`_______________
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`_______________
`
`SONY CORPORATION
`Petitioner
`
`v.
`
`INNOVATIVE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGIES LLC
`Patent Owner
`_______________
`
`Case:
`
`U.S. Patent No. 7,384,177
`
`DECLARATION OF RICHARD A. FLASCK
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`SONY_000503
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`Sony Corp. Exhibit 1004
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`TABLE OF CONTENTS
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`Page
`
`I.
`
`INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 1
`
`A.
`
`B.
`
`Background and Qualifications .................................................................... 1
`
`Information Considered ................................................................................ 4
`
`II.
`
`LEGAL STANDARDS ............................................................................................ 4
`
`A.
`
`B.
`
`Person Of Ordinary Skill In The Art ........................................................... 5
`
`Anticipation ..................................................................................................... 6
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`C. Obviousness .................................................................................................... 7
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`D.
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`Claim Construction ........................................................................................ 9
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`III. TECHNOLOGY BACKGROUND.................................................................... 11
`
`A. Historical Perspective .................................................................................. 11
`
`B.
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`C.
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`Light Source/Lamp ...................................................................................... 14
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`Reflector ........................................................................................................ 16
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`D.
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`Light Guide ................................................................................................... 17
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`E.
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`F.
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`G.
`
`H.
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`Reflector Sheet .............................................................................................. 19
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`Set of light redirecting sheets ...................................................................... 19
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`Case/Frame/Tray ......................................................................................... 23
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`LCD Panel ..................................................................................................... 24
`
`IV. THE '177 PATENT ................................................................................................ 25
`
`A.
`
`B.
`
`C.
`
`D.
`
`Background Of The '177 Patent ................................................................. 25
`
`Prosecution History Of The '177 Patent (Ex.1002) ................................. 26
`
`Challenged Claims ........................................................................................ 28
`
`Claim Construction ____ "Deformities" ...................................................... 28
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`V.
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`PRIOR ART ANALYSIS ....................................................................................... 29
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`-i-
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`SONY_000504
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`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`(continued)
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`Page
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`A.
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`B.
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`C.
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`D.
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`E.
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`F.
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`Claims 1-3, 5-7, 9-10, 13-15, 19, 21,
`And 23-25 Are Unpatentable Under 35
`U.S.C.§ 103(a)As Being Obvious Over Melby ......................................... 29
`
`Claims 1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 19, 21, 23-24,
`And 26-27Are Unpatentable Under 35 U.S.C. § 102
`As Being Anticipated By Nakamura .......................................................... 48
`
`Claims 1, 2, 13, And 14 Are Unpatentable Under
`35 U.S.C. § 103(a) As Being Obvious Over Baur .................................... 65
`
`Claims 6, 9, 10, 15, 19, 21, And 23
`Are Unpatentable Under 35 U.S.C. § 103
`As Being Obvious Over Baur In View Of Nakamura............................. 75
`
`Claims 1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 10, 13, 15, And 21 Are
`Unpatentable Under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) As
`Obvious Over Sasuga In View Of Farchmin ........................................... 83
`
`Claims 14 And 19 Are Unpatentable Under
`35 U.S.C. § 103(a) As Obvious Over Sasuga
`In View Of Farchmin In View Of Nakamura ........................................ 106
`
`1.
`
`2.
`
`Claim 14 ........................................................................................... 107
`
`Claim 19 ........................................................................................... 108
`
`G.
`
`Claims 23, 25, And 26 Are Unpatentable
`Under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) As Obvious Over
`Sasuga In View Of Farchmin In View Of Pristash ................................ 110
`
`1.
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`2.
`
`3.
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`Claim 23 ........................................................................................... 110
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`Claim 25 ........................................................................................... 112
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`Claim 26 ........................................................................................... 112
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`VI.
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`SECONDARY CONSIDERATIONS .............................................................. 113
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`VII. CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................... 113
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`-ii-
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`SONY_000505
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`I, RICHARD A. FLASCK, declare and state as follows:
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`I.
`
`INTRODUCTION
`
`1.
`
`I have been retained by Sony Corporation ("Sony") as an expert in the
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`relevant art.
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`2.
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`I have been asked to provide my opinions and views on the materials I
`
`have reviewed in this case related to Ex. 1001, U.S. Patent No. 7,384,177 ("the
`
`'177 Patent"), and the scientific and technical knowledge regarding the same subject
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`matter before and for a period following the date of the first application for the
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`'177 Patent was filed.
