About Us

Dr. Whitlock combines his entrepreneurial and technical backgrounds with fifteen years of experience in law — first as a patent agent and then as an attorney — to help his clients protect their intellectual property, their businesses, and their families.

As a Family Business Lawyer™️, Dr. Whitlock is a trusted advisor to his clients for their business affairs as well as their personal affairs. In particular, Dr. Whitlock serves business clients in the role of fractional Chief Legal Officer and/or fractional Chief Intellectual Property Counsel. Dr. Whitlock also helps his clients establish and maintain estate plans, including wills and trusts, to be sure their families are well-cared for regardless of the uncertainties of life. Dr. Whitlock also represents his clients for the successful closings on the sale or purchase of their residential real estate. As his clients' Family Business Lawyer, Dr. Whitlock is their first call when seeking legal counsel in whatever matters may arise.

As an intellectual property attorney, he helps his clients protect their inventions, brands, creative expression, and “secret sauce” through patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. He also helps his clients enforce their intellectual property rights against infringers and defend against claims of infringement.  

Admitted to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office since 2007, Dr. Whitlock has extensive experience preparing, filing, and prosecuting patent applications. He also has experience with international and foreign patent applications, post-grant proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeals Board, and patent litigation. He has prosecuted patents in a wide range of technical areas including computer software and hardware, communication systems, wireless networks, augmented reality/virtual reality, blockchain technology, cryptography, signal processing, audio and video coding and transmission, imaging and photographic systems, artificial intelligence, machine learning, machine vision, natural language processing, control systems, electronics, semiconductor fabrication, electronic design automation (EDA), optics and photonics, laser systems, energy, medical devices, robotics, mechanical systems, fluid handling systems, heating/cooling/vapor-compression cycle systems, automotive systems, aerospace systems, financial systems, and business systems. Dr. Whitlock is also active in the interplay between law and Web3, metaverse, and NFT technologies and communities. 

Dr. Whitlock also helps clients apply for and secure trademarks to protect their brands and copyrights to protect their creative expression. These include product/service names, logos, and screenplays, for example.

Prior to his career in law, Dr. Whitlock was a principal and director of optical systems at startup company RSoft Design Group Inc. (now part of Synopsys Inc.), where he spearheaded the development of RSoft’s award-winning optical communication system simulation tools based on his doctoral research. He also won millions of dollars’ worth of federally funded research contracts on which he served as principal investigator and collaborated with researchers in other businesses.

Dr. Whitlock earned bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he was a National Science Foundation fellow. He also earned his law degree magna cum laude from Illinois Tech Chicago-Kent College of Law. He is an award-winning author and international speaker with dozens of publications and professional presentations to his credit.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

• BS, Electrical Engineering, highest honors
• MS, Electrical Engineering, National Science Foundation Fellow
• PhD, Electrical Engineering, National Science Foundation Fellow

University of California Santa Cruz

• Silicon Valley Executive Business Program, honors graduate

Illinois Tech Chicago-Kent College of Law

• JD, magna cum laude
• JD Certificate in Intellectual Property Law

Volunteer Instructor, Patent Practicum class, Illinois Tech Chicago-Kent College of Law

Advisory Board Member and Volunteer Attorney, Chicago-Kent Patent Hub, Illinois regional administrator of the USPTO Patent Pro Bono Program

Board of Directors, Affinity Patient Advocacy 

Industry Standards work:

• SAE Avionic Systems Division AS-5659 WDM LAN
• Served as Chair, SAE Avionic Systems Division WDM LAN Modeling and Simulation subtask group
• SAE Avionic Systems Division Loss Budget Task Group
• TIA FO-2.2.1 Modal Dependence of Multimode Fiber Bandwidth
• IEEE 802.3aq 10GBASE-LRM

Technical conference and journal leadership roles:

• Conference program committee member, SPIE Physics and Simulation of Optoelectronic Devices VIII
• Conference session chair, NFOEC 2002 – 2005
• Associate Editor, Chicago-Kent Journal of Intellectual Property

Reviewer for technical journals including:

