DCT

2:25-cv-01127

Ouraring Inc v. Nexxbase Marketing Pvt Ltd

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Key Events
Complaint

I. Executive Summary and Procedural Information

  • Parties & Counsel:
  • Case Identification: 2:25-cv-01127, E.D. Tex., 11/17/2025
  • Venue Allegations: Plaintiff alleges venue is proper because Defendant is not a resident of the United States and may be sued in any judicial district.
  • Core Dispute: Plaintiff alleges that Defendant’s Luna Ring smart ring and associated software infringe eight U.S. patents related to the design, construction, and manufacturing of wearable computing devices.
  • Technical Context: The technology at issue involves compact, finger-worn smart rings that incorporate various sensors to monitor a user's physiological data, such as heart rate, temperature, and movement, for health and fitness tracking.
  • Key Procedural History: The complaint highlights a prior, widely publicized International Trade Commission (ITC) investigation initiated by Plaintiff in March 2024 concerning U.S. Patent No. 11,868,178. That investigation resulted in exclusion and cease-and-desist orders against two of Plaintiff's competitors, Ultrahuman and RingConn, which may be relevant to Defendant’s alleged knowledge and willfulness regarding infringement of at least the '178 Patent.

Case Timeline

Date Event
2013-11-29 Earliest Priority Date for all Patents-in-Suit
2024-01-09 U.S. Patent No. 11,868,178 ('178 Patent) Issued
2024-03-XX Plaintiff files ITC complaint asserting '178 Patent
2024-04-12 ITC institutes investigation based on Plaintiff's complaint
2025-01-XX Defendant debuts Luna Ring 2.0 at Consumer Electronics Show (CES)
2025-04-XX ITC issues initial determination finding infringement and validity of '178 Patent
2025-07-01 U.S. Patent No. 12,346,159 ('159 Patent) Issued
2025-07-01 U.S. Patent No. 12,346,160 ('160 Patent) Issued
2025-07-08 U.S. Patent No. 12,353,244 ('244 Patent) Issued
2025-08-XX ITC issues final exclusion and cease-and-desist orders in '178 Patent case
2025-08-19 U.S. Patent No. 12,393,227 ('227 Patent) Issued
2025-09-23 U.S. Patent No. 12,422,889 ('889 Patent) Issued
2025-09-30 U.S. Patent No. 12,429,909 ('909 Patent) Issued
2025-10-21 ITC orders against Ultrahuman and RingConn become effective
2025-11-17 Complaint Filed
2025-02-11 U.S. Patent No. 12,222,759 ('759 Patent) Issued

II. Technology and Patent(s)-in-Suit Analysis

U.S. Patent No. 11,868,178

  • Patent Identification: U.S. Patent No. 11,868,178, titled “Wearable Computing Device,” issued on January 9, 2024.
  • The Invention Explained:
    • Problem Addressed: The patent background identifies that many contemporary wearable electronics are “bulky and can be intrusive or interfere with a person’s daily life,” making them uncomfortable for extended wear (’178 Patent, col. 1:41-48).
    • The Patented Solution: The invention is a finger-worn computing device that overcomes bulkiness by arranging its core components within a cavity formed between an inner and outer housing. Specifically, a curved battery is placed in a first portion of this cavity, while a printed circuit board (PCB) extends through a second portion, with sensors acquiring data through the internal housing (’178 Patent, Abstract; Fig. 4; col. 45:57-col. 46:9).
    • Technical Importance: This specific component arrangement enables the creation of a health and activity monitor in a compact, ring-shaped form factor suitable for continuous, long-term use (Compl. ¶35).
  • Key Claims at a Glance:
    • The complaint asserts at least independent claim 1 (Compl. ¶38).
    • Claim 1 Elements:
      • A finger-worn wearable ring device comprising an external housing component and an internal housing component, with the internal component configured to contact the user's tissue.
      • A battery positioned within a cavity formed between the housing components, with the battery shaped to fit within a first portion of the cavity.
      • A printed circuit board (PCB) disposed between the housing components and extending through at least a second portion of the cavity.
      • One or more sensors electrically coupled to the PCB and battery, configured to acquire data from the user through the internal housing component.
    • The complaint reserves the right to assert additional claims (Compl. ¶38).

