Everset Technologies

I was looking at this patent:

https://patents.google.com/patent/US8774317B2

it *appears* that it's not in force ?

  Otherwise if it was still in force it would run until 2032 as I understand it.

Everset is the company that got the NIST to change the modulation of WWVB, adding BPSK to give better coverage in weak signal areas.

This has never caught on, must be the cost ?  Two antennas are used with the Everset - the only clock I could find using the Everset chip is this one from Lacrosse:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/388836130899

A video on the Ultratomic clock:

source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqJA7hVym90

two interesting points from the video:  first, the Ultratomic clock uses two (or strangely four) C cells rather than the single AA cell in most "atomic clocks".  C cells are harder to find than AA or D cells but a big point for me: Energizer doesn't sell lithium primary cells (leak proof) in C size.  So that's kind of a deal cruncher for me - I need that leak proof lithium.

another feature: it is possible to retain the WWVB synch/set feature BUT have the clock indicate a different time zone such as Atlantic time or for hams: UTC.   This is a little clunky but it works.  There are also other features which the video host goes through in detail.

The ES100 module from Everset:

https://everset.tech/receivers/ 

The only place that sells the Everset ES100 chip module is in Canada:

https://www.universal-solder.ca/product/everset-es100-mod-wwvb-bpsk-phase-modulation-receiver-module/

they also sell on Ebay.

Here is a homebrew approach to a WWVB receiver using BPSK demodulation:

https://www.arrl.org/files/file/QEX_Next_Issue/2015/Nov-Dec_2015/Magliacane.pdf

I suppose one other consideration is that other areas of the world may not have similar coverage needs for their "atomic clocks" ?

It just seems so weird that Everset Technologies seems to be a one-trick-pony so why wouldn't they make sure their only patent is in force and get clock makers to license it ?

Best Regards,
Chuck, WB9KZY
http://wb9kzy.com/ham.htm