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Ex. PGS 1020
`(EXCERPTED)
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`
`Protective Order Material – Subject to Protective Order
`
`
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`
`

`
`IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`
`FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
`HOUSTON DIVISION
`
`WESTERNGECO L.L.C.,
`
`Plaintifl;
`
`v.
`
`ION GEOPHYSICAL CORPORATION,
`FUGRO-GEOTEAM, INC., FUGRO—GEOTEAM AS,
`
`FUGRO NORWAY MARINE SERVICES AS,
`FUGRO, INC., FUGRO (USA), INC.
`and FUGRO GEOSERVICES, 1NC.,
`
`Defendants.
`
`%\/\./\_/\}\}\}\é\./\./\./\./\./\_/\}
`
`Civil Action No. 4:09-CV—01827
`
`Judge Keith P. Ellison
`
`Jury Trial Demanded
`
`CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
`FILED UNDER SEAL
`
`WESTERNGECO’S OPPOSITION TO DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR
`
`SUMMARY JUDGMENT OF INVALIDITY OF THE BITTLESTON PATENTS
`
`Lee L. Kaplan
`lkaplan@skv.com
`SMYSER KAPLAN
`& VESELKA, L.L.P.
`Bank of America Center
`
`700 Louisiana, Suite 2300
`Houston, TX 77002
`Tel: (713) 221-2323
`Fax: (713) 221-2320
`
`Attorneys for Plairztiff/Counterclaim Defendant
`WesternGec0 L. L. C.
`
`Of Counsel:
`
`Gregg F. LoCascio, P.C.
`gregg.locascio@kirkland.com
`KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP
`
`655 Fifteenth Street, N.W.
`Washington, D.C. 20005-5793
`Te1.: (202) 879-5000
`Fax: (202) 879-5200
`
`Timothy K. Gilman
`timothy. gilman@kirkland.com
`Ryan Kane
`ryan.kane@kirkland.corn
`KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP
`
`601 Lexington Avenue
`New York, New York 10022
`
`Tel.: (212) 446-4800
`Fax: (212)446-4900
`
`Dated: April 20, 2012
`
`ACCESS RESTRICTED - ATTORNEYS ONLY - usnc SDTX
`
`Ex. PGS 1020
`
`WG-PGS00090414
`
`Ex. PGS 1020
`
`

`
`The specification also teaches additional aspects of streamer positioning devices that
`
`might be useful with specific types of streamer positioning devices, such as an inline two-winged
`
`bird. For example, streamer twisting—and ways to avoid twisting-are discussed in the ’0l7
`
`Patent’s specification.3
`
`(See, e.g., Ex. 15, ’017 Patent at 7:5-8:55) The specification also
`
`explains that the wings can change orientation using electric motors, hydraulic actuators, or a
`
`local control system.
`
`(Id. at 5:28-37) The specification also notes that motor drivers can be
`
`connected to and can actuate the wing and provides a diagram of a local control system that
`
`includes such a motor driver. (Id. at 7:41-53, Fig. 4)
`
`2.
`
`The Bittleston Patents Teach Control Systems
`
`The specification of the Bittleston Patents—in-suit also teaches control systems for using
`
`streamer positioning devices to steer streamers laterally.
`
`For example,
`
`the specification
`
`describes how to divide the control system into local and global control systems, with various
`
`apportionments based on the needs of the system.
`
`(Ex. 15, ’017 Patent at 3:36-5:3, 5:54-7:5,
`
`7:28-35, 8:39-10:23, Fig. 4) The specification includes references to WesternGeco U.S. Patent
`
`4,992,990 and PCT International Publication No. WO 96/21163.4 (Id. at 3:65-4:2) The ’990 is
`
`a patent titled “Method for Determining the Position of Seismic Streamers in a Reflection
`
`Seismic Measuring System” that
`
`teaches the implementation of a global controller
`
`for
`
`determining the position of seismic streamers.
`
`(Ex. 19, ’99O Patent at Abstract) Such a system
`
`was given as an example of position prediction software by Dr. Bittleston in his deposition.
`
`(Ex.
`
`6, Bittleston 2010 Dep. Tr. at 155:3-156:2)
`
`3 Dr. Bittleston has a separate patent for this anti-twisting function, which also claims priority to
`the ’895 Application, that is not asserted in this matter. (Ex. 20, U.S. Pat. No. 7,222,579)
`
`4 The patent lists this application as W0 98/21163. This is a typographical error.
`
`ACCESS RESTRICTED - ATTORNEYS ONLY - usnc SDTX
`
`Ex. PGS 1020
`
`WG-PGS00090426
`
`Ex. PGS 1020
`
`

