Invention Awards: October 2024

Sunday, October 27, 2024

New York Reaches 6 Gigawatts of Solar Power One Year Early!

New York has been on a cleantech blitz. The latest news in that regard is that the state has reached 6 gigawatts (GW) of installed solar power capacity. Even better, it achieved that milestone a year earlier than it had targeted, as enshrined in its Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. In general, this amount of solar power in New York produces enough electricity for one million homes.

Here’s another giant stat: the 6 GW of solar installed in New York have pulled in $9.2 billion in private investment. Additionally, 14,000 jobs have been created from all of this.

The solar project that tipped the state over the finish line is owned by Generate Capital and was developed by New Leaf Energy. It is a 5.7-kWh solar power system that is expected to produce enough electricity each year for one thousand homes. “The project participates in the Solar for All pilot program with utility partner National Grid where the energy harnessed by this project benefits low-income households,” NYSERDA adds.

“New York is the national leader in community solar deployments, allowing renters, low-income residents, and others who cannot install their own panels to benefit from solar energy. In 2023, New York ranked first in the nation in total installed community solar capacity. Last year was also the state’s most productive year ever for solar installations, with 885 MW of capacity installed.”

“As the top community solar market in the nation, New York State has provided a replicable model for others to deliver clean, low-cost renewable energy to more consumers,” NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said. “Our public-private partnerships are the catalysts which have helped us to achieve our 6-GW goal well ahead of target, trailblazing New York’s path to an equitable energy transition.”

“New Yorkers are demanding clean, affordable energy, and with the support of Governor Hochul, NYSERDA and other state leaders, the solar and storage industry is delivering,” the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) added. “Meeting New York’s ambitious goal of 6 gigawatts (GW) of distributed solar ahead of schedule is the result of combining strong federal policies, well-designed state solar programs, and tireless work by state leaders and solar developers. Now, time to hit the next goal: 10 GW.”

“Customers and consumers are asking for access to clean energy, and New York state is listening,” Generate Capital Investments Managing Director Peggy Flannery said. We’re very excited to have helped New York reach six gigawatts of solar and deliver the benefits of clean energy to the community. Generate operates 69 projects and counting in New York, and this celebration is another proof point of our successful efforts in serving developers, customers, and local communities and accelerating the clean energy transition.”

A couple more important final notes are that these solar installations across the state have cut electricity costs and costs less than projected. “New York has achieved its 2025 rooftop and community solar goal ahead of schedule and under budget, and we’re just getting started,” New York Solar Energy Industries Association Executive Director Noah Ginsburgh said. “Distributed solar projects are lowering New Yorkers’ electric bills, providing tax revenue to local governments, and employing thousands of workers across the Empire State. NYSEIA congratulates Governor Hochul, the legislature, NYSERDA, the Public Service Commission, the solar industry, and all New Yorkers on this important milestone.”

New York solar milestone, 6 gigawatts solar power, renewable energy New York, solar energy growth, clean energy progress, sustainability, solar power achievement, renewable energy targets

#ScienceFather#InventionsAwards#SolarPower #RenewableEnergy #CleanEnergy #NewYork #Sustainability #GreenEnergy #SolarMilestone #EnergyIndependence

Event Title : International Inventions Awards

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Thursday, October 24, 2024

Optical Computing Breakthrough with Photonic Processor

Traditional computers struggle with NP-complete problems, which grow exponentially in complexity. According to a study published in Advanced Photonics, a group of researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University has made progress in this field by creating a reconfigurable three-dimensional integrated photonic processor specifically intended to address the subset sum problem (SSP), a well-known NP-complete issue.

Light propagates in a three-dimensional photonic circuit to solve the subset sum problem. The image of the reconfigurable photonic processor is based on the research presented.

As technology develops, the limitations of traditional electronic computers become more noticeable, particularly when dealing with challenging computing problems. Some of the hardest problems in computer science are NP-complete issues.

These problems have important ramifications for industries such as manufacturing, transportation, and biomedicine. Researchers are looking for alternatives to conventional computing techniques to find more efficient solutions, and optical computing looks promising.

The researchers built a photonic chip of 1,449 standardized optical components using a novel femtosecond laser direct writing technology. This technology enables fast prototyping and increased design flexibility, essential for handling the SSP's complexity.

The SSP explores whether a particular subset of numbers can add up to a specified target. The researchers can compute by encoding the behavior of light on their photonic processor. The processor works by enabling a light beam's photons to explore all possible paths, offering answers in parallel simultaneously.

