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Methods and apparatus for mobile additive manufacturing of advanced roadway communication systems

The present disclosure provides various aspects for mobile and automated processing utilizing additive manufacturing. The present disclosure includes methods for the utilization of mobile and automated processing apparat…

Granted 2020ActiveExpires 2040Owned by IndividualInvented by Frederick A. Flitsch, Robert A. Flitsch

Original patent title: “Methods and apparatus for mobile additive manufacturing of advanced roadway communication systems”

Plain-English explanation by SahiLast reviewed · October 10, 2026

The present disclosure provides various aspects for mobile and automated processing utilizing additive manufacturing. The present disclosure includes methods for the utilization of mobile and automated processing apparat…. Granted to Individual in 2020 with 22 claims and 2 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2040.

Coverage

What does this patent actually cover?

The present disclosure provides various aspects for mobile and automated processing utilizing additive manufacturing. The present disclosure includes methods for the utilization of mobile and automated processing apparatus. In some examples, the mobile additive manufacturing apparatus may create communication means into an advanced roadway, which may be used for various communications including communications to and from autonomous vehicles. The communications may involve data related to the operation of systems of autonomous vehicles. In other examples, the communications may relate to the status of roadways which may be sensed or imaged by vehicles using the advanced roadways.

The gap

What does this patent NOT cover?

    These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.

    Key facts

    Patent numberUS 10836107
    StatusActive
    FieldOther Fields
    AssigneeIndividual
    InventorsFrederick A. Flitsch, Robert A. Flitsch
    Filed2020
    Granted2020
    Expires2040
    Claims22
    Times cited2
    LitigationNone on record
    Value · $53K–$168KModest

    The Patent Drawing

    Representative patent drawing for Methods and apparatus for mobile additive manufacturing of advanced roadway communication systems (US 10836107)
    Representative figure · US 10836107All figures on Google Patents →
    Methods and apparatus for mobi…(Primary claim)

    Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.

    Patent Abstract

    Patent abstract

    The present disclosure provides various aspects for mobile and automated processing utilizing additive manufacturing. The present disclosure includes methods for the utilization of mobile and automated processing apparatus. In some examples, the mobile additive manufacturing apparatus may create communication means into an advanced roadway, which may be used for various communications including communications to and from autonomous vehicles. The communications may involve data related to the operation of systems of autonomous vehicles. In other examples, the communications may relate to the status of roadways which may be sensed or imaged by vehicles using the advanced roadways.

    Patent timeline

    Filing

    Application submitted to the patent office

    Publication

    Application published, typically 18 months after filing

    Grant

    Patent officially issued

    Expiration

    Patent enters public domain

    PatentBrief Score

    Impact Score

    Early stage

    Citation count

    10/40

    Early citations

    Claim breadth

    15/20

    Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →

    Recency

    10/20

    Granted 5–10 years ago

    Assignee scale

    0/20

    Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →

    PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.

    Heuristic Value Estimate

    What this patent might be worth

    Modest

    $53K – $168K

    Midpoint $105K · 13.5 yr remaining · industry ×0.9

    Adjust inputs →

    Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.

    Claim text not yet imported for this patent

    The original legal language

    Original claims

    22 claims as filed with the patent office.

    Concepts involved

    ClaimPrior artNon-obviousnessNoveltySpecificationAssigneePatent term

    Citations

    Patent lineage

    Cites earlier patents

    53

    earlier patents this invention cites as foundations

    View prior art →

    Cited by later patents

    2

    later patents that build on this invention

    View patents →

    Cite this patent

    Flitsch, F. A., & Flitsch, R. A. (2020). Methods and apparatus for mobile additive manufacturing of advanced roadway communication systems (U.S. Patent No. 10,836,107). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10836107/methods-and-apparatus-for-mobile-additive-manufacturing-of-advanced-roadway-comm

    Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.

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    Common Questions

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Who owns patent US 10836107?

    Individual owns this patent, granted in 2020.

    When does this patent expire?

    This patent is expected to expire on April 20, 2040, when the invention enters the public domain.

    What is patent US 10836107 cited by?

    This patent has been cited by 2 later patents that build on its ideas.

    Same assignee

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