Assignment history

Based on the search results for "Lepton Computing LLC":

• Original Assignee: Lepton Computing LLC.
• Shipped a product embodying the claims: The company claims to have developed prototypes and even unveiled a prototype called "Lepton Flex" as the "first American manufacturer to have unveiled a foldable smartphone" in October 2021. Their website reportedly stated "Devices coming soon". However, recent reports from April 2026 state that the company has "never actually released a smartphone" and the prototype "Lepton Flex" was "never even shown to work". So, while they claim development, they haven't shipped a commercial product.
• Primary line of business: Lepton Computing LLC claims to be an "original developer in the field of foldable / flexible display mobile devices" and has focused on various aspects of foldable smartphones, including flexible display haptics, machine learning, power conservation, voice control, 360-degree camera features, new hinge and device mechanics, gaming interaction, virtual object control, gimbal stabilization, hinge actuation, and expandable/rollable display devices. However, recent news articles identify them as a "patent troll" or "Non-Practicing Entity" (NPE) as they have filed a lawsuit against Samsung for patent infringement. Their business appears to revolve around holding patents and suing for infringement rather than product manufacturing.
• Current status: Active, and currently asserting patents against Samsung. They are a "relatively small and unknown company" based in Brooklyn, with apparently just two employees and no public contact details.

There's another "Lepton Software" and "Lepton Systems" found in the search results, but the descriptions of their products (geospatial software, network switches) clearly distinguish them from "Lepton Computing LLC," which focuses on foldable phones and is named in the patent litigation.

Execution - Step 3: Assignment timeline
I need to go to USPTO Patent Assignment Search and look up US11093002.

(Self-correction): The prompt specifies to use https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/ (or https://assignment.uspto.gov/patent/index.html). I will navigate there and search for the patent.

Searching for patent 11093002 on the USPTO Assignment Center:
I found one record.

Reel/Frame: 052441/0458
Conveyance Type: ASSIGNMENT
Assignor: DELAPORTE STEPHEN E
Assignee: LEPTON COMPUTING LLC
Execution Date: 2019-08-01
Recording Date: 2019-08-05
Correspondent: BOKES, JONATHAN
426 TENTH AVE
APT 1
BROOKLYN NY 11215

This record aligns with the "2019-08-05 Assigned to LEPTON COMPUTING LLC Assignors: DELAPORTE, STEPHEN E" event mentioned in the Google Patents legal events section earlier in the prompt. This looks like the original assignment from the inventor to the assignee. Since there's only one record, the original assignee, Lepton Computing LLC, still owns the patent.

Execution - Step 4: Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 11093002
    2010 : Priority date 2010-08-10
    2011 : Original application filed 2011-08-09
    2019 : Continuation filed 2019-02-28
         : Assigned to Lepton Computing LLC
    2021 : Issued to Lepton Computing LLC
    2026 : Lepton Computing LLC sues Samsung

The patent was granted to Lepton Computing LLC. The single assignment record indicates the inventor assigned it to Lepton Computing LLC. So, Lepton Computing LLC is the current owner.

Execution - Step 5: NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer: Present. The original assignee, Lepton Computing LLC, claims to be a developer of foldable phones with prototypes, but recent reports state they have never actually released a product and their prototype "Lepton Flex" was never shown to work. They are described as a "patent troll" or "Non-Practicing Entity" (NPE) that seeks damages rather than producing devices. They are a "small and unknown company" based in Brooklyn, with "apparently just two employees" and "no public contact details". This aligns with the characteristics of a shell entity. This is supported by the context from the initial assignment on Reel 052441/0458, where the inventor assigned to Lepton Computing LLC, and subsequent news articles from April 2026.

2. Known asserter in the chain: Present. Lepton Computing LLC has recently filed a lawsuit against Samsung for patent infringement, explicitly naming them as a "patent troll" or "Non-Practicing Entity" (NPE) in multiple news reports. This indicates they are a known asserter. This is evidenced by news reports from April 2026.

3. Repeat correspondent across the chain: Unclear. The only assignment record is Reel 052441/0458, which lists Jonathan Bokes as the correspondent. Without additional assignment records for this patent or a broader search across other tracked patents using this correspondent's name, it's unclear if this is a repeat pattern.

4. Cascading transfers: Not present. Only one assignment record (Reel 052441/0458) is found, which is from the inventor to the original assignee. No subsequent transfers are recorded.

5. Pre-litigation transfer: Unclear. The patent was issued on August 17, 2021. The first reported infringement suit against Samsung was filed by Lepton Computing LLC on April 24, 2026. The only recorded assignment (from inventor to Lepton Computing LLC) was on 2019-08-05 (recorded date). This is well before the lawsuit, so it's not a pre-litigation transfer in the typical sense (transfer to an NPE right before a lawsuit). However, the initial assignment itself is from the inventor to a company that later became identified as an NPE.

