US 12044901

Summary of US Patent 12044901

Please note that the provided patent text does not include the Abstract or the full set of claims, which are necessary for a complete summary. I will provide the available information and explicitly state what is missing.

• Title: System for charging embedded battery in wireless head-worn personal electronic apparatus
• Assignee: Ingeniospec LLC
• Inventors: Thomas A. Howell, David Chao, C. Douglass Thomas, Peter P. Tong
• Filing Date: 2023-10-02
• Issue Date: 2024-07-23 (This is indicated as the "Publication date" and "Application granted" date in the provided patent information)
• Abstract: Not available in the provided patent text.
• Plain-language Overview of each Independent Claim: Not available in the provided patent text, as the claims section is missing.

USPTO and CAFC 2026 Docket Search for US12044901

My search of CAFC 2026 dockets did not return any direct results for patent number US12044901B2. The search results provided general information about contract cases and scheduled cases in the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, as well as how to access case records. There is no specific mention of litigation involving US12044901B2 in the 2026 dockets.

Therefore, based on the current search, I cannot definitively confirm or deny any CAFC litigation related to US12044901B2 within 2026. However, the Google Patents page for US12044901B2 does list several litigation cases filed in District Courts (Texas Eastern and Western, Massachusetts) and PTAB cases (IPR2025-01550, IPR2026-00253). These cases are not directly from the CAFC 2026 dockets.US Patent 12044901, titled "System for charging embedded battery in wireless head-worn personal electronic apparatus," was assigned to Ingeniospec LLC. The patent lists Thomas A. Howell, David Chao, C. Douglass Thomas, and Peter P. Tong as inventors. It was filed on October 2, 2023, and granted on July 23, 2024.

The provided patent text does not include an abstract or the claims. Therefore, a plain-language overview of the independent claims cannot be provided at this time.

A search of the CAFC 2026 dockets for the specific patent number US12044901B2 did not yield any direct results indicating active litigation in that court for the specified year. However, the Google Patents page for US12044901B2 notes that the family has litigation, listing several US cases filed in the Texas Eastern District Court (e.g., 2:24-cv-00820, 2:24-cv-00823, 2:24-cv-00822, 2:24-cv-00819), the Texas Western District Court (1:25-cv-00877), and the Massachusetts District Court (1:25-cv-12531). It also indicates PTAB cases IPR2025-01550 (settlement) and IPR2026-00253 (pending).

Here is a list of known litigation involving US patent 12044901:

• Case Number: 2:24-cv-00822

  • Plaintiff(s): IngenioSpec LLC
  • Defendant(s): Bose Corp
  • Jurisdiction: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
  • Filing Date: October 7, 2024
  • Outcome or Current Status: Case Dismissed. An order dismissing the case was signed by District Judge Rodney Gilstrap on October 15, 2025.

• Case Number: 2:24-cv-00819

  • Plaintiff(s): IngenioSpec LLC
  • Defendant(s): OO Electronics Co LTD / OO Electronics America Inc (This is likely [LG Electronics Inc.](/litigations/by-plaintiff/LG%20Electronics%20Inc.) / LG Electronics U.S.A., Inc., based on the description of a "big company" from Korea and other related patent litigation by IngenioSpec LLC involving US8582789, which is also listed in this case on Unified Patents, although not explicitly stated as US12044901 in this specific snippet).
  • Jurisdiction: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
  • Filing Date: October 7, 2024
  • Outcome or Current Status: Dismissal (소취하) as of June 11, 2025.

The Google Patents page (fetched 2026-05-12) lists several other litigation events related to US12044901, but the provided search snippets do not contain specific details such as plaintiff, defendant, and filing date for these additional cases:

• US case filed in Texas Eastern District Court, case number 2:24-cv-00820.
• PTAB case IPR2025-01550 filed (Settlement).
• PTAB case IPR2026-00253 filed (Pending).
• US case filed in Texas Western District Court, case number 1:25-cv-00877.
• US case filed in Texas Eastern District Court, case number 2:24-cv-00823.
• US case filed in Texas Eastern District Court, case number 2:24-cv-00822 (details provided above).
• First worldwide family litigation filed (Darts-ip, family 89665263).
• US case filed in Texas Eastern District Court, case number 2:24-cv-00819 (details provided above).
• US case filed in Massachusetts District Court, case number 1:25-cv-12531.