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`3.
`
`I am being compensated at the rate of $375/hour for my work, plus
`
`reimbursement for expenses. My compensation has not influenced any of my
`
`opinions in this matter and does not depend on the outcome of this proceeding or
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`any issue in it.
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`4. My opinion and underlying reasoning for this opinion is set forth below.
`
`A.
`
`Background and Qualifications
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`5.
`
`I received a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from the University of
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`Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI) in 1970. I received a Master of Science degree in Physics
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`from Oakland University (Rochester, MI) in 1976.
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`6. My forty-four year career has involved high tech product development,
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`intellectual property issues, projection displays, optical design and components
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`(including illumination systems), LCD flat panel displays and modules, backlighting of
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`
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`SONY_000506
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`
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`flat panel displays, CCFL and LED product development, injection molding,
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`chip-onboard development, and High Definition Television (HDTV) systems.
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`7.
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`I founded Alphasil, Inc. in 1982 and was one of the first to work in
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`amorphous silicon thin film transistor ("TFT") active matrix liquid crystal displays
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`("LCD"). As CEO of Alphasil, I was responsible for establishing the first amorphous
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`silicon TFT LCD pilot production line (2000 square feet of class 10 cleanroom) in
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`Fremont California in 1986.
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`8. My experience includes developing the TFT active matrix circuits and
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`production processes, video controllers, scalers, gate drive circuits, data drive circuits,
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`and cold cathode fluorescent lamp ("CCFL") backlight units ("BLU") for the LCD
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`modules which Alphasil developed and sold. This activity included the design and
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`development of BLUs and CCFL drive circuit technology.
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`9.
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`At Alphasil, I pioneered the use of CCFLs in LCD backlight units
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`(BLUs) starting in 1986. By 1988 I had managed the development of some of the first
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`LCD backlight units (BLUs), including one of the first dimming inverters (then called
`
`"electronic ballasts") for driving CCFLs in such BLUs.
`
`10.
`
`I founded RAF Electronics Corp. in 1989 and pioneered Liquid Crystal
`
`On Silicon ("LCOS") projection technology. My experience included developing LCD
`
`microdisplay circuits, video controller, scalers, and illumination systems for LCOS
`
`microdisplays.
`
`2
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`SONY_000507
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`11.
`
`I am an inventor on 25 issued patents. Some patents of particular
`
`relevance are listed below:
`
` 4,842,378 6/27/89 Method of illuminating Flat Panel Displays to Provide CRT
`Appearing Displays
`
` 4,736,229 4/5/88 Method of Manufacturing Flat Panel Backplanes, Display
`Transistors and Displays Made Thereby
`
` 4,651,185 3/17/87 Method of Manufacturing Thin Film Transistors and
`Transistors Made Thereby
`
` 4,545,112 10/8/85 Method of Manufacturing Thin Film Transistors and
`Transistors Made Thereby
`
`12.
`
`In addition, I am the author of various publications, conference papers
`
`and presentations. Some publications of particular interest are:
`
` R. Flasck, "The Critical Role of Optical Interference Coatings in High
`Brightness – Etendue Limited Systems Such as HDTV Projectors," at the 2007
`Optical Interference Coatings Topical Meeting and Tabletop Exhibit, Optical
`Society of America, June 7, 2007.
`
` R. Flasck, "Current and Near Term Applications of Flat Panel Display
`Devices," Applications of Electronic Imaging; John Urbach, Editor;
`Proceedings of SPIE, Vol 1082 (1989). – Invited Critical Review Paper
`
` R. Flasck, "U.S. Display Suppliers and Developers: Comments on
`Developments and Manufacturing," Flat Panel Displays 1988 Conference and
`Exhibition; Stanford Resources, Inc. (1988). – Invited Presentation and Expert
`Panel Member
`
`13.
`
`I have testified as an expert witness in several patent cases. The patent
`
`cases involving LCD BLUs were:
`
`2006 - 2007
`Date
`Law Firm Bingham McCutchen LLP
`Client
`Defendant - Seoul Semiconductor Company, Inc.
