Re: [APML] hey Tony!

[Gene Horr <genehorr@texas.net>]

Roland Christen wrote:

> Read the patent. It's full of absurd claims. They're claiming to have invented
> the basic digital servo. We know who really invented that - the model airplane
> industry. 

Well, I just read through it.  From my _very_ unskilled viewpoint the patent
seems to be for the multi-processor control system, in particular one which
has a separate processor for each motor.  And from what I remember of information
on the claim being pressed that was the sole issue mentioned.

But I am not a lawyer nor do I play one on TV <g>.

_If_ this is the extent of the patent and their claims then this is not
a bad suit IMO.  They very well could be thinking that they came up with
something new that allowed cheaper goto production and that Tasco is
copying them.

There have been prior multi-processor designs (Quadrant, for one) but
the Meade patent goes into explicit detail on items such as the shaft
encoders which Quadrant did not incorporate.  Whether the legal case 
is valid is up to the judge and possibly jury.  But from my viewpoint
this is not as off-the-wall as it first appears.  Nor does it appear
that they were trying to file a patent that is exceptionally broad-
ranging.  In fact it appears that they bent over backwards in restricting
the patent to a particular design.

I have examined Meade's financial statements for a couple of years.  It
is very enlightening.  Meade doesn't make a whole lot of money from the
LX200 line.  The money is in the "cheapo" under $1,000 'scopes.  And 
this is what the patent appears to cover.

Gene Horr
genehorr@texas.net

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