Colorado Patent of the Month – February 2026

Introduction and Patent Designation

Patent Designation and Bibliographic Data

This comprehensive research report serves as the definitive analysis of U.S. Patent No. 12,523,535, titled “Calibration panel,” which was formally applied for on June 11, 2024, and subsequently issued to Syght, Inc. on January 13, 2026. In a rigorous and highly selective process overseen by Swanson Reed, a specialist R&D tax advisory firm, this invention has been distinguished as the Colorado Patent of the Month for February 2026. This prestigious accolade was not bestowed through traditional, subjective human review processes, which can be prone to bias or oversight. Instead, the selection was identified through a rigorous, data-driven mechanism utilizing advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. The proprietary AI system, deployed to scrutinize the innovation landscape of the region, parsed over 1,000 potential patents granted within the jurisdiction to identify this specific filing as a statistical and technological outlier. By analyzing complex semantic patterns, citation potential, claims breadth, and technological distinctiveness, the AI algorithms isolated Patent 12,523,535 as a pivotal innovation, elevating it above nearly a thousand contemporaries to receive this prestigious designation.

Selection Rationale: The Imperative of Real-World Impact

The selection of Patent 12,523,535 as the Colorado Patent of the Month was driven primarily by its profound and immediate real-world impact on the critical sector of public safety, national security, and mass casualty prevention. In an era where “hollow growth” often characterizes economic indicators, identifying technologies that offer tangible improvements to societal resilience is paramount. While many patents remain theoretical, confined to academic curiosity, or limited to incremental improvements of existing widgets, the “Calibration panel” described in Patent 12,523,535 represents a fundamental enabler for next-generation passive millimeter-wave (MMW) imaging.

The Swanson Reed AI algorithms identified this technology as a high-impact “keystone” invention—one that solves a persistent, physics-based bottleneck in a high-growth industry. Specifically, this invention addresses the critical challenge of absolute radiometric calibration in real-time threat detection systems. By solving the limitations of calibrating sensors that must operate in dynamic, uncontrolled real-world environments—such as crowded stadiums, busy school entrances, and transport hubs—this patent enables the practical deployment of Syght’s compact, high-throughput security sensors. Its selection underscores a shift toward recognizing innovations that do not merely advance abstract science but tangibly enhance the safety infrastructure of civil society.

Technical Analysis and Competitive Benchmarking

The Engineering Challenge: Passive Millimeter-Wave Calibration

To truly appreciate the superiority of the invention described in Patent 12,523,535, one must first understand the profound engineering complexity of the problem it solves. Traditional security screening methodologies, such as walk-through metal detectors, rely on active sensing. These systems emit a magnetic field or ionizing radiation that bounces off an object or passes through it to create a signal. Passive millimeter-wave (MMW) imaging, the core technology utilized by Syght, operates on a fundamentally different principle. It acts more like a high-fidelity thermal camera, detecting the natural MMW energy emitted by the human body and the contrast “shadows” cast by concealed objects that block or reflect that energy.

The critical flaw in previous generations of MMW systems was calibration drift. As environmental conditions change—such as fluctuations in ambient temperature, humidity, or background radiation—the sensor’s radiometric “baseline” shifts. Without a constant reference, this drift leads to significant degradation in image quality, resulting in false positives (ghost images) or, more dangerously, missed threats. The “Calibration panel” detailed in Patent 12,523,535 provides a robust, field-deployable standard that allows the camera to recalibrate in real-time without taking the system offline. This innovation ensures that the automatic threat recognition (ATR) algorithms receive high-fidelity, noise-free data, enabling the system to distinguish a harmless object, such as a cell phone, from a concealed firearm or explosive device with unprecedented precision.

Competitive Landscape and Benchmarking

The global security screening market is currently dominated by legacy metal detectors and a new wave of “frictionless” entry systems. Syght’s technology, enabled by Patent 12,523,535, competes directly with major industry players, most notably Evolv Technology and Xtract One Technologies. A detailed benchmarking analysis reveals why Syght’s approach, underpinned by this patent, offers superior capabilities in the current threat environment.

Syght vs. Evolv Technology (Evolv Express)

Evolv Technology is a recognized market leader with its “Evolv Express” system. While effective in many scenarios, the Evolv system relies on active magnetic field scanning combined with AI to detect weapons. This fundamental difference in physics confers specific advantages to Syght.

