US 9222659

US Patent 9,222,659, titled "LED lamp," was issued on December 29, 2015, from an application filed on July 16, 2013. The original assignee was Cree Inc, and the current assignee is Prosperina Ventures LLC. The inventors are Nicholas William Medendorp, Jr., Randall Levy Bernard, James Michael Lay, Nathan Ray Snell, and Paul Kenneth Pickard.

Abstract:
The patent describes an LED lamp featuring an enclosure that is at least partially optically transmissive, comprising an optically transmissive lens connected to a base. An LED board supporting at least one LED is located within the enclosure. The lamp incorporates a first and second pair of pins that are rotatable relative to the enclosure and are part of the electrical path supplying power to the LEDs. During installation, the lamp is positioned between two tombstone connectors, and its pins are inserted and then rotated to engage the electrical contacts within the tombstone connectors.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1: This claim describes an LED lamp featuring an enclosure, at least one LED designed to emit light through the enclosure, and a first pair of electrical pins. These pins are mounted in a "control member" that can rotate freely relative to the lamp's enclosure, and this control member is part of the lamp's electrical circuit.

• Claim 29: This claim outlines a method for installing an LED fixture. It involves removing a traditional fluorescent tube from its tombstone connectors, providing an LED lamp (as generally described in Claim 1), positioning the LED lamp so its pins engage the tombstone connectors, and then, while holding the lamp's main body (enclosure) stationary, rotating the pins relative to the enclosure to establish electrical contact.

• Claim 30: This claim covers an LED lamp with an optically transmissive enclosure that includes a substantially planar base and a lens. A distinguishing feature is that the width of the lens is greater than the width of the base. The lamp also includes at least one LED within the enclosure and a first pair of pins that are rotatable relative to the enclosure and form part of the electrical path.

• Claim 31: This claim describes an LED lamp with an optically transmissive enclosure comprising a substantially planar base and a lens. A key feature here is the spatial arrangement: the base is positioned within the bottom quarter of the lens's overall height. The lamp also includes at least one LED and a first pair of pins that are rotatable relative to the enclosure and are in the electrical path.

• Claim 32: This claim describes an LED lamp with an optically transmissive enclosure, including a lens connected to a base, and an LED board supporting at least one LED, with the board also connected to the base. It further includes a first pair of pins rotatable relative to the enclosure and in the electrical path. The unique aspect of this claim is that the first and second end caps of the enclosure are connected to at least one of the base, the LED board, or the lens using a snap-fit connection.

Litigation Status:
As of April 26, 2026, the patent family for US9222659 is noted to have litigation. Specifically, there are US cases filed in the Texas Northern District Court with dockets 3:26-cv-01006 and 3:25-cv-02886. These cases were filed in 2025 and 2026, indicating active litigation concerning this patent. The patent's legal status is "Active," and it is set to expire on December 11, 2033.

As of April 26, 2026, there are known litigation cases involving US Patent 9,222,659. The patent family for US9222659 is noted to have active litigation.

Here are the details of the known litigation:

1. Case Number: 3:26-cv-01006

   • Jurisdiction: Texas Northern District Court
   • Filing Date: The user message states this case was filed in 2026.
   • Plaintiff(s): Not specified in the provided information.
   • Defendant(s): Not specified in the provided information.
   • Outcome/Current Status: Active litigation.

2. Case Number: 3:25-cv-02886

   • Jurisdiction: Texas Northern District Court
   • Filing Date: The user message states this case was filed in 2025.
   • Plaintiff(s): Not specified in the provided information.
   • Defendant(s): Not specified in the provided information.
   • Outcome/Current Status: Active litigation.

The available search results primarily discuss a class-action settlement related to PACER fees and do not provide specific details on the plaintiffs or defendants for patent 9222659's litigation.

Proceedings overview

The USPTO ODP API indicates no AIA trial proceedings on file for US Patent 9222659. A thorough web search for Inter Partes Review (IPR), Post-Grant Review (PGR), or Covered Business Method (CBM) proceedings related to US Patent 9222659 also did not yield any results. Therefore, there are no PTAB proceedings on record for this patent, meaning all claims remain untested by the PTAB. This gives a defendant no immediate leverage from invalidated claims via PTAB.

Strategic summary

As there are no PTAB proceedings on file for US9222659, all claims (1-34) remain untested and presumed valid in the context of AIA trials. This means there are no canceled or sustained claims from PTAB decisions.

The absence of PTAB activity implies that the estoppel provisions of § 315(e)(2) are not yet in play. Any potential defendant would be free to raise any prior-art ground that they could reasonably assert in a new IPR petition, subject to the statutory deadlines for filing such petitions.

The lack of IPRs is a notable signal, especially for a patent that has been in litigation (as indicated by the Texas Northern District Court cases). This could suggest that potential petitioners have either not found strong enough prior art, have chosen alternative litigation strategies, or have settled disputes before filing PTAB petitions. There is no indication of involvement by defensive aggregators like Unified Patents regarding this patent in PTAB proceedings.

