Google, Ecobee Win Tribunal Challenge To Smart Thermostat Patent

Google LLC and Ecobee Inc. convinced an administrative tribunal to invalidate a patent related to smart home thermostats, which a number of technology companies have been accused of infringing.

EcoFactor Inc.’s U.S. Patent No. 10,534,382 describes a programmable thermostat that uses motion sensors to determine whether a building is occupied. The Patent Trial and Appeal Board, in a decision Monday, said the invention was obvious.

Google asked the PTAB to review the patent after EcoFactor filed an infringement lawsuit. Following a trial that began in January, jurors cleared Google of infringing the ‘382 patent but awarded EcoFactor $20 million after ...