The original 1997 patent filing by Mills was never granted, which allows him to periodically update it as a "continuation-in-part".
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/y2009/0129992.html "This is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application Ser. No. 09/009,294, filed Jan. 20, 1998. The priority of the following U.S. provisional applications is also claimed: Ser. No. 60/053,378, filed Jul. 22, 1997; Ser. No. 60/068,913, filed Dec. 29, 1997; Ser. No. 60/074,006, filed Feb. 9, 1998, and Ser. No. 60/080,647, filed Apr. 3, 1998." IOW - by not granting Mills earliest patent application in the normal time, the USPO has probably done him a favor, in a way - allowing him to claim more than before and/or refine his application and perhaps incorporate significant differences which can be partly or wholly based on the work of others. My question to Robin - were you aware of all the emphasis on Si ? Jones
