Patent 11852901

Prior art

Earlier patents, publications, and products that may anticipate or render the claims unpatentable.

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Prior art

Earlier patents, publications, and products that may anticipate or render the claims unpatentable.

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To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 11852901, I accessed the patent information on Google Patents (which mirrors USPTO data). The following are the patent citations listed under "References Cited" in US11852901, along with their details and potential anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102:

Since the claims of US11852901 focus on a wireless headset integrated into glasses that automatically disables/enables hearing enhancement during voice calls, prior art directly addressing these features or a combination of these features would be most relevant.

Here's an analysis of the cited prior art:

Patent References Cited in US11852901

  1. US20030095687A1 (Howell et al.)

    • Full Citation: US20030095687A1, "Spectacles with removable communication module," published May 22, 2003.
    • Publication/Filing Date: Published May 22, 2003 (filed November 16, 2001).
    • Brief Description: This patent application describes spectacles (eyeglasses) with an integrated communication module that can be removably attached. The communication module can include features like a microphone, speaker, and wireless communication capabilities.
    • Potential Anticipation: This reference potentially anticipates aspects of Claim 1 and Claim 9 relating to eyeglasses with integrated speakers, microphones, and wireless communication. However, it does not explicitly describe the automatic disabling/reactivating of a hearing enhancement mode during a voice call. Therefore, it might anticipate the general apparatus but not the specific method of operation with hearing enhancement.

  2. US6898453B2 (Howell et al.)

    • Full Citation: US6898453B2, "Spectacles with communication module," issued May 24, 2005.
    • Publication/Filing Date: Issued May 24, 2005 (filed May 22, 2003).
    • Brief Description: This patent describes spectacles with an integrated communication module, which can include a speaker and a microphone. It details how such a module can be integrated into the frame.
    • Potential Anticipation: Similar to US20030095687A1, this patent likely anticipates the physical integration of communication components (speaker, microphone) into eyeglasses. It does not appear to teach the specific automatic hearing enhancement control during calls, thus likely not anticipating the unique method steps in Claim 1 and Claim 9.

  3. US7500747B2 (Howell et al.)

    • Full Citation: US7500747B2, "Eyewear supporting after-market electrical components," issued March 10, 2009.
    • Publication/Filing Date: Issued March 10, 2009 (priority claimed from 2004-10-12, which is the priority date for US11852901, meaning this is a family member).
    • Brief Description: This patent broadly covers eyewear designed to support "after-market" electrical components, allowing for flexible integration of various electronic functionalities. It mentions hearing enhancement and communication capabilities.
    • Potential Anticipation: As a family member with a shared priority date (2004-10-12), this patent is very highly relevant. It explicitly mentions "hearing enhancement" and "communication" capabilities within eyewear. While it describes the ability to provide both functions, it needs to be examined carefully to determine if it explicitly discloses or renders obvious the automatic disabling/reactivating of hearing enhancement during a voice call. If it describes these functions as existing concurrently in eyewear, but lacks the specific control logic, it would anticipate parts of the apparatus claims (Claim 1 and Claim 9) but not necessarily the method steps of automatic switching. The definitions section of US11852901 states that US11/183,256 (a parent of US7500747B2) also claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/620,238, filed Oct. 18, 2004, entitled "EYEGLASSES WITH HEARING ENHANCED AND OTHER AUDIO SIGNAL-GENERATING CAPABILITIES". This strongly suggests anticipation of the combination of hearing enhancement and other audio capabilities in glasses.

  4. US7806525B2 (Howell et al.)

    • Full Citation: US7806525B2, "Eyeglass frame with electronic devices," issued October 5, 2010.
    • Publication/Filing Date: Issued October 5, 2010 (priority claimed from 2005-10-11, which is later than the 2004-10-12 priority date of US11852901, but is still a related patent).
    • Brief Description: This patent focuses on the structural integration of electronic devices within an eyeglass frame, covering power sources, connectors, and general electronic components.
    • Potential Anticipation: This patent primarily concerns the physical and electrical integration of components within the frame. It likely anticipates elements like "electrical connector," "printed circuit board with at least one electrical component," "speaker," and "microphone" in Claim 1 and Claim 9. However, similar to the above, it's less likely to explicitly disclose the specific automatic control logic for hearing enhancement during calls.

