US 6,996,727 Power supply for universal serial bus interface with programmable bus pullup resistor
27 defendants · 27 suits · updated October 6, 2026
Also cited as U.S. Patent No. 6,996,727 · US6996727B1 · US 6,996,727 B1 · 6996727 · the '727 patent
Near Field Electronics LLC has filed 27 patent-infringement suits on US 6,996,727, "Power supply for universal serial bus interface with programmable bus pullup resistor" since June 12, 2026, all in the E.D. Tex., against 27 distinct defendants including Shake Shack Inc., The Michaels Companies Inc. and Zagg Inc.. The patent was granted February 7, 2006 on a priority date of August 28, 2000. Its abstract opens: "An apparatus comprising a power supply device configured to generate a voltage." The examiner cited 12 references during prosecution.
- Assignee
- Near Field Electronics LLC
- Priority date
- August 28, 2000
- Granted
- February 7, 2006
- Expires
- August 28, 2020
- Status
- Expired - Lifetime
- Claims
- 19 (4 independent)
- Inventors
- Warren S. Snyder, Louis Cambre
- Full text
- Google Patents
The suits
27 cases · E.D. Tex. (27)
| Filed | Defendant | Plaintiff | Court | Docket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-12 | Shake Shack Inc. | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-00643 |
| 2026-06-12 | The Michaels Companies Inc. | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-00642 |
| 2026-07-20 | Zagg Inc. | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-00884 |
| 2026-07-20 | Zara USA, Inc. | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-00885 |
| 2026-07-20 | Zumiez Inc. | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-00886 |
| 2026-07-23 | Whole Foods Market Services LLC | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-00923 |
| 2026-07-23 | Yum! Brands, Inc. | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-00924 |
| 2026-08-12 | Best Buy Co., Inc. | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-01062 |
| 2026-08-19 | American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-01098 |
| 2026-08-19 | Bridgestone Americas, Inc. | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-01101 |
| 2026-08-19 | Caleres, Inc. dba Allen Edmonds | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-01097 |
| 2026-08-19 | Carter's, Inc. | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-01096 |
| 2026-08-19 | Gucci America, Inc. | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-01102 |
| 2026-08-19 | Kirkland's Stores, Inc. | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-01103 |
| 2026-08-19 | Sally Beauty Supply LLC | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-01104 |
| 2026-08-19 | The Buckle, Inc. | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-01099 |
| 2026-08-19 | The Finish Line, Inc. | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-01100 |
| 2026-08-19 | TravisMathew, LLC | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-01105 |
| 2026-09-08 | Dr. Martens Airwair USA LLC | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-01224 |
| 2026-09-08 | Euromarket Designs, Inc. | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-01223 |
| 2026-09-08 | Fitness International, LLC d/b/a LA Fitness | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-01227 |
| 2026-09-08 | Hat World, Inc. | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-01229 |
| 2026-09-08 | James Avery Craftsman, Inc. | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-01226 |
| 2026-09-08 | Laderach (USA) Inc. | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-01228 |
| 2026-09-08 | Potbelly Sandwich Works, LLC | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-01230 |
| 2026-09-08 | The Children's Place, Inc. | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-01222 |
| 2026-09-08 | The Yankee Candle Company, Inc. | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-01231 |
Docket links open the public record on CourtListener. Filing dates are the complaint's.
Independent claims
What is actually asserted, verbatim.
1. An apparatus comprising: a power supply device configured to generate a voltage, wherein said voltage comprises either (i) a standard voltage level when in a first mode and (ii) a power down voltage level when in a second mode, wherein (i) said power down voltage level is configured to reduce current consumption, (ii) a programmable resistor pulls up a bus pullup resistor on a bus external to said power supply device when in said second mode and (iii) said programmable resistor is controlled by a register loaded from a nonvolatile memory.
