Talk:Twisted nematic field effect

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

	Portal This article is within the scope of WikiProject Physics, which collaborates on articles related to physics.
???	This article has not yet received a rating on the assessment scale. [FAQ]
???	This article has not yet received an importance rating within physics.
Help with this template Comments: edit – history – watch – refresh If I rermember correctly the twisted Nematic effect was discovered by Jim Fergason, who later sold the pateint to hoffman laroche after they attempted to steal his work, Jim Feragson was given a 1 million dollar cash settlement, and royalities for the discovery. Please Read spring 2002 issue of american heritage of inventions and technology volume 17 number 4, page 20 for further details. If Martin Schadt remembers correctly, there was no such thing as "attempt to steal the work ..." involved. Please kindly identify yourself so we know who we are "talking" to and if you can possibly know the facts and details of this subject matter. panjasan 20:31, 31 January 2007 (UTC) panjasan One more aspect: Fergasons patent (US 3 731 986) was filed on April 22, 1971 while the corresponding patent of Hoffmann-LaRoche (CH 532 261) was filed on December 4, 1970. Why should somebody try to steal something that was filed for patent almost 5 months earlier ? panjasan 21:04, 31 January 2007 (UTC) panjasan

Even though (or just because) this seems to be a somewhat controversial subject, it would be helpful to know the identity of the person that is applying changes here and only appears as IP address.

Thanks in advance ...

panjasan 20:25, 31 January 2007 (UTC)panjasan

The unknown editor writes: "If I rermember correctly the twisted Nematic effect was discovered by Jim Fergason, who later sold the pateint to hoffman laroche after they attempted to steal his work, Jim Feragson was given a 1 million dollar cash settlement, and royalities for the discovery. Please Read spring 2002 issue of american heritage of inventions and technology volume 17 number 4, page 20 for further details."

panjasan replies: "If Martin Schadt remembers correctly, there was no such thing as "attempt to steal the work ..." involved. Please kindly identify yourself so we know who we are "talking" to and if you can possibly know the facts and details of this subject matter.

One more aspect: Fergasons patent (US 3 731 986) was filed on April 22, 1971 while the corresponding patent of Hoffmann-LaRoche (CH 532 261) was filed on December 4, 1970. Why should somebody try to steal something that was filed for patent almost 5 months earlier ? "

panjasan 21:11, 31 January 2007 (UTC) panjasan

The changes of the unidentified editor also have introduced some liguistic inconsistencies that negatively affect the article. A revision would be beneficial.

panjasan 14:24, 2 February 2007 (UTC)panjasan

Since the "disclosed editor" did not return to clean up his mess, I applied some modifications for better readability and added the filing date of the US patent US 3 731 986.

panjasan 21:21, 16 February 2007 (UTC) panjasan

Sources & references added to improve verifiablity panjasan 14:50, 8 June 2007 (UTC)panjasan

First to file is not the same as first to invent. The record indicates that Fergason did not lose his patent in the litigation with Hoffmann-LaRoche, which suggests (I haven't seen the decision) that Fergason was able to show an earlier conception and/or reduction to practice than the Hoffmann-LaRoche inventors. Also, the Fergason patent is based on a continuation-in-part of an earlier application filed in February of 1971, indicating the time between filing was only two months rather than five. 164.144.123.1 (talk) 15:47, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

Citing a personal communication from an inventor who was himself involved in the dispute over who was first to invent is factually highly suspect and obviously biased. US interference proceedings in the '70s were strongly weighted procedurally in favor of the senior party (first to file). The adage among US patent attorneys was that it was better to be senior party than first to invent. In view of that, the survival of the Fergason patent is strongly suggestive that the Hoffmann-LaRoche inventors were NOT the first to invent. Someone with time on their hands should be able to research the case and get the facts as determined by the court. 164.144.123.1 (talk) 15:55, 23 May 2008 (UTC)