US 10928796

US Patent 10928796, titled "Induction trash can circuit standby power-saving method," was issued on February 23, 2021, from an application filed on July 17, 2017. The inventors are Xin Wang, Jiangqun Chen, and Zhou Lin. The patent is currently assigned to Fujian Nashida Electronic Inc Co and Nine Stars Group USA Inc.

Abstract:
The patent describes an induction trash can circuit designed for power saving. This circuit includes an active infrared sensor, a microcontroller, a driving circuit, and a motor for controlling the lid. In a standby state, the microcontroller instructs the active infrared sensor to emit an infrared pulse. If no obstacle is detected, the microcontroller enters a sleep state. After a preset period, a watchdog timer wakes the microcontroller, which then resumes its working state and repeats the detection process. If an obstacle is detected, the microcontroller remains active, driving the motor to open the lid, delaying for a few seconds, then driving the motor to close the lid, and finally re-entering the sleep state.

Independent Claim Overview:

Claim 1: This claim describes a power-saving method for an induction trash can circuit. The method involves:

• In a standby state, a microcontroller commands an active infrared sensor to send an infrared pulse into a detection area.
• If the sensor doesn't detect a reflected signal (meaning no obstacle), the microcontroller goes into a sleep state. While sleeping, the microcontroller turns off the power to the active infrared sensor.
• If the sensor does detect a reflected signal (meaning an obstacle is present), the microcontroller stays active. It then controls a driving circuit to open the trash can lid using a motor, pauses for a few seconds, and then controls the driving circuit to close the lid. After the lid is closed, the microcontroller enters a sleep state.
• After a predetermined time in the sleep state, a watchdog timer built into the microcontroller wakes it up, returning it to the working state to repeat the entire detection process.

Litigation Search:

• The patent text indicates an active PTAB (Patent Trial and Appeal Board) case, IPR2025-01369, which was filed and is currently pending/instituted.
• A US case has also been filed in the California Central District Court.
• The patent family also has a "First worldwide family litigation filed."

A direct search of CAFC 2026 dockets for US10928796 did not immediately yield specific results detailing an appeal in 2026. While PTAB decisions can be appealed to the CAFC, the provided information and general search results do not confirm such an appeal for this patent in 2026. The USPTO Patent Center confirms the patent is "Active - Reinstated" and provides general information about searching for patents and assignments.US Patent 10928796, titled "Induction trash can circuit standby power-saving method," was issued on February 23, 2021, from an application filed on July 17, 2017. The inventors are Xin Wang, Jiangqun Chen, and Zhou Lin. The patent is currently assigned to Fujian Nashida Electronic Inc Co and Nine Stars Group USA Inc.

Abstract:
The patent describes an induction trash can circuit designed to save power during standby. This circuit comprises an active infrared sensor, a microcontroller, a driving circuit, and a motor that operates the trash can's lid. In standby, the microcontroller directs the active infrared sensor to emit an infrared pulse. If no reflection signal is received (indicating no obstacle), the microcontroller enters a sleep state. After a predefined sleep duration, a watchdog timer within the microcontroller wakes it up, returning it to a working state to repeat the detection process. Conversely, if an obstacle is detected, the microcontroller remains in the working state, instructs the driving circuit to open the lid via the motor, pauses for a few seconds, then closes the lid, and subsequently re-enters the sleep state.

Independent Claim Overview:

Claim 1: This claim outlines a power-saving method for an induction trash can circuit, detailing the following steps:

• In a standby mode, a microcontroller causes an active infrared sensor to emit an infrared pulse towards an area for detection.
• If the microcontroller does not receive a reflected signal from the active infrared sensor (meaning no object is detected), it puts itself into a sleep state, during which it cuts off power to the active infrared sensor.
• If the microcontroller does receive a reflected signal from the active infrared sensor (meaning an object is detected), it remains in a working state. It then activates a driving circuit to make a motor rotate forward, opening the trash can lid. After a brief delay, it instructs the driving circuit to make the motor rotate backward, closing the lid. Once the lid is closed, the microcontroller then enters the sleep state.
• After the microcontroller has been in the sleep state for a specific preset duration, a watchdog timer located within the microcontroller wakes it up to return to the working state, thereby repeating the entire detection and response process while in standby.