`Case
`Nichia Corporation v. Seoul Semiconductor
`3:06-cv-0162 USDC, Northern District of California
`Expert witness, reports, trial testimony
`
`Services
`
`3
`
`SONY_000508
`
`
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`
`
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`2008 - 2009
`Date
`Law Firm Howrey LLP
`Client
`Complainant - O2Micro
`Case
`O2Micro v Monolithic Power Systems, MicroSemi
`
` U.S. International Trade Commission Investigation No. 337-TA-666
`Services
`Expert witness, reports, ITC hearing testimony
`
`14. A detailed record of my professional qualifications, including a list of
`
`publications, awards, and professional activities, is set forth in my curriculum vitae,
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`attached to this report as Appendix A.
`
`B.
`
`15.
`
`Information Considered
`
` In addition to my general knowledge gained as a result of my education
`
`and experience in this field, I have reviewed and considered, among other things, the
`
`'177 Patent, the prosecution history of the '177 Patent, the prior art of record, and the
`
`papers submitted by LG Display Group LLC in connection with its IPR2014-01362.
`
`16. The full list of information that I have considered in forming my
`
`opinions for this report is set forth throughout the report and listed in the attached
`
`Appendix B.
`
`II.
`
`LEGAL STANDARDS
`
`17.
`
`In forming my opinions and considering the patentability of the claims
`
`of the '177 Patent, I am relying upon certain legal principles that counsel has
`
`explained to me.
`
`18.
`
`I understand that for an invention claimed in a patent to be found
`
`patentable, it must be, among other things, new and not obvious in light of what came
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`4
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`SONY_000509
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`
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`before it. Patents and publications which predated the invention are generally referred
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`to as "prior art."
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`19.
`
`I understand that in this proceeding the burden is on the party asserting
`
`unpatentability to prove it by a preponderance of the evidence. I understand that "a
`
`preponderance of the evidence" is evidence sufficient to show that a fact is more
`
`likely than not.
`
`20.
`
`I have been informed that an unexpired claim subject to Inter Partes
`
`Review is given its "broadest reasonable construction in light of the specification of
`
`the patent in which it appears." The claims after being construed in this manner are
`
`then to be compared to information that was disclosed in the prior art.
`
`A.
`
`21.
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`Person Of Ordinary Skill In The Art
`
`I have been informed that the claims of a patent are judged from the
`
`perspective of a hypothetical construct involving "a person of ordinary skill in the
`
`art." The "art" is the field of technology to which the patent is related. I understand
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`that the purpose of using a person of ordinary skill in the art's viewpoint is objectivity.
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`Thus, I understand that the question of validity is viewed from the perspective of a
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`person of ordinary skill in the art, and not from the perspective of (a) the inventor, (b)
`
`a layperson, or (c) a person of extraordinary skill in the art. I have been informed that
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`the claims of the patent-at-issue are interpreted as a person of ordinary skill in the art
`
`would have understood them in the relevant time period (i.e., when the patent
`
`application was filed or the earliest effective filing date).
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`5
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`SONY_000510
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`22.
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`It is my opinion that a person of ordinary skill in the art relevant to the
`
`'177 Patent would have at least an undergraduate degree in physics, optics,
`
`engineering, or applied mathematics and three years of work experience (or a graduate
`
`degree) in a field related to optical technology.
`
`23.
`
`I understand that a "person of ordinary skill is also a person of ordinary
`
`creativity, not an automaton" and that would be especially true of anyone developing
`
`LCD structures.
`
`B.
`
`Anticipation
`
`24.
`
`I understand that the following standards govern the determination of
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`whether a patent claim is "anticipated" by the prior art. I have applied these standards
`
`in my analysis of whether claims of the '177 Patent were anticipated at the time of the
`
`invention.
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`25.
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`I understand that a patent claim is "anticipated" by a single prior art
`
`reference if that reference discloses each element of the claim in a single embodiment.
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`A prior art reference may anticipate a claim inherently if an element is not expressly
`
`stated, but only if the prior art necessarily includes the claim limitations.
`
`26.
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`I understand that the test for anticipation is performed in two steps.
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`First, the claims must be interpreted to determine their meaning. Second, a prior art
`
`reference is analyzed to determine whether every claim element, as interpreted in the
`
`first step, is present in the reference. If all the elements of a patent claim are present in
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`the prior art reference, then that claim is anticipated and is invalid.
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`6
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`SONY_000511
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`27.
