Patently-O Bits and Bytes by Juvan Bonni

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6 thoughts on “Patently-O Bits and Bytes by Juvan Bonni

  1. 2

    Not that surprising given the SG recommendation, but cert. denied in HP v. Berkheimer and Hikma v. Vanda.

    1. 2.1

      I probably should have mentioned Athena v. Mayo was denied as well. The cert. petitions in Trading Technologies v. IBG (no. 19-353) and ChargePoint v. SemaConnect (no. 19-521) are being considered at the Jan. 24 conference. The government filed a brief in opposition in Trading Technologies but has not been asked to weigh in on ChargePoint.

      At the Fed. Cir., a petition for en banc rehearing remains outstanding in American Axle v. Neapco (no. 18-1763). Petitions for rehearing were denied in Chamberlain v. TechTronic (18-2103) and Ameranth v. Dominos (19-1141), with cert. petitions likely expected?

      Am I forgetting any major eligibility cases?

  2. 1

    “In the filing, Microsoft notes that solar cell-based charging exists in some forms today, such as when a device is stored in a bag. However, Microsoft says, there’s not an option for solar charging when a device is in use, and that’s what the tech giant is trying to tackle.

    Plus, the panels would still work in gloomy Seattle because they can be powered by artificial light sources, according to the filing.”

    Insert infinite eyeroll emojis here.

    1. 1.1

      Not sure why the infinite eyeroll emoji – have you tried to charge something with solar cells with artificial light? It doesn’t work well. No idea if there answer to the problem (which is what patentability should hinge on) is novel and nonobvious – but this is a real problem.

      1. 1.1.1

        Here’s claim 1:

        1. A cover of a mobile device, comprising: a cover body; one or more solar panels integrated into the cover body; a keyboard forming part of the cover body, the keyboard configured as an input device to the mobile device; and a port on the cover body for coupling the one or more solar panels to the mobile device; a battery coupled to the one or more solar panels for storing charge from the solar panels, the battery further being coupled to the port for charging the mobile device.

        Here’s claim 20:

        20. A cover of a mobile device, comprising: a cover body; one or more solar panels integrated into the cover body; a keyboard forming part of the cover body, the keyboard configured as an input device to the mobile device; and a port on the cover body for coupling the one or more solar panels to the mobile device; wherein the one or more solar panels are positioned on a stand used to hold the mobile device upright at a selectable angle relative to a flat surface so that the one or more solar panels are configured to charge the mobile device using flux generated by an artificial source of light.

        “It doesn’t work well.”

        So the solution was putting the panels on a stand that has a selectable angle? Gimme a fckin break.

        Here’s claim 14:

        14. A method of charging a mobile device, comprising: receiving charge from one or more solar panels positioned on a stand of a cover of the mobile device; supplying the charge to the mobile device for charging the mobile device; and receiving keyboard input from a keyboard integrated into the cover.

        Really?

        I got a Pulsar watch for my 15th bday in 1982. Had a “solar cell” that also charged on incandescent light. I would “angle” my wrist under my desk lamp to charge it.

        UFB

      2. 1.1.2

        Calculators entirely run by very small solar cells have worked fine with artificial light for many years, and the drawing here shows much larger surface area cells which could provide at least partial laptop power.
        Claim 20 below seems to be after the potentially novel feature of a split computer cover providing an angled away laptop computer support member which in such supporting mode has an upwardedly facing surface bearing solar cells for that computer.

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