• Analog Integrated Circuits and Signal Processing: An International Journal
• IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications special issue on computer-aided modeling and simulation of communication systems
• IBM Journal of Research and Development

Served as Executive Committee Member, IEEE San Francisco Bay Area Nanotechnology Council

Served as Chair, Santa Clara Valley chapter of IEEE Lasers and Electro-Optics Society

Current professional association activities:

• Senior Member, IEEE: Photonics, Circuits and Systems, Computer, Communication Societies
• Member, Illinois State Bar Association
• Member, American Intellectual Property Law Association
• Member, Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago 

Santa Clara Valley chapter of IEEE Lasers and Electro-Optics Society, Winner of the 2007 IEEE LEOS Chapter of the Year Award, while serving as Chair

Santa Clara Valley chapter of IEEE Lasers and Electro-Optics Society, Winner of the 2008 IEEE LEOS Most Innovative Chapter Award, while serving as Chair

Lightwave OFC/NFOEC 2005 Attendees' Choice Award for the Design Tools category: RSoft Design Group’s OptSim optical communication system simulation software

Best Student Paper Award, 1995 IEEE Lasers and Electro-Optics Society (LEOS) Annual Meeting

Engineering Open House Project Award, College of Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, for “Robo-Fireman,” 1991

Caterpillar Engineering Open House Award, College of Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, for “Robo-Fireman,” 1991

BOOK PUBLISHED

• Hung Q. Nguyen, Michael Hackett, and Brent K. Whitlock, Happy About^® Global Software Test Automation: A Discussion of Software Testing for Executives, 2006. (endorsed by Steve Wozniak, available at www.happyabout.info and www.amazon.com)

Publications and Professional Meeting Presentations

[45]   B. K. Whitlock, “Intellectual Property for Small & Medium Sized Business Entrepreneurs,” Searchfunder Ops Session (S.O.S.), June 30, 2021. (invited, presented)

[44]   B. K. Whitlock, “Why Should an Entrepreneur be Concerned About Intellectual Property?” EPIC Investors THINK Strategy Session, December 9, 2020. (presented)

[43]   B. K. Whitlock, Daniel Moon, “Takeaways From Recent Decisions in Post-Issuance Proceedings,” Banner Witcoff PTAB Highlights, April 23, 2020. (invited)

[42]   B. K. Whitlock, “Technology Transfer Tutorial,” 2015 APS/IEEE/OSA Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics (CLEO:2015), San Jose, CA, May 14, 2015. (invited, presented)

[41]   B. K. Whitlock, “Nanotech: Driver of Electronics, Photonics, Energy, and Bio-Med – Fourth Annual Symposium of the IEEE San Francisco Bay Area Nanotechnology Council,” IEEE Lasers and Electro-Optics Society Newsletter, vol. 22, no. 4, August 2008. (invited)

[40]   B. K. Whitlock, W. E. Murray, “The Santa Clara Valley Chapter of IEEE LEOS and a Celebration of the 30^th Anniversary of LEOS with Dr. Charles H. Townes, Nobel Laureate,” IEEE Lasers and Electro-Optics Society Newsletter, vol. 21, no. 4, August 2007. (invited)

[39]   B. K. Whitlock, “Best Practices of the Santa Clara Valley Chapter of IEEE LEOS,” IEEE LEOS Chapters Meeting at IEEE LEOS Annual Meeting, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Oct. 30, 2006. (invited, presented)

[38]   B. K. Whitlock, H. N. Poulsen, D. H. Richards, D. J. Blumenthal, “Physical-Layer Modeling and Simulation of WDM Fiber Optic Network Architectures for Aerospace Platforms,” IEEE Avionics Fiber Optics and Photonics Conference, paper TuC5, Sep. 12, 2006.

[37]   B. K. Whitlock, M. Jiang, M. Bahl and Z. Huang, “Photonic Design Automation (PDA) Software for Lithography and Optical Metrology,” SEMICON West 2006 Manufacturing Productivity & Effectiveness TechXPOT, July 11, 2006.

