New Frankenproject -

[Pete the Builder]

G'day all,

Things are all quiet on the Western Front... Too quiet...

Don't worry, these ideas are still alive and kicking, I've just been sidetracked a little... I'm moving my main design system to a new, larger (cooler) chassis, plus it's getting a much-needed video card upgrade (that's going well), and a long overdue sound card upgrade (that's not going so well, unfortunately). Then it turns out that the new video card needs a larger power supply (1100W instead of 800W), and a reroute had to take place. Now the sound card reboots the system, although there's nothing wrong with the card itself!

Then the missus' car has to have it's engine replaced, as it's been drinking water like crazy lately. It's not showing up in the oil, and it didn't show up running, it just gets about 45 miles to the gallon (20 km/l) - of water! So that's also a priority right now.

I hope to have the cap board done soon, then I can get the boards made up! And that's supposed to be next week! I'm almost sure it will happen!
-PtB

[Carl-NC]

"Pete the Rebuilder"

[mickstv]

So I wonder what happened to Pete the Rebuilder ?

[technos]

Thanks everyone for your helpful comments. I appreciate the diverse opinions expressed - this is such a multicultural forum!

Carl's points make the issue very much clearer. As far as I can tell, from published information, the big deal was with the ground balance design Howard developed in software, from his own extensive knowledge of electronics and ground balancing. I put it that way for want of a better way of expressing "He didn't copy any patented design that anyone else had ever done", as far as is possible to know from the little that's out there. However, private correspondence has confirmed this to a reasonable extent.

So publishing the circuit exposes nothing of Minelabs', and infringes no patent. But of course, this is still a patented design! Since the ground balancing is done in software, and we do not have any software for this, it will not work. Please do not ask for the software, as at this stage it is not available under any circumstances! And, thanks to the dispute - and corresponding legal fallout - engineered by a company whose name starts with 'M' (and ends in 'inelabs'), the software will probably never be released in it's current form.

Actually I would not limit yourself here as this issue is not cast in stone. I *briefly* looked over the possible patents that might would cover the SD2000 and they *should* expire in a year. At which time they become public domain in the US. This would include the software as well. Recent SCOTUS decisions have been clear, you can not use copyright law to artificially extend the life of your now expired patent.

Technically, in about year from now, people should be able to post the microcode to a file in the forum for people to use. I say technically, because that still does not stop an angry company from coming along to try and ruin your day.

I have not waded through all the comments or schematics in the forums (I don't have the time at the moment) and this is not meant as legal advice (I am not a lawyer - but I have been following these issues closely for years). At some point I want to start a nonprofit that would protect fair use, but have been able to do so because of bad time consuming familial obligations. There are other issues that are not apparent that I won't mention now, but hopefully will come to light in the future.

I just stopped by for a moment to skim the forums briefly, as I do not have too much time now to spend in discussion about this (I have argued ad nauseam with others about this). The fact is the final legal arbiter of such things would be a judge in the US. Not someone down under. (Assuming the builder is in the US). BTW, you can bet the Chinese (if they see a buck which invariably they will) will in fact clone the design, so it might be easier to just purchase one then anyway for those who are not experimenters or technical analysts.

At some point in the future perhaps after I take care of pressing obligations we could come up with a way to post the microcode for those that are interested after the patents finish expiring next year around this time. But I can also understand not wanting to deal with bullying from some company and avoiding it altogether. But all I wanted to do now was point out the point that patents do, in fact expire. And copyright/trademarks can't be used to artificially extend them.

The thing that people need to be doing is preventing future troll patenting, such as that ferrite bead patent mentioned in another thread. There appears to be prior art for that, as ferrite beads have been used extensively in other industries. Perhaps we can take this head on at some point in the future.

I just wanted to poke my head in, say hi, and post this FYI for some people.

[Aziz]

Hi guys,

the QED ground balancing metal detector project sources are available. Look at the "Offsite Forums"-section on this forum and look at the "Russian Metal Detecting forums" link (don't use the Babelfish-link, it isn't working anymore).
I didn't know the link until ***** contacted BW and BW contacted me to remove the contents there.
Unfortunately, I have failed to achieve this goal. The Russian guys denied to remove it.

Anyway, thanks to ***** for giving the hot link.
You must search in the Russian metal detecting forum (PI section) to find the QED sources.

The BW GB is simple but very effective.

Cheers,
Aziz

[turboaleks]

Hi Aziz, I found this thread in the Russian forum 2 weeks ago and was surprised that "everything" is included. So I thought to give it a try. First I etched the double sided PCB and recognized, that some parts are not easy to solder. But who cares... Within the next 24 hours my Digikey order with almost all needed parts will arrive. The source code was easy to compile under MPLAB, I am not sure, if the hex from Russian forum is correct, because they did this in three diffrent ways, if I understood it correctly. Sad, that there are no news from the Russian guys, won't make things easier...

[Aziz]

Hi Aziz, I found this thread in the Russian forum 2 weeks ago and was surprised that "everything" is included. So I thought to give it a try. First I etched the double sided PCB and recognized, that some parts are not easy to solder. But who cares... Within the next 24 hours my Digikey order with almost all needed parts will arrive. The source code was easy to compile under MPLAB, I am not sure, if the hex from Russian forum is correct, because they did this in three diffrent ways, if I understood it correctly. Sad, that there are no news from the Russian guys, won't make things easier...

Ignore the following posts there (confused, mixed with old projects - ignore it completely). Only the first post and the zip-file is important.

Aziz,
*****

[turboaleks]

I forgot to mention a BIG THX to the guy, who put the files there, who could this be,hehe... Yes, in the thread there were mixed up different versions of the detector. I only use the files in the package, besides the readme explains it. This one is called the "Strand" (kraut) version in another forum... Once again thanks for letting us participate on this great thing.

[Qiaozhi]

Ignore the following posts there (confused, mixed with old projects - ignore it completely). Only the first post and the zip-file is important.

Aziz,
*****

Please do not resurrect the Minelab/QED ranting here again. You've made your point countless times in other threads, completely ruining the discussion in the process. It's now time to move on.

Discuss the technical aspects of the circuitry by all means, but [please] keep the rants to yourself.

[Aziz]

BW deserves a BIG THX.

Aziz,
the "Raffgierdoktor"
the QED leaker
the Metal Detector Nobel Prize Winner *LOL*

[Aziz]

Please do not resurrect the Minelab xxxxxxxxxxxxxx / xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx QED ranting here again. You've made your point countless times in other threads, completely ruining the discussion in the process. It's now time to move on.

Discuss the technical aspects of the circuitry by all means, but [please] keep the rants to yourself.

(emphasis mine)

Please, please Mr. Chief & Boss, keep a huge distance between "Minelab" xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and the term xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx "QED" (=quite easily done) as both terms are an oxymoron to each other.

Ok, I will do my best not to rant.
Aziz

[Qiaozhi]

(emphasis mine)

Please, please Mr. Chief & Boss, keep a huge distance between "Minelab" xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and the term xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx "QED" (=quite easily done) as both terms are an oxymoron to each other.

Ok, I will do my best not to rant.
Aziz

Thanks, as my DELETE key is wearing out.

Seriously though, you have made some good contributions here, and even recently you've assisted Eric with his data analysis. Please keep this up, as it's what we like to see. The ranting only detracts from the good stuff.