Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1948 [PAGE 956]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

i948]

U N I V E R S I T Y OF I L L I N O I S

955

REVISION OF REGULATIONS RELATING TO PATENTABLE DISCOVERIES (5) The Board of Trustees on October i8, 1945 (Minutes, page 866), established the following procedure for dealing with potentially patentable discoveries made by members of the staff, as they are reported: (a) The Faculty Committee on Patents may consult with the University's patent attorneys immediately, without prior authorization by the Board of Trustees. (b) If, in the judgment of counsel, the discovery should be patented, an application for patent shall be filed immediately and reported to the Board at the next opportunity. (c) If in the judgment of the Faculty Committee, the University would not be justified in expending funds for a patent application, a recommendation shall be made to the Board for the release of the discovery to the discoverer. I recommend that sections ( a ) , ( b ) , and (c) above be rescinded and replaced by the following: (a) The University Research Board will review all potentially patentable discoveries and advise the President. (b) No application for a patent shall be filed, nor shall a discovery be released to the discoverer, with right to file his own application, without prior authorization by the Board of Trustees or its Executive Committee. All patent applications so authorized will be initiated by the President's Office, through the Legal Counsel, acting on behalf of the Board.

O n motion of Mr. Davis, the procedure with respect to patents was amended as recommended. O n motion of Mr. Fornof, a letter from Dean Ridenour proposing a plan for the distribution of royalties was referred to the Committee on Patents for consideration and report.

NEW STORAGE SYSTEM FOR HIGH-SPEED COMPUTERS (6) Professor Arthur L. Samuel of the Department of Electrical Engineering has developed ideas for a new system which will permit the electrostatic storage of a large amount of information for use in connection with high-speed digital computers. The electrostatic storage field is developing so rapidly that in the judgment of the University Research Board steps should be taken promptly by the University to secure patents on Professor Samuel's work. I recommend that the Board authorize the filing of a patent application or applications if multiple applications are necessary.

On motion of Mr. Nickell, this recommendation was approved and adopted.

PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT FOR BETATRON (7) The Board of Trustees requested at its meeting on November 29, 1947, that further negotiations be conducted with the Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for the following equipment for the Betatron: (1) backwound "A" coil, (2) core blocking, and (3) transformer bank. These negotiations have been completed, and the Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company has agreed to furnish the equipment under the following conditions: 1. The contract price shall be $35,000, with the provision that if actual costs (as determined by their usual accounting methods) are less than this amount the cost to the University will be reduced. 2. Monthly statements of cost incurred will be submitted by the Company and the University will pay such costs. 3. The University will have the right, for its convenience, to terminate the contract at any date. Upon such termination, the University will pay all costs plus 10% of such costs for profit to the Company and will acquire title to the equipment. Professor Kerst, who is in charge of construction and of the research program for which the Betatron is being built, Professor F. W. Loomis, the Director of Purchases, and the Comptroller recommend that a contract as described be executed with the Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company. Funds are available in the special State appropriation for Betatron development and equipment.