Arrows Patent: When will it expire?

Most likely Belscort will not have arrows, it will simply have an itty bitty rear antenna and will display or voice "Front" or "Rear".

But, the most fascinating thing to me is how they are going to shove the rear antenna in there. They seem so slim. The thickness of the V1 works because of the 'analog' display and rear antenna.

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Originally Posted by NeonSector

he could repatent the arrows under a different business name, there loopholes on every single law

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No way. The USPTO is not full of a bunch of dumbasses! Any attempt to repatent an expired patent would not be approved, guaranteed.

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Originally Posted by RadarKid

honestly in my opinion...I see both sides here.

From one point of view, I don't think ANYONE should be able to have a stab at someones personal invention. They should have sole rights over it, and have say who (if anyone) can use their invention.

From the other point of view, in some ways its good that patents expire, as almost all technology is improved on by taking someone elses "invention" and updating or revising it to keep if from becoming stagnant.

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Exactly. patents are a good thing, because they spur invention. If someone has a brilliant idea, they should be able to reap the benefits of that idea. But, at some point, the rest of the world gets access to that idea, in order to further develop whatever the original idea was. 20 years is plenty long enough for any company to have sole rights to any invention.

Does the patent mean that there can be NO directional indication of radar signals?
I think it could be done with a digital display like a "Compass Face" where the arrow would turn in the direction of the signal. No need for a plastic arrow that lights up.
I dont know about patents but they could probably do something like this now and it would be better in my opinion than the current V1 setup.

The patent specifically calls out "the use of two independent radar horns to determine strongest source/direction"

And probably something about arrows, but if Belscort were to come up with a different way to determine the direction without 2 horns, I would imagine they could get around the patent even now.

Well, here's the patent. The patent call for the use of "at least two" antennas to determine the direction of the radar source. Pretty tough to get around that!

United States Patent: 5151701

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at least two antennas in a single housing

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They would have to pull one out of their butts and not use any antennas! That would be truly unique, if its even possible.

Or they could just use two housings...

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Originally Posted by FoolishOne

Or they could just use two housings...

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I think this is patented by the unmentionable company.

Interesting....

Never knew that.

Maybe they can concoct some kinda gel that reacts differently at different frequencies. Maybe a change in voltage or something. Like a solar panel tuned to absorb a different frequency. The relative strength would be hard, but you would know its presence. But obviously light is not the same as RADAR.

"The radar detector includes at least two antennas and preferably three or more antennas..."

^^^ a pretty genius and dick move on Mike's part. If it was just two (like they have always used!) than someone could put 4 antennas.

Also, why hasn't escort used directional alerts in two separate housings for the custom units? Maybe b/c that will admit the value of the arrows and hurt sales of their other units?

BTW, if VR hasn't started working on something new for when their patent expires they are idiots.