U.S. Patent No. 12,353,244

  • Patent Identification: U.S. Patent No. 12,353,244, titled “Wearable Computing Device,” issued on July 8, 2025.
  • The Invention Explained:
    • Problem Addressed: The complaint suggests the patent addresses the technical challenge of creating a durable and functional smart ring that can reliably track various physiological metrics (Compl. ¶54).
    • The Patented Solution: The patent claims a wearable ring device constructed with an external housing, an "internal potting," a curved battery, a PCB, and a specific suite of sensors (accelerometer, temperature sensor, multiple LEDs, light sensors). The invention is further defined by specific dimensional constraints for the housing's interior diameter (12-24 mm), exterior diameter (18-30 mm), width (3-8 mm), and thickness (1.5-3 mm) (’244 Patent, Claim 1 as described in Compl. ¶55; Fig. 12A-12C).
    • Technical Importance: This claimed combination of components, manufacturing method (using "potting"), and specific dimensions defines a particular architecture for a commercially viable smart ring capable of tracking movement, temperature, heart rate, and blood oxygenation (Compl. ¶54).
  • Key Claims at a Glance:
    • The complaint asserts at least independent claim 1 (Compl. ¶56).
    • Claim 1 Elements (per complaint):
      • A wearable ring device including an external housing and an "internal potting."
      • A curved battery and a printed circuit board.
      • An accelerometer, a temperature sensor, a first light emitting diode (LED), a second LED, and one or more light sensors.
      • The housing has specific dimensional ranges for its interior diameter, exterior diameter, width, and thickness.
    • The complaint reserves the right to assert additional claims (Compl. ¶56).

Multi-Patent Capsules

  • U.S. Patent No. 12,346,159

    • Patent Identification: U.S. Patent No. 12,346,159, “Wearable Computing Device,” issued July 1, 2025.
    • Technology Synopsis: This patent describes a wearable ring device with an external and internal housing, a curved battery, a PCB, and a suite of sensors including an accelerometer, temperature sensor, two distinct LEDs, and light sensors. It further specifies dimensional ranges for the housing's interior/exterior diameter, width, and thickness (Compl. ¶73). The technology appears highly similar to the ’244 Patent but claims an "internal housing" instead of "internal potting."
    • Asserted Claims: At least independent claim 1 (Compl. ¶74).
    • Accused Features: The complaint alleges the Luna Ring 2.0 possesses all the claimed structural and sensor components and meets the claimed dimensional parameters (Compl. ¶76).

  • U.S. Patent No. 12,393,227

    • Patent Identification: U.S. Patent No. 12,393,227, “Wearable Computing Device,” issued August 19, 2025.
    • Technology Synopsis: This patent claims a method of manufacturing a wearable ring device. The method includes constructing an external housing, inserting a curved battery and PCB, applying an "internal potting" to fill the internal space and cover the components, and polymerizing the potting to form the interior surface of the ring. The patent also claims specific dimensional ranges for the final housing (Compl. ¶91).
    • Asserted Claims: At least independent claim 1 (Compl. ¶92).
    • Accused Features: The complaint alleges that Defendant makes, uses, sells, or imports the Accused Product, which is constructed in a manner that infringes the claimed method, possessing an external housing, internal potting, and the specified components (Compl. ¶¶93-94, 97).

  • U.S. Patent No. 12,346,160

    • Patent Identification: U.S. Patent No. 12,346,160, “Wearable Computing Device,” issued July 1, 2025.
    • Technology Synopsis: This patent claims a wearable ring device where the external housing is made of a "metallic material." It includes an external housing, "internal potting," a curved battery, PCB, and a suite of sensors. It also specifies dimensional and thickness constraints for the housing (Compl. ¶108).
    • Asserted Claims: At least independent claim 1 (Compl. ¶109).
    • Accused Features: The complaint alleges the Luna Ring 2.0 has a metallic (titanium) external housing and all other claimed structural and sensor components, and falls within the claimed dimensions (Compl. ¶¶9, 111).

  • U.S. Patent No. 12,422,889

    • Patent Identification: U.S. Patent No. 12,422,889, “Wearable Computing Device,” issued September 23, 2025.
    • Technology Synopsis: This patent claims a wearable ring device with a metallic external housing that has an exterior surface, an internal surface, and first and second flanges creating an internal space. An "internal potting" at least partially surrounds the components and forms an interior surface that contacts the user's finger (Compl. ¶126).
    • Asserted Claims: At least independent claim 1 (Compl. ¶127).
    • Accused Features: The complaint alleges the Luna Ring 2.0's metallic housing and internal structure meet the claimed elements, including the use of an internal potting material (Compl. ¶129).