`
`"‘l
`3.
`
`The Bittleston Patents Tcach Acuustic Positionillg Systrelns
`
`The Bittleston Patents’ specification ’[t'3£tChf3S that krmwn ways to cteterlnine bird Iocatimn
`
`amid he used such as sumustitz pQSit.it31”1it1g systems or GPS systems.
`
`(EX. 15, V317 Patent at
`
`3:f>5—4:6; Ex. 1. Triantafyllou Deal. at ‘J1 29)
`
`It specifically teaches that “[t]he h{)l‘iz(Z!I1té1I
`
`positions 0f the: birds 18 can be derive.d, for instance, using the types at acoustic positioning
`
`systems described in cxur US. Pat. No. 4,992,990. F
`
`(Ex. 15, ‘D17 Patent at 3:6.‘§——~67) As Show
`
`in the “Q98 Patent:
`
`
`
`EM
`
`Y»?
`
`msraam
`{avg
`Aawtbadlficficuamtuiastiea-unuiinnafuiusitwn
`s1immiwntrummsfSh$3}iu::e§!n¢t‘31qsaimni:tmmma:—
`in mam. whzrzin hycirmcowszic diszam.-: measme-
`mum are used whiah are taken by m-sans of acausxir:
`trancsmrivers pmvidmi in vessels (1). buoys (B3. Finals (5).
`misrnic acumen £3} and in thc acismic streamwt {Sn $.27
`J3Lh50111t\! referancc posinans -Eh‘: sial-errnimzd by pcusition
`-ntetcxminixxg equipmaht pnwided in at mass twu Inca-
`tiom for irrsunce. cm a vusstal (1) :17 a that (5), The
`acoustic wmsaeivm and th: positim: d-munixxizsg
`equipment. fan» .3
`three-dimensional stmctuns. The
`position dsmminaiinn tab.-x piazza by Exitamratinn txr-
`zwean this aciaussiz: Irsnsueiwrx and the rmcrmimtiuu
`at’ at Inst. Wm refezwo: pmirticns so that there :5 no
`ukzrlanrbtsnczy on tumpass bcsémss :3-r ngszicai visibility,
`and high xtduncisncy is -attained. ‘fits: sxgatbnd is panigv
`uhdynliud fir
`ix I‘.'x:m:fiita: withihm:-diw
`iflmiwiei iufllatat liilalif: mvm "I'M ilishmi my ht
`imugxa-:1 with stlftqliiu minus uwriuatiaus tysmuax in
`min In flu} fit: mum: paaimus anti wwidx: am-
`ma 3.
`iii.
`mcgdfianuzargatntwflahtzuaigimlmmnfs
`
`(Ex. 19,
`
`‘£790 Patent at Fig. 7', Abstrztct) Defendants’ expert, Mr. Brune, agreed that the ‘Q90
`
`Pate:nt—is;su:~;-it February 12, 199]~—-di$4:tT0$ed and enabled an dC0uS1iC pmsitioning sysztttm that
`
`cnutd he use-.t:1 with streamer steering:
`
`Q. Have you reviewed that ’99() patent?
`
`A.
`
`‘Yeah, the Creco acaustics pattant.
`
`Q. Does that disclose and sizable an acoustic positiurzing Systern for srreurnsar
`systems?
`
`A. Tfwtiv the general concept of it.
`
`(Ex. 16, Brunrzt Dep. Tr. at 2051:1642 (abjectiuns DHTTTYEEU)
`
`ACCESS RESTRICTED - ATTORNEYS ONLY - USDC SDTX
`
`EX. PGS 1020
`
`WG-PGS00090427
`
`Ex. PGS 1020

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