Digital patenting myths debunked!

NLO inspires you with remarkable patented digital solutions.

Boeing received its European patent EP3741481B1 relating to additive manufacturing (3D printing) at the beginning of this year. The invention prevents the deterioration of material properties during printing by continuously monitoring the temperature of different portions of the object being printed. In case the temperature of a portion of the material is too high for too long, cooling is adjusted. This results in a more reliable manufacturing of high quality materials, and thus fewer rejects. A machine learning model can be trained to predict whether a given set of cooling actions will result in passing or failing the quality test.

Did you get inspired by this example, contact our experts: Ben Brigou, Sarah Patterson, Glenn Vinck, Marc Sader and Bram Schoonjans.

SevenBridges genomics, a biomedical data company, received its European patent EP3058093B1 for improvements in detecting cancer-induced genetic mutations. The innovation resides in improved data analysis techniques of DNA sequences present in tumour samples, relying on directed acyclic graph representation of differences between the tumour samples and reference samples. The different paths in the directed acyclic graph are evaluated using DNA sequences from other tumour samples in order to find the cancer-associated mutations. 

Did you get inspired by this example, contact our experts: Ben Brigou, Sarah Patterson, Glenn Vinck, Marc Sader and Bram Schoonjans.

Stratasys, an industrial 3D printing company, recently received its European patent EP3814101B1 for a 3D printing method which reduces material waste and cost of printing by optimizing where and which supports are placed. The method first automatically identifies parts of the object to be printed which are in need of support, and then automatically prints the necessary pitched-helix shape supports.

Did you get inspired by this example, contact our experts: Ben Brigou, Sarah Patterson, Glenn Vinck, Marc Sader and Bram Schoonjans.

Micro or small vehicles are vehicles used for the so-called last mile, i.e. for the route from the parking location of a motor vehicle to the actual destination and back. Examples thereof are scooters, mini folding steps, or kickboards. They have in common that they are equipped with an electric motor and a battery.

This patent, EP3552294B1, is directed to improve the usability of these small vehicles when charging them in a bigger passenger car wherein they are transported. In particular, it is directed to a passenger car having an on-board electrical system with a number of electrical loads and a generator having a bidirectional interface configured for charging the battery of the small vehicle via a plug connection or in a contactless manner, whereby in the coupled state the battery can either be charged or the energy present in the battery can by used for the passenger car.

NLO inspires you with remarkable patented digital solutions. Did you get inspired by this example, contact our experts: Ben Brigou, Sarah Patterson, Glenn Vinck, Marc Sader and Bram Schoonjans.

NLO inspires you with remarkable patented digital solutions.

A plug-in hybrid car is a car having a combustion engine as well as an electric engine combined with a connection for charging the battery thereof. The main problems with existing plug-in hybrid vehicles are the cost of batteries and limited battery life. While conventional hybrid propulsion sized for a car uses energy storage with a capacity of about 1 kWh, plug-in hybrid cars require energy storage exceeding 5 kWh. The plug-in hybrid battery system must be deeply cycled in order to obtain a useful all-electric range within a reasonable physical weight and volume. Deep cycling however reduces battery life.

Patent EP1883552B1 discloses a plug-in hybrid car having two distinct electrical energy storages, whereby the first one is configured to deliver or absorb electrical energy when the vehicle is operated as a hybrid, while the second energy storage is configured to only absorb or deliver electrical current when necessary to protect the first energy storage from current above a damage threshold. The second energy storage is for example a flywheel or a supercapacitor.

Did you get inspired by this example, contact our experts: Ben Brigou, Sarah Patterson, Glenn Vinck, Marc Sader and Bram Schoonjans

NLO inspires you with remarkable patented digital solutions.

At the end of last year, Arcelormittal, a multinational steel manufacturing corporation, received its European patent EP3645182B1 for estimating the temperature evolution of hot-rolled steel while it is cooling. The model uses a measured temperature and takes into account cooling by air and coolant to estimate the temperature evolution.  The improved accuracy and robustness of the temperature modelling allows better control over the different phases formed in steel and leads to less rejected products.

Did you get inspired by this example, contact our experts: Ben Brigou, Sarah Patterson, Glenn Vinck, Marc Sader and Bram Schoonjans.