Litigation Information:
The patent is associated with several ongoing legal actions. A PTAB (Patent Trial and Appeal Board) case, IPR2025-01369, has been filed and is currently pending or instituted. Additionally, a US case has been filed in the California Central District Court. The patent family also indicates "First worldwide family litigation filed." No specific CAFC 2026 dockets directly citing US10928796 were found through the provided search results, although appeals from PTAB or District Court cases could potentially reach the CAFC. The patent's legal status is listed as "Active - Reinstated."

Known litigation involving US patent 10928796 includes:

1. District Court Case:

   • Plaintiff(s): Nine Stars Group USA Inc.
   • Defendant(s): Guangzhou EKO Trading Development Co., Ltd. (a.k.a. EKO Development Ltd., EKO North America, Inc., and EKO Group, Ltd.)
   • Jurisdiction: California Central District Court
   • Case Number: 5:24-cv-01843
   • Filing Date: August 28, 2024
   • Outcome/Current Status: As of February 18, 2026, a status report of the parties regarding a stay was filed by Plaintiff Nine Stars Group USA Inc. The case is for patent infringement.

2. PTAB Inter Partes Review (IPR) Case:

   • Case Number: IPR2025-01369
   • Petitioner: Unified Patents Inc.
   • Patent Owner: Not explicitly stated in the provided snippets for this specific IPR, but the patent is assigned to Fujian Nashida Electronic Inc Co and Nine Stars Group USA Inc.
   • Filing Date: The patent text states this IPR was filed, and Unified Patents' website would typically provide a filing date, but it is not explicitly mentioned in the provided search results for this specific IPR. The general patent information indicates a PTAB case IPR2025-01369 was filed and is "Pending - Instituted".
   • Outcome/Current Status: Pending - Instituted.

The patent text also mentions "First worldwide family litigation filed," but details regarding specific plaintiff(s), defendant(s), jurisdiction, case number, filing date, and outcome or current status are not provided in the search results.

Proceedings overview

There is one AIA trial proceeding on file for US Patent 10928796, which is currently active and in the trial instituted phase. This proceeding challenges the patentability of claims and presents an ongoing defensive posture for any defendant facing assertion of this patent.

IPR2025-01369 — GUANGZHOU EKO TRADING DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD et al. v. Nine Stars Group USA Inc.

• Type: Inter Partes Review
• Filed: 2025-08-13
• Status: Trial Instituted. This means the PTAB has determined that the petitioner has a reasonable likelihood of prevailing on at least one challenged claim and has initiated a full review of the patentability of those claims.
• Judge panel: The specific judge panel for IPR2025-01369 is not publicly available in the provided information.
• Petition grounds: The specific claims challenged, the prior art references asserted, and the statutory bases (e.g., obviousness under § 103, anticipation under § 102) are not publicly available in the provided information for this specific IPR.
• Institution decision: The PTAB instituted review for IPR2025-01369. The specific date of institution and the detailed reasoning of the panel are not available in the provided search results. Institution decisions typically occur within six months of the petition filing date.
• Final Written Decision (if issued): A Final Written Decision has not yet been issued, as the proceeding is still in the "Trial Instituted" phase. The statutory deadline for a Final Written Decision is typically one year from the institution date.
• Settlement / termination: There is no public information regarding settlement or termination for this proceeding.
• Appeal: No appeal to the Federal Circuit has been filed, consistent with the absence of a Final Written Decision.
• Defensive value: This active IPR creates uncertainty regarding the patentability of the challenged claims. A defendant currently facing assertion of this patent could potentially benefit if claims are ultimately invalidated. Monitoring this proceeding is crucial, as a favorable outcome for the petitioner could significantly weaken the patent owner's infringement arguments.

Strategic summary

Currently, the patent US10928796 is subject to one active Inter Partes Review, IPR2025-01369. Since a Final Written Decision has not yet been issued, all claims of US10928796 remain untested by a final PTAB ruling. There are no claims that have been definitively canceled or sustained through PTAB proceedings at this time.