  5. US10310296B2 (Howell et al.)

    • Full Citation: US10310296B2, "Glasses for electronic accessories," issued May 28, 2019.
    • Publication/Filing Date: Issued May 28, 2019 (priority claimed from 2013-03-14).
    • Brief Description: This patent describes glasses adapted to receive various electronic accessories, emphasizing modularity and different functions, including audio and communication.
    • Potential Anticipation: This is a much later patent. However, it's listed as a priority claim for US11852901, meaning it is a descendant application, not prior art to US11852901's earliest priority date. It explicitly mentions priority claimed from US13/831,445, which is the application for US10310296B2. Therefore, US10310296B2 is not prior art for US11852901's claims if those claims are supported by the earlier priority date of 2004-10-12.

  6. US11513371B2 (Howell et al.)

    • Full Citation: US11513371B2, "Glasses with electronic accessory," issued November 29, 2022.
    • Publication/Filing Date: Issued November 29, 2022 (priority claimed from 2019-06-03).
    • Brief Description: This patent is another in the same family, also focusing on glasses with electronic accessories and their integration.
    • Potential Anticipation: Similar to US10310296B2, this is a later-filed, later-issued patent within the same family (priority claimed from US16/429,181, which is the application for US11513371B2). It is not prior art to the earliest priority date of US11852901.

Most Relevant Prior Art

The most relevant prior art among those listed would be US7500747B2 (Howell et al.), as it is a family member patent sharing the earliest priority date (2004-10-12) with US11852901 and explicitly discusses eyewear with both hearing enhancement and other audio signal-generating capabilities, including phone operation. The core inventive step of US11852901 lies in the automatic disabling and reactivating of the hearing enhancement mode during voice calls. Therefore, the critical analysis would be to determine if US7500747B2 (or its underlying provisional applications, especially 60/620,238) explicitly or inherently discloses this automatic switching mechanism or renders it obvious.

If US7500747B2 (or its priority documents) broadly describes a system where hearing enhancement and communication can coexist in glasses, and a skilled artisan would naturally implement a control mechanism to manage interference or optimize user experience (e.g., by pausing hearing enhancement during a call), then the automatic switching element of Claims 1 and 9 could potentially be anticipated or rendered obvious under 35 U.S.C. § 102. The definitions section of US11852901 states that "one or more functionalities of the hearing enhancement mode can operate on the incoming call" and that "the hearing enhancement mode can be deactivated" when other audio signals (e.g., phone operation) are present. This suggests that the concept of controlling the hearing enhancement mode in conjunction with other audio functions was contemplated, and the specific automation described in US11852901 might be an implementation detail rather than a fundamentally new concept in the context of the related family of patents.The USPTO search for patent number 11852901 reveals its issued status and provides a list of cited prior art. The most relevant prior art for US11852901 will be those references that come closest to disclosing the claimed invention, particularly the automatic disabling and reactivating of a hearing enhancement mode during voice calls in a wireless headset integrated into eyeglasses.

The priority date for US11852901 is stated as October 12, 2004. Therefore, any patent or application with a filing or publication date before this date that discloses elements of US11852901 would be considered prior art under 35 U.S.C. § 102. Patents in the same family that share this priority date, or have later priority dates, are generally not considered prior art to the claims supported by the earliest priority date.

Here's an analysis of the patent citations listed for US11852901, focusing on those that predate its earliest priority date or are closely related:

Prior Art Cited in US11852901

  1. US20030095687A1: Spectacles with removable communication module

    • Full Citation: US 2003/0095687 A1
    • Publication/Filing Date: Published May 22, 2003 (Filed November 16, 2001)
    • Brief Description: This patent application describes eyeglasses with a communication module that can be removably attached. The communication module can incorporate components such as a microphone, a speaker, and wireless communication capabilities for hands-free operation.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference potentially anticipates elements of Claims 1 and 9 that relate to the physical integration of a speaker, microphone, and wireless transceiver into eyeglasses for communication purposes. However, it does not appear to explicitly disclose or make obvious the specific control logic of automatically disabling a hearing enhancement mode when a voice call is incoming or active, and automatically reactivating it after the call ends. Therefore, it anticipates parts of the apparatus but not the specific method of operation with dynamic hearing enhancement control.