Recommended next steps

Given the absence of PTAB activity for US9222659:

• For a defendant facing assertion of this patent, it would be prudent to conduct a comprehensive prior art search to identify potential grounds for an IPR. If strong prior art is found, filing an IPR petition could be a viable strategy to challenge the patent's validity.
• Monitor any ongoing district court litigation (dockets 3:26-cv-01006 and 3:25-cv-02886 in the Texas Northern District Court) for any developments regarding claim construction, validity challenges, or settlement discussions that might inform a PTAB strategy.
• Understand the statutory deadlines for filing an IPR. Generally, an IPR petition must be filed within one year of being served with a complaint alleging infringement of the patent (35 U.S.C. § 315(b)).

Inventors

• Nicholas William Medendorp, Jr.: Employed by Cree Inc. at the time of filing.
• Randall Levy Bernard: Employed by Cree Inc. at the time of filing.
• James Michael Lay: Employed by Cree Inc. at the time of filing.
• Nathan Ray Snell: Employed by Cree Inc. at the time of filing.
• Paul Kenneth Pickard: Employed by Cree Inc. at the time of filing.

No unusual patterns, such as all inventors departing the original assignee within 12 months of filing, are indicated by the provided information.

Original assignee

The original assignee named on the issued patent is Cree Inc.

Cree Inc. was a major manufacturer of LED lighting products and semiconductor devices. They shipped various LED lighting products, including lamps and fixtures, embodying the claimed technology.

Cree Inc. has since undergone significant strategic changes. Its LED lighting business (Cree Lighting) was sold to Ideal Industries in 2019, and the remaining company rebranded as Wolfspeed, focusing on silicon carbide and GaN technologies. Cree Lighting USA LLC, which appears later in the assignment chain, was the entity holding the lighting-related patents after the divestiture from the original Cree Inc.

Assignment timeline

The following assignment records were found on the USPTO Assignment Center for US9222659:

• 2019-05-20 (executed) / recorded 2019-05-23 — Reel 062829/0811

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS).
  • Assignor: CREE, INC.
  • Assignee: IDEAL INDUSTRIES LIGHTING LLC
  • Correspondent: IDEAL INDUSTRIES LIGHTING LLC, 1000 KNOLLWOOD DRIVE, CARY, NORTH CAROLINA 27513
  • Context: acquisition (Cree's LED lighting business unit, including related patents, was sold to Ideal Industries).

• 2023-09-13 (executed) / recorded 2023-09-15 — Reel 068759/0572

  • Conveyance: SECURITY INTEREST
  • Assignor: IDEAL INDUSTRIES LIGHTING LLC
  • Assignee: FGI WORLDWIDE LLC
  • Correspondent: MCDERMOTT WILL & EMERY LLP, 444 WEST LAKE STREET, SUITE 4000, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60606
  • Context: securitization (a security interest granted, typically for a loan).

• 2025-07-10 (executed) / recorded 2025-07-14 — Reel 072520/0815

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST
  • Assignor: CREE LIGHTING USA LLC
  • Assignee: INTENSITY LIGHTING COMPANY, LLC
  • Correspondent: CHARLES L. GIFFORD, PATENTS & LICENSING, LLC, 350 S NW HIGHWAY SUITE 300, PARK RIDGE, IL 60068. This correspondent recurs in this chain.
  • Context: transfer-to-asserter (likely part of a patent portfolio sale from an operating company).

• 2025-08-27 (executed) / recorded 2025-08-30 — Reel 073010/0674

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST
  • Assignor: INTENSITY LIGHTING COMPANY, LLC
  • Assignee: PROSPERINA VENTURES LLC
  • Correspondent: CHARLES L. GIFFORD, PATENTS & LICENSING, LLC, 350 S NW HIGHWAY SUITE 300, PARK RIDGE, IL 60068. This correspondent is the same as the previous assignment in this chain.
  • Context: transfer-to-asserter (further transfer within an assertion structure, involving entities with a shared correspondent).

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 9222659
    2013 : Filed by Cree Inc
    2015 : Issued to Cree Inc
    2019 : Assigned to Ideal Industries Lighting
    2023 : Security interest to FGI Worldwide
    2025 : Assigned to Intensity Lighting Co
         : Assigned to Prosperina Ventures
         : Litigation filed

