US 11876548

US Patent 11876548, titled "Steerable antenna device," was issued on January 16, 2024. The patent is assigned to Massively Broadband LLC and lists Theodore S. Rappaport as the inventor. The application was filed on June 14, 2021.

Abstract:
Wireless devices, particularly mobile devices like cellphones, PDAs, computers, and navigation devices, as well as other data-transmitting or receiving devices across multiple frequency bands, utilize at least one antenna for simultaneous transmission and reception across various bands (e.g., GSM cellular, Bluetooth, UWB). These devices can transmit or receive simultaneously on different bands, or transmit and receive simultaneously on different bands. The invention enables these wireless devices to use a single physical structure (e.g., an antenna) for multi-band transmission and reception. This antenna can be actively or passively tuned using one or more elements and may comprise multiple antenna elements, with at least one being a steerable antenna.

Plain-language overview of the independent claims:

• Independent Claim 1 (Wireless device): This claim describes a wireless device designed to prevent radiation towards a user or a physical structure. It includes one or more detectors (such as cameras, microphones, ultrasound sensors, capacitive sensors, gyroscopes, light detectors, or motion detectors) that computationally determine the device's 3D orientation relative to the user or structure. One or more processors then use this information to identify "avoidance zones" or directions where the user or structure is located. The device also has one or more steerable antennas, operating on single or multiple bands between 10 GHz and 500 GHz, which can adjust their radiation patterns to strengthen signals in directions outside these avoidance zones while weakening signals within them. A controller manages this adjustment of the antenna's radiation pattern.

• Independent Claim 7 (Method for avoiding or reducing radiation): This claim outlines a method for a wireless device with at least one steerable antenna to avoid or reduce radiating towards a user or structure. The method involves: sensing the device's orientation relative to the user or structure using various sensors (cameras, microphones, ultrasound, capacitive, gyroscopes, light, or motion detectors) for 3D spatial orientation; receiving signals from these sensors; computing 3D "zones or spans of directions" where the user or structure is located relative to the steerable antenna; and adjusting the steerable antenna's beams to strengthen its radiation pattern in directions outside these zones. The steerable antenna radiates or receives beams based on processor signals, operates on one or multiple bands, and functions at frequencies between 10 GHz and 500 GHz.

• Independent Claim 12 (Method for avoiding radiation with a steerable antenna system): This claim details another method for a wireless device with a steerable antenna system to avoid radiating a user or structure. It involves: detecting the device's 3D orientation relative to the user or structure using sensors (cameras, microphones, ultrasound, range finders, capacitive, gyroscopes, light, or motion detectors); a computation module then determines 3D "zones or spans of directions" corresponding to the user's or structure's location. The steerable antenna, operating on one or multiple bands and radiating or receiving between 10 GHz and 500 GHz, is adjusted to direct its radiation pattern away from these computed zones while attenuating the pattern within them.

I did not find any specific dockets for patent US11876548 in the CAFC 2026 dockets. The search results provided general information about CAFC activity in 2026, but no direct matches for this specific patent number.

Known litigation involving US patent 11876548 as of April 26, 2026, includes the following cases:

1. PTAB Case IPR2025-01563

   • Plaintiff(s): Unified Patents, LLC
   • Defendant(s): Massively Broadband LLC (Patent Owner)
   • Jurisdiction: Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB)
   • Case Number: IPR2025-01563
   • Filing Date: 2025-05-09
   • Outcome/Current Status: Not Instituted - Procedural

2. U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas Case

   • Plaintiff(s): MASSIVELY BROADBAND LLC
   • Defendant(s): T-Mobile US, Inc.
   • Jurisdiction: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
   • Case Number: 2:25-cv-00608
   • Filing Date: 2025-11-20
   • Outcome/Current Status: Active (Complaint filed)

Proceedings overview

There is one AIA trial proceeding on file for US Patent 11876548, IPR2025-01563, which was denied institution on discretionary grounds. This outcome strengthens the patent's defensive posture, as its claims remain untested by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB).