Without further specific search results providing the detailed information for these additional cases (plaintiff, defendant, filing date, and status), a comprehensive list cannot be provided at this time.

Proceedings overview

There are two AIA trial proceedings on file for US patent 12044901. One proceeding (IPR2025-01550) has been Terminated-Settled, and one proceeding (IPR2026-00253) is currently Pending. This mixed outcome means the patent owner, Ingeniospec LLC, has actively litigated the patent. For a defendant, the pending IPR presents a potential avenue for invalidating claims, while the settled IPR suggests the patent owner was willing to resolve disputes outside of a full trial.

IPR2025-01550 — Bose Corporation v. Ingeniospec LLC

• Type: Inter Partes Review
• Filed: 2025-09-19
• Status: Terminated-Settled. The proceeding concluded due to a settlement between the parties.
• Judge panel: Information regarding the judge panel for this terminated proceeding is not publicly available in the provided sources.
• Petition grounds: Details on the specific claims challenged and prior art asserted by Bose Corporation are not publicly disclosed in the provided information.
• Institution decision: The outcome of the institution decision is not explicitly stated in the provided information, but the proceeding was terminated due to settlement, which typically occurs before or shortly after institution.
• Final Written Decision: Not issued, as the proceeding was terminated-settled.
• Settlement / termination: The proceeding was terminated-settled on 2025-11-18. The specific terms of the settlement are confidential.
• Appeal: No appeal to the Federal Circuit was filed, as the case was settled.
• Defensive value: While the specifics of the challenge are unknown, the settlement indicates that Bose Corporation and Ingeniospec LLC reached an agreement, preventing a final decision on patentability. This means no claims were formally invalidated or definitively sustained by the PTAB in this proceeding. For a new defendant, this IPR does not offer direct claim cancellation, but it signals that the patent owner has previously negotiated settlements related to this patent.

IPR2026-00253 — [Apple Inc.](/litigations/by-plaintiff/Apple%20Inc.) v. Ingeniospec LLC

• Type: Inter Partes Review
• Filed: 2026-02-11
• Status: Pending. This proceeding is active and has not yet reached a final decision.
• Judge panel: Information regarding the judge panel for this pending proceeding is not publicly available in the provided sources.
• Petition grounds: Details on the specific claims challenged and prior art asserted by Apple Inc. are not publicly disclosed in the provided information.
• Institution decision: The institution decision for this proceeding has not yet been issued.
• Final Written Decision: Not issued, as the proceeding is pending.
• Settlement / termination: Not applicable at this stage.
• Appeal: Not applicable at this stage.
• Defensive value: This is an active challenge against the patent. The outcome of the institution decision, expected within a few months of the filing date, will be critical. If instituted, it could lead to the cancellation of challenged claims. If institution is denied, it would strengthen the patent's validity against the specific grounds raised by Apple Inc.

Strategic summary

Currently, no claims of US12044901 have been formally CANCELED by a Final Written Decision from the PTAB. The first IPR (IPR2025-01550 filed by Bose Corporation) was Terminated-Settled, meaning no judicial determination of patentability was made. All claims of the patent therefore remain SUSTAINED by prior PTAB action or, more accurately, UNTESTED by a final merits decision. The second IPR (IPR2026-00253 filed by Apple Inc.) is currently Pending, with the institution decision yet to be rendered. Therefore, the patent has not yet been "hardened" by surviving an IPR to a Final Written Decision, nor have any claims been invalidated.

Regarding the estoppel landscape, § 315(e)(2) estoppel applies to petitioners (and their privies) for any ground that was raised or reasonably could have been raised during an IPR that resulted in a Final Written Decision. Since IPR2025-01550 was settled and did not result in a Final Written Decision, neither Bose Corporation nor its privies would be estopped under this provision by that proceeding. For IPR2026-00253, as it is still pending and has not reached institution, no estoppel has yet arisen. This means that a new defendant currently being asserted against would theoretically have all prior-art grounds still available, provided they are not in privity with either Bose or Apple in a way that would trigger equitable estoppel or other preclusion doctrines.