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — Present. The transfers in 2025 involve assignees "Intensity Lighting Company, LLC" (Reel 072520/0815) and "Prosperina Ventures LLC" (Reel 073010/0674). The name "Prosperina Ventures LLC" includes "Ventures," a common suffix for patent assertion entities. Furthermore, the correspondent for both 2025 assignments is "CHARLES L. GIFFORD, PATENTS & LICENSING, LLC," with "Patents & Licensing" in the firm name, strongly suggesting a focus on patent monetization rather than product manufacturing.
2. Known asserter in the chain — Present (implied by litigation data). While "Prosperina Ventures LLC" is not explicitly on the provided list of known NPEs, the patent summary indicates active litigation in the Texas Northern District Court with cases filed in 2025 and 2026 (e.g., dockets 3:25-cv-02886 and 3:26-cv-01006). This current litigation activity, immediately following the transfers to Prosperina Ventures LLC, strongly suggests an assertion strategy.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — Present. CHARLES L. GIFFORD of PATENTS & LICENSING, LLC served as the correspondent for both the 2025-07-10 assignment to Intensity Lighting Company, LLC (Reel 072520/0815) and the 2025-08-27 assignment to Prosperina Ventures LLC (Reel 073010/0674). This recurrence indicates a consistent legal representative for these transfers within the assertion chain.
4. Cascading transfers — Present. Two consecutive assignments occurred within a short period in 2025 (less than two months apart): from Cree Lighting USA LLC to Intensity Lighting Company, LLC (executed 2025-07-10, Reel 072520/0815), and then from Intensity Lighting Company, LLC to Prosperina Ventures LLC (executed 2025-08-27, Reel 073010/0674). These transfers also shared the same correspondent.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — Present. Litigation (case 3:25-cv-02886) was filed in the Texas Northern District Court in 2025. The assignments to Intensity Lighting Company, LLC (executed 2025-07-10, Reel 072520/0815) and Prosperina Ventures LLC (executed 2025-08-27, Reel 073010/0674) occurred during 2025, in close proximity to or concurrent with the initial litigation filing. This timing strongly suggests the transfers were made to facilitate assertion.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — Not present. There is no evidence in the assignment records or general information indicating a bankruptcy filing by Cree Inc., Ideal Industries Lighting LLC, or Cree Lighting USA LLC that led to the sale of this patent.
7. Privateering — Unclear. While the original operating company (Cree/Ideal Lighting) transferred the patent to an asserting entity, there's no direct evidence from the assignment records to suggest the operating company retains an interest or is directing the assertion.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — Not present. The final assignee in the chain, Prosperina Ventures LLC, is engaged in litigation, indicating an assertion strategy, not a defensive aggregation.

Verdict

NPE — high confidence

This verdict is supported by multiple strong signals: the transfer to shell entities ("Intensity Lighting Company, LLC" and "Prosperina Ventures LLC") and the use of a correspondent firm explicitly named "Patents & Licensing, LLC" (Reel 072520/0815, Reel 073010/0674), repeat correspondent across these transfers, cascading transfers within a short period in 2025, and pre-litigation transfers to the asserting entity in the same year as the initial lawsuit filing (2025). The current assignee, Prosperina Ventures LLC, is actively asserting the patent in federal court.

For verification, refer to the USPTO Assignment Center: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/ and search for patent number 9222659.

To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 9222659, I will examine the citations listed on the patent itself. Prior art, in the context of patent law, refers to any public information that predates the filing date of a patent application and can be used to challenge the novelty or inventiveness of a claimed invention. This includes prior patents, published applications, journal articles, and other publicly available documents.

A direct search of the USPTO database for patent number 9222659 would yield the patent itself, which I already have access to. The most relevant prior art is typically found in the "References Cited" section of a patent, which lists documents considered by the patent examiner during prosecution.

I will now process the citations from the patent document for US9222659.

Cited Prior Art for US9222659:

Here is an analysis of the prior art cited in US Patent 9,222,659:

• JPH08162677A

  • Full Citation: JPH08162677A
  • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 1996-06-21. Priority date: 1994-12-05.
  • Brief Description: This Japanese patent document describes an elongated light source using light-emitting diodes, aiming to provide a uniform light source with a simple structure.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference potentially anticipates aspects of claims related to the general concept of an LED lamp in an elongated form. Specifically, if JPH08162677A discloses an enclosure with LEDs emitting light through it, it could be relevant to the broad scope of Claim 1.

• US5688042A

  • Full Citation: US5688042A
  • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 1997-11-18. Priority date: 1995-11-17.
  • Brief Description: This patent describes an LED lamp.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): As a general "LED lamp" patent, it would be considered against the core elements of Claim 1, particularly if it features an enclosure, LEDs, and an electrical path. Further detail on its pin configuration would determine relevance to the rotatable pin aspect.

• US6305109B1

  • Full Citation: US6305109B1
  • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2001-10-23. Priority date: 1999-12-09.
  • Brief Description: This patent describes a structure of a signboard.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While a signboard, if it incorporates LED lighting elements within an enclosure and has an electrical path, it could be broadly relevant to the general features of an LED lamp as described in Claim 1. Specific details would be needed to assess closer anticipation.

• US20020060526A1

  • Full Citation: US20020060526A1
  • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2002-05-23. Priority date: 2000-02-11.
  • Brief Description: This publication describes a light tube and power supply circuit.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): A "light tube" with a power supply circuit is directly relevant to LED lamps replacing fluorescent tubes. This could anticipate aspects of Claim 1 regarding LEDs in an enclosure and an electrical path, and potentially elements of Claim 29 concerning the retrofit method.

• US6853151B2

  • Full Citation: US6853151B2
  • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2005-02-08. Priority date: 2002-11-19.
  • Brief Description: This patent describes an LED retrofit lamp.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is highly relevant as it explicitly describes an "LED retrofit lamp," which is a core application of US9222659. It likely anticipates elements of Claim 1 (LED lamp structure) and Claim 29 (retrofit method). Examination of its specific design, particularly the electrical connections and pin rotation, would be crucial for determining direct anticipation.

