Robert D. Watson

[email protected]

248-380-9300, ext. 121

Bob is a registered patent agent at Quinn IP Law with over two decades of experience in patentability determination, patent writing, prosecution, and freedom-to operate searches of complex, high-technology inventions. His expertise has been gained from prosecuting hundreds of patent applications to issuance, and from completing five engineering degrees (including a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering). He is data-driven and adept at harnessing evidence-based insights to support patent preparation. He is technically proficient at writing broad claims that distill complex ideas into simple statements.

Bob has attained a 98% success rate in achieving patent allowance, having prosecuted more than 150 complex, high-technology patent applications to issuance in multiple disciplines, including:  chemical, mechanical, microelectronics, solar energy, electrical, sensors, biotechnology, optical, materials, computers, nuclear, and physics.

His areas of expertise include patent prior art searching, patent law and prosecution, technical and legal writing, patent applications and portfolio analysis, invention, and licensing intellectual property law, patent drafting and prosecution, engineering, and technology, freedom-to-operate opinion.

Bob has prosecuted over 150 complex, high-technology patent applications to issuance in multiple disciplines, including:  chemical, mechanical, microelectronics, solar energy, electrical, sensors, biotechnology, optical, materials, computers, nuclear, and physics. He has represented numerous organizations as a patent agent including Wavefront Dynamics, Inc., UNIRAC, Inc, STC.UNM/University of New Mexico, and Sandia National Laboratories. He attained a 98% success rate in achieving patents allowance.

Bob was the first student in the history of the Nuclear Engineering Department to pass all four qualifying exams on the first try.

Bob has co-authored over 90 articles (including 56 refereed journal articles); and presented nine invited talks at international conferences on magnetic fusion energy technology while serving as principal member of the technical staff in the Fusion Technology Department of Sandia National Laboratories.

Practice Areas

  • Patents

Industries

  • Automotive
  • Chemistry & Chemical Engineering
  • Consumer Electronics
  • Consumer Products
  • Electrical & Computer Science-Engineering
  • Image Processing & Optics
  • Manufacturing
  • Materials & Material Science
  • Mechanical & Electromechanical Engineering
  • Medical Devices
  • Semiconductor Processing & Devices

Education

  • Ph.D., Nuclear Engineering University of Wisconsin
  • MS, Engineering Mechanics University of Wisconsin
  • MS, Nuclear Engineering University of Wisconsin
  • BS, Theoretical & Applied Mechanics University of Illinois
    • Highest Honors
  • BS, General Engineering University of Illinois
    • High Honors
  • AWARDS
  • US Department of Energy Certificate of Appreciation -- Coordination of Small Business Innovative Research programs that are focused on advanced plasma-facing materials development, novel joining processes, and state-of-the-art heat removal technology. (1995)
  • University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana Fred B. Seely Award -- Undergraduate Excellence in the Department of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (TAM), (1976)