Tuesday, July 10, 2007

US Patent 7239378 - "MEMS or nanotechnology-modified" invention

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7239378.html

This patent wins the award of most blatant attempt of using MEMS and nanotechnology as buzzwords to receive a patent. The inventor should be very proud (especially since only very generic discussion of what "MEMS and nanotechnology modified" refers to in the specification). Claim 1 reads:

1. A platform-based imaging system comprising:
a multi-spigot lens assembly mounted on a platform; wherein the multi-spigot lens assembly comprises at least one MEMS or nanotechnology-modified component; wherein at least one of the MEMS or nanotechnology-modified components of the lens assembly is a mirror; a MEMS or nanotechnology-modified information processing module; and a MEMS or nanotechnology-modified connection mechanism adapted and constructed to operatively and remotely connect the lens with the information processing module.