US 11690782

Here is a concise summary of US patent 11690782:

US Patent 11690782 - Dynamic sauna

• Title: Dynamic sauna
• Assignee: Sunlighten LLC
• Inventors: James T. O'Keeffe, Aaron Michael Zack, Martin C. Ku, Ian Richard Kuklenski, Steven J. Murray
• Filing Date: August 16, 2022
• Issue Date: July 4, 2023
• Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling infrared radiation (IR) sources of a sauna. This includes tuning IR wavelength-ranges and radiated power-levels of IR sources, and directing IR to specific locations on a user's body. An illustrative embodiment describes a sauna with adjustable IR emitters that can emit IR at various wavelengths to provide desirable radiation treatment. Another embodiment describes a method for tuning IR emitters in a sauna.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Independent Claim 1: This claim describes a sauna system. It includes an enclosed space (the sauna), multiple infrared (IR) emitters that can produce IR across different wavelength ranges, and at least one driver module to operate these emitters. A heat control module is also included, which receives information about desired IR wavelength-ranges and power-levels. Based on this information, the heat control module sends instructions to the driver module to ensure the IR emitters produce the specified IR wavelengths and power-levels.
• Independent Claim 6: This claim outlines a method for operating a sauna as part of a training program. The method involves defining multiple "progress levels" for a program, with each level having specific sauna settings. When a user starts a session for a particular level, biological data (like heart rate or temperature) is collected and stored. This data is then analyzed to determine if the user successfully completed that progress level. If successful, the system generates settings for the next progress level.
• Independent Claim 11: This claim details a method for actively adjusting (tuning) the infrared heating within a sauna. It involves receiving input, either from a user or a computing device, regarding desired IR wavelength-ranges and their corresponding output power-levels. Based on this received information, one or more IR emitters in the sauna then emit IR at those specific wavelength-ranges and power-levels.
• Independent Claim 15: This claim describes a sauna with an advanced IR heater. This heater has outputs that can be adjusted and is made up of several distinct heating elements that operate electronically. Each of these individual heating elements can be controlled independently to emit IR with a specific peak emission wavelength and a specific output power level.
• Independent Claim 19: This claim describes a sauna equipped with an IR heater that uses a high-resistance polyimide film. This film is designed to have at least two sections that can operate at different temperatures, thereby producing multiple peak IR wavelengths. These different temperature settings for the film portions can be adjusted. A heat control module manages this IR heater, receiving desired IR wavelength-range and power-level information, and then providing control instructions to the heater to achieve those specified IR emissions.

No 2026 dockets for patent 11690782 were found at the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

As of April 26, 2026, there is no known litigation involving US patent 11690782. Searches of patent litigation databases such as Unified Patents, CAFC, and PACER did not return any results for this specific patent number.

Proceedings overview

There are no AIA trial proceedings on file for US patent 11690782 based on the USPTO Open Data Portal (ODP) API and a comprehensive web search. This indicates that the patent has not yet been challenged in an Inter Partes Review (IPR), Post-Grant Review (PGR), or Covered Business Method (CBM) proceeding at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB).

Strategic summary

As of today, 2026-07-04, all claims of US patent 11690782 are UNTESTED by the PTAB. There are no records of any IPR, PGR, or CBM proceedings having been filed against this patent. This means that a defendant facing assertion of this patent would have all prior-art grounds available for potential PTAB challenges, subject to statutory time bars. The absence of PTAB activity can sometimes indicate that a patent has not been heavily asserted, or that prior art challenges have not been deemed strong enough to warrant a PTAB petition. However, it also means the patent owner has not had to defend the patent's validity against AIA trial challenges, so the claims have not been "hardened" through such proceedings.

Recommended next steps

Since no PTAB activity exists for US patent 11690782, a defendant facing assertion of this patent should consider conducting a thorough prior art search to evaluate potential grounds for an Inter Partes Review (IPR) or Post-Grant Review (PGR) challenge. The absence of previous PTAB challenges suggests that the patent's claims have not been subject to the heightened scrutiny of an AIA trial, and therefore, an IPR or PGR could be a viable defensive strategy. It is worth noting that well-asserted patents often attract IPRs, so the lack of activity could also mean the patent has not yet been widely asserted.

Inventors

• James T. O'Keeffe (Sunlighten LLC at time of filing)
• Aaron Michael Zack (Sunlighten LLC at time of filing)
• Martin C. Ku (Sunlighten LLC at time of filing)
• Ian Richard Kuklenski (Sunlighten LLC at time of filing)
• Steven J. Murray (Sunlighten LLC at time of filing)

No unusual patterns observed regarding inventors departing the original assignee.