The processor's ability to solve several instances of the SSP with 100 % dependability demonstrates that this design maintains great precision and speeds up computation.

The SSP is not the only possible use for this technology. The possibility of adapting the processor's reconfigurable nature to tasks like optical neural networks and photonic quantum computing suggests a versatile future for photonic systems. Surprisingly, this new processor has outperformed its electrical competitors, especially regarding computation speed and efficiency as problem size grows.

This advancement opens the door to solving computationally challenging issues on a larger scale and represents a major step in utilizing light's capabilities for practical computing. As scientists continue investigating optical computing, this discovery may change how we tackle difficult problems in various scientific and industrial fields.

Optical computing, photonic processor, computing breakthrough, photonic technology, optical processors, future computing, light-based computing, photonics, tech innovation, high-speed computing

#ScienceFather#InventionsAwards#OpticalComputing #PhotonicProcessor #TechBreakthrough #FutureComputing #Photonics #LightBasedTech #HighSpeedComputing #TechInnovation

Event Title : International Inventions Awards

Wednesday, October 23, 2024

Orbital Electronics: See How a Simple Twist Is Rewiring the Future of Technology

Representation of the chiral, helical arrangement of atoms in a material (yellow spiral), combined with multiple monopoles in the form of a ‘spiky hedgehog monopole,’ showing the isotropic orbital angular momentum radiating uniformly in all directions

New research has identified orbital angular momentum monopoles in chiral materials, offering a leap forward in developing energy-efficient electronic devices. This could lead to significant advances in orbitronics, a new kind of electronics based on electron orbits rather than spins.

Scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, along with international collaborators, have observed orbital angular momentum (OAM) monopoles in chiral materials for the first time. This discovery, published in Nature Physics, could be a significant breakthrough for next-generation electronic devices, especially in the emerging field of chiral electronics.

Revolutionizing Information Transfer: The Rise of Orbitronics

In traditional electronics, information is transmitted using the charge of electrons. However, future technologies may shift to using another property of electrons: their intrinsic angular momentum. Historically, much of the focus has been on electron spin, which produces a magnetic moment and has been seen as the leading contender for next-generation devices. Now, researchers are turning their attention to orbitronics—a field that uses the angular momentum created by electrons as they orbit the nucleus. Orbitronics holds great potential for energy-efficient memory devices, as it can produce strong magnetizations with minimal charge currents.

A critical challenge in orbitronics has been identifying the right materials to generate large orbital polarizations. Recent advances have made progress using conventional materials like titanium. However, chiral materials, which often have a unique helical atomic structure similar to the DNA double helix, offer an exciting alternative. These materials naturally possess OAM textures as an intrinsic property, making them particularly attractive for orbitronics.

Dr. Niels Schröter, an independent group leader at the Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics and lead author of the study, explains that “chiral materials are anticipated to be significant and controllable sources of orbitally polarized electrons, which could contribute to the development of more energy-efficient memory and computing devices.”

Discovery of OAM Monopoles: Breaking the Symmetry

Another unusual and advantageous feature of such materials is their potential to host monopoles of OAMs within their electronic band structures. In this scenario, OAM behaves in ways that defy the rules of symmetry seen in conventional systems. For example, in magnets, we expect a north and south pole, rather than an isolated monopole.

At these monopoles, OAM radiates outwards like the spikes of a scared hedgehog curled into a ball. And this is what makes these materials so attractive: OAM is uniform in all directions – i.e. it is isotropic.

“This makes these materials special, as the direction along which the orbital angular momentum is polarized only depends on the direction of the injected charge current, and not the orientation of the crystal” says Dr. Jonas Krieger, formerly a Postdoc at the Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, who led the experimental team that made the discovery. Dr. Krieger is now a tenure-track scientist at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland where he still closely collaborates with his colleagues from Germany.

Overcoming Experimental Challenges

OAM monopoles in chiral crystals have long been an exciting prospect for orbitronics, but until now, they had only existed in theory. Observing them experimentally has been a significant challenge. The key to unlocking this mystery lay in a technique called Circular Dichroism in Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy, or CD-ARPES, which uses X-rays from a synchrotron light source. Despite its potential, previous attempts to detect OAM monopoles with this method had been unsuccessful.

