Patents are the main type of Intellectual Property that WiSys works with. A patent is a right granted by the government to prevent others from making, using or selling an invention covered by the patent. They last for 20 years from the date they are applied for.

Patents have 3 main parts to them:

  • Specification – The specification includes a written description of the invention that would enable others to make and use it.
  • Drawings and Figures – While not necessary, drawings and figures are often included in a patent application to help others understand the invention.
  • Claims – The claims are a numbered list that define the scope of the patent. A minimum of one claim is required in a patent application.

In order to file for a patent, your technology must meet 3 requirements set by the Patent Office:

  • Utility – The invention must be useful for some applied purpose.
  • Novelty – The invention must be new.
  • Non-Obviousness – The invention must be different enough from past technology that someone else skilled in the art wouldn’t be able to come up with the invention from what is already know.

Once a patent has been drafted, it is filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and eventually assigned to be examined. A back-and-forth argument (prosecution) then occurs between WiSys and the USPTO, with the USPTO (usually) rejecting the patent for various reasons, and WiSys arguing against those rejections. Hopefully, in the end, WiSys is able to convince the USPTO Examiner of our arguments and receive an issued patent.