• Physics of Detection: Evolv relies on active electromagnetic interrogation. This method is highly effective for detecting ferromagnetic metals. However, it inherently struggles with non-metallic threats, such as 3D-printed guns, liquid explosives, and plastic explosives, because these materials do not disrupt magnetic fields significantly enough to trigger a reliable alert without causing excessive false positives. In contrast, Syght’s passive MMW technology, calibrated by the patented panel, detects any density anomaly that blocks the body’s natural heat signature. This means Syght is capable of detecting non-metallic IEDs, ceramic knives, and plastic weapons that magnetic-based systems might miss.
• Throughput & Form Factor: The Evolv Express is a large physical installation, typically a dual-lane gate approximately 130 inches wide and weighing around 200 lbs. It creates a physical chokepoint and changes the architectural flow of a venue. Syght’s sensors, enabled by the compact calibration panel, are described as “compact and lightweight,” capable of covert deployment (e.g., hidden behind a sign, integrated into a wall, or mounted in a ceiling). Patent 12,523,535 is crucial here: by allowing the sensor to self-calibrate using a compact panel rather than a massive laboratory setup, Syght enables a form factor that can be installed without altering the venue’s aesthetics or infrastructure.
• Safety Profile: Evolv systems emit low-frequency electromagnetic fields. While regulatory bodies generally deem these safe, there are persistent public concerns regarding active emitters, particularly for individuals with medical implants. Syght’s technology is completely passive, emitting zero radiation. It merely “listens” to the energy already present in the environment. This absolute safety profile is a significant “superiority” factor for deployment in sensitive areas like elementary schools, hospitals, or corporate lobbies.

Syght vs. Xtract One (SmartGateway)

Xtract One (formerly Patriot One) markets the “SmartGateway,” another major competitor in the high-throughput screening space.

• Detection Philosophy: Xtract One focuses heavily on distinguishing “clutter” (everyday items like phones and keys) from weapons using a fusion of magnetic and optical sensors. However, like Evolv, it is primarily optimized for metallic threats. Syght’s MMW approach offers a superior detection spectrum. The calibration panel invention ensures that the MMW sensor maintains a high contrast-to-noise ratio, allowing it to “see” the shape and density of a threat through obscurants. This capability allows Syght sensors to detect threats hidden under heavy winter coats, inside backpacks, or even through environmental obscurants like rain and fog—conditions that often degrade the performance of optical or lower-fidelity magnetic systems.
• Operational Range: Xtract One operates primarily as a portal or gateway solution, detecting threats as individuals pass through a specific threshold. Syght’s technology is designed for stand-off detection, capable of identifying concealed weapons on moving subjects at a distance before they reach the entry threshold. Patent 12,523,535 allows the optical system to maintain rigorous calibration over these longer focal lengths, providing a “layered security” advantage. Security teams can identify a threat 20 meters away, providing valuable seconds to react before the individual enters the populated space.

Benchmarking Summary Matrix

The following table summarizes the key technological differentiators between Syght (leveraging Patent 12,523,535) and its primary competitors.

Real-World Impact and Future Potential

Current Real-World Impact: The “Soft Target” Crisis

The immediate real-world impact of Patent 12,523,535 lies in the democratization of military-grade security. Historically, high-resolution MMW scanners were massive, expensive rotating cylinders found only in high-security environments like airports (e.g., TSA body scanners). These legacy systems required stationary subjects, controlled lighting, and frequent maintenance. By inventing a calibration mechanism that allows for a compact, solid-state MMW camera, Syght has made this advanced technology viable for “soft targets”—schools, malls, stadiums, and houses of worship.

The patent enables a device that can be mounted on a wall like a standard CCTV camera but possesses the capability to “see” a gun hidden under a jacket from 20 meters away. This shifts the security paradigm from reactive (responding to shots fired) to proactive (interdicting a threat before they enter the building). In the context of the rising frequency of mass shootings and domestic terror incidents, the ability to detect concealed weapons without creating prison-like checkpoints is a profound societal benefit. The “Calibration panel” is the linchpin that makes this data reliable enough for security personnel to trust in a life-or-death scenario, significantly reducing the false alarm rate that typically plagues cheaper, less sophisticated sensors.

