Evie!

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

On May 20th, 2025—amidst re-escalating tensions in the Middle East, the fragile onset of the Ukraine-Russia peace negotiations, and in the aftermath of Pope Francis’s death—the popular press and broadcasting networks were proud to announce the birth of Evie*…! Evie?

Peppa Pig’s baby sister! A breath of fresh air, and very popular British children’s cartoon character, Peppa Pig is four years old. She lives with Mummy Pig, Daddy Pig and her little brother George, in Peppatown, in the United Kingdom.

Just shy of two weeks before the Peppa Pig meets the Baby motion picture release (on May 30th), Evie promises to add to the multi-billion dollar Peppa Pig industry for the five-and-under crowd. A multibillion-dollar industry that includes theme parks and a television channel, in addition to all the licensing and merchandising of the cute little pig and her family.

Newsworthy indeed, Peppa Pig has had her fair share of surprising controversies, since 2004 when she was first aired in the UK. In May 2018, for example, she made headlines when she and her whole family, including the hashtag #PeppaPig, were censored in China (Qin, 2028). Assumed slovenly, the bossy big sis piggy and her familly ran counter to the desired cultivation of young generations.

Then again, she made headlines during the pandemic when she became the second most-watched children’s television cartoon in the US after SpongeBob SquarePants, surpassing audience demand in the UK by 112% (Yang, 2021). Popularity that was feared to result in giving American children a posh British accent. A Peppa effect that was causing American children to start calling their Moms “Mummy” instead of Mommy, and “biscuits” instead of “cookies”.

Finally, most recently in 2024, Peppa Pig was accused of making American children “rude” (Leiber, 2024). Picking up on Peppa’s reactions, parents heard their kids say “Yuck” when served new (surely unpalatable) foods. A “no, no” indeed among parents who see Peppa as brash, too direct and berating  her father when she chides him about his big belly. A bit of a backlash, according to the Wall Street Journal, for all the self-assertiveness, self-confidence and authenticity that the multinational Hasbro conglomerate professes in response. 

Luckily for this blog, Peppa Pig is also a US registered Trademark and logo, with Evie sure to follow. The included Peppa Pig US Trademark was filed on July 9th, 2005, and granted on Sept 23, 2008 to HASBRO, and then renewed. Below, an image of the US registered Trademark No. 3506452  and of the cartoon logo.

     

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* Evie pronounced "eevee".

References

HASBRO

https://shop.hasbro.com/en-us  

Leiber, C. (Feb. 25 2024). ‘Peppa Is a Brat’: Parents Turn on the Cheeky Preschooler Pig. Wall Street Journal.

https://www.wsj.com/business/media/peppa-pig-brat-backlash-kids-cartoon-12a51cbf

Peppa Pig World

https://peppapigworld.co.uk/pages/peppa-pig

Peppa Pig meets the baby (2025) - Official Trailer.

https://youtu.be/-yVb7BPaHYQ

Qin, A. (May 1, 2018). Peppa Pig, Unlikely Rebel Icon, Faces Purge in China. New York Times.

https://tinyurl.com/3hm7pa8v

Yang, M. (July 19,  2021). Having a go: US parents say Peppa Pig is giving their kids a British accent. The Guardian. 

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/jul/19/peppa-pig-american-kids-british-accentsnull

EPO Young Inventors Awards 2025 - The Jury

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann  

Chaired by Wolfgang M. Heckl, the Director General of the Deutsches Museum in Munich, the European Patent Office 10-member jury, for the Young Inventors Awards, largely consisted of former Young Inventor finalists (seven members), together with three former European Inventor Award Finalists. 

The Young Inventor proposals do not necessarily have to be patented inventions, although they are all required to be otherwise publicly published initiatives. Likewise, the Young Inventors competing do not have to be from countries that are members of the European Patent Convention. All of the proposals received are evaluated for form and compliance with the competition rules, before they are forwarded to the Jury for selection of the ten finalists, the  Tomorrow Shapers. 

Below, a list of the ten members of the Jury, together with the YouTube videos that present their work, previously honored by the European Patent Office. 

Catia Bastioli is currently CEO of the Novamont Group, and inventor of bio-degradable plastics. 

Khaoula Ben Ahmed is the co-founder and CEO of GEWINNER, and co-inventor of the MOVOBRAIN wheelchair, a wheelchair controlled in multiple ways, including facial and brain-driven modes.

Rafaella de Bona Gonçalves is a designer focussed on social innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainability. In particular, she designed and developed sanitary products to fight "period poverty" in her native Brazil.  

Filipa de Sousa Rocha is a PhD student in informatics at the University of Lisbon, focusing on inclusive and accessible education, in particular for blind and visually impaired children. 