NLO inspires you with remarkable patented digital solutions.

The famous German multinational software company SAP has a patent on a navigation device and method for prediction a destination of a trip.

The navigation device automatically predicts the destination of a trip given a set of starting parameters and renders the explicit entry of the destination unnecessary, which is particularly advantageous for trips which are repeatedly executed. These parameters are for example a starting time and location, and by using a machine learning algorithm on a trip history, it generates a destination prediction algorithm whose prediction accuracy grows over time.

The innovative aspect of the invention is that the navigation device is operable to exchange data with a trip sharing service operable to submit a request to the trip sharing service indicating the starting time, starting place and destination of a trip to other participants, the navigation device further configured to receive a result being returned by the trip sharing service comprising contact information of a second user as potential trip accompany.

Did you get inspired by this example, contact our experts: Ben Brigou, Sarah Patterson, Glenn Vinck, Marc Sader and Bram Schoonjans.

Besides building hybrid cars, the well-known automotive manufacturer Toyota also innovates in their navigation systems. For this invention, Toyota got a patent on a method for searching for a route for the hybrid vehicle that allows a travelling mode that considers partial-area zero emission zones and road pricing.

Partial-area zero emission zones are zones where a so-called zero-emission vehicle is not subjected to billing, while an exhaust gas emission vehicle is. The method, therefore, considers the route by balancing the use of both outputs – pure electric versus through the combustion engine – and guides the driver is such a way that is allows the combustion engine to stop when the partial-area zero emission zone is approached.

Did you get inspired by this example, contact our experts: Ben Brigou, Sarah Patterson, Glenn Vinck, Marc Sader and Bram Schoonjans.

A new way of conducting process development? In its 2020 patent, Automated Bioprocess Development patented a method for automating process development in a bioprocessing environment. The method comprises executing a first experiment run according to a set of parameters, receiving a second real-time set data of an experiment run being executed in parallel and analysing the data sets to determine an adjusted set of parameters which are used to determine subsequent experiments.

The method protected leads to an increased yield of data and knowledge of the experimental space and increases the likelihood of scale-up of processes to manufacturing scale and reduces the significant cost and commercial impact of delays late in development such as delayed launches, regulatory review issues, etc.

Did you get inspired by this example, contact our experts: Ben Brigou, Sarah Patterson, Glenn Vinck, Marc Sader and Bram Schoonjans.

We are living in the age of big data which is accompanied by a data storage problem. Imec turned to storing data in polymers in its 2021 patent! The method involves receiving a sequence of bits to be stored and providing a group of different homo-bifunctional monomers which can be linked together to form the polymer such that the sequence of monomer core structures represents the sequence of bits to be stored. The broad main claim does not define the monomer structures that can be used and only required that they be linked together using a click chemistry reaction. This affords protection whilst allowing Imec to broaden its offering of monomers used in polymer data storage.


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IP protection of blockbuster drugs

The pharma industry is notorious for its plethora of patents for the protection of blockbuster drugs. However, pharma companies not only seek protection for their drugs but also for improved ways of operating. In its 2021 patent, Roche sought protection for an improved computer-implemented method of operating an analytical laboratory for processing biological samples.  The computer can objectively determine the urgency of the analytical results whilst taking into account factors such as the staff workload, the number of tests that must be performed on the sample and the overall work threshold.


Did you get inspired by this example, contact our experts: Ben Brigou, Sarah Patterson, Glenn Vinck, Marc Sader and Bram Schoonjans.

Inarix is a french start-up seeking to use machine learning to improve the horticulture industry.

Their 2022 patent protects a method for determining characteristics of plant elements via image analysis which presents a low-cost alternative to sending plant samples for analysis to specialised laboratories. The main claim of the patent was granted without exclusive reference to the learning algorithm used. The broad main claim means the inventors retain protection for the concept of image analysis whilst still having the freedom to improve their algorithm.

Did you get inspired by this example, contact our experts: Ben Brigou, Sarah Patterson, Glenn Vinck, Marc Sader and Bram Schoonjans.