A pattern signal is the involvement of major technology companies (Bose and Apple) challenging the patent. The settlement with Bose indicates that Ingeniospec LLC is willing to settle, which could be an important data point for future defendants. The fact that Apple Inc. has filed a subsequent IPR also suggests continued concerns about the patent's validity or scope. The public record does not yet show aggressive PTAB appeals by the patent owner, nor is there explicit information about a defensive aggregator like Unified Patents being in the chain for these specific proceedings. However, Unified Patents does track litigation for this patent, as indicated by the "Family has litigation" section on Google Patents.

Recommended next steps

Since IPR2026-00253 is pending, a defendant facing assertion of this patent should closely monitor its progress. The key near-term milestone for IPR2026-00253 will be the institution decision deadline. Under 35 U.S.C. § 314(b), the PTAB typically issues a decision on institution within six months of the petition's filing date. For IPR2026-00253, filed on 2026-02-11, the institution decision would be expected around 2026-08-11. A favorable institution decision would open up the possibility of claims being cancelled, which could significantly impact any ongoing or threatened litigation.

If the institution decision is favorable (i.e., the PTAB institutes the IPR), the one-year statutory trial deadline would commence, and a Final Written Decision would be expected approximately one year from the institution date.

Inventors

• Thomas A. Howell
• David Chao
• C. Douglass Thomas
• Peter P. Tong

No employer information is provided at the time of filing within the patent document.

Original assignee

Ingeniospec LLC. It is unclear if Ingeniospec LLC shipped a product embodying the claims. Their primary line of business appears to be patent assertion, based on the litigation history associated with this patent family. Their current status is operating.

Assignment timeline

No assignment records were found for US12044901B2 on the USPTO Patent Assignment Search database. This indicates that Ingeniospec LLC, the original assignee, likely still holds ownership of the patent.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US12044901
    2005 : Priority date
    2023 : Application filed by Ingeniospec LLC
    2024 : Granted to Ingeniospec LLC

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — unclear. While Ingeniospec LLC's name might suggest a licensing-focused entity, without recorded transfers, there's no direct evidence of a transfer from an operating company to a shell entity.
2. Known asserter in the chain — unclear. Ingeniospec LLC is listed in litigation databases as a plaintiff in patent infringement cases. However, without assignment records, it's unclear if they are a "known asserter" within the context of having acquired the patent from another entity specifically for assertion.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — not present. No assignment records are found.
4. Cascading transfers — not present. No assignment records are found.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — unclear. The patent family has litigation history, but without assignment records, it's impossible to determine if any transfer occurred within 6 months of the first suit.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — not present. There is no information to suggest the original assignee filed for bankruptcy.
7. Privateering — unclear. Without assignment records or SEC filings from a public operating company, there's no evidence to indicate privateering.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — not present. The patent's litigation history suggests assertion, not defensive aggregation.

Verdict

NPE — moderate confidence. While there are no recorded assignments to explicitly show a transfer to a shell entity, the current assignee, Ingeniospec LLC, is actively involved in patent litigation concerning this patent family. This pattern of assertion, combined with the lack of clear product offerings, suggests an NPE strategy, even in the absence of a discernible transfer chain.

USPTO Assignment Center search for US12044901B2: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/

To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 12044901, I will first search the USPTO database for the patent and then examine its cited references.

USPTO Search for US Patent 12044901

I performed a search for "US patent 12044901" on the USPTO database. However, the direct search functionality for patent numbers on the USPTO website often leads to a search interface rather than a direct display of the patent document. To access the full patent document and its citations, it is more efficient to use a patent search tool that links directly to the patent or provides its full text. Given that the Google Patents link was provided in the prompt and contains the full text and citation information, I will use that as my primary source for prior art analysis.

Prior Art Analysis for US Patent 12044901

Based on the provided Google Patents page for US120444901B2, the "Prior art date" is listed as 2005-10-11, and several "external-priority" documents are cited. These external priority documents are typically earlier applications from which the current patent claims priority, and as such, often serve as key prior art. The patent also lists "Prior art keywords" as "head," "worn," "user," "electronic apparatus," and "personal electronic," which gives a general indication of the field of invention.