  2. US6898453B2: Spectacles with communication module

    • Full Citation: US 6,898,453 B2
    • Publication/Filing Date: Issued May 24, 2005 (Filed May 22, 2003)
    • Brief Description: This patent details the integration of a communication module, including a speaker and a microphone, into spectacles. It focuses on the structural aspects of embedding these components within the eyeglass frame.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US20030095687A1, this patent likely anticipates the physical components of the eyeglasses as a wireless headset (speaker, microphone, communication module). However, it lacks explicit disclosure of the automatic switching of a hearing enhancement mode in response to a voice call, which is a key distinguishing feature of Claims 1 and 9.

  3. US7500747B2: Eyewear supporting after-market electrical components

    • Full Citation: US 7,500,747 B2
    • Publication/Filing Date: Issued March 10, 2009 (Priority claimed from 2004-10-12)
    • Brief Description: This patent, part of the same patent family as US11852901, describes eyewear adapted to support various after-market electrical components, including those for hearing enhancement and other audio signal-generating capabilities like phone operation. The definition section of US11852901 explicitly states that the underlying application for US7500747B2 claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/620,238, filed October 18, 2004, titled "EYEGLASSES WITH HEARING ENHANCED AND OTHER AUDIO SIGNAL-GENERATING CAPABILITIES". It also notes that the glasses can function as a headset for "hearing enhancement, communication (e.g. phone operation) and listening to audio signals (e.g. MP3 operation)". Furthermore, it states that the "hearing enhancement mode can be deactivated" when other audio signals (like from a player or phone) are present.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is highly relevant due to its shared priority date and explicit discussion of both hearing enhancement and communication in eyewear. The statement that "the hearing enhancement mode can be deactivated" when other audio signals are present directly addresses a functional overlap with the claims of US11852901. While it may not explicitly use the term "automatically disable/reactivate" in the context of a voice call, the broad disclosure of managing these modes in conjunction strongly suggests that the idea of switching between them for optimal use is known. Depending on the level of detail in the underlying priority documents (especially Provisional Application No. 60/620,238), this reference could potentially anticipate or render obvious the claims of US11852901, particularly the method steps of automatically controlling the hearing enhancement mode during a voice call. The question for anticipation would be whether the "deactivation" implies an automatic process in response to an incoming or active call.

Other Cited Patents (Family Members with Later Priority Dates)

  • US7806525B2: Eyeglass frame with electronic devices (Priority claimed from 2005-10-11, which is after 2004-10-12).
  • US10310296B2: Glasses for electronic accessories (Priority claimed from 2013-03-14, which is after 2004-10-12).
  • US11513371B2: Glasses with electronic accessory (Priority claimed from 2019-06-03, which is after 2004-10-12).

These later patents are direct descendants or related continuation/divisional applications within the same family as US11852901. Therefore, they are not considered prior art to claims in US11852901 that are supported by the earlier 2004-10-12 priority date. Instead, they represent further developments or specific aspects derived from the same inventive lineage.

Conclusion on Most Relevant Prior Art

US7500747B2 stands out as the most relevant prior art. As a patent within the same family with a shared priority date (2004-10-12), it explicitly covers the combination of hearing enhancement and communication (including phone operation) in eyewear. The critical question for anticipation of Claims 1 and 9 by US7500747B2 would depend on whether its disclosure (including its priority documents like U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/620,238) explicitly or inherently teaches the automatic disabling and reactivating of the hearing enhancement mode during a voice call. The language within US11852901 itself, referencing the deactivation of hearing enhancement during other audio signals, points to this as a key area of overlap and potential anticipation.

Generated 5/24/2026, 6:47:03 AM