Variable Voltage and Patent

[Devonmoonshire]

Outstanding Devon - just plain Outstanding.

Thank you Rosco and very nice Puppy Pic there II can't have one with my dog being a pain in the you know what. LOL But they are adorable animals.

Super-T-Manufacturing did the same thing as Mike is doing not too long ago. Super wanted to protect the bottom button design that they invented. I got steamed over it thinking they were trying to corner the market until I understood exactly what they were putting a patent on. It wasn't bottom buttons in general but the way theirs was designed. Letters were sent out (and not worded properly IMO) to other bottom button inventors. Now realizing what their patent was all about, I think they made a smart move.

Mike is doing the same thing. He's only protecting his invention. He's not telling others that they can't have a VV design but they can't have one identical to his without permission. They have to have something slightly different in their design versus his. I can't blame him for doing this. His design is his design and he should own all rights to it.

Now if Mike is doing it to sell out for a big chunk of money, then I will never own another one of his inventions but I don't see Mike doing this. He cares about his employees and inventions.

ProVape is no different. They invented the ProVari and it shouldn't be copied, as is with all inventors.

I hope that each company that produces any type of PV puts protection on it with a patent so that no big corporation can stake claims to it or reproduce it.

Well Said Hairball, very well said and true.

Good point.....As a consumer, I can choose who to purchase from....and I have......and I can choose who NOT to purchase from....and I have......

This is very true, everyone has the choice of who to purchase from and not to purchase from.

why would you not purchase from Notcigs anymore? You're being pretty childish.

Let me get a post from another subforum in here. Leannbug put it better than I ever will be.

I have no idea on this one but after speaking online and offline with Mike I am considering purchasing either a Buzz or an Infiniti, I am not sure yet as to which I will like more, but I had looked at them but not really close until now. So this could very easily have gained Mike a New Customer rather than alienating existing ones. If the product is good, then it matters not to me what patent is on it. The bottom line is that quality is quality, and the interaction I have had with this Man has been very encouraging to me as a consumer.

Nate aka Darth Vapor

 

[hairball]

Here is the one that Mike was getting bashed in.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/gg/185074-vv-ggts.html

 

[retird]

why would you not purchase from Notcigs anymore? You're being pretty childish.

Let me get a post from another subforum in here. Leannbug put it better than I ever will be.

Just in case your "dart" was aimed at me, I clarified my last post so you can see what it meant......good day AV....

 

[alldayvape]

Just in case your "dart" was aimed at me, I clarified my last post so you can see what it meant......good day AV....

No sir! not at all at you! Just in general; I have seen many posts saying that Notcigs is now on their 'do not buy list'! You sir are a fellow Darwinian! You have good taste

Edit: Totally agree with your edit. Those reasons are 100% valid and understandable!

 

[retird]

No sir! not at all at you! Just in general; I have seen many posts saying that Notcigs is now on their 'do not buy list'! You sir are a fellow Darwinian! You have good taste

OK......but I needed to clarify the post anyway......

 

[alldayvape]

OK......but I needed to clarify the post anyway......

I agree. For example, I never liked the GG and would not buy Imeo's products because the look doesn't appeal to me.

 

[5cardstud]

Good point.....As a consumer, I can choose who to purchase from....and I have......and I can choose who NOT to purchase from....and I have....

Edit for clarification: just stating my feelings on consumer's choices.....by the way, I have never made a purchase from notcig's because their products never interested me......that does not mean that they are not a viable company, just not for me.....there are many companies I choose not to use.....

And that's the nice thing about living in America. We have the right to pick and choose. I think everyone sees this as Mike trying to gain control of the whole VV ecig industry and that's not what he's trying to do. I could make a bottle opener and custom build a vv ecig into it and patent it as a bottle opener tomorrow. He's only trying to protect his investment that he has put into his product so someone else doesn't come along and steal it. I suppose you don't keep your money in a bucket in the front yard, No you keep it safe in the bank. It's called protection. Pllus he's stopping big companies from making you pay dearly for one.