Original assignee

The original assignee, as named on the issued patent US11690782B2, is Sunlighten LLC. Sunlighten LLC is an operating company that manufactures and sells infrared saunas and related products. Their primary line of business is the design, manufacturing, and distribution of wellness products, particularly infrared saunas. Sunlighten LLC is currently operating.

Assignment timeline

• 2022-12-16 (executed) / recorded 2022-12-16 — Reel 059914/0839

  • Conveyance: Assignment of Assignors Interest
  • Assignor: KUKLENSKI, IAN RICHARD; KU, MARTIN C.; ZACK, AARON MICHAEL; MURRAY, STEVEN J.; O'KEEFFE, JAMES T.
  • Assignee: SUNLIGHTEN, INC.
  • Correspondent: BRENT D. WETHERALL, STINSON LLP, 1201 WALNUT, SUITE 2900, KANSAS CITY, MO 64106
  • Context: Internal transfer of inventor interests to a corporate entity, likely for administrative purposes or as part of employment agreements.

• 2024-07-25 (executed) / recorded 2024-07-25 — Reel 063590/0734

  • Conveyance: Change of Name
  • Assignor: SUNLIGHTEN, INC.
  • Assignee: SUNLIGHTEN, LLC
  • Correspondent: BRENT D. WETHERALL, STINSON LLP, 1201 WALNUT, SUITE 2900, KANSAS CITY, MO 64106 (This correspondent recurs in this chain.)
  • Context: Corporate name change or restructuring.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 11690782
    2008 : Priority date
    2022 : Application filed by Sunlighten LLC
    2022 : Inventors assign to Sunlighten Inc
    2023 : Patent Granted
    2024 : Sunlighten Inc changes to LLC

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — not present. The assignees (SUNLIGHTEN, INC. and SUNLIGHTEN, LLC) appear to be operating entities involved in the sauna business.
2. Known asserter in the chain — not present. None of the assignees (SUNLIGHTEN, INC., SUNLIGHTEN, LLC) match known NPE lists.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — present. BRENT D. WETHERALL of STINSON LLP appears as the correspondent for both the 2022-12-16 assignment and the 2024-07-25 change of name.
4. Cascading transfers — not present. There are only two recorded assignments, one being an initial inventor assignment and the other a change of name, spanning a period greater than 24 months.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — unclear. No litigation information is readily available in the provided patent text.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — not present. There is no indication of bankruptcy for Sunlighten LLC or Sunlighten, Inc.
7. Privateering — not present. No evidence of a transfer to an NPE asserting on behalf of an operating company.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — not present. The chain does not terminate at a known defensive aggregator.

Verdict

Operating-company assertion. The patent remains with Sunlighten, LLC, an operating company that manufactures and sells products embodying the claims, as indicated by the initial assignment from the inventors to Sunlighten, Inc. (later renamed Sunlighten, LLC) in 2022 and 2024 respectively. There are no transfers to known NPEs or shell entities, suggesting the patent is held for commercial purposes.

USPTO Assignment Center search page: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/

The USPTO database shows that US patent 11690782, titled "Dynamic sauna," was granted on July 4, 2023, from an application filed on August 16, 2022. The earliest priority date claimed is March 19, 2008.

To identify the most relevant prior art and analyze potential anticipation, I will now list the patent documents cited within US11690782. I will need to analyze the claims of US11690782 and the teachings of each cited prior art reference to provide a comprehensive analysis of anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102.

Based on the provided patent text, the following prior art is explicitly mentioned in the "CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS" section. This section typically lists the family of patents and applications from which the current patent claims priority, which are highly relevant as they often disclose foundational aspects of the invention.

Here are the citations from the "CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS" section of US11690782:

• U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/133,005

  • Full Citation: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/133,005
  • Publication/Filing Date: Filed December 23, 2020
  • Brief Description: This is a continuation application, indicating it likely shares significant disclosure with US11690782. The parent application (US16/538,117) describes methods and systems for independently controlling the temperature of heat sources in a sauna, including tuning IR wavelength-ranges and radiated power-levels of IR sources, and directing IR to specific locations on a user's body.
  • Potential Anticipation: Since this is a direct continuation, it is highly likely to anticipate all claims of US11690782 under 35 U.S.C. § 102, assuming the claims of US11690782 are not patentably distinct from the disclosure of 17/133,005.

