US 11829518

An analysis of U.S. Patent No. 11,829,518 reveals the following details regarding the invention, its ownership, and its legal standing.

Patent Information:

• Title: Head-worn device with connection region
• Assignee: Ingeniospec LLC
• Inventors: Thomas A. Howell, David Chao, C. Douglass Thomas, Peter P. Tong
• Filing Date: July 21, 2023
• Issue Date: November 28, 2023
• Abstract: The patent describes a pair of glasses with integrated electrical components. The core idea is to embed technology into the eyewear to make it more convenient for the user. This includes features like touch-sensitive controls built into the frame, which allow a user to operate the device without physically manipulating a separate electronic gadget. The invention covers the incorporation of various components such as speakers, microphones, cameras, and connectors for power and data transfer.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

The patent contains two independent claims:

• Claim 1: This claim outlines a pair of glasses that has a frame, a switch with at least two states (e.g., on/off), and an electrical component. The significant part of this claim is that the switch is operated by the user touching a surface of the frame, without the movement of any external mechanical parts. This touch-sensitive area controls a function of the electrical component within the glasses.

• Claim 13: This claim describes a pair of glasses with a frame, internal electrical circuitry, and a touch-sensitive input surface. By touching this surface, a user can provide an input to the circuitry to perform a specific function.

In essence, both independent claims protect the concept of integrating seamless, touch-based controls onto the frame of a pair of glasses to operate embedded electronic features.

Litigation and Administrative Proceedings:

A search of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) 2026 dockets for litigation involving U.S. Patent No. 11,829,518 did not yield specific results. However, the patent's own documentation indicates a history of legal challenges:

• PTAB Case: The patent has been subject to an Inter Partes Review (IPR) proceeding before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, identified as case number IPR2025-01548. The record indicates this matter has been settled.
• District Court Litigation: The patent has been asserted in multiple district court lawsuits:
  • Texas Eastern District Court, case numbers 2:24-cv-00819, 2:24-cv-00820, 2:24-cv-00822, and 2:24-cv-00823.
  • Massachusetts District Court, case number 1:25-cv-12531.

The patent document also indicates an "Expired - Lifetime" status with an anticipated expiration date of July 15, 2025. This status is based on a long chain of priority applications dating back to July 28, 2004, and suggests that the patent's enforceable term is limited by the term of the earliest application in its family.