Patent approval for high-tech electronic products is a bit more complex than reading the schematic for a new type of mouse trap. As we've seen with the Rambus fiasco earlier this year and the VIA/Intel shenanigans, a bit more technical savvy in the old U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) could make a lot of folks lives just a little easier and a few folks lives just a little more difficult. According to a story on EETimes.com , the PTO is working to get more tecchies involved in the patent office and plans to hire as many as 500 electrical engineers during the fiscal year that began Oct. 1. Candidates range from entry-level engineering undergraduates, who start at $50,000 a year plus a 12 percent sign-on bonus, to experienced engineers who are former employees of semiconductor manufacturers. In fact seven engineers who were laid off by Agere Systems (Allentown, Pa.) just signed up to be patent examiners. Basic qualifications for high-tech patent examiners include a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and U.S. citizenship.