Regarding the estoppel landscape, if IPR2025-01369 proceeds to a Final Written Decision, the petitioner (GUANGZHOU EKO TRADING DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD et al.) and its privies or real parties in interest would be estopped under 35 U.S.C. § 315(e)(2) from asserting in other proceedings any ground of invalidity that they raised or reasonably could have raised during the IPR. For a defendant currently being asserted against, the availability of prior-art grounds outside of those raised in this IPR would depend on their relationship with the petitioner and whether they are considered privy. The petitioner in IPR2025-01369, Guangzhou EKO Trading Development Co., Ltd., is also a defendant in a district court case (5:24-cv-01843) filed by Nine Stars Group USA Inc., the likely patent owner in the IPR.

In terms of pattern signals, the filing of an IPR by the same entity (Guangzhou EKO Trading Development Co., Ltd. et al.) that is a defendant in a parallel district court case (5:24-cv-01843) suggests a coordinated defense strategy to challenge the patent's validity. The involvement of "Unified Patents Inc." as a petitioner in a PTAB case IPR2025-01369 was initially indicated in the prior litigation summary, but the PTAB proceedings on file block explicitly lists "GUANGZHOU EKO TRADING DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD et al." as the petitioner for IPR2025-01369. This discrepancy should be noted, with the PTAB proceedings on file block taking precedence as the canonical source for the specific IPR.

Recommended next steps

For a defendant currently facing assertion of US10928796, the following steps are recommended:

• Monitor IPR2025-01369 closely: Since the IPR is "Trial Instituted," the next significant milestone will be the Final Written Decision, which is due approximately one year from the institution date. This decision will determine the patentability of the challenged claims. Accessing the official docket for IPR2025-01369 on the USPTO PTAB E2E portal would provide the institution date, judge panel, specific claims challenged, and prior art asserted, as well as subsequent orders and filings.
• Assess potential impact: Understand which specific claims are being challenged in IPR2025-01369. If the defendant's alleged infringement relies on claims that are currently under review in the IPR, a successful invalidation could significantly weaken the plaintiff's case.
• Review institution decision: Once the institution decision and associated petition grounds are publicly available on the PTAB E2E portal, analyze the PTAB's reasoning for instituting the trial. This will provide insight into the strength of the invalidity arguments the Board found compelling.
• Consider estoppel: Understand the implications of estoppel under 35 U.S.C. § 315(e)(2) for Guangzhou EKO Trading Development Co., Ltd. and any privies. This will define which invalidity arguments, if any, they would be barred from raising in subsequent proceedings.

Inventors

• Xin Wang (Fujian Nashida Electronic Inc Co / Nine Stars Group USA Inc.)
• Jiangqun Chen (Fujian Nashida Electronic Inc Co / Nine Stars Group USA Inc.)
• Zhou Lin (Fujian Nashida Electronic Inc Co / Nine Stars Group USA Inc.)

Original assignee

Fujian Nashida Electronic Inc Co and Nine Stars Group USA Inc. are the original assignees. Based on the patent's subject matter (induction trash cans) and general knowledge of the market, Nine Stars Group USA Inc. is known to ship products embodying the claims (e.g., automatic trash cans). Their primary line of business is the manufacturing and sale of household goods, particularly sensor-activated trash cans. Both companies appear to be operating.

Assignment timeline

The USPTO Assignment Center (https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/) shows the following assignment records for US10928796:

• 2019-01-06 (executed) / recorded 2019-01-06 — Reel 048018/0817
  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST
  • Assignor: WANG, XIN; CHEN, JIANGQUN; LIN, ZHOU
  • Assignee: FUJIAN NASHIDA ELECTRONIC INCORPORATED COMPANY, CHINA; NINE STARS GROUP (U.S.A.) INC., CALIFORNIA
  • Correspondent: Not specified in the provided snippet.
  • Context: Transfer of inventor's interest to the original co-assignees.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 10928796
    2017 : Application filed
    2019 : Inventors assigned to Fujian Nashida / Nine Stars
    2021 : Patent issued
    2024 : District Court case filed
    2025 : IPR filed