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`I understand that it is acceptable to examine extrinsic evidence outside
`
`the prior art reference in determining whether a feature, while not expressly discussed
`
`in the reference, is necessarily present within that reference.
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`C. Obviousness
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`28.
`
`I understand that a claim can be invalid in view of prior art if the
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`differences between the subject matter claimed and the prior art are such that the
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`claimed subject matter as a whole would have been "obvious" at the time the
`
`invention was made to a person having ordinary skill in the art.
`
`29.
`
`I understand that the obviousness standard is defined at 35 U.S.C.
`
`§ 103(a). I understand that a claim is obvious over a prior art reference if that
`
`reference, combined with the knowledge of one skilled in the art or other prior art
`
`references disclose each and every element of the recited claim.
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`30.
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`I also understand that the relevant inquiry into obviousness requires
`
`consideration of four factors:
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`
`
`a.
`
`b.
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`c.
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`d.
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`The scope and content of the prior art;
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`The differences between the prior art and the claims at issue;
`
`The knowledge of a person of ordinary sill in the pertinent art; and
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`Objective factors indicating obviousness or non-obviousness may be
`
`present in any particular case, such factors including commercial success of products
`
`covered by the patent claims; a long-felt need for the invention; failed attempts by
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`others to make the invention; copying of the invention by others in the field;
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`7
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`SONY_000512
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`unexpected results achieved by the invention; praise of the invention by the infringer
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`or others in the field; the taking of licenses under the patent by others; expressions of
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`surprise by experts and those skilled in the art at the making of the invention; and that
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`the patentee proceeded contrary to the accepted wisdom of the prior art.
`
`31.
`
`I understand that when combining two or more references, one should
`
`consider whether a teaching, suggestion, or motivation to combine the references
`
`exists so as to avoid impermissible hindsight. I have been informed that the
`
`application of the teaching, suggestion or motivation test should not be rigidly
`
`applied, but rather is an expansive and flexible test. For example, I have been
`
`informed that the common sense of a person of ordinary skill in the art can serve as
`
`motivation for combining references.
`
`32.
`
`I also understand from the Supreme Court case of KSR International Co. v.
`
`Teleflex Inc., 550 U.S. 398 (2007), that the following are rationales may support a
`
`conclusion of obviousness: (A) combining prior art elements according to known
`
`methods to yield predictable results; (B) simple substitution of one known element for
`
`another to obtain predictable results; (C) use of known technique to improve similar
`
`devices (methods, or products) in the same way; (D) applying a known technique to a
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`known device (method, or product) ready for improvement to yield predictable
`
`results; (E) "obvious to try" - choosing from a finite number of identified, predictable
`
`solutions, with a reasonable expectation of success; (F) known work in one field of
`
`endeavor may prompt variations of it for use in either the same field or a different
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`8
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`SONY_000513
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`one based on design incentives or other market forces if the variations are predictable
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`to one of ordinary skill in the art; (G) some teaching, suggestion, or motivation in the
`
`prior art that would have led one of ordinary skill to modify the prior art reference or
`
`to combine prior art reference teachings to arrive at the claimed invention.
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`33.
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`I understand that the content of a patent or other printed publication
`
`(i.e., a reference) should be interpreted the way a person of ordinary skill in the art
`
`would have interpreted the reference as of the effective filing date of the patent
`
`application for the '177 Patent. I have assumed that the person of ordinary skill is a
`
`hypothetical person who is presumed to be aware of all the pertinent information that
`
`qualifies as prior art. In addition, the person of ordinary skill in the art makes
`
`inferences and creative steps. He or she is not an automaton, but has ordinary
`
`creativity.
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`34.
`
`I have been informed that the application that issued as the '177 Patent
`
`was filed in 2006. However, the application claims priority to a parent application that
`
`was filed on June 27, 1995. As a result, I will assume the relevant time period for
`
`determining what one of ordinary skill in the art knew is June 27, 1995, the effective
`
`filing date for purposes of this proceeding.
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`D. Claim Construction
`
`35.
`
`I have been informed that an unexpired claim subject to Inter Partes
`
`Review is given its "broadest reasonable construction in light of the specification of
`
`the patent in which it appears."
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`9
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`SONY_000514
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`36.
