Originally Posted by
jimbonzzz
I'm no patent attorney, but:
According to Wikipedia, for patents that were in force by June 8, 1995, the patent term is either 17 years from the issue date or 20 years from the earliest claimed filing date, the longer term applying.
I believe Valentine Research's earliest "directional origin" patent (5083129) was filed February 25, 1991, and granted January 21, 1992. This would mean that this particular patent would expire on February 25, 2011 since the longer term applies. Valentine Research has another "directional origin" patent (5151701) that would expire in Oct. 2011.
Jim
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