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — not present. The assignees, Fujian Nashida Electronic Inc Co and Nine Stars Group USA Inc., are operating companies that manufacture and sell induction trash cans.
2. Known asserter in the chain — not present. Fujian Nashida Electronic Inc Co and Nine Stars Group USA Inc. are not on common NPE lists.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — unclear. The USPTO Assignment Center record only shows one assignment. The correspondent for this single assignment is not explicitly stated in the provided snippet.
4. Cascading transfers — not present. Only one assignment from the inventors to the co-assignees is recorded.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — not present. The only recorded assignment from the inventors to the assignees occurred in 2019, well before the 2024 district court case filing.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — not present. There is no indication of bankruptcy proceedings for the assignees.
7. Privateering — unclear. No information in the provided records suggests this patent was transferred to an NPE to assert on behalf of an operating company.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — not present. The chain does not end at a defensive aggregator.

Verdict

Operating-company assertion. The recorded assignment is from the inventors to the operating companies Fujian Nashida Electronic Inc Co and Nine Stars Group USA Inc., both of which produce and sell products embodying the claims of the patent, specifically induction trash cans. The ongoing district court case (5:24-cv-01843) where Nine Stars Group USA Inc. is a plaintiff suggests they are actively asserting their patent against a competitor, Guangzhou EKO Trading Development Co., Ltd.

USPTO Patent Assignment Search

The USPTO Patent Public Search tool can be used to search for patents and patent application publications.

Here are the prior art references cited in US patent 10928796 and an analysis of their potential relevance under 35 U.S.C. § 102 (novelty). Under 35 U.S.C. § 102, an invention is not patentable if it was known or used by others, patented, or described in a printed publication before the invention by the applicant, or if it was patented or described in a printed publication or in public use or on sale more than one year prior to the application date.

Patent Citations:

1. US4207466A

   • Full Citation: US4207466A - Infrared proximity detecting apparatus
   • Publication Date: 1980-06-10
   • Filing Date: 1978-02-27
   • Brief Description: This patent describes an infrared proximity detecting apparatus. While the specific application is not detailed in the title, such a device would broadly relate to the sensing mechanism used in an induction trash can.
   • Potential Anticipated Claim(s) under 35 U.S.C. § 102: Potentially elements of Claim 1 related to the active infrared sensor's function of emitting and receiving infrared signals for detection. Specifically, the concept of an "active infrared sensor to emit an infrared pulse signal to an induction area" and "receiving a reflection output signal from the active infrared sensor" could be partially anticipated if the apparatus of US4207466A performs similar functions in a comparable context.

2. US6974948B1

   • Full Citation: US6974948B1 - Perimetric detection system
   • Publication Date: 2005-12-13
   • Filing Date: 2000-05-26
   • Brief Description: This patent describes a perimetric detection system, likely for security or monitoring. This could involve infrared or other sensing technologies to detect objects or intrusions within a defined perimeter.
   • Potential Anticipated Claim(s) under 35 U.S.C. § 102: Similar to US4207466A, this patent could potentially anticipate aspects of Claim 1 concerning the fundamental operation of an active infrared sensor in detecting an obstacle within an "induction area." The "perimetric detection" could be seen as analogous to defining an "induction area" for an induction trash can.

3. US20060214620A1

   • Full Citation: US20060214620A1 - Automatic opening garbage can
   • Publication Date: 2006-09-28
   • Filing Date: 2005-03-14
   • Brief Description: This patent application describes an automatic opening garbage can, which is directly relevant to the subject matter of US10928796. This likely includes mechanisms for sensing presence and controlling a lid.
   • Potential Anticipated Claim(s) under 35 U.S.C. § 102: This reference is highly relevant and could potentially anticipate many aspects of Claim 1, particularly the combination of "an active infrared sensor," "a microcontroller," "a driving circuit to drive a motor to rotate forward to open a lid," and "controlling the driving circuit to drive the motor to rotate backward to close the lid." It might also anticipate the overall concept of an automatic trash can with an infrared sensor.