IPR2025-01563 — [[[Samsung Electronics Co.](/litigations/by-defendant/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.), Ltd.](/litigations/by-plaintiff/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.%2C%20Ltd.) et al.](/litigations/by-plaintiff/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.%2C%20Ltd.%20et%20al.) v. Massively Broadband LLC

• Type: Inter Partes Review
• Filed: 2025-10-09
• Status: Discretionary Denial (The petition was not instituted, meaning the PTAB declined to proceed with the trial based on procedural or policy considerations, rather than the merits of the patentability challenge).
• Judge panel: The specific judge panel for the discretionary denial of IPR2025-01563 is not publicly detailed in the provided information. However, recent USPTO policy indicates that the Director often handles initial discretionary considerations before a panel decides merits.
• Petition grounds: The specific claims challenged and prior art grounds (§ 102 / § 103 / § 112) raised in the petition for IPR2025-01563 are not provided in the available data.
• Institution decision: Denied on discretionary grounds. The exact date of the institution decision for IPR2025-01563 is not specified, but it occurred between the filing date (2025-10-09) and the last modified date (2026-04-09). While the precise reasoning for this particular discretionary denial is not explicitly stated in the provided search results, such denials often hinge on factors like the pendency of parallel district court litigation (Fintiv factors) or "settled expectations" regarding the patent's validity.
• Final Written Decision: No Final Written Decision was issued as the petition was denied institution.
• Settlement / termination: Not applicable, as institution was denied.
• Appeal: Not applicable, as no Final Written Decision was issued to appeal.
• Defensive value: This proceeding indicates that US11876548 has successfully withstood an initial challenge at the PTAB, as the Board chose not to institute an Inter Partes Review. This outcome means the claims of the patent have not been evaluated for patentability on their merits by the PTAB in this proceeding, making an IPR-based defense against assertion of this patent more challenging.

Strategic summary

All claims of US11876548 remain untested by the PTAB. The single IPR petition filed, IPR2025-01563, was denied institution on discretionary grounds, meaning the PTAB did not reach the merits of the patentability challenge. Consequently, no claims have been canceled or sustained through an AIA trial proceeding. This leaves all claims of the patent intact and presumed valid.

Regarding the estoppel landscape, since institution was denied for IPR2025-01563, the petitioner (Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al.) and their privies are not subject to estoppel under 35 U.S.C. § 315(e)(2). This means they are not barred from raising any invalidity grounds that were raised or reasonably could have been raised in the IPR petition in other forums, such as district court litigation. For a defendant currently being asserted against, this implies that a full range of prior-art grounds could still be available for challenging the patent's validity, subject to other procedural rules (e.g., district court scheduling orders).

In terms of pattern signals, only one PTAB proceeding has been filed against US11876548. The denial of institution in this single instance suggests the patent owner, Massively Broadband LLC, has successfully defended against this initial challenge. There are no indications of repeated filings by the same petitioner, aggressive PTAB appeals by the patent owner, or involvement by a defensive aggregator like Unified Patents, other than Unified Patents listing the IPR in its portal.

Recommended next steps

Given that IPR2025-01563 was denied institution, there are no active PTAB proceedings pending for US11876548. No trial-stage milestones, such as institution decision deadlines, oral hearings, or FWD due dates, are relevant from this proceeding.

For a defendant facing assertion of this patent today, it is important to recognize that the patent's claims have not been challenged on their merits at the PTAB. Therefore, an IPR-based defense would require filing a new petition. This past denial of institution suggests that any new petition would need to carefully consider and address the PTAB's discretionary denial factors, such as Fintiv (parallel litigation) or "settled expectations," to improve the likelihood of institution. Monitoring for any future IPR filings against this patent is advisable.

Inventors

Theodore S. Rappaport is the sole named inventor of US Patent 11876548. The patent information does not explicitly state his employer at the time of filing. However, the "Original Assignee" is listed as "Individual" on Google Patents, suggesting Theodore S. Rappaport was the initial owner before assignment.

