IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
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`In re Inter Partes Review of:
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` U.S. Patent No. 7,384,177
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`Issued: June 10, 2008
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`Inventor: Jeffery R. Parker
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`Application No. 11/244,544
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`Filed: October 6, 2005
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`For: LIGHT EMITTING PANEL
`ASSEMBLIES
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`Mail Stop Patent Board
`Patent Trial and Appeal Board
`U.S.P.T.O.
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
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`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`OF U.S. PATENT NO. 7,384,177
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`Toyota Motor Corp. (“Toyota” or “Petitioner”) requests inter partes review of
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`claims 1, 6-7, 9-10, 13-15, 19, and 22 of U.S. Patent No. 7,384,177 (“the ’177 patent”)
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`(Ex. 1001), now assigned to Innovative Display Technologies LLC (“Innovative
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`Display” or “Patent Owner”), in accordance with 35 U.S.C. §§ 311-319 and 37 C.F.R.
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`§ 42.100 et seq.
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`An electronic payment in the amount of $23,000.00 for the inter partes review
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`fee specified by 37 C.F.R. § 42.15(b) is being paid at the time of filing this petition. If
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`there are any additional fees due in connection with the filing of this paper, please
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`charge the required fees to our Deposit Account No. 06-0916.
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`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`PRELIMINARY STATEMENT .................................................................. 1
`I.
`II. MANDATORY NOTICES ........................................................................... 3
`Real Party-in-Interest .............................................................................. 3
`A.
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`B.
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`C.
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`Related Matters ....................................................................................... 4
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`Lead and Back-Up Counsel, and Service Information ............................ 8
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`III. THE ’177 PATENT ....................................................................................... 8
`A. Overview of the Disclosure .................................................................... 8
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`IV. GROUNDS FOR STANDING...................................................................12
`V.
`STATEMENT OF PRECISE RELIEF REQUESTED FOR
`EACH CLAIM CHALLENGED ...............................................................13
`Claims for Which Review is Requested .................................................13
`A.
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`B.
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`Statutory Grounds of Challenge ...........................................................13
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`Claim Construction ..............................................................................14
`C.
`VI. CLAIMS 1, 6-7, 9-10, 13-15, 19, and 22 OF THE ’177 PATENT
`ARE UNPATENTABLE ............................................................................15
`A. Ground 1: Endo anticipates claims 1, 6-7, 9-10, 13-15, 19, and 22 .........15
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`B. Ground 2: Musaka anticipates claims 1 and 13-14 .................................34
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`C. Ground 3: Musaka renders claims 6-7, 9-10, 15, and 22 obvious ...........43
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`1.
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`2.
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`3.
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`4.
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`Claim 6 .......................................................................................43
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`Claim 7 .......................................................................................47
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`Claim 9 .......................................................................................48
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`Claim 10 .....................................................................................49
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`5.
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`6.
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`Independent Claim 15 ................................................................50
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`Claim 22 .....................................................................................52
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`D. Ground 4: Musaka in combination with Tsunoda and Pristash
`renders claim 19 obvious ......................................................................53
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`VII. CONCLUSION ............................................................................................58
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`iv
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`TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
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` Page(s)
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`Cases
`Ex Parte Ronald A. Katz Tech. Licensing L.P., No. 2008-005127,
`2010 WL 1003878, at *3-4 (BPAI Mar. 15, 2010) ..................................................... 14
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`KSR Int’l Co. v. Teleflex Inc.,
`550 U.S. 398 (2007) ..................................................................................... 45, 46, 55, 56
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`Phillips v. AWH Corp.,
`415 F.3d 1303 (Fed. Cir. 2005) (en banc) .................................................................... 14
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`Statutes
`35 U.S.C. § 102............................................................................................. 13, 15, 34, 55, 57
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`35 U.S.C § 103....................................................................................................................... 13
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`35 U.S.C. § 112...................................................................................................................... 14
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`35 U.S.C. § 311...................................................................................................................... 13
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`35 U.S.C. § 315(b) ................................................................................................................. 13
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`LIST OF EXHIBITS
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`Petition Exhibit 1001:
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`U.S. Patent No. 7,384,177 to Parker.