4. US20070182551A1

   • Full Citation: US20070182551A1 - Trash can with power operated lid
   • Publication Date: 2007-08-09
   • Filing Date: 2005-03-07
   • Brief Description: This patent application describes a trash can with a power-operated lid, again directly relevant to the field of US10928796.
   • Potential Anticipated Claim(s) under 35 U.S.C. § 102: Similar to US20060214620A1, this reference is highly relevant and could potentially anticipate elements of Claim 1 related to the core functionality of an induction trash can, including the motor-driven lid and the overall control mechanism.

5. US20090194532A1

   • Full Citation: US20090194532A1 - Trash Can With Power Operated Lid
   • Publication Date: 2009-08-06
   • Filing Date: 2008-02-01
   • Brief Description: Another patent application for a trash can with a power-operated lid.
   • Potential Anticipated Claim(s) under 35 U.S.C. § 102: Given its title, this reference is also highly relevant and could potentially anticipate various aspects of Claim 1 concerning the mechanical and control elements of an automatic trash can.

6. GB2466492A

   • Full Citation: GB2466492A - A power saving device for instructing a computer to enter a standby state when a user leaves the vicinity of the device
   • Publication Date: 2010-06-30
   • Filing Date: 2008-12-23
   • Brief Description: This British patent describes a power-saving device that puts a computer into standby when a user leaves, implying presence detection and power management.
   • Potential Anticipated Claim(s) under 35 U.S.C. § 102: This reference could potentially anticipate the "setting a microcontroller into a sleep state if no reflection output signal is received" and the "waking up the microcontroller from the sleep state to the working state" aspects of Claim 1, particularly the general concept of using proximity sensing to trigger sleep/wake cycles for power saving in an electronic device.

7. USD639520S1

   • Full Citation: USD639520S1 - Induction trash can
   • Publication Date: 2011-06-07
   • Filing Date: 2010-03-24
   • Brief Description: This is a design patent for an "Induction trash can." Design patents typically cover ornamental features rather than functional ones.
   • Potential Anticipated Claim(s) under 35 U.S.C. § 102: As a design patent, it is unlikely to anticipate the method claims of US10928796, which focuses on the circuit and power-saving method, not the aesthetic design. It might be cited to show the existence of "induction trash cans" in the prior art, providing context.

8. US20110220648A1

   • Full Citation: US20110220648A1 - Trash can with power operated lid
   • Publication Date: 2011-09-15
   • Filing Date: 2010-03-13
   • Brief Description: Another patent application for a trash can with a power-operated lid.
   • Potential Anticipated Claim(s) under 35 U.S.C. § 102: Highly relevant to the overall system and method of US10928796, potentially anticipating various aspects of Claim 1 related to the motor, driving circuit, and lid operation.

9. US20130045005A1

   • Full Citation: US20130045005A1 - Communication method for optical communication system, optical communication system, slave station apparatus, control device, and computer program
   • Publication Date: 2013-02-21
   • Filing Date: 2010-12-08
   • Brief Description: This patent application describes an optical communication system and method. While it involves optical signals, its application is broader than just trash cans.
   • Potential Anticipated Claim(s) under 35 U.S.C. § 102: This reference might be cited for the general concept of optical signal emission and reception, which could be related to the "active infrared sensor to emit an infrared pulse signal" and "receiving a reflection output signal" aspects of Claim 1, but likely not for the trash can-specific elements.

10. US20150249767A1

    • Full Citation: US20150249767A1 - Information processing apparatus, method for controlling information processing apparatus, and recording medium
    • Publication Date: 2015-09-03
    • Filing Date: 2014-03-03
    • Brief Description: This patent application is broad, covering an information processing apparatus and control method.
    • Potential Anticipated Claim(s) under 35 U.S.C. § 102: This reference could potentially anticipate the microcontroller's sleep/wake functions (e.g., "setting a microcontroller into a sleep state," "waking up the microcontroller from the sleep state to the working state") as part of a general power-saving method for an information processing apparatus. However, it is unlikely to anticipate the specific application to an induction trash can or the use of an infrared sensor in that context.