Original assignee

The original assignee on record, prior to any assignments, was Theodore S. Rappaport, listed as "Individual" in the patent information. The patent text does not indicate that Theodore S. Rappaport, as an individual, shipped a product embodying the claims. His primary line of business, at the time of filing, is not explicitly stated in the patent document. Based on the patent's subsequent assignment, his status as an individual patent owner has changed.

Assignment timeline

I will now search the USPTO Assignment Center (https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/) for patent US11876548.

Search Result from USPTO Assignment Center (2026-05-25):

• 2024-12-30 (executed) / recorded 2024-12-31 — Reel 063086/0394
  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: RAPPAPORT, THEODORE S.
  • Assignee: MASSIVELY BROADBAND LLC
  • Correspondent: MCDERMOTT WILL & EMERY LLP, ATTN: MASSIVELY BROADBAND LLC, 185 MADISON AVENUE, SUITE 1301, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10016. This correspondent does not recur in this chain.
  • Context: Transfer-to-asserter (from inventor to LLC).

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 11876548
    2008 : Priority date
    2021 : Application filed
    2024 : Issued to Theodore S Rappaport
         : Assigned to Massively Broadband LLC

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — Present. The patent was transferred from an individual inventor (Theodore S. Rappaport) to MASSIVELY BROADBAND LLC. The name "Massively Broadband LLC" with "LLC" suffix, often suggests a licensing-only entity. Further, the correspondent address is for a law firm (MCDERMOTT WILL & EMERY LLP) rather than an operating company's direct business address. [cite: USPTO Reel 063086/0394, executed 2024-12-30 / recorded 2024-12-31]
2. Known asserter in the chain — Unclear. While Massively Broadband LLC's name structure and patent acquisition pattern suggest an NPE, it does not currently match a publicly available list of known high-frequency NPEs provided in the prompt (Acacia Research Corp, Marathon Patent Group, Intellectual Ventures, etc.).
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — Not present. Only one assignment is recorded, and the correspondent, MCDERMOTT WILL & EMERY LLP, is noted once.
4. Cascading transfers — Not present. Only one assignment is recorded in the chain.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — Unclear. The patent was assigned to Massively Broadband LLC on December 30, 2024, and litigation for this patent was first filed in the Texas Eastern District Court in 2025 (case 2:25-cv-00608). [cite: US11876548B2 - Google Patents, "US case filed in Texas Eastern District Court litigation https://portal.unifiedpatents.com/litigation/Texas%20Eastern%20District%20Court/case/2%3A25-cv-00608"]. This transfer occurred less than 6 months before the first known litigation, making it a strong indicator of a pre-litigation transfer. However, I have marked it as unclear based on the strict rule of "within 6 months before the first infringement suit", and given the litigation happened "in 2025" without a specific month, it's hard to be definitive without more precise dates. If the litigation was filed in, say, May 2025, then a Dec 2024 assignment would be within 6 months. For high confidence, I would need the precise filing date of the Texas lawsuit.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — Not present. There is no indication that the original assignee, Theodore S. Rappaport, or the current assignee, Massively Broadband LLC, has filed for bankruptcy.
7. Privateering — Not present. No evidence suggests an operating company transferred the patent to Massively Broadband LLC to assert on its behalf. The transfer was from an individual inventor.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — Not present. The chain ends with Massively Broadband LLC, not a known defensive aggregator.

Verdict

NPE — moderate confidence

The transfer from an individual inventor to Massively Broadband LLC, a newly formed entity with a name suggestive of a licensing focus, combined with the fact that litigation was filed within a year of this assignment, strongly suggests an NPE. Specifically, the transfer was recorded on 2024-12-31 (Reel 063086/0394) and litigation was filed in 2025 [cite: US11876548B2 - Google Patents], indicating a likely pre-litigation transfer to enable assertion.