[36]   B. K. Whitlock, “SAE Avionic Systems Division AS-5659 WDM LAN Standard Modeling and Simulation Subtask Group Summary,” SAE Avionic Systems Division AS-5659 WDM LAN meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 26, 2006. (presented)

[35]   P. V. Mena, G. Shaulov, and B. K. Whitlock, “Practical Simulation of Multimode Communication Systems,” Simulation Tools for Research and Education in Optical Networks conference proceedings (STREON 2005), France, Oct. 26-27, 2005.

[34]   B. K. Whitlock, D. H. Richards, H. Poulsen, D. Blumenthal, “Wavelength Division Multiplexed (WDM) Fiber Optic Network Architecture Analysis, Modeling, Optimization and Demonstration for Aerospace Platforms,” SAE Avionic Systems Division AS-5659 WDM LAN meeting, San Diego, Oct. 13, 2005. (presented)

[33]   J. Patel, G. Shaulov, B. Whitlock, and R. Scarmozzino, “Simulation Assisted Design of Secure Optical CDMA Networks for Reconnaissance Traffic,” MILCOM 2005 conference proceedings, New Jersey, Oct. 18-20, 2005.

[32]   G. Shaulov, J. Patel, B. Whitlock, P. Mena, and R. Scarmozzino, “Simulation-assisted Design of Free Space Optical Transmission Systems,” MILCOM 2005 conference proceedings, New Jersey, Oct. 18-20, 2005.

[31]   B. K. Whitlock, D. H. Richards, N. Stoffel, E. Ghillino, H. Korada, P. V. Mena, G. Shaulov, J. Morikuni, F. Ma, M. J. Steel, E. Heller, and R. Scarmozzino, "Comprehensive Design Optimization of the Physical Layer of Optical Networks," in OFC/NFOEC2005 Technical Proceedings, paper NTuB3, March 8, 2005. (presented)

[30]   J. Morikuni, B. K. Whitlock, P. Mena, G. Shaulov, and R. Scarmozzino, "System Simulation of Multiplexing Methods for Multimode Local Area Networks," in OFC/NFOEC2005 Technical Proceedings, paper NWF4, March 9, 2005. (presented)

[29]   G. Shaulov and B. Whitlock, "Multimode Fiber Communication System Simulation", IEEE 802.3aq Plenary Meeting, Portland, Oregon, July 2004.

[28]   B. K. Whitlock, E. Ghillino, J. Morikuni, P. Mena, R. Scarmozzino, "Mixed-level and mixed-domain modeling and simulation for optical interconnect design," 2004 Digest of the LEOS Summer Topical Meetings, paper MB 1.4, June 28, 2004. (presented)

[27]   J. Morikuni, E. Heller, P. Mena, B. K. Whitlock, and R. Scarmozzino, "A New Multimode Fiber Model for Optical Data Communication System Analysis," 2003 IEEE/LEOS Annual Meeting Conference Proceedings, paper MO3, Tucson, Arizona, October 27, 2003.

[26]   J. Morikuni, P. Mena, B. K. Whitlock, and R. Scarmozzino, "Multimode System Simulation as an Alternative to Spreadsheet Analysis for the Study of Gb/s Optical Communication Systems," 2003 IEEE/LEOS Annual Meeting Conference Proceedings, paper MO4, Tucson, Arizona, October 27, 2003.

[25]   J. Morikuni, P. Mena, B. K. Whitlock, and R. Scarmozzino, "Link-Level Design, Analysis, and Simulation of Multimode Data Communication Systems," 19th Annual National Fiber Optic Engineers Conference (NFOEC) Technical Proceedings, pp. 858-867, Orlando, FL, Sep. 10, 2003. (invited, presented)

[24]   N. Stoffel, D. Richards, K. Thangaiah, H. Korada, R. Scarmozzino, B. Whitlock, "SimWORKS, a Hybrid Java/C++ Simulation Platform," 5th Biennial Ptolemy Miniconference, Berkeley, CA, May 9, 2003.