You can't walk into the patent office and buy a patent. It has a process it goes through. That's why you see patent pending on so many products. No Mike doesn't have a patent it is pending like so many others but if I went in today to file for a like patent my patent lawyer would inform me that it's useless and a waste of money because notcig has already filed. So he is protected.

Maybe you could still buy one of these.

 

[5cardstud]

Here is the one that Mike was getting bashed in.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/gg/185074-vv-ggts.html

That's why this little saying was written, for instances exactly like this.

"Better to leave some in ignorance rather than attempt to challenge it"

 

[MickeyRat]

And that's the nice thing about living in America. We have the right to pick and choose. I think everyone sees this as Mike trying to gain control of the whole VV ecig industry and that's not what he's trying to do. I could make a bottle opener and custom build a vv ecig into it and patent it as a bottle opener tomorrow. He's only trying to protect his investment that he has put into his product so someone else doesn't come along and steal it. I suppose you don't keep your money in a bucket in the front yard, No you keep it safe in the bank. It's called protection. Pllus he's stopping big companies from making you pay dearly for one.

Perhaps but, by sending out warning letters to everyone, he's not signalling that he wants to keep anyone from stopping him, he's signalling that he wants to stop everyone else. That's a far cry from self protection.

 

[Devonmoonshire]

Perhaps but, by sending out warning letters to everyone, he's not signalling that he wants to keep anyone from stopping him, he's signalling that he wants to stop everyone else. That's a far cry from self protection.

I find a huge difference lies between a notification of Patent application and a "Warning Letter" as this notification has so been dubbed. Notifying someone of your actions is entirely different than "Warning" someone of your intentions.

Once again Just my Two Cents worth.

Nate aka Darth Vapor

 

[SteveMacc]

Not sure what this patent is for. The circuit used for the TI TPS63020 is published by TI. Would TI have to licence it from NotCigs? The other part of the claim mentions a Linear Regulator. Nobody is going to use one of these for an e-cig because of the poor efficiency. Most of the step down is lost in heat through the regulator. Why use one when you can use a PWM unit?

All TIs buck/boost products come with a circuit diagram. Are you telling me that sticking an atomiser across the Vout of these circuits is a patent infringment?

The only patents involved here are TIs for the chip itself.

If he can do this in the US, I suggest someone file another patent, using a PWM with a digital potentiometer, then claim licensing of NotCig when they finally get up to date.

Here's such a circuit published by a modder on ECF:



I can't remember who posted it, but get your patent in quick.

 

[Ruppy]

Not sure what this patent is for. The circuit used for the TI TPS63020 is published by TI. Would TI have to licence it from NotCigs? The other part of the claim mentions a Linear Regulator. Nobody is going to use one of these for an e-cig because of the poor efficiency. Most of the step down is lost in heat through the regulator. Why use one when you can use a PWM unit?

All TIs buck/boost products come with a circuit diagram. Are you telling me that sticking an atomiser across the Vout of these circuits is a patent infringment?

The only patents involved here are TIs for the chip itself.

If he can do this in the US, I suggest someone file another patent, using a PWM with a digital potentiometer, then claim licensing of NotCig when they finally get up to date.

Here's such a circuit published by a modder on ECF:

View attachment 37558

I can't remember who posted it, but get your patent in quick.

Yeah thats not the chip in mikes PVs.

THere is nothing wrong with using TIs stuff for this type application. In fact they tell you that when you buy it. I have bought many chips from TI. The patent has nothing to do with the chips. Its for the circuit and its application as it applies to mikes devices.

BTW thats Breaktrus circuit and it uses the PTN4050 and a digital POT

 

[BuzzKill]

WOW !!! nice discussion ,. I go out and have a beer and come back to this !

We made this public on PURPOSE ! so that it could be discussed , If someone chooses not to buy from us that is fine you can buy from RJR later and pay like you did when you smoked ,.

I am only trying to protect what we brought to the market , what most of you DO NOT know is WHEN !! this has been in play a LONG TIME and we have searched and researched the forums and out original drawing dates and DISCLOSED all of this to my patent attorney so no BS all this is real and valid.

