US 7701173

I'll search for the specific patent and any 2026 litigation activity, then summarize.

Let me run a couple more targeted searches on litigation/2026 activity and current status.

US Patent 7,701,173 — Summary

Important scoping note: I ran the searches you asked for, and I did not find any 2026 CAFC docket entry or 2026 USPTO proceeding naming patent 7,701,173. The only 2026 Federal Circuit document returned by search was an unrelated petition (Constellation/ATSC 3.0 damages), and it does not mention '173. Everything below that is proceeding-specific is from 2016–2018 records. I flag this explicitly rather than assume a 2026 status I cannot verify.

Bibliographic data (per the authoritative patent text and Google Patents page)

Abstract (verbatim)

"Charging and power supply for mobile devices is disclosed. A USB-compliant charging and power supply circuit includes switch-mode battery charging circuitry for receiving power from an external power source and for supplying output power through an output node to an electronic system of an electronic communication device and a battery. Battery isolation circuitry includes a semiconductor switch connecting the output node to the battery. The battery isolation circuitry senses voltage at the output node and variably restricts current to the battery when the voltage is below a minimum voltage value by operationally controlling the semiconductor switch as current passes through it. During variable current restriction the electronic system is supplied required power with said battery being supplied any additional available power."

Independent claim 1 — plain-language overview (USB-compliant charging/power circuit)

A three-part circuit:

1. Switch-mode battery charging circuitry that takes power from an external source (e.g., a USB port) and delivers output power, through an output node (V_SYS), to both the device's electronic system and the battery. Critically, the claim requires an integrated circuit plus an inductor arranged so the output current can exceed the input current (a buck/step-down converter can produce higher output current than input current).
2. Battery isolation circuitry containing a semiconductor switch (in the spec, P-channel FET 252) between the output node and the battery. It senses the output-node voltage and, when that voltage falls below a minimum voltage value, variably restricts current to the battery by controlling the switch in its active/triode region while current flows through it (i.e., acting as a variable resistor, not a simple on/off relay).
3. Additional circuitry in electrical communication with the battery isolation circuitry that receives feedback from the electronic system and, in response, adjusts the minimum voltage value to suit the electronic system's requirements.

The intended result: during current restriction the electronic system gets the power it needs and the battery gets only the leftover ("additional available") power.

Independent claim 6 — plain-language overview (electronic communication device)

The same architecture packaged as a device: a device housing; a rechargeable battery inside the housing; an electronic system inside the housing; the same switch-mode battery charging circuitry (IC + inductor providing output current greater than input current, feeding an output node to system and battery); the same battery isolation circuitry with a semiconductor switch sensing output-node voltage and variably restricting battery current below a minimum voltage; and the same additional circuitry that takes feedback from the electronic system and adjusts the minimum voltage value. Same allocation outcome (system first, battery gets the remainder).

Dependent claim highlights

• 2 / 5 / 10: add switch-mode power supply (SMPS) circuitry that runs in reverse — drawing from the battery and supplying converted power through the same inductor and output node (single-inductor bidirectional arrangement; TI TPS62000 IC in the spec).
• 3: the output-node voltage is fed back to the IC, which adjusts the output-node voltage (feedback pin, e.g. TI bq24105/bq24115).
• 4: a separate switch-mode DC-DC converter IC supplying the inductor.
• 7 / 8: battery isolation circuitry and/or charging circuitry contained within the device housing.
• 9: the device is a wirelessly-enabled, handheld communications device.
• 11: a voltage notification module responsive to changes in operating modes to provide the feedback to the additional circuitry (FIGS. 1/3, ref. 297 interacting with OS 299).
• 12: switch means for shutting off the semiconductor switch when charging is disabled (CH_EN signal causing FET 236 to saturate and turn off FET 252).

Note / caveat on claims: The patent's "Description of Example Embodiments" recites a third embodiment said to include "a power management method for allocating power between a rechargeable battery and an electronic system…" (determining a minimum voltage based on the system's mode of operation, monitoring the node, and variably restricting current). No method claim appears in the granted 12 claims — the granted claim set contains only the circuit claim 1 and device claim 6 plus dependents. I state this as an observed fact from the claim listing; I do not know from the retrieved sources whether a method claim was cancelled during prosecution or pursued elsewhere.

Litigation / administrative history found (not 2026)

• IPR2018-00426 — Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and [Samsung Electronics America, Inc.](/litigations/by-plaintiff/Samsung%20Electronics%20America%2C%20Inc.) v. Fundamental Innovation Systems International LLC, on U.S. Patent 7,701,173. Filed 2018-01-05; notice of accord 2018-01-11; instituted 2018-07-06; terminated 2018-07-13 by settlement. Petitioner counsel: Kirkland & Ellis; Patent Owner counsel: Irell & Manella. This is recorded in the patent's own legal-events table ("IPR … TRIAL NO: IPR2018-00426, Opponent name: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., AND SAMSUNG ELECTRO").
• Underlying district court case: Fundamental Innovation Systems International LLC v. Samsung Electronics Co. et al., No. 2:17-cv-00145 (E.D. Tex.) — the '173 patent's Google Patents page links Texas Eastern District Court case 2:17-cv-00145. A 2018 Patent Owner notice in a related IPR (IPR2018-01076, re the '655 continuation) describes that action as "settled."
• The same notice confirms the family relationships: the '655 patent is a continuation of application 11/299,701 (now the '173 patent), and 13/004,175 (now US 7,965,058) descends from the '655. Related IPRs named in that notice include IPR2018-00425 ('655), IPR2018-00479 and -00683 ('655), while IPR2018-00426 against the '173 patent "has been terminated."
• The Google Patents page also lists Darts-ip "first worldwide family litigation" for family ID 38138641.

Explicit uncertainties

1. No 2026 activity confirmed. My searches did not surface any 2026 CAFC appeal, 2026 PTAB filing, or 2026 district-court filing specifically naming 7,701,173. I cannot affirmatively state there is no such activity — only that I could not find any with the tools available. Treat the 2026 docket question as unverified.
2. The searches identified IPRs against the sibling continuation (7,893,655) but none active in 2026 against '173 itself.
3. Current ownership: Google Patents lists Fundamental Innovation Systems International LLC; the 2018 PTAB notice adds that Fundamental Innovation Systems International Holdings LLC is its parent and that the portfolio is managed by JASPAR. I did not verify any post-2018 reassignment.