David Devos is currently a professor of medical pharmacology at the University of Lille, and an expert in developing treatments for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gehrig's Disease).

Fionn Ferreira is a scientist, inventor and sustainability advocate dedicated to eradicating microplastics from water and driving the circular economy forward. In particular, he developed a magnet-based method to safely and efficiently remove microplastics from water.  

Valentyn Frechka is co-founder and Chief Technical Officer at Releaf Paper, the world's first producer of pulp and paper made of green wastes. 

Rochelle Niemeijer is the co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Nostics. She is the inventor of an AI-driven test kit to identify bacteria, within the context of Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR).

G. ​Fertram Sigurjonsson is currently the CEO of Kerecis, a biotechnology company that advances healing human wounds with fish skins.

Erin Smith is an entrepreneur and inventor of FacePrint, a screening tool that uses AI to analyze facial expressions that indicate the onset of Parkinson's.

References

European Patent Office (EPO)

www.epo.org  

EPO - Young Inventor Finalists: Meet the Tomorrow Shapers.

https://www.epo.org/en/news-events/news/young-inventors-prize-2025-meet-tomorrow-shapers 

EPO – The 2025 Trophy.

https://www.epo.org/en/news-events/young-inventors-prize/jury

EPO - Young Inventors Awards 2025 – Vote here!

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann         

The European Patent Office (EPO) Young Inventors Awards Ceremony will take place on June 18th, in Reykjavik, Iceland. All of the finalists, called Tomorrow Shapers, will receive a €5000 prize. Additionally, three €15,000 prizes will each be awarded to jury-selected young inventors, plus one €5000 People’s Choice prize.

The three additional €15,000 prizes are awarded for inventions addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular:

• The World Builders Prize to the young innovators who strive to promote circular economies, ensuring a better future for everyone. Their inventions typically fall within the scope of the SDGs 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 17.

• The Community Healers Prize to the young innovators who develop solutions to secure access to food, water, education, and jobs. Their inventions typically fall within the scope of the SDGs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10,16,17.

• The Nature Guardians Prize to the young innovators who strive to mitigate climate change and to protect ecosystems and the flora and fauna within. Their inventions typically fall within the scope of the SDGs 13, 14, 15, 17.

YOU are also invited to participate in the June 2025 Young Inventors Awards Ceremony, by voting for the People’s Choice winner. The rules for participating in the People’s Choice award empower you to vote for one invention every day. You have till June 18th to vote each day.  Just click HERE to select one invention today.

Then, watch what happens through a young Inventor's eyes!

References

European Patent Office (EPO)

www.epo.org

EPO About the Prize

https://www.epo.org/en/news-events/young-inventors-prize/about-prize 

EPO Young Inventor Finalists: Meet the Tomorrow Shapers.

https://www.epo.org/en/news-events/news/young-inventors-prize-2025-meet-tomorrow-shapers

UN Sustainable Development Goals

https://sdgs.un.org/goals 

Do you know the 17 SDGs goals? (YouTube video)

https://youtu.be/0XTBYMfZyrM 

EPO – Young Inventors Awards 2025 – The Finalists

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

In 2025, the  European Patent Office (EPO) is celebrating young inventors (30 years and under) inventors. Ten inventions have been shortlisted. The inventions fall within the framework of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A vast 15-year program designed to end world poverty, divided into 17 SDGs*.

The following ten inventions are in competition for a 2025 European Patent Prize:

• Mark Kennedy Bantugon (Philippines): Material to prevent fuel leakages in planes

• Alisha Fredriksson (Sweden/Canada) and Roujia Wen (China): Retrofit carbon capture system for cargo ships

• Pilar Granado, Pablo Sosa Domínguez and Luis Chimeno (Spain): Smart labels for food

• Laurynas Karpus, Vykintas Jauniškis and Irmantas Rokaitis (Lithuania): AI platform for creating and enhancing enzymes

• Franziska Kerber (Austria): Sustainable paper components for electronic devices

• Neeka Mashouf and Leila Mashouf (US): Process to transform CO₂ emissions into cellulose

• Sandra Namboozo and Samuel Muyita (Uganda): Sachets for extending the shelf life of fruit

• Mariana Pérez (Colombia): Air pollution capture and cleaning technology

• Teja Potočnik (Slovenia): Automated manufacturing platform for nanomaterial-based semiconductor devices

• Marie Perrin (France/US): Recycling rare earth elements from electronic waste

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* #1 No poverty,  #2 Zero Hunger, #3 Good Health and Well-being,  #4 Quality Education, #5 Gender Equality, #6 Clean Water and Sanitation, #7 Affordable and Clean Energy, #8 Decent Work and Economic Growth, #9 Industry, Innovation and infrastructure, #10 Reduced Inequalities, #11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, #12 Responsible Consumption and Production, #13 Climate Action, #14 Life below the Water, #15 Life on Land, #16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions and #17 Partnerships for the Goals.