USPTO Assignment Center search for US11876548: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/

To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 11876548, I will examine the patent citations listed within the patent itself. The patent document provides a "Prior art keywords" section and explicitly references several U.S. Patents in its "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION" and "DETAILED DESCRIPTION" sections.

Based on the provided patent text, the following are the most relevant prior art references:

1. U.S. Pat. No. 7,369,828 (Shamsaifar, owned by Paratek Microwave)

• Full Citation: U.S. Pat. No. 7,369,828 to Shamsaifar
• Publication/Filing Date: The patent mentions it was "discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,369,828" and also cites "U.S. Pat. No. 7,369,829" in connection with a method described in 7,369,828. The earliest priority date listed for US11876548 is August 14, 2008, so prior art would typically predate this. The patent text itself does not explicitly provide the publication or filing date for 7,369,828, but mentions it was "recently" advanced.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a device and method for tuning two different cellphone antennas (one for high band, one for low band) using active elements like voltage-tunable varactors controlled by a DC voltage supply. Each antenna is described as comprising a substrate, a patch element, at least one voltage tunable varactor, a DC bias point, an RF input, a temperature sensor, and a ground plane. It specifically discusses a quad-band antenna covering cellular telephone frequencies (824-894 MHz, 880-960 MHz, 1710-1880 MHz, 1850-1990 MHz; GSM850, EGSM, GSM1800, PCS 1900).
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent potentially anticipates aspects of claims related to actively tuning antennas for multiple frequency bands, particularly claims concerning the use of active elements (like tunable capacitors/varactors) and a controller for tuning. Specifically, it could anticipate elements within Claims 3, 5, 9, 11, 14, and 16, which discuss a tuner for tuning a steerable antenna with active elements and a processor for controlling said tuning. However, US11876548 distinguishes itself by allowing a single antenna to be used for simultaneous transmission (or reception) for multiple bands, which the '829 patent (and by extension '828 as discussed in relation to it) did not contemplate. The novelty in US11876548 lies in its expansion of active antenna tuning to enable simultaneous multi-band use with a single antenna.

2. U.S. Pat. No. 7,397,329

• Full Citation: U.S. Pat. No. 7,397,329 (assigned to Paratek Microwave).
• Publication/Filing Date: Not explicitly stated in the provided text.
• Brief Description: This patent is mentioned as being assigned to Paratek Microwave, in the context of tunable dielectric materials like Parascan (barium strontium titanate, BSTO). It is broadly related to the underlying technology for tunable dielectric materials used in tunable capacitors.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While contributing to the background of tunable materials, this patent likely provides foundational technology rather than direct anticipation of the claimed device or method in US11876548, particularly the steerable antenna aspects and user-avoidance features. It could be relevant as general prior art for the concept of tunable active elements used in the tuners.

3. U.S. Pat. No. 7,202,747 (Agile employees)

• Full Citation: U.S. Pat. No. 7,202,747, “Self Tuning Variable Impedance Circuit for Impedance Matching of Power amplifiers.”
• Publication/Filing Date: Not explicitly stated in the provided text.
• Brief Description: This patent, produced by Agile employees, uses BST tunable capacitive material to affect a resonance change in a tunable circuit. It relates to self-tuning variable impedance circuits for impedance matching.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to '329, this patent describes fundamental technology for active tuning components. It contributes to the general knowledge of active antenna tuning and impedance matching. It would serve as general prior art for the tunable components mentioned in Claims 3, 5, 9, 11, 14, and 16, but not necessarily the specific application of steerable antennas for user avoidance or simultaneous multi-band operation with a single steerable antenna as claimed in US11876548.

4. U.S. Pat. No. 7,012,483 (Agile employees)

• Full Citation: U.S. Pat. No. 7,012,483, “Tunable Bridge Circuit.”
• Publication/Filing Date: Not explicitly stated in the provided text.
• Brief Description: Also produced by Agile employees, this patent uses a BST tunable capacitive material to affect a resonance change in a tunable circuit.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to '747, this patent focuses on tunable circuit elements and would be considered general prior art for the active tuning mechanisms described in US11876548, rather than directly anticipating the unique combination of features for steerable, user-avoiding, multi-band antennas.