NLO inspires you with remarkable patented digital solutions

Microsoft received a patent in mid-2021 for reducing data loss during a fatal system error by eliminating reliance on the main processor or memory controller for data backup. This is done by disconnecting the memory controller from a hybrid memory (e.g., DRAM) and causing the hybrid memory to back-up without operating the main processor or the memory controller.

Did you get inspired by this example, contact our experts: Ben Brigou, Sarah Patterson, Glenn Vinck, Marc Sader and Bram Schoonjans.

One year ago, Citrix received a patent for its Single Sign On (SSO) feature using a shared secret vault. An application running on a device (e.g., smartphone), uses a user password to unlock the shared vault. The vault stores an SSO unlock key allowing the application to retrieve the SSO unlock key and unlock the vault at a later time without requiring the user to re-enter the password.

NLO inspires you with remarkable patented digital solutions. Would you like to learn more? Contact our experts: Ben Brigou, Sarah Patterson, Glenn Vinck, Marc Sader and Bram Schoonjans.

A few months ago, Apple received a patent for adjusting the volume and/or direction of an audible media being played on a device (iPhone, iPad, etc.) based on the location of a user. The device detects the location of the user based on a voice command of the user.

Inspired by this example? Feel free to contact our experts: Ben Brigou, Marc Sader, Sarah Patterson, Glenn Vinck and Bram Schoonjans.

Google received a patent in mid-2021 for its smartwatch which uses AI to determine a gesture and perform an action (e.g., switch from low-power mode to high-power mode) based on the gesture. Rather than directly analyzing motion data, the smartwatch uses AI to segment the motion data into strokes and then classify the strokes into gestures.

Did you get inspired by this example, contact our experts: Ben Brigou, Sarah Patterson, Glenn Vinck, Marc Sader and Bram Schoonjans.

In 2017, Nokia received its European patent EP 2,981,103 B1 which pertains to how end-user devices interact with LTE networks. The invented method was initially declared essential to the 4G (LTE) standard and later to 5G standard. In addition, the technology is considered a crucial element for connected cars, i.e. cars that can communicate bidirectionally with other systems outside of the car. For example, Daimler, the owner of Mercedes-Benz, utilises said technology in their cars in order to provide autonomous driving and connected vehicle features.

NLO inspires you with remarkable patented digital solutions.

Did you get inspired by this example, contact our experts: Ben Brigou, Sarah Patterson, Glenn Vinck, Marc Sader and Bram Schoonjans.

NLO inspires you with remarkable patented digital solutions. You can read a third example below:

In 2021, Dolby received its European patent EP 3,573,049 B1 which pertains to processing audio data that corresponds to far-field vocalizations. Far-field vocalization processing involves situations wherein the talker is not in close proximity to the microphone(s). Processing such vocalizations is challenging because the speech signals can be degraded considerably by reverberation and noise. By building acoustic models using computer-implemented methods a more efficient processing method is obtained which produces better results in terms of word error.

Did you get inspired by this example, contact our experts: Ben Brigou, Sarah Patterson, Glenn Vinck, Marc Sader and Bram Schoonjans.

Blockchain patenting has been exploding since 2016 and in 2021, Advanced New Technologies received its European patent EP 3,688,618 B1 which pertains to how a node is added in a blockchain network. By using a unique set of steps, new nodes can be added to a blockchain network without any disruption or down time of the blockchain system.

Blockchain technology has found many applications outside of the financial sector including supply chain and food waste management, making it vital to protect this technology.

NLO inspires you with remarkable patented digital solutions. Did you get inspired by this example, contact our experts: Ben Brigou, Sarah Patterson, Glenn Vinck, Marc Sader and Bram Schoonjans.

#IP #digitalsolutions #innovation #protection

Fraunhofer Portugal was recently granted a European patent (EP 3,758,023 B1) on a method and device for assessing the physical movement of an operator at manufacturing workstations.

To extract the desired insights, operators use a wearable sensor with an inertial measurement unit that transmits data to a centralized hub to collect information from different workers and a processing node to compute relevant information from the collected data.

One of the effects of this monitoring system is to compare the movements performed with a given reference to find the degree of similarity and to characterize the movement's correctness in terms of productivity and ergonomic risk.

Did you get inspired by this example, contact our experts: Ben Brigou, Sarah Patterson, Glenn Vinck, Marc Sader and Bram Schoonjans.