utility patents

I am in the process of trying to design an electronic device and get it patented. I have no real knowledge of electronics or optoelectronics, which is the field it pertains to. Does ay one know how specific a patent must be in terms of its design?

In other words, must it be perfect, as though its ready for production? Exact circuitry, exact components, or would general terms like "a full frame CCD" suffice?

Ben

 

[jbartos]

The level of detail is up to you. Mainly, it is supposed to be original, useful, functional, manufacturable, etc. There are some criteria it has to satisfy. To get it into production, it has to be marketed to find an interested manufacturer who may pose its terms on final product manufacturing details. Check US Patent Office for formatting of your presentation for the US or other Country Patent Office. [sig][/sig]

 

[ambertec]

Another requirement for patentability is that the invention should not be "obvious" to someone "skilled" in the art. If your item is electronic/optoelectronic in nature and yet you yourself are not knowledgable in those fields, you should have someone whom you can trust examine what you have in mind to see if it would or would not be obvious.

Bear in mind that many patents are issued which later turn out to be indefensible. You can spend a lot of time and money obtaining a patent which might later not have been worth it!

Good luck.

John Dunn
ambertec@ieee.org [sig][/sig]