`
`I have also been informed that if an Inter Partes Review involves claims of
`
`an expired patent, a patentee is unable to make claim amendments, and the Board
`
`applies the claim construction principles outlined in Phillips v. AWH Corp., 415 F.3d
`
`1303 (Fed. Cir. 2005), that the words of a claim "are generally given their ordinary and
`
`customary meaning" as understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art in question
`
`at the time of the invention. I have been informed that this means that the words of
`
`the claim are given their plain meaning from the perspective of one of ordinary skill in
`
`the art unless that meaning is inconsistent with the specification. I understand that the
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`"plain meaning" of a term means the ordinary and customary meaning given to the
`
`term by those of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention and that the
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`ordinary and customary meaning of a term may be evidenced by a variety of sources,
`
`including the words of the claims, the specification, drawings, and prior art.
`
`37.
`
`I understand that, in construing claims, all words in a claim must be
`
`considered in judging the patentability of that claim against the prior art.
`
`38.
`
`I understand that extrinsic evidence may be consulted for the meaning
`
`of a claim term as long as it is not used to contradict claim meaning that is
`
`unambiguous in light of the intrinsic evidence. I also understand that in construing
`
`claim terms, the general meanings gleaned from reference sources must always be
`
`compared against the use of the terms in context, and the intrinsic record must always
`
`be consulted to identify which of the different possible dictionary meanings is most
`
`consistent with the use of the words by the inventor.
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`10
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`SONY_000515
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`III. TECHNOLOGY BACKGROUND
`
`A. Historical Perspective
`
`39.
`
`Flat panel display development for TVs, computers and laptops was
`
`pioneered in the 1980s. There were several technical approaches pursued including
`
`electroluminescent, plasma, vacuum fluorescence, electrochromic, field emission, and
`
`liquid crystal. By the early 1990s it became clear that active matrix liquid crystal display
`
`technology would dominate the target market segments for at least several decades.
`
`40. Liquid crystal matrix displays comprise an x-y array of pixels (picture
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`elements) which can be individually set to any gray level by the application of electrical
`
`signals to the gate lines (rows) and data lines (columns). By the mid 1990s (the time
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`period of the original filing of the Parker patents) a typical commercial LC display had
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`a diagonal of 8 to 15 inches and an SVGA (600 x 800) color triad pixel format, or
`
`something similar.
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`11
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`SONY_000516
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`41. Each pixel acts as a variable shutter and exhibits a level of opacity
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`determined by the data line signals. LC displays do not generate light, but merely act
`
`as a large matrix of miniature variable shutters that modulate light passing through the
`
`display panel. Therefore, LC displays, in the mid 1990s and still today, typically need a
`
`light generating structure unit beneath the LC panel to provide the requisite light.
`
`These light generating structures are commonly called backlight units (BLUs). The
`
`BLU must provide light of sufficient brightness and uniformity to enable a user
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`(usually looking directly at the display) to easily see the intended text, graphics or
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`video image.
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`12
`
`
`TYPICAL ACTIVE MATRIX LCD FLAT TYPICAL ACTIVE MATRIX LCD FLAT
`
`PANEL MODULEPANEL MODULE
`
`
`Column (Source) Column (Source)
`
`DriversDrivers
`
`
`Tcon /Tcon /
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`LogicLogic
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`
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`Pix ClockPix Clock
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`
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`HsyncHsync
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`
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`VsyncVsync
`
`
`Data-Data-
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`EnableEnable
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`
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`Digital R Digital R
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`
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`Digital GDigital G
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`
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`Digital BDigital B
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`Row (Gate) Row (Gate)
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`DriversDrivers
`
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`Fixed Pixel Fixed Pixel
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`ArrayArray
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`SONY_000517
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`42. A complete LCD module comprises an LCD panel, the drive electronics,
`
`
`
`and the BLU.
`
`43.
`
`Since the mid 1990s, the typical BLU found in commercially available
`
`
`
`products comprised:
`
` A light source.
`
` A reflector to concentrate the light.
`
` A light guide with deformities on the lower surface.
`
`13
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`SONY_000518
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`
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` A set of light re-directing films, sheets or plates between the light guide and
`the LC panel.
`
` A tray / case / frame.
`
`44. During the 1980s and into the early 1990s, several BLU technologies and
`
`structures were researched, developed, patented and commercialized. By the mid
`
`1990s, a basic BLU structure and design was widely available commercially and began
`
`dominating the market. That basic design, shown below, is still used today:
`
`
`
`B.
