Energy & Engineering

Whether intended to operate in the depths of space or in Earth's atmosphere, the technology demands of manned and unmanned platforms require innovative solutions. WAVS IP has extensive experience with, and a deep understanding of, the technical and business challenges of the competitive aerospace industry. Our areas of expertise include:

• Satellite systems and technologies

• Payload and flight computer electronics

• Propulsion, thermal and attitude control systems and components

• Flight solar array, battery and power management technologies

• Light weight materials and mechanisms

The need to store electrical energy for use on demand in a variety of applications continues to drive significant innovation. WAVS IP attorneys have worked in electrochemistry research and counseled clients in the battery, capacitor and fuel cell fields for over two decades. Our areas of expertise include:

• Battery technologies including Li ion; Li metal; Nickel-Zinc; various anode, cathode and electrolyte chemistries and compositions; solid state batteries; flow cells; and other high energy density, rate or power chemistries, components and structures

• Fuel cell technologies including SOFC and PEM fuel cells

• Capacitors and super capacitors and associated materials and structures

Signal processing techniques underlie technologies being developed by clients of WAVS IP in a diverse range of applications, including audio engineering, communications technologies, display technologies and sensor technologies. Following are some examples:

• Audio encoding techniques employ signal processing to optimize sound quality for a given data rate.

• Signal enhancement techniques improve the performance of touch, gesture and fingerprint sensor systems.

• Audio spatialization methods provide three-dimensional audio effects for movie cinemas, home theater systems and teleconferencing systems.

Some WAVS IP attorneys have worked with various types of signal processing technologies for over three decades.

The innovations made possible by electrochemical engineering, such as BEOL integrated circuit fabrication, precision materials processing techniques, electrochromic devices, high-tech sensors, fuel cells and batteries for mobile devices and automobiles, have created a new world of opportunity. WAVS IP attorneys have extensive technical and legal experience in this area, helping clients build new research into patent portfolios.

• Deep expertise in all areas of electrochemistry including galvanic and electrolytic cells

• Research and client counseling experience with UC Berkeley and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL)

• Clients include leaders in electroplating, electro-less plating, sensors, batteries (various chemistries), and fuel cells

As our energy needs – and the desire to minimize our impact on natural resources – continue to grow, new technologies are essential to help us do both. As an industry rich with possibilities, it's equally important that these ideas be thoughtfully guided and protected as they're brought to market. Our areas of expertise include:

• Solar (photovoltaic solar, solar thermal and thin film solar technologies)

• Biomass combustion

• Batteries and Fuel Cells

• Energy efficient buildings including electrochromic windows

Nanotechnology is driving significant changes across numerous industries, from chemistry and science to engineering and manufacturing. Understanding the mechanics is key, and something WAVS IP does well because of the depth and technical knowledge of our staff. But we also understand that the net result has to do with the business, and how to make sure the IP you're creating delivers results and value.

• Expertise in the materials and morphologies of nanostructures

• Expertise in fabrication of nanostructured materials and devices

• Expertise in application of nanostructured materials including energy conversion and storage systems, sensors, and semiconductor device elements.

Combining elements of engineering, microtechnology, and chemistry, microfluidics is crucial to a wide realm of modern era tools and analysis, from ink jet printheads to DNA research. WAVS IP has represented a range of academic and industrial entities in protecting their Microfluidic devices and processes.

• Purification or rare target species

• Characterization of samples (e.g., genotyping)

• Manipulation of sample materials

• Lab-on-a-chip technology

Mechanical devices continue to be an important part of our clients' product portfolios, including consumer-wearable devices, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, satellite technology, micro-electromechanical (MEMS) devices, and medical devices. WAVS IP has attorneys with advanced degrees in mechanical engineering and related fields from leading academic institutions.

• Our attorneys have extensive experience in drafting mechanical engineering applications, and are conversant with a wide range of different mechanical subject areas.

• WAVS IP has the capability to transform solid models of mechanical designs provided by clients into clear, detailed two-dimensional drawings that convey how a mechanical design looks or functions in order to provide a stronger patent application.

Analytical instrumentation is crucial in moving science, engineering and technology to new levels of innovation. WAVS IP has been involved in portfolio development, opinions of counsel, and target IP analyses of leading analytical tools. Our areas of expertise include:

• Instrumentation for characterizing chemical, physical, and biological samples

• PCR, directed evolution, and other nucleic acid modification techniques

• Electrical, mechanical, and optical interrogation techniques including scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, optical and fluorescence techniques.