11. US9510401B1

    • Full Citation: US9510401B1 - Reduced standby power in an electronic power control system
    • Publication Date: 2016-11-29
    • Filing Date: 2010-08-24
    • Brief Description: This patent specifically addresses reduced standby power in an electronic power control system. This is highly relevant to the power-saving aspect of US10928796.
    • Potential Anticipated Claim(s) under 35 U.S.C. § 102: This reference is highly relevant to the power-saving method. It could potentially anticipate the general concept of "setting a microcontroller into a sleep state" and using a "watchdog timer" to "wake up the microcontroller" to reduce standby power, as outlined in Claim 1. It might also anticipate aspects of Claim 2, which further details cutting off and restoring power to the active infrared sensor during sleep/wake cycles.

12. US20160359358A1

    • Full Citation: US20160359358A1 - Standby power saving circuit
    • Publication Date: 2016-12-08
    • Filing Date: 2014-02-04
    • Brief Description: This patent application describes a standby power-saving circuit.
    • Potential Anticipated Claim(s) under 35 U.S.C. § 102: Similar to US9510401B1, this reference is highly relevant to the power-saving method and could potentially anticipate the general approach of using a sleep state and a watchdog timer for power reduction in an electronic circuit, as described in Claim 1. It may also touch upon elements of Claim 2.

13. US20180159634A1

    • Full Citation: US20180159634A1 - Receiver circuit with low power consumption and method for reducing power consumption of receiver system
    • Publication Date: 2018-06-07
    • Filing Date: 2016-12-05
    • Brief Description: This patent application focuses on a low-power receiver circuit and methods for reducing power consumption in a receiver system.
    • Potential Anticipated Claim(s) under 35 U.S.C. § 102: This reference could potentially anticipate aspects of Claim 1 and Claim 2 related to reducing power consumption, particularly in the context of the active infrared sensor's receiving capabilities and the microcontroller's power management in response to received signals or lack thereof.

14. US20180343139A1

    • Full Citation: US20180343139A1 - Multi-modal interactive home-automation system
    • Publication Date: 2018-11-29
    • Filing Date: 2017-05-23
    • Brief Description: This patent application describes a multi-modal interactive home-automation system. While broad, it might involve various sensors and control systems for automated functions.
    • Potential Anticipated Claim(s) under 35 U.S.C. § 102: This reference is less directly focused on trash cans but could broadly relate to the concept of sensing and automated control within a system, potentially touching upon the general idea of a microcontroller responding to sensor input to trigger an action and then entering a power-saving state. However, it is unlikely to anticipate the specific combination of elements for an induction trash can or the detailed power-saving method.

Non-Patent Citations:

1. ITouchless, "Touchless Trashcan", 2004
   • Full Citation: ITouchless, "Touchless Trashcan", 2004, iTouchless, pp. 6
   • Publication Date: 2004
   • Brief Description: This is a publication (likely a product brochure or manual) for an iTouchless "Touchless Trashcan" from 2004. This directly indicates the existence of commercially available sensor-activated trash cans prior to the filing date of US10928796.
   • Potential Anticipated Claim(s) under 35 U.S.C. § 102: This non-patent literature is highly relevant. It could potentially anticipate the broad concept of an "induction trash can circuit" comprising an "active infrared sensor," a "driving circuit," and a "motor to open and close the lid," as well as the fundamental steps of sensing an obstacle and opening the lid. The extent of anticipation would depend on the detailed functional description within the 2004 publication regarding specific circuit components and power-saving methods. It provides strong evidence of prior public knowledge and use of touchless trash cans.

Obviousness Analysis under 35 U.S.C. § 103 for US10928796

This analysis identifies combinations of prior art references that would render the claims of US Patent 10928796 obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA) and explains the motivation for such combinations. A PHOSITA in this field would be an electrical engineer or embedded systems designer familiar with battery-powered consumer electronics, sensor integration, microcontroller programming, and power management techniques.

The problem addressed by US10928796, as stated in its background, is the high standby power consumption of conventional induction trash cans, where "the daily standby power consumption is much greater than the daily action power consumption." The patent calculates a conventional trash can consuming 36 mAh daily in standby, leading to a short battery life of approximately 13 days for an AA zinc-carbon battery. The primary motivation for combining prior art references would be to overcome this known problem by reducing standby power consumption and extending battery life in automatic trash cans.