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`Petition Exhibit 1002:
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`U.S. Patent No. 5,064,276 to Endo et al. (“Endo”).
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`Petition Exhibit 1003:
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`JP 03H-5725 to Musaka with certified translation.
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`Petition Exhibit 1004: Declaration of Dr. Zane Coleman.
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`Petition Exhibit 1005:
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`JP 06-051130 to Tsunoda with certified translation.
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`Petition Exhibit 1006:
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`U.S. Patent No. 5,005,108 to Pristash et al. (“Pristash”).
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`Petition Exhibit 1007:
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`IPR2014-01362, Paper No. 7, “Patent Owner’s Preliminary
`response to Petition for Inter Partes Review of U.S. Patent
`No. 7,384,177.”
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`Petition Exhibit 1008:
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`IPR2015-00489, Paper No. 1, “Petition for Inter Partes
`Review of U.S. Patent No. 7,384,177.”
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`Petition Exhibit 1009:
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`IPR2015-00359, Paper No. 1, “Petition for Inter Partes
`Review of U.S. Patent No. 7,384,177.”
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`Petition Exhibit 1010: Case No. 2:13-CV-00522-JRG: “Plaintiff’s Notice of
`Compliance Regarding Submission of Response to Letter
`Brief, Dkt. No. 174-1.”
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`Petition Exhibit 1011:
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`IPR2014-01362, Paper No. 1, “Petition for Inter Partes
`Review of U.S. Patent No. 7,384,177.”
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`Petition Exhibit 1012:
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`IPR2015-00756, Paper No. 2, “Petition for Inter Partes
`Review of U.S. Patent No. 7,384,177.”
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`Petition Exhibit 1013:
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`Complaint filed in Innovative Display Technologies LLC v.
`Toyota Motor Corp., Case No. 2:14-cv-00200-JRG.
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`Petition Exhibit 1014: Wavier of the Service of Summons filed in Innovative Display
`Technologies LLC v. Toyota Motor Corp., Case No. 2:14-cv-
`00200-JRG.
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`Petition Exhibit 1015: Certified Prosecution History for U.S. Patent No.
`7,384,177 (U.S. Application No. 11/244,544).
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`vi
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`IDT’s preliminary infringement contentions vs. Toyota:
`Exhibit B2: Exemplary claim chart for U.S. Pat. No.
`7,384,177.
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`IPR2014-01362, Paper No. 12, “Decision Institution of
`Inter Partes Review.”
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`Petition Exhibit 1016:
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`Petition Exhibit 1017:
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`I.
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`Inter Partes Review
`United States Patent No. 7,384,177
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`PRELIMINARY STATEMENT
`Claims 1, 6-7, 9-10, 13-15, 19, and 22 are directed to a light emitting assembly.
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`Ex. 1001 at 9:21-32, 43-48, 51-54; 10:4-23, 32-36. The patent specification
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`acknowledges that light emitting panel assemblies, including a transparent light
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`emitting panel, one or more light sources, and a light transition member or area were
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`well known in the art. Id. at 1:24, 2:64-7:4, and Fig. 1. The only purported
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`improvement claimed is a light emitting assembly comprising “a tray having a back
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`wall and continuous side walls that form a hollow cavity or recess completely
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`surrounded by the side walls” in which at least one light source is positioned, wherein
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`the tray “acts as at least one of a back, side edge, and end edge reflector and has . . . .
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`surfaces” to: “redirect at least a portion of the light emitted by the light source in a
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`predetermined manner within the cavity or recess” (claim 1) or “facilitate better
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`mixing of light rays within the cavity or recess to produce a desired light output color
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`or uniformity” (claim 15).
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`In fact, after the Examiner rejected the original claims of the application,
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`Applicant amended the claims to add the above-identifed features to independent
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`claims 1 and 15. See Ex. 1015 at 43-48, First Office Action (October 3, 2007) and at
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`55-61, 65-68 Response to Office Action (January 22, 2008). Following these
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`amendments, the Examiner allowed all pending claims without further substantive
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`comments. Id. at 75-77, Notice of Allowability (February 20, 2008).