`
`Light Source/Lamp
`
`45. The most common BLU lamp technologies are the Cold Cathode
`
`Fluorescent Lamp (CCFL) and the Light Emitting Diode (LED). The design choice
`
`between the two was based on desired thinness profile, brightness, and power
`
`14
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`SONY_000519
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`
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`consumption. CCFLs were prevalent in the consumer market until about 2005. Steady
`
`improvements in LED performance and reduced cost have allowed LEDs to largely
`
`supplant CCFLs in BLUs today.
`
`46. Generally, the CCFL today have been largely replaced with a linear array
`
`of LEDs. This use of LEDs was known in from the early 1990s as indicated by Mino
`
`JP H-242731, Ex. 1014, filed in February 1993 and published in September 1994.
`
`
`
`15
`
`CCFL Construction
`
`From JKL Miniature Fluorescent Lamp Catalog, © 1999
`
`SONY_000520
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`
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`
`
`
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`47.
`
`It was also well known by the mid 1990s that multiple lamps could be
`
`used in a BLU. One common configuration was to dispose the lamps along opposite
`
`edges of the light guide as shown below from Fig 4 of Ciupke, U.S. Patent
`
`No. 5,461,547. Ex.1005:
`
`C. Reflector
`
`48. The lamp reflector is usually a wrap of reflective foil or shiny stamped
`
`sheet metal. The reflector allows the capture and concentration of a larger fraction of
`
`
`
`16
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`Fig 3 Mino JP H06-242731Fig 3 Mino JP H06-242731
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`Fig 4 Ciupke U.S. Patent No. 5,461,547Fig 4 Ciupke U.S. Patent No. 5,461,547
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`SONY_000521
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`the light generated by the lamp. This concentrated or focused light is injected into the
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`entrance port edge of the light guide.
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`D. Light Guide
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`49. The light guide transports the light from the input edge adjacent to the
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`lamp, to the output port, which is the top surface of the light guide plate. The light
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`guide is generally a transparent plastic plate. The light injected into the entrance edge
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`port of the light guide is captured in, and uniformly distributed throughout, the light
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`guide by the principle of Total Internal Reflection (TIR). A hollow cavity with
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`specularly reflective walls is sometimes substituted for the solid transparent light
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`guide.
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`50. The wave guide generally has deformities on the bottom surface
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`(commonly white painted dots). When the TIRed light encounters such a deformity,
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`the scattered light is produced at such angles that the TIR condition is defeated and
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`the scattered light exits through the top exit surface of the light guide as seen in Fig. 2
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`of Ciupke, U.S. Patent No. 5,461,547, Ex.1005:
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`SONY_000522
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`51.
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`In the mid 1990s, wedged light guides were known and used as seen in
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`Fig. 6 of Nagatani (JP H06-003526), Ex.1017, below. The deformities on the bottom
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`surface could be white dots, roughened regions, or other surface structures. Light
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`guides could have a saw-tooth surface on the bottom to partially collimate the light
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`leaving the top exit surface of the light guide in the plane perpendicular to both the
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`surface of the light guide and the lamp as shown below.
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`Fig 2 from Jannson U.S. Patent No. 5,853,403
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`52.
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`Further, by the mid 1990s it was also well known that the light extracting
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`deformities on the light guide could be on either the top surface of the light guide, the
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`bottom surface of the light guide. Further, it was known that such deformities could
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`vary in shape, size and spacing across the surface of the light guide. These attributes
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`are shown in Figures 5 and 6 from JP H06-003526 to Nagatani, Ex.1017:
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`SONY_000523
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`E. Reflector Sheet
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`53. A reflector sheet is usually disposed under the light guide. This reflector
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`sheet is commonly a matte white diffuse reflector or a shiny specular reflective film.
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`Since the early 1990s 3M has been a major supplier of such film. This reflector sheet
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`prevents light leakage from the bottom of the BLU (especially from light recycled
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`from the BEF sheets) and it could also be disposed along light guide edges that were
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`not adjacent to the lamp.
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`F.
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`54.
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`Set of light redirecting sheets
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`From the mid 1990s, it was common to include a set of light re-directing
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`films that re-directed light rays emerging from the light guide surface at oblique angles
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`to angles more nearly perpendicular to the light guide top exit surface. This action
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`provides a brighter image to the user located at the usual position directly in front of
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`the screen. Thus useful screen brightness and lower power consumption could be
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`achieved. A typical set of films (from the bottom up) comprises:
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`JP H06-003526 NagataniJP H06-003526 Nagatani
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`SONY_000524
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`55.
