Patent Liability Team KANG Group 1
Overview “Camera tracking moveable transmitter apparatus” “Sentry robot” “Automatic tracking camera control system”
Similar Product/Patent “Camera tracking moveable transmitter apparatus” US Patent 4,905,315; filed 30 June 1988 Summary: An apparatus for mounting and positioning an associated device Method: array of IR sensors at equal angular positions about an axis Sensors receive signal from transponder Info is used to extrapolate angular displacement/position
Claims Possible conflicting claims: Claims 1 and 5 Similar Different Deal with using IR sensors to position camera Similar Motion sensors position camera platform in general area Different Motion sensors are ancillary, not main method of detection
Course of Action Term of patent expires in a few months Can wait to submit the patent to avoid infringement claims
Similar Product/Patent “Sentry robot” Patent application 20070208459; Filed 27 Feb 2007 Designed by Samsung to patrol border between N. and S. Korea Summary This -> Moving background algorithm Video targeting
Claims Possible conflicts: Similarity Difference Body pivoting about main base Camera moves independently of main body Gun on main body following where camera looks Optically track and follow a target w/ gun Similarity Overall structure and method Difference Specific structure of body Targeting algorithm
Course of Action Clever wording of patent application What to do in case of conflict with a patent application? Patent for using a sentry gun or just one specific application? Pay licensing/royalty fees
Similar Product/Patent “Automatic tracking camera control system” US Patent 5,434,617; filed 7 Dec 1994 Summary: Uses differences between two frames to track a target Two cameras: Main camera Second camera acting as ancillary sensor
Claims Possible conflicts: Similarity Difference Use of “current image” Use of “previous image” Use of threshold box to reduce noise Use of pixel differences Similarity More or less the same algorithm Difference Method of using ancillary sensors Specifics: probably a moving background algorithm
Course of Action Free video algorithms found online Fair use under open-source license? May have to change video algorithm Evaluate probability of litigation/infringement claims
Questions?