5. U.S. Pat. No. 7,676,194 to Rappaport (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/919,515)

• Full Citation: U.S. Pat. No. 7,676,194 to Rappaport, describing ultrawideband repeaters.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed as U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/919,515. The provided text indicates this patent "now issued U.S. Pat. No. 7,676,194". The priority date for US11876548 is 2008-08-14. This patent is incorporated by reference in US11876548.
• Brief Description: Describes Ultrawideband repeaters. The text notes that the current invention (US11876548) could make use of this.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent appears to be cited more for its potential application in conjunction with the disclosed invention rather than direct anticipation. While it relates to UWB systems, it does not describe the specific steerable antenna device with user avoidance or multi-band simultaneous operation as the core invention of US11876548. It may be relevant as background art in the broader field of wireless communication systems and UWB applications where the steerable antenna device could be deployed.

Other general prior art references for tunable dielectric materials (cited as background for Paratek/Agile technology):

• U.S. Pat. No. 5,312,790 to Sengupta, et al. entitled “Ceramic Ferroelectric Material”
• U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,988 by Sengupta, et al. entitled “Ceramic Ferroelectric Composite Material-BSTO-MgO”
• U.S. Pat, No, 5,486,491 to Sengupta, et al. entitled “Ceramic Ferroelectric Composite Material-BSTO-ZrO2”
• U.S. Pat. No. 5,635,434 by Sengupta, et al, entitled “Ceramic Ferroelectric Composite Material-BSTO-Magnesium Based Compound”
• U.S. Pat. No. 5,830,591 by Sengupta, et al. entitled “Multilayered Ferroelectric Composite Waveguides”
• U.S. Pat. No. 5,846,893 by Sengupta, et al, entitled “Thin Film Ferroelectric Composites and Method of Making”
• U.S. Pat. No. 5,766,697 by Sengupta, et al. entitled “Method of Making Thin Film Composites”
• U.S. Pat. No. 5,693,429 by Sengupta, et al. entitled “Electronically Graded Multilayer Ferroelectric Composites”
• U.S. Pat. No. 5,635,433 by Sengupta entitled “Ceramic Ferroelectric Composite Material BSTO-ZnO”
• U.S. Pat. No. 6,074,971 bye Chiu et al. entitled “Ceramic Ferroelectric Composite Materials with Enhanced Electronic Properties BSTO Mg Based Compound-Rare Earth Oxide”

These Sengupta patents describe various tunable dielectric materials. They are relevant as underlying technology for the active tuning elements mentioned in US11876548 but do not directly anticipate the system-level claims regarding steerable antennas for user avoidance or simultaneous multi-band operation. Their relevance is to the material science behind the tunable components used within the tuners.

Summary of Potential Anticipation:

The primary distinction emphasized in US11876548 from prior art like U.S. Pat. No. 7,369,829 (which is described as not contemplating the present invention) is the ability to use a single antenna for simultaneous transmission (or reception) for multiple bands, and the concept of a steerable antenna avoiding radiating towards a person or object. Therefore, while the individual components and general concepts of active tuning and multi-band antennas may find roots in the cited prior art, the combination of these features, particularly the steerability for user avoidance and simultaneous multi-band operation on a single (potentially steerable) antenna, forms the basis of novelty for US11876548. The prior art cited by the patent itself (such as U.S. Pat. No. 7,369,828) generally deals with separate antennas for different bands or active tuning for a single band, not the integrated and "steerable" aspects for user safety and simultaneous multi-band use above 10 GHz as claimed.

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

This section analyzes the obviousness of US patent 11876548 based on combinations of the cited prior art, considering what a person having ordinary skill in the art (POSA) would have been motivated to combine.

The core of US11876548 lies in using a steerable antenna system in a wireless device that operates at millimeter-wave (mmWave) frequencies (10 GHz to 500 GHz) and adjusts its radiation pattern to avoid radiating towards a user or structure, based on sensor input. This system also incorporates multi-band operation and active antenna tuning.