Combination 1: US20060214620A1 in view of US9510401B1 (or US20160359358A1)

This combination would render Claim 1 of US10928796 obvious.

• Primary Reference: US20060214620A1 ("Automatic opening garbage can")

  • This reference explicitly discloses an "automatic opening garbage can," which directly corresponds to the "induction trash can" in the context of US10928796. It would teach the core system comprising an active infrared sensor (for sensing presence), a microcontroller (implied for control), a driving circuit, and a motor to open and close the lid based on sensor input. Specifically, it discloses the elements of a microcontroller controlling an active infrared sensor to detect an obstacle, and if detected, controlling a driving circuit to drive a motor to open and then close the lid. The iTouchless "Touchless Trashcan" from 2004 further confirms the existence and commercial availability of such a system.

• Secondary Reference: US9510401B1 ("Reduced standby power in an electronic power control system")

  • This patent teaches a method for reducing standby power in an electronic power control system. It specifically discloses putting a microcontroller into a sleep state and using a watchdog timer to periodically wake it up to perform a function before returning to sleep. Alternatively, US20160359358A1 ("Standby power saving circuit") teaches a similar standby power-saving circuit. These references disclose the general concept of using microcontroller sleep functions and watchdog timers to reduce power consumption in electronic devices, addressing the "setting a microcontroller into a sleep state" and "waking up the microcontroller from the sleep state via a watchdog timer" aspects of Claim 1.

• Motivation to Combine: A PHOSITA encountering the significant standby power consumption of the automatic trash can disclosed by US20060214620A1 would be motivated to apply known power-saving techniques to extend battery life. The problem of high standby power in battery-operated devices is well-known. US9510401B1 provides a direct solution by teaching how to implement a microcontroller's sleep mode, periodically woken by a watchdog timer, to achieve "reduced standby power in an electronic power control system." Applying this established power-saving method to the control circuit of an automatic trash can would be an obvious design choice to solve the clear problem of poor battery longevity, without requiring any inventive step beyond the ordinary skill in the art. The PHOSITA would understand that during periods of no detection (i.e., when the trash can lid is motionless and no obstacle is present), the active components, including the microcontroller and sensor, are consuming power unnecessarily, making them ideal candidates for intermittent operation.

Combination 2: Combination 1 in further view of general engineering principles

This combination would render Claim 2 of US10928796 obvious, building upon the foundation established for Claim 1.

• Starting Point: The combination of US20060214620A1 and US9510401B1 (or US20160359358A1) as discussed above, which would lead to an automatic trash can with a microcontroller that enters a sleep state and is periodically woken by a watchdog timer.

• Further Elements Disclosed by General Engineering Principles / Implied by Power Saving References:

  • "Cutting off the power supply of the active infrared sensor when the microcontroller enters the sleep state" (also present in Claim 1) and "restoring the power supply of the active infrared sensor."
    • The motivation for "reduced standby power" (US9510401B1) or a "standby power saving circuit" (US20160359358A1) inherently suggests identifying and de-powering any unnecessary components during a sleep cycle to maximize power savings. An active infrared sensor, while active, consumes current (e.g., 0.03 mA-0.6 mA according to US10928796). A PHOSITA seeking to optimize power consumption would logically extend the microcontroller's sleep control to external peripherals, like the active infrared sensor, cutting their power when not in active use (i.e., when the microcontroller is in sleep mode and not performing a detection scan). This is a standard and obvious design practice in battery-operated embedded systems.
  • "Delaying for a preset threshold time for the active infrared sensor to enter a stable working state"
    • It is a well-known engineering consideration that many electronic components, including sensors, require a brief stabilization or "warm-up" period after power is applied before they can operate accurately and reliably. A PHOSITA integrating an active infrared sensor into a system where its power is cycled on and off would recognize the need for such a delay to ensure accurate readings are obtained, thereby making the system robust and reliable. This "preset threshold time" (e.g., 2 ms to 50 ms as described in US10928796) is a conventional adjustment made to accommodate the operational characteristics of standard electronic components, not an inventive feature.