“There was a disconnect between theory and experiment. Researchers may have collected the right data, but the evidence for OAM monopoles was hidden within it,” explains Dr. Michael Schüler from the Paul Scherrer Institute, who supervised the development of theoretical models that were used to interpret the data.

The difficulty stemmed from interpreting the complex data generated by CD-ARPES. In this technique, light is shone onto a material, ejecting electrons. The angles and energies of these ejected electrons provide insights into the material’s electronic structure. When circularly polarized light is used, it was initially assumed that the measurements would directly reflect the OAMs.

“That assumption turned out to be too simplistic. Our study revealed that the reality is much more complicated,” says Dr. Schüler.

Empirical Insights and Theoretical Advances

Determined to untangle the complex web of CD-ARPES data to reveal the existence of OAM monopoles, Schröter, Krieger, Schüler, and colleagues examined two types of chiral crystals: those made of palladium and gallium or platinum and gallium, which were synthesized at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics in Dresden in the Group of Prof. Claudia Felser.

The team approached the puzzle with an open mind to challenge every assumption. They then made an unusual extra step of performing the experiments at various photon energies. “At first, the data didn’t make sense. The signal seemed to be changing all over the place,” says Schüler.

By carefully comparing the experimental data to theoretical models, the scientists unpicked how different contributions complicated calculations of OAM from CD-ARPES data. In this way, they demonstrated how the CD-ARPES signal was not directly proportional to the OAMs, as previously believed, but rotated around the monopoles as the photon energy was changed. The theoretical model that they finally built fitted the CD-ARPES data regardless of the crystal orientation or photon energy tested.

In this way, they proved the presence of OAM monopoles. “The smoking gun was robustness,” explains Schröter. “Certain features persisted no matter which conditions we used. The only way to have this is with OAM monopoles, where the OAM is isotropic.”

Armed with the ability to accurately visualise OAM monopoles, Schröter and colleagues went on to show that the polarity of the monopole – whether the spikes of OAMs point inwards or outwards – could be reversed by using a crystal with a mirror image chirality. “We have therefore discovered a structure-property relationship that allows us to control the orbital response via the structural chirality of the crystal”, says Schröter.

Implications and Future Prospects in Chiral Electronics

This discovery not only marks a significant milestone in orbitronics but also aligns with the goals of the newly proposed Center for Chiral Electronics, a joint initiative between the Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics and the universities in Halle, Berlin, and Regensburg. The Center aims to address the growing need for more efficient data storage and processing technologies. By exploring the unique properties of chirality in electronic applications, the Center will develop new devices with advanced functionalities.

Orbital electronics, twistable electronics, flexible electronics, future technology, rewiring technology, advanced electronics, tech innovation, electronic circuits, smart devices, next-gen technology

#ScienceFather#InventionsAwards#OrbitalElectronics #FutureTech #FlexibleElectronics #TechInnovation #SmartDevices #AdvancedTechnology #ElectronicsRevolution #NextGenTech

Event Title : International Inventions Awards

Tuesday, October 22, 2024

Transformative tissue engineering research in space

An "out-of-this-world" project has the potential to transform the future of tissue engineering and liver transplantation through innovative research conducted aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Led by Tammy T. Chang, MD, PhD, FACS, a professor of surgery at the University of California, San Francisco, the Chang Laboratory for Liver Tissue Engineering is pioneering the self-assembly of human liver tissues in low Earth orbit (LEO) -; the area of space below an altitude of 1,200 miles. This process could significantly enhance the development of complex tissues for medical use on Earth. Strategies to transport these tissues back to Earth and relevant experimental results will be presented at the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2024 in San Francisco, California.

This method leverages the unique environment of microgravity to address the limitations of current tissue engineering techniques on Earth. For example, the use of artificial matrices that provide a framework on which cells grow can introduce outside materials and alter cellular function.

Innovative approach to tissue engineering

The Chang Laboratory's research focuses on the self-assembly of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) in microgravity. These initial cells are created from normal human cells reprogrammed to act like embryonic stem cells. This means iPSCs can change into many different types of cells. These stem cells are built into liver tissues in microgravity that function like a smaller, simpler liver. Unlike Earth-bound tissue engineering methods that rely on exogenous matrices or culture plates, microgravity allows cells to float freely and organize naturally, resulting in more physiologically accurate tissues.

A central component of this project is the development of a custom bioreactor, dubbed the "Tissue Orb," designed to facilitate tissue self-assembly in the weightless environment of space. The bioreactor features an artificial blood vessel and automated media exchange, simulating human tissues' natural blood flow process.