• US6860628B2

  • Full Citation: US6860628B2
  • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2005-03-01. Priority date: 2002-07-17.
  • Brief Description: This patent describes an LED replacement for fluorescent lighting.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This is another highly relevant prior art reference, directly addressing "LED replacement for fluorescent lighting." It is likely to anticipate aspects of Claim 1 (LED lamp) and Claim 29 (retrofit method), particularly concerning the form factor and electrical connection for replacement.

• US6936968B2

  • Full Citation: US6936968B2
  • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2005-08-30. Priority date: 2001-11-30.
  • Brief Description: This patent describes a retrofit light emitting diode tube.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to the previous two, this reference is highly pertinent as a "retrofit light emitting diode tube." It would likely anticipate elements of Claim 1 and Claim 29 related to the LED lamp structure and its use as a fluorescent tube replacement.

• US7048410B2

  • Full Citation: US7048410B2
  • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2006-05-23. Priority date: 2004-02-25.
  • Brief Description: This patent describes a support and enclosure structure for fluorescent light bulbs.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While for fluorescent bulbs, the "support and enclosure structure" could be relevant to the enclosure aspects of Claim 1, 30, 31, and 32, especially concerning how a light source is housed and supported. The specific details of the enclosure's construction, such as channels for components or snap-fit connections, might overlap with elements of these claims.

• US20060126325A1

  • Full Citation: US20060126325A1
  • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2006-06-15. Priority date: 2004-12-15.
  • Brief Description: This publication describes a lighting assembly with swivel end connectors.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is very significant due to its mention of "swivel end connectors." This directly relates to the key feature of rotatable pins in Claim 1 and Claim 29. The description of how these connectors function would be critical to determining if the mechanism for rotating pins relative to the enclosure is anticipated.

• JP2007059930A

  • Full Citation: JP2007059930A
  • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2007-03-08. Priority date: 2001-08-09.
  • Brief Description: This Japanese patent document describes an LED lighting device and a card type LED illumination light source.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to general LED lighting devices, this could broadly anticipate elements of Claim 1 related to LEDs within an enclosure.

• US7307391B2

  • Full Citation: US7307391B2
  • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2007-12-11. Priority date: 2006-02-09.
  • Brief Description: This patent describes an LED lighting system.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): As a general "LED lighting system," it could be relevant to the basic components and function of an LED lamp as in Claim 1.

• JP2008288183A

  • Full Citation: JP2008288183A
  • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2008-11-27. Priority date: 2007-04-18.
  • Brief Description: This Japanese patent document describes lighting equipment.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): A general "lighting equipment" patent, it might broadly cover aspects of an enclosure and light emission relevant to Claim 1.

• JP2009117346A

  • Full Citation: JP2009117346A
  • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2009-05-28. Priority date: 2007-10-16.
  • Brief Description: This Japanese patent document describes a lighting device.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to general lighting devices, it could broadly cover aspects of an enclosure and light emission relevant to Claim 1.

• JP3153766U

  • Full Citation: JP3153766U
  • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2009-09-17. Priority date: 2008-07-08.
  • Brief Description: This Japanese patent document describes lighting equipment.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Another general "lighting equipment" patent that might broadly cover aspects of an enclosure and light emission relevant to Claim 1.

• JP2009277586A

  • Full Citation: JP2009277586A
  • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2009-11-26. Priority date: 2008-05-16.
  • Brief Description: This Japanese patent document describes an electric lamp type LED luminaire.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Directly relevant as an "electric lamp type LED luminaire." It likely anticipates elements of Claim 1, and potentially other claims depending on its specific structural details.

• US20100103664A1

  • Full Citation: US20100103664A1
  • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2010-04-29. Priority date: 2008-10-24.
  • Brief Description: This publication describes lighting including integral communication apparatus.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While focused on communication apparatus, if the lighting aspect includes an LED lamp with an enclosure and electrical path, it could broadly anticipate Claim 1.

• WO2010099755A1

  • Full Citation: WO2010099755A1
  • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2010-09-10. Priority date: 2009-03-06.
  • Brief Description: This international publication describes an LED fluorescent lamp.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Highly relevant as an "LED fluorescent lamp," directly addressing the conversion aspect. It is likely to anticipate elements of Claim 1 and Claim 29.

• US7815338B2

  • Full Citation: US7815338B2
  • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2010-10-19. Priority date: 2008-03-02.
  • Brief Description: This patent describes an LED lighting unit including an elongated heat sink and an elongated lens.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is very relevant to structural claims. The "elongated heat sink" (base) and "elongated lens" could anticipate elements of Claim 2, 4, 7, 30, and 31. Specifically, the relationship between the lens and base width (Claim 30) and the positioning of LEDs relative to the lens height (Claim 31) would need careful comparison.

• US20110051413A1

  • Full Citation: US20110051413A1
  • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2011-03-03. Priority date: 2009-08-25.
  • Brief Description: This publication describes optic shielding.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While general to "optic shielding," if this shielding forms part of an enclosure or lens system for an LED lamp, it could be relevant to the optically transmissive enclosure and lens features of Claim 1, 6, 7, 30, 31, and 32.