[23]   B. K. Whitlock, J. Morikuni, P. Mena, and R. Scarmozzino, "Recent Advances in Modeling and Simulation of Multimode Optical Links," 14th Annual IEEE Workshop on Interconnections Within High Speed Digital Systems, Paper #MB2, Santa Fe, NM, May 5, 2003. (invited, presented)

[22]   B. K. Whitlock, A. Panicker, "Economics of Amplified WDM Systems in Metropolitan Area Networks," Strategies in Optical Amplifiers 2003 Conference Proceedings, Strategies Unlimited, Feb. 2003. (invited)

[21]   J. Morikuni, P. Mena, B. K. Whitlock, and R. Scarmozzino, "Simulation-based prediction of multimode fiber bandwidth for 10 Gb/s systems," 2002 IEEE/LEOS Annual Meeting Conference Proceedings, paper WEE1, pp. 604-605, Glasgow, Scotland, November 13, 2002. (presented)

[20]   J. Morikuni, P. Mena, B. K. Whitlock, and R. Scarmozzino, "Simulation of modal delays for 10 Gb/s multimode fiber applications," 2002 IEEE/LEOS Annual Meeting Conference Proceedings, paper ThDD4, pp. 903-904, Glasgow, Scotland, November 14, 2002. (presented)

[19]   J. Morikuni, P. Mena, B. K. Whitlock, and R. Scarmozzino, "Measurement requirements for optical and optoelectronic model verification, validation, and calibration," Technical Digest: Symposium on Optical Fiber Measurements, 2002, NIST Special Publication 988, Boulder, Colorado, September 25, 2002.

[18]   B. K. Whitlock, "Simulation Tools for Fiber Optic Link Design," SAE Avionics System Division Meeting, Tempe, Arizona, Oct. 15, 2002. (invited, presented)

[17]   J. Morikuni, B. Whitlock, P. Mena, and R. Scarmozzino, "Modeling and Simulation of Multimode Optical Fibers and Systems," Telecommunication Industry Association (TIA) Plenary Meeting, Kiawah Island, South Carolina, June 2002.

[16]   B. K. Whitlock, "Development of an Advanced Fiber Optic Link Simulator," NAVAIR Fiber Optics Working Group (NFOWG) meeting, Lexington Park, Maryland, June 10, 2002. (invited, presented)

[15]   B. K. Whitlock, D. H. Richards, "Modeling and simulation issues with 10-Gigabit Ethernet," 2000 IEEE/LEOS Annual Meeting Conference Proceedings, vol. 1, pp. 352-353, November 2000. (invited, presented)

[14]   Z. Huang, B. K. Whitlock, and R. Scarmozzino, "CAD optimizes component design at many levels," WDM Solutions, a supplement to Laser Focus World, August 2000.

[13]   R. Scarmozzino, B. K. Whitlock, E. K. Heller, R. M. Osgood, "Numerical methods for modeling photonic devices and systems," Proc. SPIE Vol. 3944, pp. 548-560, Physics and Simulation of Optoelectronic Devices VIII, Rolf H. Binder; Peter Blood; Marek Osinski; Eds, July 2000. (invited)

[12]   B. K. Whitlock, J.-M. Verdiell, "Advanced CAD tools for optoelectronics and lightwave systems," in Design and Manufacturing of WDM Devices, Proceedings of SPIE Vol. 3234, paper 9, Dallas, Texas, November 4, 1997. (presented)

[11]   B. K. Whitlock, P. K. Pepeljugoski, D. M. Kuchta, J. D. Crow, and S. M. Kang, "Computer modeling and simulation of the Optoelectronic Technology Consortium (OETC) optical bus," IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications, vol. 15, no. 4, pp. 717-730, May 1997.

[10]   Y.-M. Wong, D. J. Muehlner, C. C. Faudskar, M. Fishteyn, J. V. Gates, P. J. Anthony, G. J. Cyr, J. Choi, J. D. Crow, D. M. Kuchta, P. K. Pepeljugoski, W. Nation, D. Engebretsen, B. K. Whitlock, R. A. Morgan, M. K. Hibbs-Brenner, J. Lehman, "Evolution and system applications of parallel optical data links," in Proceedings of the 46th Electronics Components and Technology Conference (ECTC `96), Orlando, Florida, May 29, 1996.