  • U.S. Patent No. 12,429,909

    • Patent Identification: U.S. Patent No. 12,429,909, “Wearable Computing Device,” issued September 30, 2025.
    • Technology Synopsis: This patent claims a method of manufacturing a wearable ring. The method involves constructing an external housing with first and second flanges, inserting components, applying an "internal potting" to at least partially fill the internal space and cover the components, with a portion of the potting forming the interior surface of the ring (Compl. ¶144).
    • Asserted Claims: At least independent claim 1 (Compl. ¶145).
    • Accused Features: The complaint alleges that the Accused Product is made, used, sold, or imported by a process that infringes the claimed method, pointing to its external housing with flanges and use of internal potting (Compl. ¶¶146-147).

  • U.S. Patent No. 12,222,759

    • Patent Identification: U.S. Patent No. 12,222,759, “Wearable Computing Device,” issued February 11, 2025.
    • Technology Synopsis: This patent claims a wearable ring device with a housing made at least partially of a metallic material. The claimed device includes a curved battery, PCB, and a "plurality of sensors" comprising light-emitting and light-receiving components, and a communication module (Compl. ¶161).
    • Asserted Claims: At least independent claim 17 (Compl. ¶162).
    • Accused Features: The complaint alleges the Luna Ring 2.0 possesses the claimed metallic housing, curved battery, PCB, sensor suite, and communication module (Compl. ¶164).

III. The Accused Instrumentality

  • Product Identification: The accused instrumentalities are the Luna Ring 2.0 (also referred to as Gen 2) and the associated "Luna Ring: Rise to Brilliance" software application (Compl. ¶39).
  • Functionality and Market Context: The complaint describes the Luna Ring as a finger-worn smart ring made of "durable titanium with a non-allergenic, non-metallic inner molding" (Compl. ¶9). Its technical features are alleged to include an infrared photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor, a skin temperature sensor, and a 3D accelerometer, powered by a curved battery (Compl. ¶9). The device is marketed to track metrics such as sleep, movement, and recovery (Compl. ¶8). The complaint alleges the Luna Ring is an "imitation" of Plaintiff's Oura Ring, pointing to similarities in appearance, sensors, materials, and even marketing graphics (Compl. ¶¶9-10). A side-by-side comparison of exploded-view marketing images for the Oura Ring and Luna Ring is provided as evidence of mimicry (Compl. p. 5, ¶10).

IV. Analysis of Infringement Allegations

'178 Patent Infringement Allegations

Claim Element (from Independent Claim 1) Alleged Infringing Functionality Complaint Citation Patent Citation
a finger-worn wearable ring device, comprising: an external housing component...; an internal housing component... The Accused Product is a finger-worn wearable ring device with an external titanium housing and a non-metallic inner molding. ¶¶9, 40 col. 45:45-56
a battery positioned within a cavity formed between the internal housing component and the external housing component... The Luna Ring contains a curved battery component positioned between its outer and inner components. ¶¶9, 40 col. 45:57-65
a printed circuit board disposed between the internal housing component and the external housing component... The Luna Ring contains a printed circuit board disposed within its housing structure. ¶40 col. 46:1-4
one or more sensors electrically coupled with the printed circuit board and the battery and configured to acquire data from the user through the internal housing component. The Luna Ring includes sensors such as a PPG sensor, skin temperature sensor, and 3D accelerometer that acquire user data. ¶¶9, 40 col. 46:5-9

'244 Patent Infringement Allegations

The complaint alleges that the Luna Ring 2.0 infringes at least claim 1 of the ’244 Patent by possessing each of the claimed elements (Compl. ¶¶57-58). The infringement theory is that the Luna Ring is a wearable ring device having an external housing, an "internal potting," a curved battery, a printed circuit board, and the specified sensor suite (accelerometer, temperature sensor, LEDs, light sensors) (Compl. ¶58). The complaint further alleges that the Luna Ring’s physical dimensions fall within the specific ranges recited in the claim (Compl. ¶55, p. 24). An exploded view of the Luna Ring's components, including its outer ring, inner molding, PCB, and battery, is provided as evidence of its infringing construction (Compl. p. 24). The complaint does not provide the full text of the '244 patent, so patent specification citations cannot be provided for this analysis.