• U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/538,117 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,874,586)

  • Full Citation: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/538,117, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,874,586
  • Publication/Filing Date: Filed August 12, 2019; Issued December 29, 2020
  • Brief Description: This patent also describes methods and systems for independently controlling IR emitters within a sauna, tuning peak IR frequency emission ranges and radiated power levels, and targeting emitters at desired body locations. It also mentions the combination of multiple heating elements and the ability to produce both IR and traditional sauna experiences.
  • Potential Anticipation: As a direct ancestor to US11690782, U.S. Pat. No. 10,874,586 likely anticipates many, if not all, claims of US11690782 under 35 U.S.C. § 102, particularly those related to the core functionality of dynamic IR control within a sauna.

• U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/654,180 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,376,442)

  • Full Citation: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/654,180, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,376,442
  • Publication/Filing Date: Filed July 19, 2017; Issued August 13, 2019
  • Brief Description: This is another continuation in the family. It would similarly cover the independent control of IR emitters, tuning of wavelength ranges and power levels, and targeted radiation within a sauna environment.
  • Potential Anticipation: Given its position in the continuation chain, U.S. Pat. No. 10,376,442 is a strong candidate for anticipating all claims of US11690782 under 35 U.S.C. § 102, depending on the specific differences in claim scope.

• U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/217,208 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,744,098)

  • Full Citation: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/217,208, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,744,098
  • Publication/Filing Date: Filed March 17, 2014; Issued August 29, 2017
  • Brief Description: This divisional application also pertains to the core concepts of dynamic IR sauna technology, including adjustable IR emitters for varying wavelengths and targeted treatments.
  • Potential Anticipation: As a divisional, U.S. Pat. No. 9,744,098's disclosure would likely anticipate a substantial portion of the claims of US11690782 under 35 U.S.C. § 102.

• U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/426,762 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,676,044)

  • Full Citation: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/426,762, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,676,044
  • Publication/Filing Date: Filed April 20, 2009; Issued March 18, 2014
  • Brief Description: This continuation also details the adjustable and controllable IR emitters within a sauna for personalized therapeutic experiences.
  • Potential Anticipation: U.S. Pat. No. 8,676,044, being an earlier continuation, would anticipate claims of US11690782 under 35 U.S.C. § 102 that are not patentably distinguishable from its disclosure.

• U.S. patent Ser. No. 12/205,597

  • Full Citation: U.S. patent Ser. No. 12/205,597
  • Publication/Filing Date: Filed September 5, 2008; now abandoned
  • Brief Description: Although abandoned, this application's disclosure would be relevant as prior art. It would likely describe the foundational dynamic IR sauna technology.
  • Potential Anticipation: As an abandoned application, its contents are still prior art. It would anticipate claims of US11690782 under 35 U.S.C. § 102 to the extent its disclosure fully describes the claimed subject matter.

• U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/051,521 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,588,593)

  • Full Citation: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/051,521, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,588,593
  • Publication/Filing Date: Filed March 19, 2008; Issued November 19, 2013
  • Brief Description: This is the earliest priority document mentioned. It would contain the initial disclosure of the dynamic sauna concept with controllable IR emitters.
  • Potential Anticipation: This patent, as the earliest priority document, is highly relevant and its disclosure would anticipate any claims of US11690782 under 35 U.S.C. § 102 that are fully described within its specification.

To provide a more detailed analysis of which specific claims of US11690782 are potentially anticipated, I would need access to the full text of each cited prior art patent and the claims of US11690782. Without that specific claim-by-claim comparison, the above analysis broadly indicates that the entire family of related applications and patents is highly relevant prior art and likely anticipates many of the concepts claimed in US11690782 due to the continuation/divisional relationships, under 35 U.S.C. § 102.

The obviousness of US patent 11690782 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 can be analyzed by considering combinations of prior art references that would render its claims obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA) as of its priority date, March 19, 2008. The provided patent text for US11690782 explicitly states that it is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/051,521 (which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,588,593), and that "the disclosures of each of which are incorporated herein, by reference, in their entirety." Therefore, the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 8,588,593 (hereinafter, "the Parent Patent") serves as a primary prior art reference.

For the purpose of this analysis, the "claims" of US11690782 are presumed to encompass the core inventive concepts outlined in its Summary and Detailed Description. These concepts include:

1. Dynamic and Targeted IR Control: Independently controlling infrared (IR) emitters within a sauna to tune peak IR frequency emission ranges and radiated power levels, and targeting these emitters at desired locations on a user's body.
2. Diverse IR Emitter Combinations: Utilizing a plurality of IR heating elements, such as LEDs, high-resistance polyimide panels, ceramic heaters, and carbon black-based heaters, potentially combined in a single unit, to emit various IR wavelengths (near, mid, far) or a multi-peak spectrum.
3. Dual Sauna Experience: Designing IR heating elements to generate temperatures sufficient for both IR sauna experiences and traditional (convection) sauna experiences.
4. Integrated Smart Sauna System: Incorporating a computing device, control panels (internal, external, or remote), a monitoring device for collecting biological data (e.g., blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, perspiration), and networking capabilities to manage user profiles, implement training/wellness programs, and perform diagnostic functions.

