Apple Faces Patent Lawsuit Over iPhone's Battery Technologies

[MacRumors]

Somaltus, LLC has filed a complaint against Apple today in an Eastern Texas district court, accusing the iPhone maker of infringing upon its 2010 patent related to complex battery technologies. The small Frisco, Texas-based firm also filed lawsuits against Asus, Lenovo, Samsung, Sony, and Toshiba over the same patent.

The lawsuit claims that the iPhone 6s and any similar devices sold by Apple infringe upon U.S. Patent No. 7,657,386, titled "Integrated Battery Service System," and seeks unspecified monetary damages or, alternatively, a running royalty on sales of infringing devices from the time of judgment going forward.

Defendant sells, offers to sell, and/or uses telephones including, without limitation, the iPhone 6s (the "Product"), for example, and any similar devices, which infringe at least Claim 1 of the '386 Patent.

On information and belief, the Product includes a battery service system including a processor (e.g., the A9 chip), which is configured to receive signals from connectors coupled to a battery (e.g., the Product's rechargeable lithium-ion battery).

Specifically, it appears that the infringement claim at least partially relates to the iPhone's process of charging in fast-charge mode until the battery reaches 80% capacity, and then adjusting to trickle-charge mode above 80% capacity.

On information and belief, the processor executes the control codes to continually adjust a charge level to the battery. The Product has a charging system according to which the system operates in fast-charge mode until the battery reaches 80% capacity and then adjusts to trickle-charge mode when the capacity exceeds 80%. When the capacity drops below 80%, the system gain adjusts to fast-charge operation. The purpose of the system is to reduce the charging level applied to the battery at high capacity in order to extend the battery lifespan. Thus, the system adjusts the charging level applied to the battery and does so continuously as the battery charge capacity repeatedly exceeds and drops below 80%.

Somaltus, LLC generally fits the description of a "patent troll," as it does not appear to provide any obvious products or services and lacks an easily identifiable online presence. Nevertheless, it has successfully reached out-of-court settlements with automakers like Ford and Nissan in the past in relation to the same particular patent.

The legal complaint's case number is 2:16-cv-00758 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.

Article Link: Apple Faces Patent Lawsuit Over iPhone's Battery Technologies

 

[Avieshek]

Is Apple Indirectly implying, it already has fast-charging capabilities just before the iPhone 7 is released? (sometimes, the timing of these news seems fabricated, patented at 2010, sue now? )

I wonder if the MacBook will have fast-charging.

 

[Jeremy1026]

From the patent abstract: "In addition, the integrated service system provides services to devices/components that are coupled to the battery, such as starters, alternators, etc."

Maybe they meant to say "the upcoming Apple Car" instead of "iPhone 6" in their lawsuit.

 

[jonblatho]

That's it; now Jony's just gonna have to get rid of the battery altogether.

Now's your chance, bud.

 

[OSXMavericks]

They are taking on six multi-billion dollar legal teams. Good luck.

 

[Steve121178]

Can we sue Apple etc for their battery technology being utterly useless?

 

[Micool1]

Apple faces new patent infringement charges every two days. This is getting ridiculous...

 

[Tubamajuba]

Can we sue Apple etc for their battery technology being utterly useless?

No, but you can buy phones from other companies that meet your needs.

 

[ravenstar]

For crying out loud, this isn't even patent worthy. People had been doing this with manual battery chargers long before Lithium batteries were even imagined.

 

[ck2875]

Dearest Apple,

Please get around this patent by making the iPhone thicker with a bigger battery so we don't need to "rapid charge" it as often.

Cheers.

 

[bushido]

i honestly dont understand how one can still innovate something these days without falling into the trap of some patent troll.

 

[Lucky736]

iPhone 6/6 Plus and later support it. They just ship with the smaller, less powerful charger.

 

[ck2875]

i honestly dont understand how one can still innovate something these days without falling into the trap of some patent troll.

