FAIRBORN — Though Ohio’s unemployment rate has almost reached 11 percent, one man recently laid off — on his birthday, no less — did not let his situation keep him from pursuing his passions. “It was either that or give up. I just had to apply myself,” said Mike Deal of Fairborn. Deal said that he tried to get his first patent when he was nine years old for a remote-controlled camera. “I couldn’t get the funding for a patent, though. No one would give a 9-year-old the funding for a patent,” said Deal, laughing. Deal’s latest patent idea, however,...