References

EPO - European Patent Office

www.epo.org

EPO Young Inventor Finalists: Meet the Tomorrow Shapers.

https://www.epo.org/en/news-events/news/young-inventors-prize-2025-meet-tomorrow-shapers

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

https://sdgs.un.org/goals 

Do you know the 17 SDGs goals? (YouTube video)

https://youtu.be/0XTBYMfZyrM

Oh, patents! Withings thermo design

 Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Withings’ connected thermometer was also awarded the US design patent, USD793255S1, titled Thermometer. The patent was granted to two French designers, Elise Berthier and Pierre Garnier, on August 1st, 2017. The patent was then assigned to Withings, in Issy-les-Moulineaux, France. 

As a reminder, a US design patent covers the ornamental aspects of an invention, or how the invention looks. By contrast a US utility patent covers how an invention works, or is manufactured (USPTO).

Below the patent Figure 1, shows a perspective view of the invention design. The surface shading represents contour, rather than any claimed ornamentation. Likewise, the broken lines depict unclaimed parts of the design. An image of the marketed Withings Thermo is also included.

References

Withings Thermometer

https://www.withings.com/us/en/thermo 

USPTO MPEP – Chapt. 1502-01 – Distinction between design and utility patent.
https://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/s1502.html

Oh, patents! Withings’ Thermo

 Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Need a new thermometer? Withings’ connected Thermo takes 2000 measurements per second, using 16 infrared sensors, with clinically-tested accuracy.  Temperature is taken on the forehead, more precisely using the proprietary Hot Spot Sensor to measure peak temperature of core blood running through the temporal artery. 

Just sweep Thermo across the forehead temporal area. A color-coded core body temperature will be displayed in just two seconds on the handle, and on the Withings Thermo app. An app where additional information might be entered, such as reminders, symptoms and medications taken, once Thermo has been paired to a smartphone. Up to eight family members can use a connected Withings Thermo. 

The Withings connected core body temperature thermometer is a patented invention. The European patent EP3397930B1, titled Compact forehead thermometer, was awarded on January 27th, 2021 to several inventors:  Thomas Bedetti, Roger Yu,  Edouard Wauttier, Nadine Buard, Cédric Hutchings and Capucine Bodin. The patent was assigned to Withings SAS. 

Below, the patent Figure 1, showing the invention thermometer in use, together with an image of the marketed Withings connected Thermo and app. Specifically, the patent Figure 1 depicts an individual using the thermometer device 10. The user is applying the thermometer to the temporal area TA of the forehead FH. The position of the thermometer 10 defines a sensing region SR corresponding to the path of the temporal artery. The device is activated using the switch 8. Two seconds, and 4000 computed measurements later, the body core temperature BCT appears on the display 9, and on the app (not shown). 

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Body core temperature (BCT) is calculated, according to a formula that infers the maximum value of the captured measurements. The processor performs corrections taking into account room temperature and the temperature of the device 10. The formula also takes into account vascularization (the amount of blood diffusion) in the region sensed, using the measurements' standard deviation (SD). In cases of high vascularization, measurements capture many warm areas, thus resulting in a low SD. Conversely, in cases of low vascularization, the SD is high.

The Youtube video below is a Withings advertisement for Thermo the hottest thermometer with the coolest technology.

The abstract of the invention is also included below.

A thermometer device (10) for temporal artery area measurement, configured to be used in a skin-touching stationary position, comprising an elongated body (1) and a front portion (4) having an end border (6) arranged on a sensing plane (P), an array of N infra-red sensors (2), with N greater than 8, a sensing region (SR) extending in the sensing plane over an area denoted SRA, at a distance denoted LF from a plane P2 containing the infra-red sensors, the sensing region being encompassed within the border of the front end, an optical lens (3), interposed between the infra-red sensors and the sensing region, to deviate light rays, wherein LF2 < K x SRA, with K =3. [Abstract EP3397930B1]

Reference 

Withings Thermometer

https://www.withings.com/us/en/thermo

Earth Day 2025 - Journée de la Terre 2025

 Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

This year's Earth Day theme is  Our power, our planet, calling on everyone to triple their use of clean energy by 2030. Clean energy refers to solar, wind and hydro power. This type of energy contrasts with what is refered to as dirty energy. Dirty energy is derived from fossil fuels, deemed responsible for greenhouse gasses (GHG) causing global warming. Global warming, which in turn, is assumed to promote catastrophic weather events on earth, such as increased floods, tsunamis, tornados, earthquakes etc. (IICAT).   

