Prior art — US Patent 10928796

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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:

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:

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.