Innovation Awards

Honorable Mentions

PreChill System  by Cooling Concepts, Inc

The PowerPot  by Power Practical

Computer Hardware
Glasses-free Color Animated Holograms By Holorad LLC
Three-dimensional imagery has captured the imaginations of moviegoers, designers and educators. But the 3D movie experience relies on special glasses. And existing “glasses-free” stereo-image displays only work well for a single viewer who is positioned in a specific sweet spot. Holorad has developed technology that projects holographic images into real space, enabling groups of people to all see the image at the same time—without the need for special glasses.

Holorad anticipates its holograph technology to have applications in many industries, including entertainment, advertising, medical imaging and education. The company says its technology and products offer an enhanced, interactive consumer experience that provides a sought-after “wow” factor.

Holorad holds nine patents on the technology for generating this kind of hologram. It also has international patents pending on its most recent innovations, which add color, animation and compatibility with conventional media assets and workflows.

Solid State Vacuum Device By InnoSys, Inc.
The Solid State Vacuum Device (SSVD) developed by InnoSys is a high-power, broadband wireless device that enables many broadband high-speed communications, as well as high-resolution, high-precision radar and military applications.

High-frequency power sources are a key component of any wireless communication or radar system, accounting for 40 percent of a wireless system. The technology created by InnoSys overcomes a manufacturing hurdle that has previously limited the adoption of vacuum electronic devices (VEDs) for use in wireless communication and radar systems. The standard manufacturing approach is to push the scaling of lower-frequency devices to the limits of current technology—creating an upper limit for frequency and power.

InnoSys has developed SSVD designs and manufacturing techniques that enable the fabrication of very high frequency VEDs. This technology enables greater bandwidth, efficiency and quality within communication systems, helping the industry keep pace with demands for higher-speed communications and precision radar systems.

SparkChaser By LiveWire Innovation
The SparkChaser by LiveWire Innovation is the first portable wiring tester that can detect and locate wiring faults on both live and deactivated systems. All other wiring testers on the market require systems to be dead and all electronics decoupled for testing. The patented technology utilizes a combination of spread spectrum time domain reflectometry and traditional measurement techniques.

SparkChaser allows technicians to quickly locate and repair damaged wiring, including intermittent failures that can be difficult to detect. The device was specifically designed as ruggedized, portable, ground-support equipment for use in industries ranging from aircraft, electrical power grids, mining, commercial and residential power distribution systems, and telecommunications and data networks, among many others.

SparkChaser records the type of fault, distance to the fault and time of occurrence; test results can be downloaded for diagnostic purposes. The technology helps companies reduce maintenance, troubleshoot and monitor costs, increase system reliability and extend the useful life of their systems.

Honorable Mention

rad-DX Radiation Detector by VPI Engineering

Consumer Products
FIX Technology By Skullcandy Inc.
People on the move have long experienced ear buds falling out of place. Skullcandy’s FIX Technology is a revolutionary ear bud design that stays in place even during rigorous activity. The FIX Technology offers a one-of-a-kind hook-like design that rests comfortably on multiple points of the ear, making the bud stable in the ear. The device also offers a repositioned chamber enhancing sound quality.  

“We’re an active lifestyle company, and the consistent complaint we heard was that people had to stop and fix their ear buds in the middle of a run or a skate session. So the question was, could we fix this and design an ear bud that stays in your ear?” says Andrew Van Hout, marketing coordinator.  “With the patent-pending technology of FIX, you are now able to be as active as you want without worrying about your ear buds falling out.”