• US20110085335A1

  • Full Citation: US20110085335A1
  • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2011-04-14. Priority date: 2008-06-17.
  • Brief Description: This publication describes an LED lamp.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): A general "LED lamp" publication that could broadly anticipate elements of Claim 1.

• US7926975B2

  • Full Citation: US7926975B2
  • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2011-04-19. Priority date: 2007-12-21.
  • Brief Description: This patent describes light distribution using a light emitting diode assembly.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is relevant to how light is emitted and distributed from an LED assembly, which ties into the "optically transmissive lens" and its diffusing properties in Claim 6 and 9, and the backlight features in Claim 16 and 17.

• US7976196B2

  • Full Citation: US7976196B2
  • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2011-07-12. Priority date: 2008-07-09.
  • Brief Description: This patent describes a method of forming LED-based light and resulting LED-based light.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This could be relevant to the general construction of LED lamps and the resulting light, potentially broadly anticipating aspects of Claim 1 and its dependent claims related to the LED assembly and light emission.

• US8058659B2

  • Full Citation: US8058659B2
  • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2011-11-15. Priority date: 2008-08-26.
  • Brief Description: This patent describes LED chip-based lighting products and methods of building.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Relevant to the broad concept of LED lighting products and their manufacturing, potentially impacting Claim 1 and its general scope.

• US8093823B1

  • Full Citation: US8093823B1
  • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2012-01-10. Priority date: 2000-02-11.
  • Brief Description: This patent describes light sources incorporating light emitting diodes.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): A fundamental patent on light sources with LEDs, this would be highly relevant to the core concept of an LED lamp in Claim 1.

• US8115411B2

  • Full Citation: US8115411B2
  • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2012-02-14. Priority date: 2006-02-09.
  • Brief Description: This patent describes an LED lighting system.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Another general "LED lighting system" patent that could broadly anticipate elements of Claim 1.

• US8118447B2

  • Full Citation: US8118447B2
  • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2012-02-21. Priority date: 2007-12-20.
  • Brief Description: This patent describes an LED lighting apparatus with a swivel connection.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This is highly relevant due to the "swivel connection," which directly relates to the rotatable pins of Claim 1 and Claim 29. The specific mechanism of rotation and its interaction with the enclosure would need to be compared in detail.

• US20120043884A1

  • Full Citation: US20120043884A1
  • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2012-02-23. Priority date: 2010-08-18.
  • Brief Description: This publication describes an LED lamp tube.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Directly relevant as an "LED lamp tube," making it highly likely to anticipate elements of Claim 1 and potentially Claim 29, given its form factor.

• US20120051038A1

  • Full Citation: US20120051038A1
  • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2012-03-01. Priority date: 2010-08-25.
  • Brief Description: This publication describes an LED lamp.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): A general "LED lamp" publication that could broadly anticipate elements of Claim 1.

• US8214084B2

  • Full Citation: US8214084B2
  • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2012-07-03. Priority date: 2008-10-24.
  • Brief Description: This patent describes the integration of LED lighting with building controls.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While focused on controls, if the underlying LED lighting structure includes an enclosure and electrical path, it could broadly anticipate Claim 1.

• US20120169234A1

  • Full Citation: US20120169234A1
  • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2012-07-05. Priority date: 2009-12-31.
  • Brief Description: This publication describes a light assembly.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): A general "light assembly" publication that could broadly anticipate elements of Claim 1.

• US8324817B2

  • Full Citation: US8324817B2
  • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2012-12-04. Priority date: 2008-10-24.
  • Brief Description: This patent describes light and a light sensor.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While incorporating a sensor, the fundamental "light" aspect, if LED-based with an enclosure, could broadly anticipate Claim 1.

• US8360599B2

  • Full Citation: US8360599B2
  • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2013-01-29. Priority date: 2008-05-23.
  • Brief Description: This patent describes an electric shock resistant L.E.D. based light.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): The "L.E.D. based light" aspect would be relevant to Claim 1, with the electric shock resistance being an additional feature.

• US8362710B2

  • Full Citation: US8362710B2
  • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2013-01-29. Priority date: 2009-01-21.
  • Brief Description: This patent describes a direct AC-to-DC converter for passive component minimization and universal operation of LED arrays.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While focused on power conversion, this could be relevant to the "electrical path" mentioned in Claim 1 and other claims, particularly if the converter is integrated into the lamp.

• US8419223B2

  • Full Citation: US8419223B2
  • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2013-04-16. Priority date: 2009-04-23.
  • Brief Description: This patent describes an LED tube to replace a fluorescent tube.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This is highly relevant as it explicitly describes an "LED tube to replace fluorescent tube." It is very likely to anticipate elements of Claim 1 and Claim 29.

• US8421366B2

  • Full Citation: US8421366B2
  • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2013-04-16. Priority date: 2009-06-23.
  • Brief Description: This patent describes an illumination device including LEDs and a switching power control system.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): The "illumination device including LEDs" is relevant to Claim 1, and the "switching power control system" relates to the electrical path.

• US8449137B2

  • Full Citation: US8449137B2
  • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2013-05-28. Priority date: 2009-06-24.
  • Brief Description: This patent describes a solid state tube light assembly.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Highly relevant as a "solid state tube light assembly," it likely anticipates elements of Claim 1 and Claim 29.