17. An apparatus comprising: means for generating a voltage; and means for (i) reducing current consumption in a first mode when said voltage comprises a power down voltage level and (ii) not reducing current consumption in a second mode when said voltage comprises a standard voltage level, wherein (i) programmable resistor pulls up a pullup resistor on a bus external to said voltage generating means when in said first mode and (ii) said programmable resistor is controlled by a register loaded from a nonvolatile memory.
18. A method for supplying a voltage level comprising the steps of: (A) generating a voltage; (B) reducing current consumption in a first mode when said voltage comprises a power down voltage level; (C) not reducing current consumption in a second mode when said voltage comprises a standard voltage level; and (D) pulling up a pullup resistor on a bus external to said power supply device using and a programmable resistor when in said first mode and said programmable resistor is controlled by a register loaded from a nonvolatile memory.
19. A power supply comprising: a primary power supply configured to generate either (i) a standard voltage level on a supply line when in a first mode and (ii) a power down voltage level on said supply line when in a second mode, wherein (i) said power down voltage level is configured to reduce current consumption; and a secondary power supply comprising a programmable resistor, a register and a nonvolatile memory, wherein (i) said secondary power supply powers an external bus through said supply line when said primary power supply is in said second mode and (ii) said programmable resistor is controlled by a register loaded from a nonvolatile memory.
Art before the examiner
12 references of record, 12 cited by the examiner.
Everything listed here was before the Office and is what a challenge must go beyond. Art the examiner never saw is where an invalidity search starts.
Examiner-cited
- US5384721A — Information processing system with a power control unit (Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha)
- US5471625A — Method and apparatus for entering a low-power mode and controlling an external bus of a data processing system during low-power mode (Motorola, Inc.)
- US5737616A — Power supply circuit with power saving capability (Nec Corporation)
- US5767844A — Modified universal serial bus interface implementing remote power up while permitting normal remote power down (Sun Microsystems Inc)
- US5862349A — Method and apparatus for docking and undocking a notebook computer (Intel Corporation)
- US5959926A — Programmable power supply systems and methods providing a write protected memory having multiple interface capability (Dallas Semiconductor Corp.)
- JP2000232452A — Bus controller circuit and bus operating method (Lucent Technol Inc)
- US6148345A — Power savings for sound system (Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba)
- US6279060B1 — Universal serial bus peripheral bridge simulates a device disconnect condition to a host when the device is in a not-ready condition to avoid wasting bus resources (In-System Design, Inc.)
- US6363491B1 — USB apparatus and USB hub apparatus (Sony Corporation)
- US6460143B1 — Apparatus and method for awakening bus circuitry from a low power state (Apple Computer, Inc.)
- US6711691B1 — Power management for computer systems (Apple Computer, Inc.)
Classification
- G06F1/3203primary — Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
Family
- US6996727B1 — B1 (2006)
Abstract
An apparatus comprising a power supply device configured to generate a voltage. The voltage may comprise either (i) a standard voltage level or (ii) a power down voltage level. The power down voltage level may be configured to reduce current consumption.
Also asserted by Near Field Electronics LLC
- US 6,691,201 — Dual mode USB-PS/2 device (27 defendants)
- US 6,742,071 — Real-time I/O processor used to implement bus interface protocols (27 defendants)
- US 6,959,350 — Configurable USB interface with virtual register architecture (27 defendants)
- US 7,373,531 — Signal detection method, frequency detection method, power consumption control method, signal detecting device, frequency detecting device, power consumption control device and electronic apparatus (27 defendants)
Named in one of these suits? A prior-art search is commissioned once and serves every defendant who shares it. The examiner's own search record is free on the tools page, and your first preliminary search is free — one claim, back within 24 hours — so you know whether there is art the Office never saw before anyone pays for more. Flat fees: $2,500$899 for the independent claims, $5,000$1,500 for every asserted claim.
This page is assembled from public records — federal court dockets and the patent's own file — and is updated as the case list changes. It states what the record shows and is not an opinion on the validity or infringement of any claim. Patent data via Google Patents; docket data via CourtListener.