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 · 27 suits · updated October 6, 2026
Also cited as U.S. Patent No. 7,373,531 · US7373531B2 · US 7,373,531 B2 · 7373531 · the '531 patent
Near Field Electronics LLC has filed 27 patent-infringement suits on 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" 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 May 13, 2008 on a priority date of January 11, 2005. Its abstract opens: "A power consumption control device for detecting output of a pulse signal from an output terminal of an oscillator as an operation monitoring target and outputting a power consumption reduction signal when the pulse signal is not detected in a predetermined…" The examiner cited 6 references during prosecution.
- Assignee
- Near Field Electronics LLC
- Priority date
- January 11, 2005
- Granted
- May 13, 2008
- Expires
- January 11, 2025
- Status
- Expired - Lifetime
- Claims
- 13 (9 independent)
- Inventors
- Katsuya Shimizu, Hiroko Kinoshita
- 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. A signal detection method comprising the steps of: detecting a through current flowing through a circuit to which a signal is inputted from an input terminal; and detecting input of the signal, based on whether or not the through current flowed through the circuit; wherein the circuit includes a p-type transistor and an n-type transistor with gates to which the signal is inputted, and includes a transistor to perform a current mirror function.
2. A signal detection method comprising the steps of: detecting a through current flowing through a circuit to which a signal is inputted from an input terminal; determining that the signal is in a first state in which the signal repeatedly goes to a high level and a low level alternately when the through current is detected; and determining that the signal is in a second state in which the signal is kept at one of a high level and a low level when the through current is not detected in a predetermined period of time.
4. A frequency detection method comprising the steps of: detecting a through current flowing through a circuit to which a signal is inputted from an input terminal; and detecting a frequency of the signal, based on the detected through current; wherein the circuit includes a p-type transistor and an n-type transistor with gates to which the signal is inputted, and includes a transistor to perform a current mirror function.
5. A power consumption control method comprising the steps of: detecting a through current flowing through a circuit to which a signal outputted from an operation monitoring target is inputted from an input terminal; determining that the signal is in a first state in which the signal repeatedly goes to a high level and a low level alternately when the through current is detected; determining that the signal is in a second state in which the signal is kept at one of a high level and a low level when the through current is not detected in a predetermined period of time; and outputting a power consumption reduction signal when the signal is determined as being in the second state.
6. A signal detecting device comprising a detector for detecting a through current flowing through a circuit to which a signal is inputted from an input terminal, wherein the signal detecting device detects input of the signal, based on whether or not the through current flowed through the circuit; wherein the circuit includes a p-type transistor and an n-type transistor with gates to which the signal is inputted, and includes a transistor to perform a current mirror function.
7. A signal detecting device comprising a detector for detecting a through current flowing through a circuit to which a signal is inputted from an input terminal, wherein the signal detecting device determines that the signal is in a first state in which the signal repeatedly goes to a high level and a low level alternately when the detector detects the through current, and determines that the signal is in a second state in which the signal is kept at one of a high level and a low level when the detector does not detect the through current in a predetermined period of time.
9. A frequency detecting device comprising a detector for detecting a through current flowing through a circuit to which a signal is inputted from an input terminal, wherein the frequency detecting device detects a frequency of the signal, based on the through current detected by the detector; wherein the circuit includes a p-type transistor and an n-type transistor with gates to which the signal is inputted, and a transistor to perform a current mirror function.
10. A power consumption control device comprising a detector for detecting a through current flowing through a circuit to which a signal outputted from an operation monitoring target is inputted from an input terminal, wherein the power consumption control device determines that the signal is in a first state in which the signal repeatedly goes to a high level and a low level alternately when the detector detects the through current, determines that the signal is in a second state in which the signal is kept at one of a high level and a low level when the detector does not detect the through current in a predetermined period of time, and outputs a power consumption reduction signal when the signal is determined as being in the second state.
11. An electronic apparatus comprising: a power consumption control device comprising a detector for detecting a through current flowing through a circuit to which a signal outputted from an operation monitoring target is inputted from an input terminal, wherein the power consumption control device determines that the signal is in a first state in which the signal repeatedly goes to a high level and a low level alternately when the detector detects the through current, determines that the signal is in a second state in which the signal is kept at one of a high level and a low level when the detector does not detect the through current in a predetermined period of time, and outputs a power consumption reduction signal when the signal is determined as being in the second state; a device as an operation monitoring target, which outputs a signal to the power consumption control device, causes the signal to be in a first state in which the signal repeatedly goes to a high level and a low level alternately when it is operating, and causes the signal to be in a second state in which the signal is kept at one of a high level and a low level when it is not operating; and a power supply control device for executing one of a power supply stopping process and a power supply reducing process for the operation monitoring target, according to the power consumption reduction signal outputted from the power consumption control device.
Art before the examiner
12 references of record, 6 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
- US5218247A — CMIS circuit and its driver (Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha)
- US5225717A — BiCMOS input buffer circuit operable at high speed under less power consumption (Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha)
- US5296757A — Low-noise output driver having separate supply lines and sequenced operation for transient and steady-state portions (Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba)
- US6008686A — Power consumption control circuit for CMOS circuit (Advantest Corp.)
- US20040257159A1 — Apparatus for a differential self-biasing CMOS amplifier (Mark Slamowitz)
- US20040257122A1 — Clock signal detection circuit and semiconductor integrated circuit using the same (Masaru Mori)
Applicant-cited and other (6)
- JPS62106815A — Fire retardant air filter
- JP2000224015A — Clock stoppage detecting circuit and semiconductor integrated circuit device provided therewith
- US20020145477A1 — Power-consenving external clock for use
- US20030051177A1 — Method and apparatus for system power control through sensing peripheral power consumption
- US6765433B1 — Low power implementation for input signals of integrated circuits
- US20040168095A1 — Mobile computer with desktop type processor
Classification
- G06F1/3203primary — Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
- Y02D10/00 — Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
Family
- US7373531B2 — B2 (2008)
- US20060156044A1 — A1 (2006)
- 6 foreign family members: JP4178279B2, TW200625814A, JP2006197038A, EP1679575A2, EP1679575A3, TWI311008B
Abstract
A power consumption control device for detecting output of a pulse signal from an output terminal of an oscillator as an operation monitoring target and outputting a power consumption reduction signal when the pulse signal is not detected in a predetermined period of time, includes a p-type transistor and an n-type transistor which are connected in series and have a gate to which the output terminal is connected, and detecting means for detecting a through current flowing through the p-type transistor and n-type transistor, and outputs a power consumption reduction signal when the through current is not detected in a predetermined period of time.
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 6,996,727 — Power supply for universal serial bus interface with programmable bus pullup resistor (27 defendants)
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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.