• US8596813B2

  • Full Citation: US8596813B2
  • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2013-12-03. Priority date: 2010-07-12.
  • Brief Description: This patent describes a circuit.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While generally about a "circuit," if this circuit is for an LED lighting application and its features are integral to the electrical path of an LED lamp as described, it could be relevant to the electrical path aspect of Claim 1.

Most Relevant Prior Art:

Based on the descriptions, the most relevant prior art references appear to be those that specifically address LED retrofit lamps or LED tube lamps designed to replace fluorescent tubes, and those that disclose mechanisms for rotatable electrical connections. These references directly address the problem solved by US9222659 and many of its key features.

Specifically, the following patents stand out as highly relevant due to their explicit mention of LED retrofit or replacement for fluorescent lighting, or for featuring swivel/rotatable connections for electrical engagement:

• US20060126325A1 (Lighting assembly with swivel end connectors) - Directly addresses the rotatable pin feature of Claim 1 and Claim 29.
• US8118447B2 (LED lighting apparatus with swivel connection) - Also directly addresses the rotatable pin feature of Claim 1 and Claim 29.
• US6853151B2 (LED retrofit lamp) - Directly addresses the primary purpose and general structure of the claimed invention.
• US6860628B2 (LED replacement for fluorescent lighting) - Directly addresses the primary purpose and general structure of the claimed invention.
• US6936968B2 (Retrofit light emitting diode tube) - Directly addresses the primary purpose and general structure of the claimed invention.
• WO2010099755A1 (LED fluorescent lamp) - Directly addresses the primary purpose and general structure of the claimed invention.
• US8419223B2 (LED tube to replace fluorescent tube) - Directly addresses the primary purpose and general structure of the claimed invention.
• US8449137B2 (Solid state tube light assembly) - Directly addresses the primary purpose and general structure of the claimed invention.
• US7815338B2 (LED lighting unit including an elongated heat sink and an elongated lens) - Highly relevant to the structural claims, particularly those concerning the base, lens shape, and heat dissipation (Claims 2, 4, 7, 30, 31).

A thorough analysis for anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102 would involve a detailed comparison of each element of claims 1, 29, 30, 31, and 32 against the full disclosure of these highly relevant prior art documents. This would assess whether every element of a given claim is found, either explicitly or inherently, in a single prior art reference.

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

To establish obviousness, it must be shown that the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the subject matter as a whole would have been obvious at the time the invention was made to a person having ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA). This analysis requires identifying:

1. The scope and content of the prior art.
2. The differences between the claimed invention and the prior art.
3. The level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Secondary considerations of non-obviousness (e.g., commercial success, long-felt need, failure of others, etc.).

For the purpose of this analysis, we will focus on identifying potential combinations of prior art references and the motivation to combine them, assuming the level of ordinary skill in the art pertains to LED lighting design and manufacturing, including electrical and thermal management aspects. A prior art reference must be considered in its entirety.

Prior Art References for US9222659B2

The following references are listed as "Citations" in US9222659B2 and will be considered for potential obviousness combinations:

• JPH08162677A: Elongated light source using light emitting diode.
• US5688042A: LED lamp.
• US6305109B1: Structure of signboard.
• US20020060526A1: Light tube and power supply circuit.
• US6853151B2: LED retrofit lamp.
• US6860628B2: LED replacement for fluorescent lighting.
• US6936968B2: Retrofit light emitting diode tube.
• US7048410B2: Support and enclosure structure for fluorescent light bulbs.
• US20060126325A1: Lighting assembly with swivel end connectors.
• JP2007059930A: LED lighting device and card type LED illumination light source.
• US7307391B2: LED lighting system.
• JP2008288183A: Lighting equipment.
• JP2009117346A: Lighting device.
• JP3153766U: Lighting equipment.
• JP2009277586A: Electric lamp type LED luminaire.
• US20100103664A1: Lighting including integral communication apparatus.
• WO2010099755A1: LED fluorescent lamp.
• US7815338B2: LED lighting unit including elongated heat sink and elongated lens.
• US20110051413A1: Optic shielding.
• US20110085335A1: LED lamp.
• US7926975B2: Light distribution using a light emitting diode assembly.
• US7976196B2: Method of forming LED-based light and resulting LED-based light.
• US8058659B2: LED chip-based lighting products and methods of building.
• US8093823B1: Light sources incorporating light emitting diodes.
• US8115411B2: LED lighting system.
• US8118447B2: LED lighting apparatus with swivel connection.
• US20120043884A1: LED lamp tube.
• US20120051038A1: LED lamp.
• US8214084B2: Integration of LED lighting with building controls.
• US20120169234A1: Light assembly.
• US8324817B2: Light and light sensor.
• US8360599B2: Electric shock resistant L.E.D. based light.
• US8362710B2: Direct AC-to-DC converter for passive component minimization and universal operation of LED arrays.
• US8419223B2: LED tube to replace fluorescent tube.
• US8421366B2: Illumination device including LEDs and a switching power control system.
• US8449137B2: Solid state tube light assembly.
• US8596813B2: Circuit.