Since the claims are not explicitly provided in the patent text, a definitive assessment of which claims are anticipated by each reference is not possible. However, I will analyze the brief descriptions from the patent's own "external-priority" list to infer potential anticipation. The "external-priority" documents listed are:

1. US7581833B2

   • Full Citation: US7581833B2
   • Publication/Filing Date: Priority claimed from US11/580,222, filed 2006-10-11.
   • Brief Description: This patent (US7581833B2) is likely related to the core concepts of providing electrical components to head-worn electronic apparatus, potentially focusing on the integration of such components into eyewear structures like temples or temple tips. The current patent (US12044901) builds upon the general concept of incorporating electrical components into eyewear.
   • Potential Anticipation: Given that US7581833B2 is a priority document, it is highly probable that it anticipates fundamental aspects of the system for charging embedded batteries in head-worn electronic apparatus, particularly the mechanical integration of electrical components and the general utility of such devices. Without the specific claims of US12044901, it's difficult to pinpoint exact claim numbers, but it likely covers the broad inventive concept.

2. US7401918B2

   • Full Citation: US7401918B2
   • Publication/Filing Date: Priority claimed from US11/891,411, filed 2007-08-09.
   • Brief Description: This patent (US7401918B2) likely further elaborates on aspects of integrating electronic components into head-worn devices, potentially detailing specific types of components or attachment mechanisms. The provided text for US12044901 frequently mentions different temple arrangements, temple adapters, and multi-part temples with embedded electrical components, which aligns with the scope of this priority document.
   • Potential Anticipation: As another priority document, US7401918B2 would likely anticipate claims related to various mechanical constructions for integrating electrical components into eyewear, such as removable temple parts, temple tips, or fit-overs.

3. US8109629B2

   • Full Citation: US8109629B2
   • Publication/Filing Date: Priority claimed from US12/462,286, filed 2009-07-31.
   • Brief Description: This patent (US8109629B2) would logically continue to refine the inventive concept, possibly introducing specific functionalities or improved methods for power provision or signal processing in head-worn electronic apparatus. The current patent explicitly discusses various electrical components like power sources, sensors, and communication modules, suggesting that these functionalities may have been developed through this lineage of priority documents.
   • Potential Anticipation: This patent would likely anticipate claims concerning specific electronic functionalities within eyewear, such as particular types of sensors, communication modules, or power management techniques, especially those related to charging embedded batteries.

4. US8465151B2

   • Full Citation: US8465151B2
   • Publication/Filing Date: Priority claimed from US12/806,312, filed 2010-08-10.
   • Brief Description: This patent (US8465151B2) would further detail the integration and functionality of electrical components in head-worn devices. The current patent's emphasis on user interaction, displays, and various modes of operation for integrated electronics could be rooted in this earlier work.
   • Potential Anticipation: Claims related to user interfaces, displays, operational modes, or more advanced control mechanisms for the embedded electronic components would likely find their basis or be anticipated by US8465151B2.

5. US8500271B2

   • Full Citation: US8500271B2
   • Publication/Filing Date: Priority claimed from US13/085,402, filed 2011-04-12.
   • Brief Description: This patent (US8500271B2) represents a later stage in the development of the technology, likely addressing specific embodiments or broader applications of the head-worn electronic apparatus. The comprehensive nature of the current patent's description, covering various forms of eyewear and diverse electrical components, points to a continuous evolution of the invention.
   • Potential Anticipation: US8500271B2 would likely anticipate more refined or specific embodiments of the charging system and the embedded battery technology, as well as the broader scope of applications for such head-worn electronic devices.

It is important to note that without the specific claims of US12044901, this analysis of potential anticipation is general and based on the typical relationship between a patent and its priority documents. The priority documents themselves define much of the prior art against which the claims of US12044901 would be examined under 35 U.S.C. § 102.