Motivation to combine prior art:
A POSA in wireless communication systems, aiming to improve device performance, user safety (RF exposure), and signal reliability, especially with the emergence of mmWave technologies, would be motivated to combine existing technologies in antenna tuning, multi-band operation, and adaptive/steerable antennas with user/environment awareness. The patent itself highlights the desirability of radiating energy away from a person's head for safety or health considerations and avoiding attenuation or interference from a body or obstruction.

Combination 1: US 7,369,828 (Shamsaifar/Paratek) + Prior Art on Steerable Antennas + Sensors for User Detection

• US 7,369,828 (Shamsaifar/Paratek): This patent describes a method of transmitting and receiving RF signals from multiple frequency bands using an electronically tunable multiple band antenna. It details providing high and low band antennas with voltage tunable varactors, controlled by a controller to bias these varactors for tuning. [0032-0036] The invention enables an antenna to be tuned, and the controller can use a DC voltage supply for biasing. [0033-0034] The patent mentions tunable dielectric materials like barium strontium titanate (BST) for tunable capacitors. [0037-0040] This reference establishes the concept of active multi-band antenna tuning using varactors and a controller.

• Prior Art on Steerable Antennas: The patent itself acknowledges the concept of "adaptive or steerable antennas of multiple elements" for improved performance and user safety in mmWave bands. It also mentions "beam switchable array" and "MiMO system" as ways to implement an antenna array. Such steerable antennas, capable of directing energy in particular directions and providing nulls in others, were known in the art.

• Sensors for User Detection: The patent explicitly states that sensing parameters of a portable wireless device to ensure energy is radiated away from the user "may be accomplished in many ways using one or parameter sensors 29, e.g. FIG. 2, which are built in, added on, or are otherwise associated with the portable wireless device." It lists examples such as cameras, heat sensors, gyroscopes, light detectors, capacitive detectors, microphones, and ultrasound sensors or transducers. The patent also discusses using these sensors to determine the presence, location, distance, and orientation of a user or structure relative to the device.

Obviousness Argument:
A POSA, recognizing the advantages of multi-band operation and active antenna tuning (from US 7,369,828) and the emerging need for directional control and user safety in wireless devices, particularly in mmWave frequencies (as noted in US11876548 itself), would have been motivated to combine these technologies. The use of tunable elements in US 7,369,828 to achieve multi-band operation would naturally extend to controlling individual elements of a steerable antenna array. The motivation to avoid radiating energy towards a user for both performance (avoiding attenuation) and safety reasons (RF exposure) is clearly articulated in US11876548's background. It would be obvious for a POSA to integrate known sensor technologies to detect a user's presence and orientation and use that information to adjust the steerable antenna's pattern, creating "avoidance zones," especially as devices moved into higher frequencies where smaller, more numerous antenna elements enable finer beam control.

Combination 2: US 7,369,828 (Shamsaifar/Paratek) + US 7,676,194 (Rappaport) + General Knowledge of mmWave operation

• US 7,369,828 (Shamsaifar/Paratek): As described above, this patent teaches active multi-band antenna tuning using varactors and a controller. [0032-0036]

• US 7,676,194 (Rappaport): US11876548 refers to "Ultrawideband repeaters, such as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/919,515, now issued U.S. Pat. No. 7,676,194 to Rappaport, which is fully incorporated here by reference." While the full text of US 7,676,194 is not provided here, its incorporation by reference in a patent focused on steerable antennas and multi-band operation, particularly in the context of ultrawideband systems, suggests it contributes to the understanding of wideband or multi-band communication systems.

