Patrick Blane Horne was born in Chattanooga, TN, in 1980. Patrick spent the majority of his adolescent years in Knoxville, TN. He attended Farragut High School, where he graduated seventh in his class of over six hundred in 1998.

Patrick received a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Clemson University in 2002, magna cum laude. He was named Electrical Engineering Sophomore of the Year in 2000. Patrick was a member of the Calhoun Honor Society, serving as its social chairman for two years. Patrick was also a member of IEEE and the engineering honor society, Tau Beta Pi, serving as vice president for one year.

Patrick was the leader of a five-member team of engineering students who won an in-school competition thereby earning the right to represent Clemson University at the 2002 IEEE Southeast Conference held in Columbia, SC. The Clemson robotics team ascended to third place at the Conference competition, which involved researching, designing, and implementing a robot capable of playing a real-life adaptation of the popular videogame, Pong. The "Pong-bot" was designed to "catch" a ping-pong ball and "serve" it back across the table to an opposing robot. The Pong-bot used vision from a digital camera mounted above a wooden table to map the table, see the ball's position and direction of movement, predict the ball's future movement, and move the Pong-bot to the appropriate location to catch the ball. The catching and firing mechanism consisted of a funnel to catch the ball with optical sensors to detect the presence of the ball in the catching mechanism. The optical sensors were part of an electrical circuit that fired the ball across the table at various angles by use of a powered solenoid. The Pong-bot was secured to a belt and stepping motor that drove the Pong-bot back and forth across the table pursuant to the vision algorithm.

While at Clemson, Patrick completed the Clemson co-op program at Itron Oconee, formerly Schlumberger Electricity Corp., where he worked as a co-op engineer on circuit board design, qualification, and manufacturing for industrial power meters, specifically the Q1000. In design, Patrick worked specifically on power supply and regulation and in achieving desired tolerances for the Analog Output Module used as an attachment to the Q1000 meter. In qualification, Patrick worked to stabilize the Analog Output Module's operational amplifier performance at extreme temperature and humidity conditions. In manufacturing, Patrick helped to troubleshoot various problems with assembly line production including issues in C/C++. Patrick graduated within four years despite completing three full co-op sessions.

Patrick was a member of the Clemson Crew rowing team in 1998, which won several head races throughout the Southeast. Also while at Clemson, Patrick enjoyed numerous intramural sports including softball, football, ultimate Frisbee, volleyball, basketball, and racquetball. He and his co-ed racquetball partner (and future wife, Karen) won the Clemson intramural co-ed racquetball tournament in 2001. Patrick was a member of the Clemson University Symphonic Band for six semesters including the positions of bass trombone, second trombone, and first trombone. Patrick also marched in the Tiger Band for three years, serving as the leader of the 24-member trombone section for two years. Additionally, Patrick performed in the Men's Basketball Pep Band for two years and played in a funk-rock band, "Lost on Tuesday," which toured small bars and clubs in Georgia and South Carolina.

Patrick graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law in the spring of 2005. While at the College of Law, Patrick received the Dean's Awards for Excellence in Patent Law, Entertainment Law, Pretrial Litigation, and Natural Resources Law. Additionally, Patrick was on the Dean's List several semesters. In law school, Patrick authored three papers titled "The Chilling Effect of Internet Patents," "Copyright Protection of Architecture," and "The Wireless Age: What Must Be Done to Protect Attorney/Client Confidentiality?"

In July 2005 Patrick passed the bar exam and was licensed to practice law in the state of Tennessee in the fall of 2005. Patrick became an associate at Luedeka, Neely and Graham in August and is currently practicing in the areas of general, electrical, and mechanical patent prosecution, trademarks, copyrights and related litigation.

Patrick's wife Karen is a resident in the obstetrics and gynecology department at the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine in Knoxville. Patrick and Karen met at Clemson University where Karen studied Biochemistry. Patrick and Karen enjoy many outdoors activities including biking and hiking and are avid Clemson Tiger and Tennessee Vol fans.

Assistant: Brooke Whitt

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