Future implications and cryopreservation advances

The research team is also working on advanced cryopreservation techniques to transport engineered tissues from space to Earth safely. The project's next phase involves testing isochoric supercooling, a preservation method that maintains tissues below freezing without damaging them. This technology could extend the shelf life of engineered tissues and potentially be applied to whole organs.

"Our goal is to develop robust preservation techniques that allow us to bring functional tissues back to Earth, where they can be used for a range of biomedical applications, including disease modeling, drug testing, and eventually, therapeutic implantation," Dr. Chang said.

The Chang Laboratory's spaceflight experiment is scheduled for launch in February 2025. The authors maintain that the research not only showcases the potential of microgravity for advancing tissue engineering but also lays the foundation for future innovations in space-based biomedical manufacturing.

The research is supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) in collaboration with the International Space Station National Laboratory (ISSNL) and the Translational Research Institute through NASA.

Tissue engineering, space research, regenerative medicine, microgravity, bioengineering, space technology, 3D bioprinting, stem cells, space biology, biomedical innovation, space exploration

#ScienceFather#InventionsAwards#TissueEngineering #SpaceResearch #Microgravity #RegenerativeMedicine #SpaceTech #Bioengineering #3DBioprinting #StemCells #BiomedicalInnovation #SpaceExploration

Event Title : International Inventions Awards

Monday, October 21, 2024

Technological innovation and policy synergy boost consumption growth

Recent efforts in China to integrate technological innovation with service consumption are influencing how consumers engage with everyday products, especially home appliances and smart home improvements. These changes are fueled by targeted government policies and subsidies designed to make upgrades more affordable, stimulating both the purchase of innovative products and economic growth.

In Shanghai, a resident surnamed Zou recently signed a home renovation contract for 140,000 yuan (around $19,713), saving over 20,000 yuan through a combination of government and seasonal discounts. Many home improvement markets now offer 15 to 20 percent subsidies on items such as home appliances and renovation materials, including cabinets and bathtubs.

The home appliance trade-in service is another example of service innovation powered by government policy. In communities such as Songjiang District in Shanghai, residents benefit from one-stop trade-in services for outdated home appliances, ensuring the installation of energy-efficient replacements that fit seamlessly into their homes.

The initiatives seen in Shanghai are supported by a broader national policy introduced in March to encourage equipment renewal and consumer goods trade-in. The policy outlines 20 key tasks across multiple sectors, including expanding the recycling of used goods, improving standards, and increasing fiscal support to drive sustainable consumption. By 2027, the plan aims to double the recycling volume of scrapped vehicles and increase the trade-in of used household appliances by 30 percent compared to 2023 levels.

Following this national initiative, regions such as Hubei, Chongqing and Shenzhen have expanded the categories of eligible products for subsidies, covering items like dishwashers, air purifiers and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Digital and green trends drive consumption growth

Technological innovation is a crucial driver of these initiatives. Advances in financial technology and the Internet of Things (IoT) are enhancing service quality nationwide. According to the latest data from the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), products labeled with top-level energy efficiency now account for more than 90 percent of sales revenues, reflecting consumers' preference for environmentally friendly and high-tech solutions.

There is also a surge in consumption driven by digital, green and health-related products, noted the MOFCOM. The production of new energy vehicles, for example, saw a 51.5 percent year-on-year increase in September, according to the China Passenger Car Association.

"The deep integration of the digital economy with the real economy is crucial for driving new development opportunities," said Huang Zhuo, deputy dean at Peking University, during the parallel forum on "Scientific and Technological Innovation Empowering High-Quality Development" on Friday at the 2024 Financial Street Forum.

"Technological innovation is the security guarantee for high-quality development, and improving the resilience and security level of the industrial chain and supply chain depends on scientific and technological innovation," Huang said.

"Through the process of promoting industrial innovation, substantial financial investment and resources are essential," he added.

Policies boost consumer engagement, economic growth

China's extensive policies aim to stimulate consumption through measures such as subsidies, tax incentives and recycling initiatives. Following the introduction of the action plan to implement the equipment and consumer goods renewal program in March, the government further boosted the initiative in July with an additional 300 billion yuan via ultra-long special treasury bonds.

Since August, China's trade-in program has generated over 69 billion yuan ($9.7 billion) in sales revenues, benefiting more than 10 million consumers, MOFCOM data showed. The central government alone has provided over 13 billion yuan in subsidies to support these efforts.

