Assignment history

Here is the patent ownership analysis for US 11,971,612.

Inventors

• Ronald D. Blum
• Yongping Wang
• Mark Graham
• William Kokonaski
• Richard Clompus

The inventors were associated with PixelOptics, Inc., the entity that developed the electronic eyewear technology but dissolved before the current patent was prosecuted from a continuing application.

Original assignee

The entity named on the issued patent is E Vision Smart Optics Inc. However, the technology originated with PixelOptics, Inc., a venture-backed company founded in 2005 to commercialize electronically focusing eyeglasses. PixelOptics showcased products at industry events but ultimately failed to achieve commercial traction and ceased operations around 2013-2014. Its patent portfolio was subsequently sold. The current assignee, E Vision Smart Optics Inc, does not appear to manufacture or sell products embodying the patent claims.

Assignment timeline

Records from the USPTO Patent Assignment Center show the following chain of title:

• 2022-10-05 (executed) / recorded 2022-10-05 — Reel 063683/0212

  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: PIXELOPTICS, INC. (by its Successor-in-interest, HPO Assets LLC)
  • Assignee: HPO ASSETS LLC
  • Correspondent: Jonathan D. Link, Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP, 1325 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019
  • Context: This transfer represents the acquisition of the patent assets from the defunct original developer, PixelOptics, by a holding company.

• 2022-10-05 (executed) / recorded 2022-10-05 — Reel 063683/0223

  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: HPO ASSETS LLC
  • Assignee: E-VISION SMART OPTICS, INC.
  • Correspondent: Jonathan D. Link, Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP, 1325 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019. This is the same correspondent from the prior transaction on the same day.
  • Context: Immediate transfer from a holding company to a dedicated assertion entity, E-Vision Smart Optics, Inc.

• 2022-10-05 (executed) / recorded 2022-10-05 — Reel 063683/0200

  • Conveyance: Assignment (Confirmatory)
  • Assignor: Ronald D. Blum, Yongping Wang, Mark Graham, William Kokonaski, Richard Clompus (the inventors)
  • Assignee: E-VISION SMART OPTICS, INC.
  • Correspondent: Jonathan D. Link, Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP, 1325 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019. This is the same correspondent as the other two transactions recorded on this date.
  • Context: A confirmatory assignment to clean the chain of title by having the original inventors assign their rights directly to the new ultimate owner, a common step before initiating litigation.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 11971612
    2013 : Original application filed by PixelOptics
    2014 : PixelOptics ceases operations
    2022 : Continuation filed leading to this patent
         : Assigned PixelOptics to HPO Assets
         : Assigned HPO Assets to E-Vision Smart Optics
    2024 : Issued to E-Vision Smart Optics
         : PTAB challenge filed by Unified Patents

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — Present. The patent was transferred from the defunct operating company (PixelOptics, Inc.) via a holding company (HPO Assets LLC) to E-Vision Smart Optics, Inc., an entity with an IP-holding name that does not appear to have commercial products. This two-step transfer occurred on the same day (2022-10-05, per reels 063683/0212 and 063683/0223).

2. Known asserter in the chain — Present. The current assignee, E Vision Smart Optics Inc, is the subject of an inter partes review (IPR2025-01512) initiated by Unified Patents, a leading anti-NPE organization. Unified Patents' involvement is a strong indicator that the patent owner is a non-practicing entity actively asserting its portfolio.

3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — Present. All three recorded assignments, which moved the patent from the original developer to the current assignee, were handled by the same correspondent: Jonathan D. Link of Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP (Reels 063683/0212, 063683/0223, and 063683/0200). This indicates a single controlling party orchestrated the entire chain of title consolidation.

4. Cascading transfers — Present. The patent was transferred twice on the same day (2022-10-05): first from PixelOptics (via its successor) to HPO Assets LLC, and then immediately from HPO Assets LLC to E-Vision Smart Optics, Inc. This rapid, sequential transfer through a holding company is a hallmark of setting up an asset for monetization by a new NPE.

5. Pre-litigation transfer — Present. The Google Patents legal events section notes that the "First worldwide family litigation [was] filed." While the specific date is not listed, the transfers on 2022-10-05 and the subsequent IPR filing in 2024 strongly suggest the transfers were made to consolidate the title in a suitable assertion vehicle ahead of a planned licensing or litigation campaign.

6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — Present. The technology originator, PixelOptics, Inc., went out of business circa 2014. The 2022 assignments by its "Successor-in-interest" represent a classic fire-sale, where dormant patent assets from a failed operating company are acquired for the purpose of assertion.

7. Privateering — Not present. The original operating company is defunct and is not participating in or benefiting from the assertion campaign.

8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — Not present. The chain of title does not end with any known defensive aggregator. To the contrary, a defensive organization (Unified Patents) has taken action against the current owner.

Verdict

• NPE — high confidence

This verdict is based on the presence of at least six strong, distinct signals of NPE activity. The patent originated at a defunct startup (PixelOptics) and was acquired from its estate in a 2022 fire-sale (Reel 063683/0212). It was then immediately moved through a cascade of shell-like entities on the same day to its current owner, E-Vision Smart Optics, Inc. (Reel 063683/0223), with the entire process managed by a single correspondent. The fact that anti-NPE group Unified Patents has filed a PTAB challenge against the patent family further confirms its status as an asserted NPE asset.

Verification link: USPTO Patent Assignment Search for US 11971612