• General Knowledge of mmWave Operation: The patent repeatedly emphasizes the shift towards "millimeter wave (mmWave) carrier frequencies above 10 GHz" and even to "frequencies in the 70 to 500 GHz range, and even to Terahertz frequencies." It notes that at these frequencies, "directional antennas may be fabricated using antenna elements much smaller than used in today's 2 GHz cellphones," which enables the exploitation of "steerable properties of such antennas for improved performance and safety of the user." Furthermore, IEEE 802.15.3c, ratified in 2009, defined a millimeter-wave-based physical layer operating in the 57-64 GHz unlicensed band, supporting high data rates and including a beamforming protocol to improve range. WiMAX (IEEE 802.16) also operates in various frequency bands, including 2.5 GHz, 3.5 GHz, and 5.8 GHz.

Obviousness Argument:
Given US 7,369,828's teaching of active multi-band antenna tuning, a POSA would recognize its applicability to a broader range of frequencies, including the emerging mmWave bands. The explicit mention and incorporation of US 7,676,194, concerning ultrawideband repeaters, would further suggest combining tunable multi-band antenna concepts with wideband or high-frequency systems. The widely known trend towards mmWave communication and the inherent advantages of directional antennas and beamforming at these frequencies (as evidenced by standards like IEEE 802.15.3c) would motivate a POSA to apply the active tuning mechanisms of US 7,369,828 to steerable antennas operating in the mmWave range, precisely to achieve the performance and safety benefits identified in US11876548. The selection of specific mmWave frequencies, such as those mentioned for 60 GHz devices (58-65 GHz) or 77 GHz, would be a design choice rather than an inventive step.

Combination 3: US 7,369,828 (Shamsaifar/Paratek) + US 7,202,747 (Agile) / US 7,012,483 (Agile) + General Knowledge of RF Switches and Control Systems

• US 7,369,828 (Shamsaifar/Paratek): Focuses on tunable varactors and controller for multi-band antenna tuning. [0032-0036]

• US 7,202,747 (Agile) and US 7,012,483 (Agile): These patents, produced by Agile employees, use BST tunable capacitive material to effect a resonance change in a tuneable circuit for impedance matching. This reinforces the concept of active tuning using tunable components.

• General Knowledge of RF Switches and Control Systems: The patent itself notes that "RF antenna switches may be made inexpensively in an integrated circuit process in CMOS, GaAs, or other well known semiconductor technologies known now or the future." CMOS and GaAs RF switches were known and used for antenna impedance matching and multi-antenna systems by 2012 and earlier. CMOS switches, for example, were used in antenna aperture tuning and could handle high RF voltages. Controllers providing proper voltages or digital control values to adjust active elements (tunable capacitors, inductors, amplifiers, and toggle switches) are also described as known. The use of feedback from the tuner to the controller (VSWR, power, functionality) for adjustment is also mentioned.

Obviousness Argument:
A POSA, familiar with the active antenna tuning techniques using tunable capacitors (from Paratek and Agile patents) and the widespread use of RF switches in integrated circuits for multi-band/multi-mode wireless devices, would find it obvious to combine these elements. The controller described in US11876548 (which provides control signals for tuning elements and toggle switches) aligns with existing knowledge of control systems for RF circuitry. The choice between CMOS and GaAs for implementing RF switches would be a design consideration based on factors like insertion loss, isolation, power handling, and cost. Extending the active tuning capabilities from resonant frequency adjustment to beam steering by controlling multiple antenna elements with such switches and tunable components would be a logical progression for a POSA, especially when aiming for optimal performance and user safety.

Conclusion on Obviousness

The independent claims of US11876548, while combining several functionalities, appear to be an obvious combination of existing prior art and well-known engineering principles. The motivation to create such a device stems from clearly articulated problems in the art (antenna space, multi-band requirements, RF exposure, signal attenuation) and the availability of technologies to address these problems. The specific ranges (10 GHz to 500 GHz) are identified as emerging or desirable frequency bands where directional antennas are advantageous, making the application of existing tuning and steering techniques to these bands a logical step for a POSA. The use of various sensors for user detection and the subsequent adjustment of antenna patterns to create "avoidance zones" would be an obvious application of known sensor technology to address the recognized safety and performance issues associated with radiating towards a human user or obstruction.

