Lordie, is BushCo going to block Toyota hybrids now?

[FormerRepublican]

"U.S. to probe Toyota hybrid patents
Trade body to investigate whether automaker infringed on patent held by Solomon Technologies.
February 10, 2006: 10:28 AM EST

TOKYO (Reuters) - A U.S. trade body is to investigate a complaint that Toyota Motor Corp.'s popular Prius and Highlander hybrid models infringed a patent, according to the body's Web site.

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) will look at a claim that the patent is owned by Florida-based Solomon Technologies Inc., it said.

Solomon Technologies filed a complaint with the panel last month saying the hybrid transmission in the two popular vehicles infringed its patent related to motor and transmission systems."

http://money.cnn.com/2006/02/10/news/international/toyota_patent.reut/index.htm?cnn=yes

Is this more BushCo Oilco lovefest at the expense of Americans?

[DBoon]

1. Who has an interest in Solomon Technolgies?

Florida based, hmm.

from http://www.otcbb.com/sandp/SOLM.htm :

Management
Officers Position
Gary M. Laskowski Chairman
Peter W. DeVecchis, Jr. President
Samuel F. Occhipinti Chief Financial Officer
Tony Schor Investor Relations Contact


Directors
Jonathan D. Betts
Michael D'Amelio
Gary M. Laskowski

[aquart]

3. How do we check their donations?

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. Try these

http://www.opensecrets.org/

http://politicalmoneyline.com/

[mikelewis]

2. If there is honest to goodness patent rights infringement, I hope so. But

whose the Judge? Bush? Our Supreme Court? Congress? Can you even believe one thing they say anymore. If Toyota did violate patents, there should be restitution or retribution but who trusts this government enough to believe their case? Not I.

[Pavulon]

4. Blackberry

was guilty of this. No matter what they find it will take YEARS to enforce.

[MindPilot]

5. As someone who works with a whole passel of patent lawyers

this kind of stuff happens all the time. That's why manufacturing and R&D companies have passels of patent lawyers on staff. Absent any other information, I'd say don't read too much into this one.

[Coastie for Truth]

6. United States Patent 5,067,932 to Edwards

The patent is United States Patent 5,067,932 to Edwards for Dual-input infinite-speed integral motor and transmission device and the independent claim is:

1. A combination motor and transmission device comprising

first power input means for receiving a first input of electrical power,

second power input means for receiving a second input of electrical power, and

power conversion means for converting said electrical power of said first and second inputs for output, said power conversion means including a mechanical power transmission unit, said power transmission unit having two inputs for respectively receiving mechanical power corresponding to said first and second power inputs provided to said first and second power input means and an output for outputting the converted power as rotational mechanical power,

wherein the rotational speed of said output is continuously variable, and said power conversion means includes, for each of said first and second power inputs, a respective integral combination of a respective electric motor element and an element of said mechanical transmission unit, each said integral combination involving said two respective elements thereof being directly associated mechanically and geometrically with each other without substantial spacing or other elements including bearings and shafts therebetween.

and since each and every element in the claim must be present in the accused device - it looks like what my patent attorney calls a "picture claim" - and may not cover the Prius.

The real threat to hybrids was the patent suit on the metal-hydride batteries (in the early 1990's) - and that worked out. This law suit on the batteries was GM's attempt to block the Prius - they bought the company that "invented" the modern metal hydride battery and then sued Toyota on their newly purchased metal hydride battery patents. That's how GM plays the game.