Any info about Iomega (IOM)? Message Board

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Non-Tech : Any info about Iomega (IOM)?

Public Reply Prvt Reply Mark as Last Read File

Previous 10 Next 10 Previous Next

To: FuzzFace who wrote (41078)	12/20/1997 8:32:00 PM
From: Jim Munroe	Read Replies (2) of 58324

This is my reading of the retroflector patent issued to Iomega. My training is in optics, so I do have some knowledge about the issues. I posted this on AOL a few days ago The patent covers several variations so it is difficult to ascertain exactly what they actually did. Central is the use of cube corner arrays or retroreflective sheets incorporating small imbedded spheres. Specifically not claimed is a spherical mirror such as Nomai uses. This I feel is a major oversight. The patent recognizes that there will be some return from any diffuse reflector (e.g.,rough surface) and from an "optimally oriented "speculalar reflector" (e.g. a mirror). The strength of the return signal discriminates between a retroreflector and some other reflective surface. This makes sense. The patent does invoke the use of baffles but only as a way to reduce noise and backscatter coming from outside the intended field of view. They also invoke the possibility of what sounds like a field lens to further reduce background. The patent spends a good deal of time describing ways to reduce and background. The patent does use the phrase "phase conjugation" but without any elaboration. The phrase is either used incorrectly or as a weak attempt to further broaden the patent. My bottom line is that the Zip system is based on the use of a retroreflector and the spherical mirror used by Nomai could well fill the bill without violating the patent. I am not a patent attorney so my opinion may not be worth much. I still feel that Iomega could very simply make the Nomai disks inoperable by using the property of cube corners that they scramble polarization whereas the sphere, used by Nomai, would preserve polarization. It may require no more than putting one plane polarizer in front of the light source and a second in front of the detector with the second passing only light polarized orthogonally to the light passing through the first. Light returning from the Nomai disk would for the most part be stopped by the second polarizer while a good fraction of the light from the Iomega disk would, having scrambled polarization, pass on through. This is also a cheap solution. The cost impact (to Iomega) might well be measured in pennies. It is the kind of solution that might not occur to an electrical engineer or a mechanical engineer. I hope Iomega reads these boards sufficiently to at least consider this solution.

Report TOU Violation

Share This Post

Public Reply Prvt Reply Mark as Last Read File

Previous 10 Next 10 Previous Next