The initiatives have also unleashed new market demand, with more than 1.4 million applications for automobile scrapping and renewal subsidies, according to Vice Minister of Commerce Sheng Qiuping.

To maximize the impact of these initiatives, Li Ziwen, an expert in industrial and technological economics from the National Development and Reform Commission, stressed the importance of making policy benefits accessible to the public.

"Effective communication, both online and offline, will help ensure consumers are fully aware of available subsidies and how to access them," said Li. "Clear, accessible information on subsidy conditions and procedures is crucial for engaging the public and allow consumers to benefit from policies more effectively."

Technological innovation, policy synergy, consumption growth, economic development, digital transformation, market expansion, consumer behavior, innovation-driven growth, policy support, sustainable consumption

#ScienceFather#InventionsAwards#TechInnovation #PolicySynergy #ConsumptionGrowth #EconomicDevelopment #DigitalTransformation #MarketExpansion #SustainableGrowth #ConsumerTrends

Event Title : International Inventions Awards

Sunday, October 20, 2024

Did Life Begin in Space? The Surprising Discovery of a Crucial Sugar Acid

University of Mississippi astrochemist Ryan Fortenberry’s recent research indicates that glyceric acid, a building block of life, can form in space.

Researchers unlock the building blocks of life on Earth by recreating complex molecules.

Of all the questions asked about the cosmos over the last few thousand years, one researcher’s recent publication stands out: “Is space sweet or sour?”

Astrochemist Ryan Fortenberry, University of Mississippi associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry, collaborated with Ralf Kaiser, of the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, to study the creation of a simple sugar acid in space-like conditions. This molecule, glyceric acid, is considered a “building block” of life. The journal Physics News recently published their research.

“This is a fundamental question about where life originates,” Fortenberry said. “Where did we come from?”

“The discovery of this molecule (…) tells us how we can go from the creation of atoms in the core of stars to complex biomolecules that allow us to contemplate the universe itself.”

Glyceric acid is one of the simplest sugar acids and plays a crucial role in the metabolism of living organisms on Earth. Though acids, such as vinegar, are normally sour and sugars are sweet, glyceric acid can be either, depending on its state, Fortenberry said.

Bridging the Gap in Our Understanding

Regardless of how the molecule tastes, its formation fills in an important gap in our understanding of the origin of life, Fortenberry said. The gap is between small molecules – like those studied in prebiotic chemistry – the study of chemical reactions that preceded intelligent life and have between four and 14 atoms – and large molecules, which can have up to 4,000 atoms.

“Within astrochemistry, there’s a big disconnect between what we call prebiotic chemistry and biochemistry,” he said. “What we know from the biochemistry is that if we can make these small biomolecules, these small prebiotic molecules, they will assemble together into these big biochemicals.”

That’s where glyceric acid comes in. It is one of the in-between chemicals – neither large nor small – that shows that prebiotic molecules can join to become biochemicals, he said.

“It’s like prebiotic molecules are the sticks and the leaves and the pinecones, and biochemistry molecules are the tree,” he said. “We have the pieces. How do we put the pieces together?

“To continue the analogy, this molecule is a branch. It’s got leaves. It’s got sticks. It’s got pinecones on it. It’s not a tree, but it’s a branch, and we can take the branches, put them together, and make a tree.”
Glyceric Acid in Space: A Step Toward Understanding Life’s Origins

Understanding that glyceric acid can form in space is a key to unraveling the mystery of life’s origins on Earth, he said. If glyceric acid can form in gas clouds in space – for example, in Sagittarius B2, a large cloud at the center of Earth’s galaxy – then the molecules essential for life may be more common in space than previously understood.

“The study suggests that molecules like glyceric acid could have been synthesized in molecular clouds and possibly in star-forming regions prior to their delivery to Earth via comets or meteorites thus contributing to the building blocks of life,” Kaiser said. “Understanding how these molecules form in space is crucial for unraveling the mysteries of life’s origins.”

That could mean that Earth’s life-forming conditions may not be an anomaly, but more likely than previously thought.

“Every atom in our body that’s not hydrogen – every single atom in your body, mine, this table, the whole planet – everything that is not hydrogen at some point over the past 13 billion years was formed in a star,” he said. “Those atoms became molecules, and we don’t exactly know how it continues, but it eventually made large molecules.

“Those molecules made cells, and those cells made tissues, and those tissues made organs, and those organs made organisms. This molecule (glyceric acid) matters because it is one of those steps along the ladder.”