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`1
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`Inter Partes Review
`United States Patent No. 7,384,177
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`As this Petition demonstrates, prior art references not considered by the PTO
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`including Endo (Ex. 1002) and Musaka (Ex. 1003) taught the distinguishing features
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`argued by the Applicant and anticipate the claimed light emitting assembly.
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`For example, Endo discloses a liquid crystal display device including a
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`transparent plate 4A, a lower side frame 1, an upper side frame 2, a reflecting plate 4C,
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`and a reflecting plate 4D. Ex. 1002 at 2:49-66; 3:46-59; 4:50-55; 5:41-51, 59-64, Figs.
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`1-3, 9. The frames 1, 2 form a hollow cavity completely surrounded by continuous
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`side walls and the frames 1, 2, and together with the aluminum reflecting plates 4C
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`and 4D function collectively as a tray to securely hold and support the light source 4B
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`and the transparent plate 4A further within the cavity. Id.
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`Additionally, Endo discloses that at least the interior side surfaces of the frame 2
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`and the reflecting plate 4D act as exemplary side edge and back reflectors,
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`respectively, and that the interior surfaces of the overhangs of the frame 2 and the
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`reflecting plates 4C act as exemplary secondary reflective or refractive surfaces to
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`redirect at least a portion of the light emitted by the light source 4B in a
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`predetermined manner within the cavity as well as facilitate better mixing of light rays
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`within the cavity to produce a desired light uniformity within the cavity. Id. at 2:58-66
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`(disclosing that the frame 2 is made, for example, of a metallic material such as
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`aluminum alloy; and the reflecting plates 4C and 4D are formed, for example, by an
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`aluminum plate coated with white paint (acrylic resin paint)), Figs. 1-3.
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`2
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`Inter Partes Review
`United States Patent No. 7,384,177
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`Similarly, Musaka discloses a back light for a liquid crystal display (LCD)
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`including a housing 5 having a back wall and continuous side walls that form a hollow
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`cavity completely surrounded by the side walls. Ex. 1003 at 3-5, Fig. 1. Musaka also
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`discloses that the housing 5 acts to redirect at least a portion of the light emitted by a
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`light source 2 in a predetermined manner within the cavity or recess of the housing 5
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`that facilitates better mixing of light rays within the cavity or recess to produce a
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`desired light output color or uniformity. Id. Musaka explains, “[t]he transparent
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`substrate 1 described by the aforementioned light reflecting layer 3, the light source 2
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`and the light diffusion sheet 4 are enclosed by the housing 5, excluding the front
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`surface. The housing 5 has the function of returning light that had leaked from the
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`transparent substrate 1 or the light source 2 to the transparent substrate 1, the
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`function of blocking the leakage of light from the unit other than from the front, and
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`the heat dissipation function involving the external diffusion of heat generated from
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`the light source. Consequently, it is made of plastic or metal whose inner surface had
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`been subjected to treatment to provide high reflectance.” Id.
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`As discussed below, the disclosures of Endo and Musaka as well as those of
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`other references, warrant the cancellation of claims 1, 6-7, 9-10, 13-15, 19, and 22.
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`II. MANDATORY NOTICES
`A. Real Party-in-Interest
`The real party-in-interest is Toyota Motor Corp., which is the sole owner of
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`Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., and the ultimate corporate parent for Toyota Motor
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`3
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`Inter Partes Review
`United States Patent No. 7,384,177
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`Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc., Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana, Inc., Toyota
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`Motor Manufacturing, Texas, Inc., and Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Mississippi, Inc.
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`B. Related Matters
`Innovative Display has asserted five patents—U.S. Patent Nos. 8,215,816,
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`7,300,194; 7,384,177; 7,404,660; and 7,434,9741 against at least 35 different
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`companies. The lawsuit against Toyota Motor Corp. is captioned: Innovative Display
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`Technologies LLC v. Toyota Motor Corp., Case No. 2:14-cv-200-JRG (ED TX.).
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`Innovative Display also asserted the ’177 patent in at least the actions listed in the
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`below chart:
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`Description
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`Docket Number
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`Innovative Display Technologies LLC (“IDT”) v. Acer Inc. et al.
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`2:13-cv-00522, EDTX
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`IDT v. American Honda Motor Co., Inc., et al.
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`IDT v. Apple Inc.
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`IDT v. Apple Inc.