Future Potentials: Beyond Weapons Detection

The underlying technology secured by this patent—calibrated, passive MMW imaging—has vast potential applications beyond the immediate realm of physical security:

1. Autonomous Vehicle Navigation: MMW sensors possess the unique ability to see through environmental obscurants like fog, rain, and snow better than LiDAR or optical cameras. While LiDAR uses active laser pulses, passive MMW can detect the radiometric contrast of a vehicle against an icy road. Patent 12,523,535’s calibration method could be adapted for automotive sensors, ensuring self-driving cars can “see” in blizzards where other sensor suites might fail.
2. Medical Diagnostics: MMW imaging is non-ionizing and highly sensitive to water content. It has potential applications in burn triage, detecting corneal hydration, or monitoring glucose levels non-invasively. The high-precision calibration described in the patent would be essential for the clinical accuracy required in these medical applications.
3. Loss Prevention & Retail: In a retail future of “just walk out” stores, passive MMW could be used to detect items concealed in bags or under clothing without requiring RFID tags, identifying them purely based on material density differences.
4. Search and Rescue: A drone-mounted version of a Syght sensor, calibrated for variable atmospheric conditions (using the principles of Patent 12,523,535), could locate missing persons in dense forests or under rubble by detecting their body heat signature through foliage or debris, which often blocks standard thermal cameras.

R&D Tax Credit Analysis: The Four-Part Test

For companies like Syght, Inc., the development of Patent 12,523,535 represents a significant investment in high-risk innovation. Under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 41, these development costs—specifically wages, supplies, and cloud computing expenses—can be eligible for the Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credit. To qualify for this credit, the development activities must satisfy the IRS Four-Part Test. The following analysis details how a project utilizing this patent technology meets these rigorous criteria, based on the audit-ready methodology employed by Swanson Reed.

Test 1: Permitted Purpose

Requirement: The activity must relate to a new or improved business component (product, process, software, technique, formula, or invention) with the specific intent to improve functionality, performance, reliability, or quality.

Application to Patent 12,523,535: The development of the “Calibration panel” and the associated MMW sensor clearly meets this test. The “business component” in question is the Syght commercial security sensor. The purpose of the research was explicitly to improve the performance (detection accuracy), reliability (consistency across temperature ranges), and quality (resolution of the MMW image) of this sensor. The invention was not aesthetic or cosmetic; it was functionally critical to converting raw, noisy MMW data into actionable security intelligence. By creating a panel that provides a stable radiometric reference, Syght eliminated the “drift” that rendered previous generations of the product commercially non-viable.

Test 2: Technological in Nature

Requirement: The activity must fundamentally rely on the principles of the hard sciences—physics, biology, engineering, chemistry, or computer science.

Application to Patent 12,523,535:

The development of a passive MMW calibration system is deeply rooted in electromagnetic physics and optical engineering, satisfying this requirement.

• Physics: The engineers had to possess a deep understanding of blackbody radiation, emissivity, and the thermodynamic behavior of different materials in the millimeter-wave spectrum (typically 30 GHz – 300 GHz). They likely experimented with materials that act as “perfect absorbers” or “perfect reflectors” in this specific frequency band to create the calibration standard.
• Computer Science: The patent involves integrating this hardware calibration with sophisticated software algorithms (Automatic Threat Recognition). Processing the signals from the “Calibration panel” requires advanced signal processing and machine learning to adjust the sensor’s gain and offset in real-time.
• Swanson Reed’s TaxTrex AI analysis would validate that these activities rely on “hard science” principles, automatically filtering out any non-qualified “soft” research (such as market surveys or routine data collection).

Test 3: Elimination of Uncertainty

Requirement: The taxpayer must demonstrate that, at the outset of the project, there was technological uncertainty regarding the capability to develop the product, the method to be used, or the appropriate design.

Application to Patent 12,523,535:

At the start of the project, Syght likely faced significant technological uncertainties that standard engineering could not resolve:

• Uncertainty of Design: “Can we create a calibration panel that is compact enough for a wall-mounted unit but uniform enough to calibrate a high-resolution sensor without introducing artifacts?”
• Uncertainty of Capability: “Is it physically possible to maintain radiometric calibration in an outdoor environment with fluctuating temperatures using a passive panel, or will active thermal regulation be required?”
• Uncertainty of Method: “How do we manufacture a panel with consistent emissivity across the entire MMW spectrum? What materials—foams, carbon-loaded plastics, or metamaterials—will work?”
  The mere existence of the patent (Patent 12,523,535) is strong evidence of this uncertainty; if the solution were obvious or known, it would not have been patentable. The patent prosecution history itself would detail the unique challenges overcome, serving as prime documentation for this test.