Reference: “Ist der Weltraum süß oder sauer?” by Jia Wang, Joshua H. Marks, Ralf I. Kaiser and Ryan C. Fortenberry, 01 July 2024, Physik in unserer Zeit.

Origin of life, Space chemistry, Extraterrestrial life, Ribose sugar, Prebiotic molecules, Astrobiology, Meteorites, Organic compounds, Abiogenesis, Cosmic origins, RNA world hypothesis

#ScienceFather#InventionsAwards#OriginOfLife#Astrobiology#SpaceChemistry#Meteorites#Ribose#RNAWorld#PrebioticMolecules#ExtraterrestrialLife#Abiogenesis#LifeInSpace

Event Title : International Inventions Awards

Friday, October 18, 2024

New practice on patentability of AI inventions in China

More AI patents are being allowed due to revised guidelines introduced this year that set out specific criteria, says Hengwei Zhou of CCPIT Patent and Trademark Law Office.

With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, the world is undergoing unprecedented transformations. When innovators in AI technology seek to protect their intellectual achievements through patents, a primary challenge arises—the definition of patentable subject matter.

As stated in Article 2.2 of China’s Patent Law, patentable subject matter excludes non-technical solutions. There was a lack of clear criteria in China’s patent practice for determining whether an AI invention constitutes a technical solution, given the abstract, complex, and unobservable nature of AI algorithms.

This situation has changed with the revised Guidelines for Patent Examination coming into effect on January 20, 2024, which introduced three specific criteria for evaluating the patentability of an AI invention. This article introduces these criteria as well as our observations of their practice over the past six months, aiming to clarify the latest patentable boundaries of AI inventions in China.

Defining accepted data types

The first criterion focuses on the nature of data processed by an AI algorithm. To put it simply, if data employed by the AI algorithm defined in the claims possesses a clear technical connotation, that data is deemed technical and the AI invention utilising this data is a patentable technical solution.

Over the past six months, we observed that diverse types of data are recognised as technical, including images, texts, audio data, measurement data, cellular communications, network packets, etc. Even generalised concepts such as sensor data and media data are accepted by the Patent Office. However, purely mathematical constructs like vectors, features, or graph topologies, are still deemed non-technical.

We also observed that the Patent Office does not require all data processed by the AI algorithm to be technical. It is sufficient to define some technical data in the claims, regardless of the technicality of other data, such as intermediate data or output data, of the AI algorithm.

The Patent Office also accepts general claim language such as ‘an AI model for image processing’, implying the data being processed includes images, which are deemed technical data.

The first criterion is quite straightforward. When preparing patent applications, applicants are advised to include in the specification a comprehensive list of potential technical data involved in their AI model, from which they may choose to define desired data types in the claims to avoid a potential non-patentable subject matter issue. In the case of a broadly applicable AI model, various technical data types may be relevant. While seeking protection for such an AI model, applicants may submit divisional applications for different technical data types.

Technical association

The second criterion involves assessing a particular technical association between an AI invention and the internal structure of a computer system. If such an association exists, and if the AI invention addresses a technical problem within the computer system and achieves performance improvements, it could be accepted as a patentable technical solution.

The key point is to present the technical association. In our observations, a technical association may manifest itself through the implementation of the AI invention that either depends on or impacts the internal structure of the computer system.

For example, an AI invention that adjusts execution parameters of its model based on the number of processing cores would be considered to have a direct technical association with the internal computer structure.

An AI invention that solely enhances the AI algorithm, even if such enhancements reduce execution time of the algorithm, would not be deemed to be a technical solution. Put differently, if an AI algorithm is independent of the computer device on which it runs and can be executed on any general-purpose computer and achieve the same effect, that algorithm would not meet the second criterion for being accepted as a technical solution.

To satisfy the second criterion, it would be beneficial for applicants to provide clear explanations in the specification regarding the specific technical association between the AI invention and the internal structure of the computer system. The internal structure may involve hardware, software, or both. Additionally, the applicants may provide an explanation of how the technical association leads to desired technical effects. Exemplary technical effects include reducing data storage, decreasing data transmission demands, enhancing hardware processing speed, etc.

Natural correlation

The third criterion focuses on identifying a natural correlation through big data mining. If an AI invention mines an inherent correlation within big data from specific fields and the correlation aligns with natural principles and potentially resolves technical issues pertaining to the reliability or accuracy of data analysis, leading to potential technical effects, that AI invention could be considered a technical solution.

