The only thing I think that P+S Technik has patented is the oscillating GG, I cant find a patent relating to any rotating movement, but I definately think that the Letus infringes the P+S Technik patent (sorry Quyen Le). The P+S Technik patent covers the countries: US, CA, BE, DE, ES, FR, GB, IT. The status of the patent is below:

European Application No EP99939907.4 filing date 17.06.1999

Application in German

Priority claimed:
17.06.1998 in Federal Republic of Germany - doc: 19827018

PCT EUROPEAN PHASE
PCT Application PCT/DE1999/001785 Publication No WO1999/066362 on
23.12.1999

Designated States BE DE ES FR GB IT

Title OPTICAL ADAPTER SYSTEM FOR A CAMERA

Applicant/Proprietor
P + S TECHNIK GMBH, Rosenheimer Strasse 139, 81671 München, Federal
Republic of Germany [ADP No. 69232387001]

Inventors
WOLFGANG WEIGEL, An der Ottosäule, D-85521 Ottobrunn, Federal Republic of
Germany [ADP No. 69232395001]

WOLFGANG ROESSEL, 1890 Bay Boulevard, New York, NY 11509, United States of
America [ADP No. 69232403001]

Classified to
G02B

Address for Service
P + S TECHNIK GMBH, Rosenheimer Strasse 139, 81671 München, Federal
Republic of Germany [ADP No. 69232387001]

EPO Representative
DR. WILHELM MÜNICH, Dr. Münich & Kollegen, Anwaltskanzlei
Wilhelm-Mayr-Strasse 11, 80689 München, Federal Republic of Germany
[ADP No. 50492115001]

Publication No EP1088251 dated 04.04.2001 and granted by EPO 27.03.2002.
Publication in German

Examination requested 28.12.2000

Patent Granted with effect from 27.03.2002 (Section 25(1)) with title OPTICAL
ADAPTER SYSTEM FOR A CAMERA. Translation filed 04.04.2002

________________________________________________________________________________

13.06.2002 Patent Granted with effect from 27.03.2002 (Section 25(1)) with
title OPTICAL ADAPTER SYSTEM FOR A CAMERA. Translation filed
04.04.2002

18.06.2002 Notification of change of Address For Service name and address of
P + S TECHNIK GMBH, Rosenheimer Strasse 139, 81671 München, Federal
Republic of Germany [ADP No. 69232387001]
to
VENNER SHIPLEY & CO, 20 Little Britain, LONDON, EC1A 7DH, United
Kingdom [ADP No. 00001669004]
dated 04.04.2002. Official evidence filed on EP1088251

07.07.2004 Name and address maintenance action has taken place and the address
for Address For Service is
VENNER SHIPLEY LLP, 20 Little Britain, LONDON, EC1A 7DH, United
Kingdom [ADP No. 08897431001]
this change is effective from 07.07.2004

**** END OF REGISTER ENTRY ****

________________________________________________________________________________

RENEWALS DATA

Date Filed 17.06.1999

Date Not in Force

Date of Last Renewal 26.06.2006

Year of Last Renewal 8

Next Renewal Date 17.06.2007

Status PATENT IN FORCE


This is the European status of the patent but it is also filed in the USA and Canada.

I try to search for all English documents to see if my design indeed violates any patent. The date that I find it, the same date I will stop Letus35's production. Not because I am afraid to get into any lawsuit but I want to do the right thing. I have not found any yet myself. I am asking for your helps of finding them, thanks.

Quyen

Hi Quyen,

The P+S Technik patent does not have an english patent translation available online but you can copy the text and paste in the google.co.uk language tool (goto google.co.uk and click on language tools next to the search button on the right) Goto patent.gov.uk, click on patents, then click under find patents 'using esp@cenet', then select number seach, then type the publication number: EP1088251.

From there you can view, copy and paste all the text into the google language tool for translation.

Be a shame if you stop the Letus35 as it seems to be popular and and value for money. Maybe you could alter the design so as not to infringe any patents, thats if you are.

Anyway good luck with it.

Does the P+S Technik adapter use spinning glass or a vibrating/oscillating glass? I think this might make a difference if the methodology is vastly different in achieving the same goal.

Is there any other way of moving a GG other than rotating and vibrating or a combination of both? It is strange that P+S can claim all rights to a vibrating movement even if they are the first to do it. Isn't there a time frame where the patent will end and the design is open to all?

As far as I know they have rights to oscillating any screen suitable for projecting an image onto a camcorder.

Yes Alex there will be a time when the patent will end............20 years from the when it was patented, unless they stop paying the renewal fees, even then they have 13 months in which they can pay the fees to continue the patent. Just wait 15 years then anyone can use it, not long to go, LOL.