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`1) A diffusion film, which generally is a transparent sheet with a
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`randomly roughened surface or inclusions of a refractive index different than that of
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`the surrounding matrix. Other surface structures such as pyramids could also act as
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`diffusers. The light distribution at the top surface of the light guide generally exhibits
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`residual inhomogeneities from the spatial structure of the scattering deformities on the
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`bottom surface of the light guide. The diffusion sheet tended to even out the light
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`distribution. Examples of different diffusion sheets are shown below from Takeuchi,
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`U.S. Patent No. 5,944,405, Ex.1020:
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`Diffusion sheet examples
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`SONY_000525
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`56.
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`2) The Vertical BEF sheet: The Vertical Brightness Enhancement Film
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`(BEF) is usually a transparent prismatic sheet having V shaped grooves running
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`vertically along the top surface, although the bottom surface is sometimes used. The
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`action of the vertical BEF is to partially collimate light in the plane perpendicular to
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`both the lamp and the Light guide surface. Such BEFs were first introduced by 3M in
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`the late 1980s and were used in commercial product since the early 1990s. Other
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`structures besides triangular grooves can be used in such BEF sheets.
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`57.
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`3) The Horizontal BEF
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`sheet: The Horizontal Brightness
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`Enhancement Film (BEF) is usually a transparent prismatic sheet having V shaped
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`grooves running horizontally along the top surface, although the bottom surface is
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`sometimes used. The action of the horizontal BEF is to partially collimate light in the
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`plane perpendicular to light guide surface and parallel to the lamp. Such BEFs were
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`first introduced by 3M in the late 1980s and were used in commercial product since
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`the early 1990s. Other structures besides triangular grooves as shown below in Fig. 32
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`of Ando, U.S. Pat. No. 5,808,784, Ex.1021, can be used in such BEF sheets:
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`SONY_000526
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`Crossed BEF sheets as shown in Fig 32 in Ando
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`200 x edge-on micrograph taken of a BEF in a
`Hitachi LCD module manufactured in April 1996
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`58.
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`Such BEF sheets were first produced by 3M in the late 1980s, and are
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`shown for example in a 3M product brochure 75-0500-0403-7, "Brightness
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`Enhancement Film (BEF)." (1993), Ex.1022.
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`59.
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`Further, it was well known that structures other than prismatic V
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`grooves could be used as the surface structures of BEF films, as shown in Figs. 24,
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`25, and 26 from Ando, US Patent No. 5,808,784, Ex.1021:
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`SONY_000527
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`60. The combined action of the light redirecting sheets is to re-direct rays
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`from oblique angles and bring them to a direction more perpendicular to the LC panel
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`surface. When two crossed BEFs are used, each BEF provides partial collimation in
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`the plane perpendicular to its prisms or grooves. The net action of two crossed BEFs
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`is to provide light that is partially collimated in the axis perpendicular to the plane of
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`the LC panel, thus making the image brighter for a user located directly in front of the
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`LCD.
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`G. Case/Frame/Tray
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`61. By the early 1990s, the components of the LCD module were often
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`physically held in place by a metal tray. The lamp, reflector, light guide, re-directing
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`sheet set, LCD panel, and many times the LCD gate and data line drive electronics
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`were contained in the tray. The bottom and sides of the tray were sometimes
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`reflective and the top of the tray was open to allow the image to be viewed by the
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`user. Below are examples of such trays from Figure 4 and 5 from JP H06-230378 to
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`Kisoo, Ex.1023, and Figures 4 and 5 from JP H05-69732 to Seraku, Ex.1026:
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`US Patent No. 5,808,784 AndoUS Patent No. 5,808,784 Ando
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`SONY_000528
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`62. Both examples show trays which hold all of the components of the
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`BLU.
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`H. LCD Panel
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`63. As previously discussed, the LCD panel is an x-y matrix of pixels. The
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`partially collimated light from the BLU enters the LCD panel from the bottom and
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`exits the top to be viewed by the user. Each individually addressed pixel in the LCD
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`24
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`SONY_000529
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`matrix individually modulates the light from the BLU to present text, graphic, or
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`video