FEI Tecnai(TM) transmission electron microscopes (TEMs) for a wide range of R&D projects. These projects range, among others, from the study and establishment of processes for the reliable detection, monitoring and characterization of nanoparticles as part of a European Union research project named "NanoSafe," to the development of nanostructured coatings aimed at preventing algae and mollusks from colonizing on ships hulls, to the development of products that can reduce the emission of CO2 gases from power generating stations.Underscoring BASF's commitment to nanotechnology R&D, Dr. Stefan Marcinowski, BASF's research executive director announced earlier this year that the company was expanding its worldwide research operations and R&D expenditures to 1.15 billion Euros in 2006 as part of its plan to grow profitably through innovation. Of BASF's total R&D investment, approximately two-thirds involves nanoscale applications and development."We are very excited about the interest and investment in nanotechnology being expressed by private industry around the globe," said Matt Harris, vice president of worldwide marketing for FEI Company. "We are seeing significant companies making considerable investments in tools and applications that enable nanoscale exportfolios and maintaining their competitive edge."Globally, government spending on nanotechnology development is projected to reach approximately $5.0 billion (U.S.) in 2006 while private investment by various industry sectors is expected to rise to nearly $6.0 billion in the same period.About BASFBASF is the world's leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products and fine chemicals to crude oil and natural gas. As a partner to virtually all industries, BASF's intelligent system solutions and high-value products help its customers to be more successful. BASF develops new technologies and uses them to open up additional market opportunities. It combines economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility, thus contributing to a better future. In 2005, BASF had approximately 81,000 employees and posted sales of more than euro 42.7 billion. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA), New York (BF) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.About FEIFEI's Tools for Nanotech(TM), featuring focused ion- and electron-beam technologies, deliver 3D characterization, analysis and modification capabilities with resolution down to the sub-Angstrom level and provide innovative solutions for customers working in NanoResearch, NanoElectronics and NanoBiology. The company's products for NanoResearch address a robust set of applications including 3D materials analysis and characterization, defect analysis, and process development and control. With R&D centers in North America and Europe, and sales and service operations in more than 40 countries around the world, FEI is bringing the nanoscale within the grasp of leading researchers and manufacturers and helping to turn some of the biggest ideas of this century into reality. More information can be found on the FEI website at: http://www.feicompany.com .Safe Harbor StatementThis news release contains forward-looking statements that include statements about increased industrial demand for nanotechnology tools, projections about projected overall spending in nanotechnology, growth in industrial spending for nanotechnology and a tool sale. Factors that could affect these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, changes in government or private-sector spending on nanotechnology, decreased demand for nanotechnology tools or cancellation of the order described. Please refer to our Form 10-K, Forms 10-Q, Forms 8-K and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for additional information on these factors and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. FEI assumes no duty to update forward-looking statements. Levitra

Tags: nanotechnology, statements, forward, basf, spending

BusinessWeek interview with Shulman about Ampex/Kodak

Posted on May 01, 2008 in Generic pharmaceuticals

Interview with Ron E. Shulman at businessweek.com: Q: Do you think Eastman Kodak (EK ), which Ampex is suing on patent infringement grounds, will settle? A: Kodak is going to fight fiercely. If it has a future, it is in digital photography. I'm sure it will fight to the teeth, unless Ampex is reasonable in its demands for settlement. Q: How do you determine royalties for a judgment? A: The law lists a bunch of criteria for determining royalties. It is based on a "hypothetical deal" standard. In the electronics area, it's rare that you get more than a 10% royalty. Typically, it's 1% or 2% of sales. You should assume they are going after a royalty of 1% to 5%. But it depends on what you decide is the royalty base. Is it the whole price, or part of the price? I suppose you could make a camera without the [patented Ampex] feature, but no one would buy it. That's the joy of using digital cameras: You get to see the image right away. Royalties may also include what are known as "convoid" sales. If selling the camera allows you to sell additional products downstream, then those can be included in the royalty base. That will certainly be explored by the plaintiff. Q: Does the fact that Ampex has already won settlements and licenses point to a Kodak settlement? A: Ampex will try and rely on that. [The past settlement history] is pretty persuasive stuff. It will be introduced in [the] case because it relates to the validity of the patent. It is some evidence of commercial success. And commercial success would be evidence of nonobviousness. If they get to a damages claim, the royalty rates cited in settlement agreements could be highly persuasive evidence for what Kodak should pay. [LBE note: commercial success may be used to rebut a prima facie case of obviousness.] Q: In Silicon Valley, how is Ampex viewed these days? A: Ampex is basically a research shop. Ampex is viewed as a slightly more civilized version of a patent terrorist. At least it has a family lineage of real technology that existed at one time. People respected Ampex. It did real stuff. [Now] what it is doing is no different from what other patent trolls do. Q: Is so-called patent trolling on the rise? A: It is, even with legitimate companies that have large patent portfolios. They have turned to their intellectual-property departments and turned them into profit centers. Texas Instruments (TXN ), Lucent (LU ), and IBM (IBM ) have been doing this for years. Plus, the damage awards are huge. [The practice] has grown more vigorously over the past 10 years. The [beginning] was the creation of a federal circuit for patent suits in 1982. Patents are a powerful economic weapon. People sue left and right. The outgrowth of that is patent holding companies. They're like venture funds. They go around holding people up for lots of money. Q: What is the cost to society? A: Most people suing didn't do any of the invention. Money isn't going to the inventors. There's no socially useful purpose. It's a waste of resources. Also, there's precious little to countersue them on because they don't make anything. There's no downside for the patent terrorist other than spending on the lawsuit. [LBE note: Ron, please note that in most situations little money goes to the inventors. Check out the patent awards procedure in places like IBM, Kodak, Exxon. A downside for the "terrorist" is having his patented invalidated, which shuts down his business.] Q: Is there any way to curtail the lawsuits? A: Not without legislation. That would be very difficult to do. Congress did reform the law in 1995 as a result of [Jerome] Lemelson's actions [Lemelson was a prolific inventor who received more than 500 patents]. He did nothing but file patent applications. He has the largest number of issued patents. He acquired patents in key areas of technology such as bar codes. He has collected more than $1 billion in royalties, mostly from Japanese auto makers. As a result, Congress changed the patent expiration dates from 20 years from filing, to 17 years from granting. Q: Who else could Ampex sue? A: The major digital photography companies will be targeted. Computer companies could be targeted. I can't say for sure since I haven't reviewed the patent. But it seems obvious to me that if the patent concerns a method or system for storing and retrieving photos from a digital medium, computers do that all the time, although you need software to do so. It may be that computer manufacturers and/or certain software vendors may be vulnerable to a claim for infringement. [Ampex] can go after Motorola (MOT ), Nokia (NOK ), Samsung and all those guys. It's hard to sell a phone that doesn't have a camera

Tags: patent, ampex, kodak, royalty, settlement

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