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17-06-2009
ASTRON patent paves the way to SKA
| Submitter: | Jaap D.Bregman |
| Description: | The patent describes a differentially fed Vivaldi antenna. This approach avoids the conventional use of a balun system between antenna and low noise amplifier and opens the way for very low noise array antenna systems needed for the SKA. The official title of “Nederlands Octrooi 1034102” does not show any relation with the previous description indicative for the way how specialist with a law background see and describe a world, where thieves are lurking around each corner to steel your invention. Rob’s patent is the fifth that ASTRON has established since our patenting activity started in 2002. Out of 24 potential inventions 19 were selected to enter the patenting process and 16 have been published as an official patent application. For only 5 applications has ASTRON invested additional money to establish the patent in one or more countries to secure potential future returns. (see for further background ASTRON-RP-157 “Beleid voor exploitatie van ASTRON Intellectual Property Rights”) A successful patent application does not only describe something that has not been published before, just as any paper that passes a review process, but it also has to satisfy the inventive step criterion. An invention is newness beyond what experts in the field could have logically concluded from what is state-of-the-art in that field. At ASTRON we do not only need experts that can design systems based on available state-of-the-art technology, but who can also make the inventive step beyond conventional wisdom that gives our products a competitive edge. A patent is a recognized form of spin-off to society where our institute can show that we do not only use resources from our society to satisfy our curiosity and produce scientific papers, but also give something in return that could be the basis for profitable activity. Congratulations to Rob Maaskant! |
| Copyright: | ASTRON, Ronald Halfwerk |
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