Obviousness Combinations and Rationale

1. Obviousness of Claim 1 (Rotatable Pins in a Control Member):

• Claim 1: A lamp comprising: an enclosure at least partially optically transmissive; at least one LED in the enclosure operable to emit light through the enclosure when energized through an electrical path; a first pair of pins mounted in a control member, the control member being freely rotatable relative to the enclosure and being in the electrical path.

• Combination: US6860628B2 (LED replacement for fluorescent lighting) in view of US20060126325A1 (Lighting assembly with swivel end connectors).

  • US6860628B2 discloses an LED replacement for fluorescent lighting, including an enclosure, LEDs, and electrical pins designed to fit into existing fluorescent fixtures. It describes the general concept of replacing fluorescent tubes with LED lamps.
  • US20060126325A1 teaches a lighting assembly with "swivel end connectors" for electrical connection. This explicitly shows the concept of rotatable connectors for a lighting device.
  • Motivation to Combine: A PHOSITA, seeking to improve the installation ease and adaptability of LED fluorescent replacement lamps (as taught by US6860628B2) to various existing tombstone connector orientations, would be motivated to incorporate the known "swivel end connectors" from US20060126325A1. The swivel feature would allow the pins to be inserted into the tombstone connectors and then rotated to align with the electrical contacts, providing a more versatile and user-friendly retrofit solution. The control member described in Claim 1, which facilitates the rotation of the pins, would be an obvious implementation for achieving this known swivel functionality.

2. Obviousness of Claim 29 (Method of Assembling with Rotatable Pins and Stationary Enclosure):

• Claim 29: A method of assembling a LED fixture comprising: removing a fluorescent tube from a first tombstone connector and second tombstone connector; providing an LED lamp comprising an enclosure at least partially optically transmissive and at least one LED in the enclosure operable to emit light through the enclosure when energized through an electrical path and a first pair of pins and a second pair of pins mounted to the enclosure, the first pair of pins and the second pair of pins being in the electrical path; positioning the LED lamp between the tombstone connectors such that the first pair of pins engage the first tombstone connector and the second pair of pins engage the second tombstone connector; holding the enclosure stationary and rotating the first pair of pins and the second pair of pins relative to the enclosure.

• Combination: US6860628B2 (LED replacement for fluorescent lighting) in view of US20060126325A1 (Lighting assembly with swivel end connectors) and common knowledge of installing fluorescent tubes.

  • US6860628B2 teaches the concept of removing a fluorescent tube and replacing it with an LED lamp that uses existing tombstone connectors. This covers the first two steps of Claim 29.
  • US20060126325A1 discloses lighting assemblies with swivel end connectors, which inherently implies a method of use where the connectors are manipulated (rotated) for engagement.
  • Motivation to Combine: A PHOSITA tasked with developing an improved installation method for LED retrofit lamps (building on US6860628B2) would naturally consider how to best utilize rotatable pins, as taught by US20060126325A1, for connecting to standard tombstone connectors. The conventional method for installing fluorescent tubes involves positioning and then rotating the tube to seat the pins. Adapting this familiar process for an LED lamp with rotatable pins, where the pins rotate while the enclosure remains stationary for optimal light direction, would be an obvious design choice to simplify installation and provide proper orientation without reorienting the entire lamp body. The common knowledge of how tombstone connectors function (requiring pin rotation for electrical contact) would further motivate this specific method of installation.

3. Obviousness of Claim 30 (Lens Width Greater Than Base Width):

• Claim 30: A lamp comprising: an enclosure at least partially optically transmissive wherein the enclosure comprises a base, the base being substantially planar and a lens where a width of the lens is greater than a width of the base; at least one LED in the enclosure operable to emit light through the enclosure when energized through an electrical path; a first pair of pins being rotatable relative to the enclosure and being in the electrical path.

• Combination: US7815338B2 (LED lighting unit including elongated heat sink and elongated lens) in view of US20060126325A1 (Lighting assembly with swivel end connectors).

  • US7815338B2 discloses an LED lighting unit with an elongated heat sink (serving as a base) and an elongated lens. It also discusses light distribution from LEDs. While it might not explicitly state "width of the lens is greater than the width of the base," a PHOSITA would understand that a wider lens relative to the base could be desirable for wider light distribution or to provide more mixing volume for the LEDs. The patent text of US9222659B2 itself explains that "a width of the lens may be greater than a width of the base" and that this allows light to be emitted as "backlight that is not blocked by the base", creating a light distribution similar to fluorescent tubes.
  • US20060126325A1 teaches the rotatable pins feature.
  • Motivation to Combine: A PHOSITA designing an LED lamp with rotatable pins (from US20060126325A1) that aims for broad light distribution and efficient heat dissipation (as addressed by US7815338B2) would be motivated to configure the lens to be wider than the base. This design choice provides a larger optical surface for light diffusion and can help in mimicking the omnidirectional light output of traditional fluorescent tubes, which is a stated goal in US9222659B2. The idea of expanding the lens beyond the heat sink/base to improve light distribution would be an obvious design modification for a PHOSITA, particularly when seeking to replicate the lighting characteristics of a fluorescent lamp.

