Liquidmetal Technologies Inc (LQMT)

[jpaige17]

While I can't say with certainty, I do believe that these Nickel and Beryllium free bulk metallic glasses are not covered under any of Liquidmetal's patents. The closest one of our patents comes to covering it is this (at least that I could find):

http://www.google.com/patents/US5735975

Inoue's Nickel and Beryllium free formula is this:

Zr45+xCu40-xAl7Pd5Nb3, where x=0–20

Ours in patent number 5735975 is this:

(Zr,Hf).sub.a (Al,Zn).sub.b (Ti,Nb).sub.c (Cu.sub.x Fe.sub.y (Ni,Co).sub.z).sub.d wherein the constraints upon the formula are: a ranges from 45 to 65 atomic percent, b ranges from 5 to 15 atomic percent, c ranges from 4 to 7.5 atomic percent, d comprises the balance, d.multidot.y is less than 10 atomic percent, and x/z ranges from 0.5 to 2.


So, because their Niobium content is only 3 percent, they can get away with it (in my opinion). We are required to have a Niobium (and/or Titanium) content of 4-7.5 percent. They've also got Palladium in theirs, whereas our formula in this patent has no allowance for Palladium.


I may have missed something in one of the other patents, but I'm fairly confident they would not have to pay any royalties to Liquidmetal.