Combinations of Prior Art References and Motivation for Combination

1. Combination: Disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 8,588,593 + General Knowledge of Control Systems and IR Emitters

• Teaching/Suggestion: The detailed description of US11690782, by virtue of incorporating the Parent Patent's disclosure, inherently describes the underlying elements for dynamic and targeted IR control. This includes a sauna (100) with multiple IR emitters (140, 142, 144, 146) configurable for zone-heating, various types of IR heating elements (LEDs, thermal, ceramic, planar) that can be combined in a single emitter (900), and driver circuitry (960) capable of tuning wavelength ranges and power levels using techniques like pulse width modulation. The patent also illustrates an IR emitter (1000) with independently controllable sections for different peak emission wavelengths, controlled by devices like thermocouples. Furthermore, methods (FIG. 11, FIG. 12) for receiving and applying wavelength, power, and user-specific targeting information are detailed. The patent explicitly notes that "IR emitters in accordance with exemplary embodiments permit a user to select one or more temperatures (or peak-infrared wavelength), with different temperatures/peak wavelengths being selectable for different heating elements."

• Motivation to Combine: A PHOSITA in 2008 would have been well aware that different IR wavelengths offer distinct therapeutic benefits and penetration depths. To provide a more versatile and effective sauna experience, a PHOSITA would have been motivated to combine different known IR emitter types (e.g., LEDs for near-IR, ceramic/carbon for mid/far-IR) within a sauna system. The implementation of independent control over these emitters, including tuning their power and emission spectra, would be a straightforward application of existing electrical control technologies (e.g., microcontrollers, variable power supplies, PWM) to customize the therapeutic output. The concept of directing heat to specific body parts for localized therapy was also known, providing a clear motivation to arrange and control emitters to achieve a "zone-heating effect" for targeted treatment.

2. Combination: Disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 8,588,593 + General Knowledge of Integrated "Smart" Systems and Monitoring Devices

• Teaching/Suggestion: The US11690782 patent, through its incorporated disclosure, presents a comprehensive "smart" sauna system. This includes internal (128) and external (126) control panels (potentially touchscreens) for user interaction, a monitoring device (152) for collecting biological data such as heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature, and a computing device (150) to process this data and control sauna features. The system is described as being connectable to a network (406) with a server (402) for remote management, user profiles, "training programs," and "wellness programs" that adapt sauna settings based on user progress and biological data. Additionally, a diagnostic module (416) is disclosed for detecting and reporting electrical failures, generating repair plans, and even automating repair requests over a network.

• Motivation to Combine: As of March 2008, the integration of computing devices, user interfaces, sensors, and networking into various consumer and commercial appliances was common. The "Prior art keywords" already include "sauna, diagnostic, information, user, module", suggesting these concepts were generally known in relation to saunas. A PHOSITA would have been motivated to integrate these known "smart" technologies into a sauna to enhance user experience, safety, and functionality. For instance, using biological feedback from a monitoring device to dynamically adjust sauna settings would be an obvious application of feedback control to optimize therapeutic outcomes and ensure user comfort and safety. The development of "training programs" and "wellness programs" based on user goals (e.g., detoxification, weight loss) and tracking progress is a logical extension of personalized fitness technology. Furthermore, connecting the sauna to a network for remote control, diagnostic reporting, and automatic updates would be an obvious means to improve convenience, maintenance, and serviceability, leveraging widely adopted network capabilities.

Overall Obviousness Conclusion:

Given that US11690782 is a continuation patent, its claims are highly likely to be directed to subject matter already thoroughly disclosed in its Parent Patent, U.S. Pat. No. 8,588,593, which shares the same priority date and is entirely incorporated by reference. Even if the claims of US11690782 are not literally anticipated by the claims of the Parent Patent, the comprehensive disclosure of the Parent Patent, combined with the general knowledge of a PHOSITA in 2008 regarding electronic control systems, various IR technologies, physiological monitoring, and networked devices, would render the inventive concepts of US11690782 obvious. The motivation to combine these known elements and principles would stem from a desire to create a more effective, customizable, user-friendly, and maintainable sauna system.