4. Obviousness of Claim 31 (Base in Bottom Quarter of Lens Height):

• Claim 31: A lamp comprising: an enclosure at least partially optically transmissive wherein the enclosure comprises a base, the base being substantially planar and a lens having a height where the base is disposed in the bottom quarter of the height of the lens; at least one LED in the enclosure operable to emit light through the enclosure when energized through an electrical path; a first pair of pins being rotatable relative to the enclosure and being in the electrical path.

• Combination: US7815338B2 (LED lighting unit including elongated heat sink and elongated lens) in view of US20060126325A1 (Lighting assembly with swivel end connectors) and general optical design principles for LED lamps.

  • US7815338B2 provides the core elements of an LED lighting unit with a heat sink (base) and a lens.
  • US20060126325A1 introduces the rotatable pins.
  • Motivation to Combine: A PHOSITA optimizing an LED lamp for efficient light output and thermal management (drawing from US7815338B2) while incorporating rotatable pins (from US20060126325A1) would consider the spatial relationship between the LEDs, base, and lens. Placing the base and LEDs in the bottom quarter of the lens height, as described in US9222659B2, is explicitly taught in the patent as a means to allow the lens to extend "above or behind the plane A-A of the LEDs" to create "backlight that is not blocked by the base", and to "create a light distribution pattern that is similar to the light distribution pattern of a traditional fluorescent system". This specific arrangement is an obvious design choice for a PHOSITA aiming to achieve a particular light distribution (such as a broader, more diffused output or one that mimics fluorescent tubes) in an elongated LED lamp. The knowledge that the placement of light sources within a diffuser affects light distribution is fundamental to optical design.

5. Obviousness of Claim 32 (Snap-Fit End Caps):

• Claim 32: A lamp comprising: an enclosure at least partially optically transmissive wherein the enclosure comprises an optically transmissive lens and a base where the lens is connected to the base; at least one LED in the enclosure operable to emit light through the enclosure when energized through an electrical path and a LED board supporting the at least one LED, the LED board being connected to the base; a first pair of pins being rotatable relative to the enclosure and being in the electrical path; wherein the enclosure comprises a first end cap and a second end cap connected to at least one of the base, the LED board and the lens using a snap-fit connection.

• Combination: US8449137B2 (Solid state tube light assembly) in view of US20060126325A1 (Lighting assembly with swivel end connectors) and general mechanical fastening techniques.

  • US8449137B2 describes a "solid state tube light assembly" which would include a base, LED board, and lens within an enclosure. This reference would teach the general construction of an LED tube lamp.
  • US20060126325A1 provides the rotatable pin feature.
  • Motivation to Combine: A PHOSITA designing an LED tube light with rotatable pins (from US20060126325A1) and an enclosure (as in US8449137B2) would be motivated to use snap-fit connections for attaching components like end caps. Snap-fit connections are a well-known, economical, and efficient method for assembling plastic and other components, allowing for quick assembly without additional fasteners or tools. The patent itself notes that "use of a snap-fit connector provides a simple assembly method that does not require additional tools, assembly steps or fasteners". It would be an obvious engineering choice to employ such a known and advantageous fastening method for end caps in an LED lamp assembly.

6. Obviousness of Claims 33 and 34 (Deformable Member in Snap-Fit End Cap):

• Claim 33: The lamp of claim 32 wherein the first end cap and the second end cap are provided with a deformable member that engages one of the LED board, the lens and the base.

• Claim 34: The lamp of claim 33 wherein the deformable member engages the LED board when the LED board is inserted into the first end cap and the second end cap.

• Combination: US8449137B2 (Solid state tube light assembly) in view of US20060126325A1 (Lighting assembly with swivel end connectors) and general knowledge of snap-fit design.

  • As discussed for Claim 32, US8449137B2 would teach the general structure of an LED tube light, and US20060126325A1 the rotatable pins.
  • Motivation to Combine: Given the motivation to use snap-fit connections for end caps in an LED lamp (as per the analysis for Claim 32), a PHOSITA would further find it obvious to implement these snap-fit connections using deformable members. Deformable members are a fundamental design element of snap-fit mechanisms, allowing for engagement and retention. The choice to have such a deformable member engage the LED board, or the base or lens, would be an obvious design optimization to securely hold the internal components within the enclosure during assembly. The patent itself explicitly details such deformable locking members (64) engaging apertures (68) on the LED board (34), which are common features in snap-fit designs for securing components.

Conclusion on Obviousness:

Based on the above analysis, several claims of US9222659B2 appear to be obvious when considering combinations of the cited prior art references. A person having ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to combine these references to achieve the desired improvements in LED lamp design, such as easier installation, better light distribution, and efficient assembly, using known engineering principles and existing technologies. The primary motivations include:

• Improving the ease of installation and adaptability of LED retrofit lamps to existing fixtures.
• Optimizing light distribution to mimic traditional fluorescent lighting.
• Employing known, efficient, and cost-effective manufacturing and assembly techniques.

This analysis does not constitute a full obviousness rejection but highlights potential avenues for such arguments. A complete obviousness analysis would require a deeper dive into the specific teachings of each prior art reference, expert testimony on the PHOSITA, and consideration of any secondary indicia of non-obviousness.