Contact Inquiries: Michele Durant, 310-317-5321

HRL Reaches Patent Milestone

LOS ANGELES, June 1, 2005 — In just over seven years from starting with no inventions to its name, HRL Laboratories, LLC reached the 200 issued patent milestone on May 17, 2005, when the United States Patent and Trademark Office granted HRL a patent for "Guided-Mode Laser Apparatus with Improved Cladding Structure and a Method of Fabricating Thereof."  Starting with a blank invention portfolio in December 1997, HRL's technical staff of 150 plus scientists and technicians had to conceive of inventions, submit invention disclosures and process applications for filing to establish a whole new portfolio owned by HRL.  By September 12, 2000, HRL had its first issued patent and by October 21, 2003 HRL reached the 100 patent level.  Less than five years after that first issued patent and less than two years after the 100th patent was issued, HRL now crossed the 200 patent threshold.  Based upon patents pending, HRL has an excellent chance of reaching its 300th patent in 2006.

The HRL technical staff submits approximately 140 invention disclosures per year.  Some of those are owned by HRL's equity Members, Boeing, General Motors, and Raytheon.  These latter inventions, which are not owned by HRL, generate additional patents that are not counted in the 200 that are owned by HRL.

The extent of HRL's patent portfolio ranges across the broad spectrum of HRL's technologies.  Illustrative examples, in addition to the laser technology described in HRL's 200th patent, are "Low-Profile, Multi-Antenna Module, and Method of Integration into a Vehicle," to "Sensor Fusion Architecture for Vision-Based Occupant Detection," to "Epitaxially-Grown Backward Diode."  These patents provide HRL with opportunities to perform important work for its government customers, as well as being available under license to its equity Members. HRL also actively seeks licenses for its intellectual property. Interested parties may inquire about licensing opportunities by contacting info@hrl.com.

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HRL Laboratories, LLC, Malibu, California,  is a corporate R&D laboratory owned by Boeing, General Motors, and Raytheon. HRL provides custom R&D and performs additional R&D contract services for its three LLC Members, for the U.S. government, and for other commercial entities.

 

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