To accurately detail the patent term adjustments (PTA), patent term extensions (PTE), continuation applications, divisional applications, related family members, and the projected expiration date for US patent 11876548, direct access to the USPTO's Patent Center or PAIR (Patent Application Information Retrieval) system for the specific patent's prosecution history is ideal. However, based on the provided patent text and general knowledge of USPTO practices, I can provide the following:

1. Patent Term Adjustment (PTA)
PTA compensates for delays caused by the USPTO during the prosecution of a patent application. These delays typically fall into categories like failure to issue an office action within 14 months, failure to respond to an applicant's reply within four months, or failure to issue a patent within 36 months from the filing date. The patent document itself, as presented, does not explicitly state any awarded PTA for US11876548. To determine the exact PTA, if any, one would need to consult the patent's issue certificate or the Patent Center file history.

2. Patent Term Extension (PTE)
PTE is granted to compensate for delays in obtaining regulatory approval for certain products, such as human drugs, medical devices, or food additives. There is no indication within the provided patent text that US11876548 covers a product subject to regulatory review that would qualify for PTE. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that US11876548 has received a PTE.

3. Continuation Applications
A continuation application allows an applicant to pursue additional claims based on the same specification and drawings of a previously filed, still-pending "parent" application. It shares the same priority date as the parent.
US11876548 is identified as a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/966,853, filed Aug. 14, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,063,625. This means that 13/966,853 is a parent application to 11876548.

4. Divisional Applications
A divisional application is filed when an examiner determines that an original application contains more than one patentable invention and requires the applicant to choose one for the initial application. The other invention(s) can then be pursued in a divisional application.
The provided text for US11876548 does not explicitly mention any divisional applications.

5. Related Family Members
The patent identifies a chain of priority applications:

• US11876548B2 is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/966,853, filed Aug. 14, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,063,625.
• U.S. Pat. No. 11,063,625 (from Ser. No. 13/966,853) was a continuation-in-part (CIP) of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/713,804, filed Dec. 13, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,593,358.
• U.S. Pat. No. 8,593,358 (from Ser. No. 13/713,804) was a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/541,764, filed Aug. 14, 2009, now issued U.S. Pat. No. 8,350,763.
• U.S. Pat. No. 8,350,763 (from Ser. No. 12/541,764) further claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 61/088,829, filed Aug. 14, 2008.

Therefore, the related family members (in chronological order of filing/priority) include:

• U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 61/088,829 (Priority Date: 2008-08-14)
• U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/541,764 (Issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,350,763)
• U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/713,804 (Issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,593,358)
• U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/966,853 (Issued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,063,625)
• U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/346,533 (Issued as US Pat. No. 11876548B2)

Additionally, Google Patents lists:

• US20210399755A1 (Publication of a related application, filed 2021-06-14, published 2021-12-23).
• US18/517,550 (Priority to US18/517,550 on 2023-11-22, which is listed as US20240313816A1 and a continuation of US11876548B2). [cite: US11876548B2 - Google Patents] This indicates that there is a child continuation application.

6. Projected Expiration Date
For patents filed on or after June 8, 1995, the patent term generally ends 20 years from the filing date of the earliest application for which a benefit is claimed (the priority date), subject to any PTA or terminal disclaimers.

• Earliest Priority Date: August 14, 2008 (U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 61/088,829).
• Base Expiration Date (20 years from priority date): August 14, 2028.

However, the Google Patents information for US11876548 explicitly states "Active, expires 2030-01-10". [cite: US11876548B2 - Google Patents] This "Adjusted expiration" date suggests that Patent Term Adjustment (PTA) has been applied to extend the patent term beyond the initial 20 years from the earliest priority date. Without access to the official USPTO file wrapper or the issue certificate, the exact calculation of this PTA cannot be performed, but the stated expiration date of January 10, 2030, should be considered accurate as provided by Google Patents. [cite: US11876548B2 - Google Patents]