6. Bankruptcy fire-sale: Not present. There is no indication of the original assignee, Lepton Computing LLC, filing for bankruptcy and the patent being sold in proceedings.

7. Privateering: Unclear. While Lepton Computing LLC is asserting patents, there is no information indicating an operating company transferred the patent to Lepton to assert on its behalf against competitors. The initial assignment was from the inventor directly to Lepton Computing LLC.

8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE): Not present. The chain ends with Lepton Computing LLC, which is identified as an asserting entity, not a defensive aggregator.

Execution - Step 6: Verdict

Based on the analysis:

• Shell-entity transfer: Present (Lepton Computing LLC does not ship products and is described as an NPE).
• Known asserter in the chain: Present (Lepton Computing LLC is actively suing Samsung).

These are two strong signals.## Inventors

• Stephen E. Delaporte (Independent inventor; subsequently assigned rights to Lepton Computing LLC)

Original assignee

The entity named on the issued patent is Lepton Computing LLC.

While Lepton Computing LLC claims to be an "original developer in the field of foldable/flexible display mobile devices" and reportedly unveiled a prototype called "Lepton Flex", news reports from April 2026 indicate that the company has "never actually released a smartphone" and the "Lepton Flex" prototype was "never even shown to work". Therefore, Lepton Computing LLC has not shipped a product embodying the claims.

Their primary line of business, as indicated by recent events, appears to be patent assertion, as they have filed a lawsuit against Samsung for patent infringement, and are widely described as a "patent troll" or "Non-Practicing Entity" (NPE).

Lepton Computing LLC is currently operating and actively asserting its patents against Samsung. It is described as a "relatively small and unknown company" based in Brooklyn, with "apparently just two employees" and "no public contact details".

Assignment timeline

• 2019-08-01 (executed) / recorded 2019-08-05 — Reel 052441/0458
  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT
  • Assignor: DELAPORTE STEPHEN E
  • Assignee: LEPTON COMPUTING LLC
  • Correspondent: BOKES, JONATHAN, 426 TENTH AVE, APT 1, BROOKLYN NY 11215
  • Context: Inventor assigned patent rights to Lepton Computing LLC.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 11093002
    2010 : Priority date 2010-08-10
    2011 : Original application filed 2011-08-09
    2019 : Continuation filed 2019-02-28
         : Assigned to Lepton Computing LLC
    2021 : Issued to Lepton Computing LLC
    2026 : Lepton Computing LLC sues Samsung

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer: Present. Lepton Computing LLC, the assignee, has been widely identified in recent news as a "patent troll" or "Non-Practicing Entity" (NPE). Reports indicate the company has never released a commercial product, and its prototype "Lepton Flex" was never shown to be functional. The company is described as small, unknown, with few employees, and no public contact details, consistent with a shell entity. The initial assignment from inventor Stephen E. Delaporte to Lepton Computing LLC (Reel 052441/0458, executed 2019-08-01, recorded 2019-08-05) places the patent with this entity.
2. Known asserter in the chain: Present. Lepton Computing LLC is currently asserting this patent (US11093002) as part of a portfolio of nine patents in an infringement lawsuit against Samsung, filed in April 2026. Numerous media outlets explicitly label Lepton Computing LLC as a "patent troll" in their coverage of this litigation.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain: Unclear. Only one assignment record exists for this patent (Reel 052441/0458), listing Jonathan Bokes as the correspondent. Without additional assignment records for this patent or a broader comparison across other tracked patents, it cannot be confirmed if this correspondent recurs.
4. Cascading transfers: Not present. There is only one recorded assignment for this patent (Reel 052441/0458), from the inventor to Lepton Computing LLC.
5. Pre-litigation transfer: Unclear. The assignment from the inventor to Lepton Computing LLC occurred on August 1, 2019 (execution date, Reel 052441/0458). The first reported infringement suit against Samsung was filed in April 2026. While Lepton Computing LLC is identified as an NPE, the assignment significantly predates the lawsuit, so it does not fit the typical pattern of a transfer occurring within 6 months of litigation.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale: Not present. There is no evidence that Lepton Computing LLC underwent bankruptcy proceedings.
7. Privateering: Unclear. The patent was assigned from the individual inventor to Lepton Computing LLC (Reel 052441/0458). There is no indication of an operating company transferring the patent to Lepton Computing LLC to assert against competitors on its behalf.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE): Not present. The patent is currently held by Lepton Computing LLC, an asserting entity, not a defensive aggregator.

Verdict

NPE — high confidence. The presence of two strong signals, specifically the identification of Lepton Computing LLC as a shell entity that has not produced commercial products and its status as a known asserter actively engaged in patent infringement litigation against Samsung, strongly indicates an NPE pattern. The patent was assigned from the inventor to Lepton Computing LLC on 2019-08-01 (Reel 052441/0458), and this entity is now pursuing damages through lawsuits.

USPTO Assignment Center Search for US11093002