The essence of this criterion is to present a mined correlation conforming to natural principles. In China’s practice, it has been observed that ‘natural principles’ generally encompass physical principles, chemical phenomena, and biological characteristics, excluding purely mathematical theorems, business logic, and man-made rules.

For instance, a correlation between air humidity and paint quality in industrial factories might be considered to conform to natural principles. An AI model trained on effective court decisions to predict litigation outcomes is not deemed technical, because it generally reflects man-made laws.

The third criterion is relatively subjective. Applicants are advised to draft their specifications to demonstrate the potential natural attributes of the correlation discovered by the AI invention, even if providing a comprehensive explanation may be challenging. This might enable the Patent Office to perceive the underlying natural correlation.

An AI invention is deemed technical and patentable if satisfying any one of the three criteria discussed above. We have seen an increase in the number of allowed AI patents, which would otherwise face subject matter rejections in absence of these criteria.

The introduction of the criteria, which are specifically designed for AI inventions, signifies a relaxation of the restrictions by China’s Patent Office and demonstrates the country’s dedication to fostering AI technological development. For innovators in the AI sector, China not only offers promising business prospects but has the potential to emerge as a pioneer in the protection of IP.

AI patentability, Artificial intelligence innovation, AI intellectual property, China patent law, AI technology protection, Patent examination guidelines, Machine learning patents, AI software patents, Invention patent criteria, AI patent strategy, AI patent filing, Patent applications in China, AI algorithms patentability, Patent scope in AI, Chinese patent practice

#ScienceFather#InventionsAwards#AIPatents#ChinaIPLaw#AIInnovation#PatentLaw#AIInventions#IntellectualProperty#PatentExamination#TechPatents#ArtificialIntelligence#InnovationProtection#ChinaAI#PatentStrategy#AIandLaw#IPinChina#MachineLearningPatents#Researchers#Scientists

Event Title : International Inventions Awards

Thursday, October 17, 2024

Quantum computers makes things happen 'like magic'

The development of quantum computers will make everything "happen better", a researcher at a top university has said.

A team from Oxford University’s department of physics are among researchers from across the world racing to develop quantum computers, which are more advanced than current computers.

Dr Christopher Ballance, from the department, said the new technology had the potential to improve many aspects of our lives, from weather apps to drug development.

"The best advance tech is indistinguishable from magic, and that's how quantum computing is going to be," he said.

Researchers across the world are developing quantum computers, which could solve equations that are too hard for current computers

Quantum physics is, according to the university's professor of quantum technologies Simon Benjamin, the "weird, interesting bit of physics".

"It's the bit where things get spooky and really strange stuff happens that defies every day intuition," he said.

Prof Benjamin said quantum computers could be used to solve equations that are "too hard" for current technology.

"We hope for a golden age of discovery once these machines are online," he added.

What is quantum computing?

Quantum computers make use of the weird qualities of sub-atomic particles.

So-called quantum particles can be in two places at the same time and also strangely connected even though they are millions of miles apart.

The computers found in most of our homes and workplaces process data in bits, which have a binary value of either zero or one.

Quantum computers instead use a two-state unit for data processing called a qubit.

Developing quantum computers is not without its difficulties, according to Natalia Ares, associate professor in engineering science.

"We are facing some challenges in how to build these computer," she said.

"Now, you'll have to control this entire circuit with many, many gates and many configurations that are possible.

"How you do that is a very difficult engineering problem."

But, despite the difficulties, Prof Benjamin is optimistic.

"We are getting there," he said.

"There's a whole series of milestones and every few months, someone in the world achieves another one."

Quantum Computing, Superposition, Entanglement, Quantum Bits, Qubits, Quantum Algorithms, Quantum Supremacy, Cryptography, Quantum Simulation, Quantum Teleportation, Quantum Machine Learning

#ScienceFather#InventionsAwards#QuantumComputing#Qubits#Entanglement#QuantumTech#QuantumAlgorithms#QuantumSupremacy#FutureOfTech#QuantumInnovation#QuantumCryptography#TechMagic

Event Title : International Inventions Awards

Invention Awards

Sunday, October 27, 2024

New York Reaches 6 Gigawatts of Solar Power One Year Early!

Thursday, October 24, 2024

Optical Computing Breakthrough with Photonic Processor

Wednesday, October 23, 2024

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