I cannot perform an obviousness analysis of US patent 12044901 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 because the patent claims are not provided in the supplied text. A proper obviousness analysis requires reviewing the specific language of the claims to compare the claimed invention against the prior art and determine if a person having ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to combine prior art references to arrive at the claimed invention.

Without the claims, the scope of the invention is undefined, making it impossible to identify combinations of prior art references that would render the invention obvious or to explain the motivation for such combinations.

To provide a comprehensive analysis of patent term adjustments (PTA), patent term extensions (PTE), continuation/divisional applications, related family members, and the projected expiration date for US patent 12044901, I will access the USPTO patent information.

The USPTO does not directly calculate expiration dates for patents but provides resources and tools for this purpose, emphasizing that various factors must be considered, including filing dates, grant dates, benefit claims, PTA/PTE, and terminal disclaimers.

Patent Term Adjustments (PTA)
Patent Term Adjustment (PTA) extends a utility patent's term beyond the standard 20 years to compensate for delays in the USPTO examination process. Accurate PTA input is essential for a correct expiration calculation.

Patent Term Extensions (PTE)
Patent Term Extension (PTE) is available under the Hatch-Waxman Act for patents on certain products (e.g., human drugs, medical devices, food additives) that require regulatory approval, to restore some of the patent term lost during the premarket government approval process. PTE is limited to a maximum of five years, and the total patent life with a PTE cannot exceed 14 years from the date of FDA approval.

Continuation Applications, Divisional Applications, and Related Family Members
Patent expiration calculations involve analyzing the earliest effective filing date and continuity claims under 35 U.S.C. §§ 120, 121, or 365(c). The Google Patents page for US12044901B2 lists several "external-priority" documents, which are earlier applications from which this patent claims priority. These indicate a family of related patent applications:

• US11/580,222 (Priority claimed from 2006-10-11)
• US11/891,411 (Priority claimed from 2007-08-09)
• US12/462,286 (Priority claimed from 2009-07-31)
• US12/806,312 (Priority claimed from 2010-08-10)
• US13/085,402 (Priority claimed from 2011-04-12)

These are likely part of a continuation or divisional application chain, as they represent a series of filings that claim priority back to an earlier application. The priority date of US12044901 is listed as 2005-10-11, which would correspond to the earliest effective filing date among these family members for the purpose of calculating the base 20-year patent term.

Projected Expiration Date
The standard term for a utility patent is 20 years from the earliest effective filing date. For US12044901, the earliest priority date is 2005-10-11.

Therefore, the anticipated expiration date, before considering any PTA or terminal disclaimers, would be 20 years from this priority date.

• Earliest Priority Date: 2005-10-11
• Base Expiration Date (20 years from priority date): 2025-10-11

The Google Patents page explicitly lists "Anticipated expiration: 2026-10-11". This suggests that there might be a Patent Term Adjustment (PTA) of approximately one year, or a different interpretation of the priority date for calculation. Without access to the official USPTO patent prosecution history, including any PTA grants or terminal disclaimers, it is not possible to precisely confirm the exact calculation leading to the 2026-10-11 expiration date. However, the Google Patents information provides a strong indicator for this projected date.

Summary for US12044901:

• Patent Term Adjustments (PTA): The Google Patents page indicates an "Anticipated expiration" of 2026-10-11, which is one year after the standard 20-year term from the earliest priority date (2005-10-11). This suggests a PTA of approximately one year, though the specific details of its calculation are not publicly available in the provided text.
• Patent Term Extensions (PTE): There is no information in the provided patent text or search results to indicate that US12044901 has received a Patent Term Extension under 35 U.S.C. § 156. Such extensions are typically for patents related to products requiring regulatory approval (e.g., pharmaceuticals, medical devices).
• Continuation Applications/Divisional Applications: The patent claims priority from several earlier applications: US11/580,222, US11/891,411, US12/462,286, US12/806,312, and US13/085,402. These represent the continuation/divisional family members, tracing back to the earliest priority date of 2005-10-11.
• Related Family Members: As noted above, the related family members are the priority applications: US11/580,222, US11/891,411, US12/462,286, US12/806,312, and US13/085,402.
• Projected Expiration Date: The Google Patents page lists the "Anticipated expiration" as 2026-10-11.