[DB]

I was hired as a consulting engineer once to design a product that was essentially the same functionally as what another company had patented and was selling.

My job was to produce basically the same thing without violating the other company’s patent. It turned out to be not very difficult. Most patents are very narrow in scope and describe a specific method on what is done. By making minor changes to the method (different circuit configuration but same result, they used just a VCO, I used a phase locked loop as one of the key elements of the design) it got around the patent.

The more your idea is worth the harder it is to protect it. Once the basic idea is known there are often many ways of achieving the same result, even if not absolutely optimal it provides a way around the patent.

Your patent will be no better than the patent attorney used. Ultimately it is very difficult to defend yourself against a large company with an army of lawyers if they want what you have - or - had...

[JohnnyP]

PLL has a VCO.

I designed an individual cylinder knock controller in ‘91. Mostly in software, running on a processor with a security bit. Decided that was better than a patent. Hasn’t been ripped off yet.

New version for multi coil Fords called Vampire:
http://www.jandssafeguard.com/VampirePage/J%26S_Vampire.html

[djf]

I think the best approach is to get the Provisional.

Then talk to a large company that sees the value of it, grant them a license to use it on the condition that they will never challenge it, but will defend the patent.

IF this ever comes to fruition I will do my damndest to see that each and every single one of the units that are manufactured is made right here in the good ol USA!!

I just did my first (pretty crude) diagram.

And since I know there are folks who have read the thread, and I’m not giving anything away by doing so, I will announce the title of my invention!
You heard it here first!

The American Millennium Engine

[Atlas Sneezed]

My job was to produce basically the same thing without violating the other company’s patent. It turned out to be not very difficult....
Your patent will be no better than the patent attorney used.

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Excellent advice. Sometimes, a client asks me to help “design around” a patent. Sometimes, that is an easy task, but often it is not. It depends on the skill and foresight of whoever wrote the patent. (See my analogy about about pouring the foundation).