we now have two threads on a similar theme one on moving lights and one on conventional lights. Speaking as an engineer who has managed the intellectual property portfolio for a high technology design company I should mention a number of points:
1) it is more difficult than is generally appreciated to get a patent on design features because it is difficult to develop something that is truely unique and many patents have to go to great lengths to exclude the prior art that exists in other patents making the patent very narrow which is why it is often very difficult to enforce a patent even in the U.S. which has the broadest patent laws of any western country.
2) when it comes to electronics etc. the component manufacturers publish many application notes on how to use their products including application schematics. The use of stepper motors and servo motors and the design of their controllers is not difficult today, just look at the High School Robot competitions and read the "Robot Builder's Bonanza" or some of the many websites on this topic - this is the basis of a moving light.
3) all companies face the challange of continued inovation - you have to keep doing this or you cease to be in bsiness.
4) Sometimes the reasons products look the same is dictated by manufacturing technolgy cars have become very similar because of the increasing demands of aerodynamics to meet fuel economy numbers.
By the way how many of you buy only genuine ford, GM or Chrysler parts from the dealer for your cars? Regardless of the fact that none of the manufacturers make the parts and buy them from the same companies who often supply the aftermarket with better parts than are installed by the manufacturer. None of this is simple and is a constant challange for the management and staff of successful companies. Innovate or cease to exist is the reality of biusiness.
1) it is more difficult than is generally appreciated to get a patent on design features because it is difficult to develop something that is truely unique and many patents have to go to great lengths to exclude the prior art that exists in other patents making the patent very narrow which is why it is often very difficult to enforce a patent even in the U.S. which has the broadest patent laws of any western country.
2) when it comes to electronics etc. the component manufacturers publish many application notes on how to use their products including application schematics. The use of stepper motors and servo motors and the design of their controllers is not difficult today, just look at the High School Robot competitions and read the "Robot Builder's Bonanza" or some of the many websites on this topic - this is the basis of a moving light.
3) all companies face the challange of continued inovation - you have to keep doing this or you cease to be in bsiness.
4) Sometimes the reasons products look the same is dictated by manufacturing technolgy cars have become very similar because of the increasing demands of aerodynamics to meet fuel economy numbers.
By the way how many of you buy only genuine ford, GM or Chrysler parts from the dealer for your cars? Regardless of the fact that none of the manufacturers make the parts and buy them from the same companies who often supply the aftermarket with better parts than are installed by the manufacturer. None of this is simple and is a constant challange for the management and staff of successful companies. Innovate or cease to exist is the reality of biusiness.