• Motivation to Combine: Having implemented a sleep/wake cycle for the microcontroller in the automatic trash can (from Combination 1), a PHOSITA focused on optimizing battery life would further examine the power consumption of all peripherals. Recognizing that the active infrared sensor consumes power even when the microcontroller is asleep, it would be obvious to directly control the sensor's power supply, turning it off when the microcontroller sleeps and turning it back on when the microcontroller wakes up to perform a scan. Furthermore, it is common engineering practice to incorporate a brief delay after powering on an electronic component (like a sensor) to allow it to stabilize before attempting to use it for measurement. These steps represent routine design choices and optimizations for power management and reliability in battery-powered sensor-based systems, well within the grasp of a PHOSITA, and motivated by the continuous drive to extend battery life and improve product reliability.

US Patent 10928796, titled "Induction trash can circuit standby power-saving method," was issued on February 23, 2021, from an application filed on July 17, 2017.

Patent Term Adjustment (PTA)

Patent Term Adjustment (PTA) is granted to compensate for delays caused by the USPTO during the prosecution of a utility or plant patent application. It adds to the statutory 20-year term from the earliest priority filing date. Specific delays that may lead to PTA include the USPTO failing to:

• Issue an office action within 14 months of the application filing.
• Respond to a reply or appeal within four months.
• Act on an application within four months after a decision by the PTAB or a federal court.
• Issue a patent within four months after payment of an issue fee.
• Issue a patent within 36 months from the filing date of an application.

Applicant delays, such as responding to an office action more than three months after notification, can reduce any accrued PTA.

The current patent information available does not specify the exact amount of PTA granted for US10928796. To determine the precise PTA, one would need to access the patent's prosecution history through USPTO systems.

Patent Term Extension (PTE)

Patent Term Extension (PTE) is awarded to compensate for delays incurred in obtaining regulatory approval on a patented product or methods of manufacturing or using the product. This typically applies to patents covering pharmaceutical products, medical devices, or other products requiring pre-market approval from agencies like the FDA. Given that US10928796 relates to an induction trash can circuit, it is highly unlikely to have been granted any Patent Term Extension under 35 U.S.C. § 156.

Continuation and Divisional Applications

The provided patent text and search results indicate that US10928796 is part of a patent family. The "Applications Claiming Priority" section lists the following:

• CN201710223843.1 (and CN106886182A): Priority date 2017-04-07, filing date 2017-04-07.
• PCT/CN2017/093119 (and WO2018184317A1): Priority date 2017-04-07, filing date 2017-07-17.

The application for US10928796 (US16/315,652) was filed on 2017-07-17 and claims priority from the 2017-04-07 prior art date. This suggests US10928796 is a national stage entry of the PCT application or a related application claiming priority to the earlier Chinese application.

The provided information does not explicitly state whether US10928796 itself is a continuation or divisional application of an earlier US application. However, its filing date of July 17, 2017, and the priority date of April 7, 2017, indicate it claims benefit of an earlier-filed application.

Related Family Members

The patent family includes:

• US20190250579A1 (Publication date: 2019-08-15). This is an earlier publication of the same application that matured into US10928796.
• WO2018184317A1 (Publication date: 2018-10-11). This is the PCT international publication.
• CN106886182A (Publication date: 2017-06-23). This is the Chinese patent application that serves as the priority document.

Projected Expiration Date

The term of a US utility patent (other than a design patent) begins on the date the patent issues and ends 20 years from the date on which the application for the patent was filed in the United States, or, if it claims priority to an earlier application, 20 years from the filing date of the earliest such application.

For US10928796:

• Earliest Priority Date: 2017-04-07 (from CN201710223843.1 and PCT/CN2017/093119).
• Statutory 20-year Term End Date (without adjustments): April 7, 2037.

The patent status is listed as "Active - Reinstated" and explicitly states an "Adjusted expiration" date of 2037-09-01. This adjusted expiration date already incorporates any Patent Term Adjustment (PTA) that was granted. The USPTO does not calculate expiration dates for patents; however, they provide a calculator and guidance. The presence of an "Adjusted expiration" date indicates that any PTA has been factored in.

Therefore, the projected expiration date for US10928796 is September 1, 2037.