You can still innovate. It's typically only once you're successful that the troll will come knocking.

 

[TigerWoodsIV]

Good, make them stop using it. It sucks. Love having to charge my phone twice a day plus overnight, and I have a 6s so not like it's old.

 

[SuKim]

i honestly dont understand how one can still innovate something these days without falling into the trap of some patent troll.

Right, patent system was established 100 years ago, which isn't improved much since. No wonder that patent system is not pro-innovation anymore.

 

[robeddie]

The patent system either has to be hugely revamped, or thrown out altogether. And I'm not saying this as just a defense of Apple, they play the game as well as anybody.

It's like, without any idea how to actually make one, I could have patented "A rectangle with a screen on one side to be used as a phone' 15 years ago and now sued ALL the current smartphone makers. Just complete BS.

 

[Thunderhawks]

Can we sue Apple etc for their battery technology being utterly useless?

You must still use the first 8GB iPhone.

My 6S Plus 128GB easily lasts all day, every day.
[doublepost=1468351607][/doublepost]

Good, make them stop using it. It sucks. Love having to charge my phone twice a day plus overnight, and I have a 6s so not like it's old.

You are charging it wrong!

 

[omihek]

How to be a patent troll:

1. Find a technology everyone uses.
2. Create and patent the obvious next iteration of said technology.
3. Wait for everyone to upgrade their technology to the next obvious iteration.
4. Sue everyone.

 

[BigMcGuire]

This refers to the 5s, 6, 6s accepting a greater than 1a charge, right? My iPhone 6+ (and now 6s+) soars on an iPad 12w charger and Anker 3.8a+ chargers versus the 1a included iPhone charger. Phone charges even faster connected to my Anker 26,800 mAh brick for some reason. (Could be my imagination, not scientific at all).

Suing for a chip communicating with the battery....... haven't all phones done that now? - for many many years?

 

[waquzy]

Dearest Apple,

Please get around this patent by making the iPhone thicker with a bigger battery so we don't need to "rapid charge" it as often.

Cheers.

Nah, dont want a bigger battery or thicker iPhone. Im happy with my iPhone SE as it is.

 

[emm386]

I don't see how the ridiculous 1800 mAh - "thing" Apple puts into its latest (and best ever) iPhones even qualifiea as a "battery" by modern standards..

 

[MacOSXI]

Do they actually have battery technologies ? Who would like to copy the iPhone on this point ?! Haha /facepalm

 

[Kobbr]

I'm gonna patent phones that are thinner than 6.9mm, then share my billions with my fellow MR friends

 

[omihek]

I'm gonna patent phones that are thinner than 6.9mm, then share my billions with my fellow MR friends

Count me in!

 

[ike1707]

Somaltus, LLC has filed a complaint against Apple today in an Eastern Texas district court, accusing the iPhone maker of infringing upon its 2010 patent related to complex battery technologies. The small Frisco, Texas-based firm also filed lawsuits against Asus, Lenovo, Samsung, Sony, and Toshiba over the same patent.

The lawsuit claims that the iPhone 6s and any similar devices sold by Apple infringe upon U.S. Patent No. 7,657,386, titled "Integrated Battery Service System," and seeks unspecified monetary damages or, alternatively, a running royalty on sales of infringing devices from the time of judgment going forward.Specifically, it appears that the infringement claim at least partially relates to the iPhone's process of charging in fast-charge mode until the battery reaches 80% capacity, and then adjusting to trickle-charge mode above 80% capacity.Somaltus, LLC generally fits the description of a "patent troll," as it does not appear to provide any obvious products or services and lacks an easily identifiable online presence. Nevertheless, it has successfully reached out-of-court settlements with automakers like Ford and Nissan in the past in relation to the same particular patent.

The legal complaint's case number is 2:16-cv-00758 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.

Article Link: Apple Faces Patent Lawsuit Over iPhone's Battery Technologies

I'm impressed that anyone can get sued over something that sucks that much