Young patent program reaches a milestone

A patented system that ensures the quality of processed wood is producing the first licensing income in the history of Mississippi State's young patent program.

Developed by Philip H. Steele of the Forest and Wildlife Research Center's Forest Products Laboratory and former lab researcher Lalit Kumar, the system supplements methods now used to find defects in wood. With their innovation, lumber is passed between electrodes that sense and display the defects-knots and voids.

Steele demostrates a system for detecting defects in wood.

The invention, formally known as the Device for Heterogeneous Materials, was patented late last year and licensed exclusively to Lucidyne Technologies Inc. of Corvallis, Ore.

Steele and Kumar's device has economic implications for processing all wood species, but especially for those in which knots are hard to differentiate from clear wood. These include red and white oak, cherry and walnut-species usually used in furniture manufacturing.

"For manufacturers who handle large volumes, this process has the potential to improve yields and reduce labor costs," Steele said.

"The accurate knot detection offered by the DHM will allow automation of lumber cut up to produce furniture parts rapidly and with reduced waste," he added.

The licensing agreement with Lucidyne is good for the life of the patent, which is 20 years. This is the seventh patent disclosure filed by the FWRC.

The $20,000 issuance fee was divided among the two inventors and the university after paying patent fees. The same division will follow with subsequent annual maintenance fees and royalties resulting from the technology.

According to university policy, all inventions developed on campus are the property of the university. The inventors are entitled to share in any financial proceeds that may develop from the licensure of the invention, however.

"This is a milestone in our patent program" said Robert L. Palmer, the university's technology transfer manager. "This is the first time we've had the licensing income exceed expenses."

Palmer enouraged faculty members to begin the patenting process as early as possible. He said Steele first submitted an invention disclosure to the Office of Sponsored Programs Administration in April 1994.

"People should disclose as soon as possible and then be patient because the process takes awhile," Palmer pointed out. "The average length of time from disclosure to issuance of patent is 18 months."

He said faculty members currently have a "publish first" mindset, which is fine, as long as they have a plan for the patenting process.

"Once an invention is made public, such as by publishing the information, the inventor has 12 months to file for a patent, so he or she should have a plan to go ahead and begin the filing process as soon as there is public disclosure," Palmer explained.

The university began patent licensing in 1993.

For more information on the patenting process, contact Palmer by telephone at 325-3521; by fax at 325-3803; or via electronic mail at bob@spa.msstate.edu.