References
EarthDay.org (website)
https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2025/

The International Institute of Climate Action and Theory (IICAT)

https://iicat.org/

Oh, patents - Withings connected hairbrush

 Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Why an IoT* connected hairbrush?  Because hair has plenty to do with health. Indeed, this is precisely the reason why Withings, a French consumer electronics company specialized in health devices, has designed a connected hairbrush, in collaboration with Kérastase, a French company specialized in hair care products. 

Hair factors such as dryness, lackluster, brittleness, dry scalp, thinning, excess shedding, and premature graying are all indicators of health that may send you promptly to see a physician. Such factors, especially hair loss, are also tightly bound to self-image, confidence and mood (Dhami, 2021). As a result, thanks to a variety of advanced sensors, the award-winning** Withings connected hairbrush was designed to provide users a host of insights on hair quality, manageability and brushing technique. Personalized information on how to improve and optimize hair care that the user then receives on a Withings app. 

The Withings connected hairbrush invention is recited in a family of European (EP2945509B1), World (WO2014111646A1), French (FR3000877B1) and US patents. The US utility patent member, US10426397B2, titled Informative system using and instrumented and connected hairbrush, was granted on October 1st 2019. The patent was awarded to Cedric Hutchings and Eric Careel, and assigned to Withings, in Issy-les-Moulineaux, France.

The patent discloses a hairstyling tool, equipped with a variety of sensors (movement, gyroscope, optical, tilt, force, electric field, humidity and temperature), a camera, LED lights, and a microphone, together able to collect data on styling gestures, vibration and friction data, magnified scalp and hair data. The hairstyling tool has further means to transmit the collected data via Bluetooth or Wifi, to a smartphone or directly to a server, where the raw, or pre-processed data collected is analyzed, relative to a database of hair/scalp data and the user’s own history. In turn, the hairbrush will provide analysis and feedback to the user via smartphone app.

Specifically, the patent Figure 1, included below, depicts a hairstyling tool 10, comprising a handle or “grip” 11, a body 12, bristles 17, and a transition region 13, between the handle 11, and the body 12. The handle 11 comprises a battery 8 for powering the electronic and electric components of the hairstyling tool 10. The body 12 comprises an electronic control unit 4. The electronic control unit comprises a controller for processing the input/output sensor data, the camera and microphone data. The electronic control unit also comprises a clock to time-stamp data, and a memory for recording raw or pre-processed data collected during hairstyling, prior to sending data to a smartphone or server.

The accelerator and force sensors enable to measure the speed and regularity of hairstyling gestures, as well as the rotation of the brush during gestures, the length of the curve followed from top to bottom of scalp, and the time taken to travel the curve. Thus, the hairbrush measures the variable resistances encountered during hairstyling gestures, assumed to indicate health and/or deficiencies of the hair. The patent Figure 1 further depicts the three dimensional axes X (longitudinal), Y (transverse) and Z (radial) used by the accelerometer and gyroscopes to respectively measure linear accelerations on each of the orthogonal planes, and rotational movement on and about the three orthogonal directions X, Y and Z.

Below, the abstract of the invention is also included, together with an above image of the elegant connected hairbrush and smartphone app. 

Hairstyling tool of the comb or hairbrush type, comprising a handle and a body, an electric battery a force sensor, an electronic unit configured to capture and format signals provided by the sensors, a wireless communication means for transmitting data to a remote entity, by means of which information about the movements executed by the tool and the forces it undergoes can be transmitted to the remote entity, the remote entity being able to send information back to the user of the tool about the hair being styled. (Abstract US10426397B2)

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* IoT = Internet of Things. (Marc Weiser in Goetzman, 2023)

** Upon release, the Withings connected hairbrush won the 2017 If Design Award, among many subsequent accolades.  

References
Dhami, L. (2021). Psychology of hair loss patients and importance of counseling. Indian Journal of Plastic  Surgery. Dec 31;54(4):411-415.
doi: 10.1055/s-0041-1741037. PMID: 34984078; PMCID: PMC8719979.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8719979/  
Goetzman, A. (Sept. 12, 2023). Mark Weiser and the Origins of the Internet of Things. Connector Supplier™.
If Design Award 2017 -  Withings smart hair brush. If Design.
https://ifdesign.com/en/winner-ranking/project/withings-smart-hairbrush/203749  
Kérastase (website)
https://www.kerastase-usa.com/  
Withings (website)
https://www.withings.com/us/en/

https://connectorsupplier.com/mark-weiser-and-the-origins-of-the-internet-of-things/