I am sorry if this caused some to think we are GREEDY BASTERDS , IMO the copiers are the GREEDY BASTERDS they have been making $$$ of our design and ides .

Notcigs brought out the FIRST VV device, all others are knockoffs of that design in origin.

 

[breaktru]

Not sure what this patent is for. The circuit used for the TI TPS63020 is published by TI. Would TI have to licence it from NotCigs? The other part of the claim mentions a Linear Regulator. Nobody is going to use one of these for an e-cig because of the poor efficiency. Most of the step down is lost in heat through the regulator. Why use one when you can use a PWM unit?

All TIs buck/boost products come with a circuit diagram. Are you telling me that sticking an atomiser across the Vout of these circuits is a patent infringment?

The only patents involved here are TIs for the chip itself.

If he can do this in the US, I suggest someone file another patent, using a PWM with a digital potentiometer, then claim licensing of NotCig when they finally get up to date.

Here's such a circuit published by a modder on ECF:

View attachment 37558

I can't remember who posted it, but get your patent in quick.

Hey that's my circuit. I'm going to sue you. LOL
It's in the mod in my signature.

 

[BuzzKill]

you should LMAO ! J/K !

 

[Ruppy]

Hey that's my circuit. I'm going to sue you. LOL

Ill pay you royalties for using it Breaktru it rocks in my copper. I appreciate the time it took you to prototype it for me Wait till you see my new one

BTW did you see that ejuice me up made Ecig mag? YOUR FAMOUS lol

 

[breaktru]

Ill pay you royalties for using it Breaktru it rocks in my copper. I appreciate the time it took you to prototype it for me Wait till you see my new one

BTW did you see that ejuice me up made Ecig mag? YOUR FAMOUS lol

I post circuits and details like that all the time so ALL ECF members can enjoy mod building. A thank you is my payment. Enjoy ECF members.

 

[BuzzKill]

BTW Breakthru Modders have nothing to worry about , I would never try to close down that !! in fact no body could as long as they are not for sale.

 

[Devonmoonshire]

Thank you Breaktru I am just getting ready to learn to build mods and have a workshop as I am truly NOT electronically inclined in any way that I will be attending on the 14th to break into it. I also have a particular case in mind and will be attempting to use the new found knowledge to modify said case into a really cool looking e-cig for myself It promises to be eventful if not effective at best

Nate aka Darth Vapor

 

[MasterofChaos]

The problem with Buzzkill's patent is the way it was written. If you read the first claim, it claims ANY PV that uses variable voltage.

The way the patent was written, if awarded, he could turn around and sue every modder on the ECF that discusses his version of a variable voltage device. He could sue every guy making VV Bartleby's in his basement. He's obviously litigious, given his desire to send out threat letters.

And the point of licensing technology is not for someone to get "Their Cut". The point of licensing is for an individual or company who has spent a lot of money researching and developing an idea to allow other manufacturers to utilize that effort without having to spend all the money repeating the inventors work. In other words, to pick up where the inventor left off, without having to re-invent the wheel. That's how patents spur and encourage invention.

None of the manufacturers that have come out with VV PVs "stole" Buzzkill's circuit design. Its not like they took his circuit and copied it (it was freely available from chip manufacturers spec sheets, I'm sure, anyway). Companies like ProVape and Darwin made their own designs from scratch without his help.

So he's just strong arming them at this point, trying to add a tax to their devices so he can skim off the top. Acquiring a license is not going to help anyone's development, just increase the price of devices and scare people off building their own designs.

They have a name for that, its called a PATENT TROLL.

You can't tell me that making some guy building wooden box mods in his basement pay an extra fee is going to help the industry, in any way shape or form. In fact, it may scare some people away, since they will be afraid of the possible legal ramifications. Just the threat of a lawsuit is enough to frighten some people, and force them to just not go there.

I see Super T's idea as something different. They came up with a specific idea for a design, so they are patenting it. They are not trying to attack the whole industry. Plus I haven't seen posts from them on the ECF asking for lists of bottom button PV manufacturers they can sue. Of course I could be mistaken about that.