Identified Points of Contention

  • Scope Questions: A central question for several patents (’244, ’227, ’160, ’889, ’909) may be the definition of "internal potting." The defense may argue that the accused product's "non-allergenic, non-metallic inner molding" (Compl. ¶9) is a pre-formed structural housing component, distinct from a "potting" material that is applied in a liquid or gelatinous state to fill a cavity and then polymerized or solidified, as the manufacturing method patents (’227, ’909) suggest.
  • Technical Questions: For the patents that claim specific dimensional ranges (’244, ’159, ’160), a key factual dispute will be whether the accused Luna Ring products meet every recited range for interior diameter, exterior diameter, width, and thickness. The complaint provides the Luna Ring's thickness as 2.9mm and width as 8mm, which may or may not fall within the claimed ranges depending on the specific patent and claim being asserted (Compl. p. 16).

V. Key Claim Terms for Construction

  • The Term: "a first portion of the cavity" and "a second portion of the cavity" (’178 Patent, Claim 1)

    • Context and Importance: Claim 1 of the ’178 Patent requires the battery to be in a "first portion" and the PCB to extend through a "second portion." The viability of the infringement claim will depend on whether these "portions" can be construed as overlapping or must be spatially distinct. Practitioners may focus on this term because if the court adopts a narrow construction requiring distinct, non-overlapping portions, the infringement case could fail if the accused product's battery and PCB occupy the same circumferential space.
    • Intrinsic Evidence for Interpretation:
      • Evidence for a Broader Interpretation: The claim language itself does not explicitly require the portions to be non-overlapping, which could support a reading where the "first portion" and "second portion" are simply different, but potentially overlapping, defined volumes within the overall cavity (’178 Patent, col. 45:57-col. 46:4).
      • Evidence for a Narrower Interpretation: Figure 4 of the patent shows the battery (480) and the flex circuit (415) occupying different areas within the housing, which may support an argument that the portions were intended to be spatially distinct regions to accommodate the different components (’178 Patent, Fig. 4).

  • The Term: "internal potting" (’244, ’227, ’160, ’889, ’909 Patents)

    • Context and Importance: This term is central to the structural and manufacturing claims. Its construction will determine whether the Luna Ring's "non-metallic inner molding" falls within the scope of the claims. Practitioners may focus on this term because if "potting" is construed to require a specific process of application (e.g., filling a cavity with a liquid that then solidifies), it may not read on a pre-molded, solid inner ring component.
    • Intrinsic Evidence for Interpretation:
      • Evidence for a Broader Interpretation: The abstract of the related ’178 Patent describes "a potting material disposed in the interior, forming an interior wall of the smart ring," suggesting the function is to form the inner wall, regardless of the specific manufacturing process (’178 Patent, Abstract).
      • Evidence for a Narrower Interpretation: The manufacturing method patents in the family, such as the ’227 Patent, explicitly claim steps of "applying an internal potting to at least partially fill the internal space" and "polymerizing the internal potting," which suggests "potting" is a material applied in a non-solid state that later hardens (Compl. ¶91). This process-based language could support a narrower definition.

VI. Other Allegations

  • Indirect Infringement: The complaint alleges induced infringement across all asserted patents, stating Defendant provides user manuals and website instructions that encourage customers to use the Luna Ring in an infringing manner (e.g., for 24/7 wear and sleep tracking) (Compl. ¶¶43-44, 61-62). Contributory infringement is also alleged, based on the assertion that the Accused Product's components are especially made for use in the infringing device and are not staple articles of commerce (Compl. ¶¶46-47, 64-65).
  • Willful Infringement: Willfulness allegations are based on Defendant's knowledge of the patents since at least the filing of the complaint (Compl. ¶¶49, 67). For the ’178 Patent specifically, the complaint alleges pre-suit knowledge based on the "widely publicized" ITC investigation against Defendant’s competitors involving the same patent, which concluded with infringement and validity findings in Plaintiff's favor (Compl. ¶14).

VII. Analyst’s Conclusion: Key Questions for the Case

  • A core issue will be one of definitional scope: can the term "internal potting," which is central to a majority of the asserted patents and implies a manufacturing process, be construed to cover the accused product's "non-metallic inner molding," which may be a distinct, pre-formed structural component?
  • A second key issue will be one of claim construction and factual overlap for the '178 Patent: does the accused product's internal architecture map onto the claimed "first portion" and "second portion" of the device's internal cavity, and will that depend on whether those portions are interpreted as needing to be spatially distinct?
  • A significant question regarding damages will be one of pre-suit willfulness: did Defendant's awareness of the highly publicized ITC investigation involving the '178 patent against its direct competitors create an "objectively high likelihood" of infringement, thereby exposing Defendant to claims of willful infringement from the moment it began selling its product in the U.S.?