Test 4: Process of Experimentation

Requirement: Substantially all activities must constitute a process of experimentation, involving the simulation, modeling, and systematic trial and error of alternatives to resolve the identified uncertainty.

Application to Patent 12,523,535:

This is the “How” of the R&D claim and is often the most scrutinized by the IRS. To develop the calibration panel, Syght’s engineers undoubtedly engaged in an iterative scientific cycle:

1. Hypothesis: “A panel made of Material X with a honeycomb structure will provide a stable 300K radiometric reference.”
2. Testing: Fabricating Prototype A and testing it in an anechoic chamber against a standard horn antenna to measure its spectral response.
3. Analysis: Discovering that Prototype A reflects too much background radiation, causing calibration errors in the sensor data.
4. Refinement: Modifying the surface texture or doping the material with carbon particles (Prototype B) to alter its emissivity.
5. Re-testing: Field testing Prototype B in varying humidity and temperature conditions to validate performance. This systematic evaluation of alternatives—discarding failed designs (Prototype A) and refining promising ones (Prototype B)—is the hallmark of qualified research. Swanson Reed emphasizes capturing this specific workflow (failures, iterations, and test logs) to substantiate the claim during an IRS audit.

Strategic Claims Management: How Swanson Reed Facilitates the Claim

The “Nexus” and Audit Defense

Claiming the R&D tax credit for a complex invention like Patent 12,523,535 requires more than just identifying the project; it requires establishing a clear “Nexus” between the qualified expenses and the qualified activities.

• Nexus Tracking: Swanson Reed’s methodology involves meticulously mapping the wages of key personnel, such as the inventors (e.g., Charles Partee), to specific “process of experimentation” activities. They segregate “Qualified Research Expenses” (QREs) from general production or administrative costs. For the calibration panel, the cost of the first prototype (used for testing and validation) would be captured as a supply QRE, whereas subsequent units sold to customers would be strictly excluded.
• Audit Defense: The firm offers robust audit services, often involving a “Six-Eye Review” process for high-value claims. This involves:

1. A Qualified Engineer reviewing the technical narrative to ensure the science described aligns with the statutory definition of R&D.
2. A Tax Attorney reviewing the legal eligibility, citing relevant case law (e.g., Sudderth, Union Carbide) to support the claim structure.
3. A CPA reviewing the financial calculations to ensure accuracy.

Leveraging AI: TaxTrex

Swanson Reed utilizes TaxTrex, a proprietary AI software platform described as “one of the most advanced AI language models training in R&D tax credits”.

• Real-Time Documentation: One of the biggest risks in R&D claims is the “hindsight bias” of attempting to reconstruct project details years after the fact. TaxTrex addresses this by surveying engineers during the project lifecycle. It prompts them to record technical challenges (“The panel is drifting at 40°C”) and experimental results in real-time, time-stamping the data to create an immutable audit trail.
• Democratizing Access: The software allows companies to assess their eligibility efficiently. For a startup like Syght, which may have burned significant cash developing Patent 12,523,535 before generating profit, TaxTrex helps identify the Payroll Tax Offset opportunity. This provision allows qualified small businesses to use up to $500,000 of their R&D credit annually to offset payroll taxes—a critical liquidity lifeline for pre-profit innovators.

The inventionINDEX

Finally, Swanson Reed contextualizes the value of the patent through their inventionINDEX, a proprietary economic metric. By analyzing the “velocity of technological advancement” in a region (e.g., Colorado), they provide a “quality control” mechanism for economic data. For February 2026, the Colorado inventionINDEX serves to benchmark Syght’s innovation against the broader state economy. This macroeconomic view helps policymakers and investors understand that Patent 12,523,535 is not just a tax write-off, but a unit of “productive growth” that enhances the technological sovereignty and economic resilience of the region.

Final Thoughts

U.S. Patent No. 12,523,535 is a deserving recipient of the Colorado Patent of the Month. It represents a sophisticated convergence of physics, engineering, and artificial intelligence that solves a tangible, high-stakes problem: protecting soft targets from concealed threats in an increasingly volatile world. By enabling the reliable, calibrated operation of passive millimeter-wave sensors, Syght, Inc. has effectively leapfrogged competitors relying on active, older technologies. Through the rigorous application of the R&D Tax Credit, supported by Swanson Reed’s AI-driven methodologies, this technical achievement is translated into financial sustainability, ensuring that the innovators behind the “Calibration panel” can continue to push the boundaries of public safety technology.