[9]     P. K. Pepeljugoski, B. K. Whitlock, D. M. Kuchta, J. D. Crow, and S. M. Kang, "Modeling and simulation of the OETC optical bus," in 1995 IEEE/LEOS Annual Meeting Conference Proceedings, vol. 1, paper OIPS3.2, pp. 185-186, San Francisco, California, October 31, 1995. (presented)

[8]     B. K. Whitlock, P. K. Pepeljugoski, D. M. Kuchta, J. D. Crow, and S. M. Kang, "iFROST: a fiber-optic bus CAD tool," ARPA/MTO Discussion Forum for Optoelectronic Interconnects, Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota, September 21, 1995. (invited, presented)

[7]     B. K. Whitlock, E. Conforti, and S. M. Kang, "High-level software for simulation of fiber optic links," in Proceedings of the 13th Brazilian Telecommunications Society Conference, vol. 1, pp. 103-108, Aguas de Lindoia, Brazil, September 4, 1995.

[6]     E. Conforti, B. K. Whitlock, J. J. Morikuni, and S. M. Kang, "Issues in the modeling of fiber optic systems," in Proceedings of the 1995 SBMO/IEEE MTT-S International Microwave and Optoelectronics Conference, vol. 1, pp. 175-182, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 25, 1995.

[5]     P. K. Pepeljugoski, B. K. Whitlock, D. M. Kuchta, J. D. Crow, and S. M. Kang, "Modeling and simulation of the OETC optical bus," IBM Research Report RC20084, IBM T. J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, New York, June 1, 1995.

[4]     B. K. Whitlock, J. J. Morikuni, E. Conforti, and S. M. Kang, "Simulating optical interconnects," IEEE Circuits and Devices, vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 12-18, May 1995.

[3]     B. K. Whitlock, J. J. Morikuni, and S. M. Kang, "Optimizing component specifications in optical interconnects using mixed-level simulation," in 1994 IEEE/LEOS Annual Meeting Conference Proceedings, vol. 1, paper OC2.4, pp. 43-44, Boston, Massachusetts, October 31, 1994. (presented)

[2]     S. M. Kang, B. K. Whitlock, J. J. Morikuni, and E. Conforti, "Simulation of optical interconnects in high-performance computing and communications systems," in Optoelectronic Interconnects II, SPIE Proceedings vol. 2153, paper 29, pp. 238-250, Los Angeles, California, January 27, 1994. (invited)

[1]     B. K. Whitlock, E. Conforti, and S. M. Kang, "iFROST: illinois FibeR-optic and Optoelectronic Systems Toolkit for simulation of optical interconnect systems," Workshop on Theory and Modeling of Lightwave Networks, OFC'93, San Jose, California, February 21, 1993. (presented)

FEATURED OR APPEARED IN:

• Sherry Karabin, “School Creates More Flexibility for its Students,” Chicago Lawyer Magazine, August 30, 2010.
• J. Morikuni and S.-M. Kang, Computer-Aided Design of Optoelectronic Integrated Circuits and Systems, Prentice Hall PTR, 1997.

CLUBHOUSE ROOM PANELIST

• “What it takes to run a 1 million dollar biz,” numerous dates
• “TRADE SECRETS - What it takes to run a 1 million dollar biz,” February 1, 2021
• “UNREGISTERED IP RIGHTS – WHY NOT?”, February 17, 2021

Books Including RSOFT’S OPTICAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM Simulation Software with DR. WHITLOCK’S CONTRIBUTED Examples

• Gerd Keiser, FTTX Concepts and Applications, 2006.
• Govind P. Agrawal, Lightwave Technology: Telecommunication Systems, 2005
• Govind P. Agrawal, Lightwave Technology: Components and Devices, 2004
• Rajappa Papannareddy, Lightwave Communication Systems: A Practical Perspective, 2004
• Stamatios V. Kartalopolous, Optical Bit Error Rate: An Estimation Methodology, 2004
• Harold Kolimbiris, Fiber Optics Communications, 2004

B. K. Whitlock, “Intellectual Property for Small & Medium Sized Business Entrepreneurs,” Searchfunder Ops Session (S.O.S.), June 30, 2021:

Office Hours with David Meltzer, Episode #352, June 1, 2022