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`IDT v. AT&T Inc., et. al.
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`IDT v. Best Buy Co., Inc., et. al.
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`IDT v. BMW of North America, LLC, et. al.
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`2:14-cv-00222, EDTX
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`2:14-cv-00030, EDTX
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`2:14-cv-00301, EDTX
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`2:14-cv-00720, EDTX
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`2:14-cv-00532, EDTX
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`2:14-cv-00106, EDTX
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`1 In addition to this petition, Petitioner is concurrently requesting inter partes review of
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`the following other asserted Innovative Display patents, which are in the same family
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`as the ’177 patent: 8,215,816, 7,404,660; 7,434,974, and 7,300,194.
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`4
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`IDT v. Canon U.S.A. Inc., et. al.
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`IDT v. Research in Motion Limited et al.
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`IDT v. Dell Inc.
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`IDT v. Ford Motor Company
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`IDT v. Garmin International, Inc., et. al.
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`IDT v. General Motor Company
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`IDT v. Google Inc., et. al.
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`IDT v. Hewlett-Packard Corporation
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`IDT v. Huawei Investment et al.
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`IDT v. Hyundai Motor Group, et. al.
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`IDT v. Mazda Motor Corporation, et. al.
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`Inter Partes Review
`United States Patent No. 7,384,177
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`2:14-cv-00142, EDTX
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`2:13-cv-00526, EDTX
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`2:13-cv-00523, EDTX
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`1:14-cv-00849, D. Del.
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`2:14-cv-00143, EDTX
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`1:14-cv-00850, D. Del.
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`2:14-cv-00302, EDTX
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`2:13-cv-00524, EDTX
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`2:13-cv-00525, EDTX
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`2:14-cv-00201, EDTX
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`2:14-cv-00624, EDTX
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`IDT v. Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc., et. al.
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`2:14-cv-00535, EDTX
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`IDT v. Microsoft Corporation
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`IDT v. Mitac Digital Corporation, et. al.
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`IDT v. Nikon Inc., et. al.
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`IDT v. Nissan Motor, Co., Ltd., et. al.
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`IDT v. Nokia Corporation and Nokia Inc.
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`IDT v. Sprint Corporation, et. al.
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`IDT v. T-Mobile US, Inc., et. al.
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`IDT v. Tomtom North America Inc., et. al.
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`5
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`2:13-cv-00783, EDTX
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`2:14-cv-00144, EDTX
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`2:14-cv-00145, EDTX
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`2:14-cv-00202, EDTX
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`2:13-cv-00784, EDTX
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`2:14-cv-00721, EDTX
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`2:14-cv-00723, EDTX
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`2:14-cv-00146, EDTX
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`Inter Partes Review
`United States Patent No. 7,384,177
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`IDT v. Verizon Communications, Inc., et. al.
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`IDT v. Volkswagen AG, et. al.
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`2:14-cv-00722, EDTX
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`2:14-cv-00300, EDTX
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`IDT v. ZTE Corporation and ZTE (USA) Inc.
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`2:13-cv-00527, EDTX
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`Delaware Display Group LLC (“DDG”) and IDT v.
`Amazon.com, Inc.
`DDG and IDT v. HTC Corporation et al.
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`DDG and IDT v. Lenovo Group Ltd., et al.
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`DDG and IDT v. LG Electronics Inc., et al.
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`DDG and IDT v. Pantech Co., Ltd, et al.
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`DDG and IDT v. Sony Corporation et al.
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`DDG and IDT v. Vizio, Inc.
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`1:13-cv-2106, D.Del.
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`1:13-cv-02107, D.Del.
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`1:13-cv-02108, D.Del.
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`1:13-cv-02109, D.Del.
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`1:13-cv-02110, D.Del.
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`1:13-cv-02111, D.Del.
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`1:13-cv-02112, D.Del.
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`Four prior inter partes review petitions challenge the patentability of the ’177
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`patent. LG Display Co., Ltd. and LG Display America, Inc. (“LGD”), challenged
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`claims 1-3, 5-7, 9-10, 13-15, 19, 21, and 23-27 of the ’177 patent in IPR2014-01362,
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`filed August 22, 2014, Ex. 1011; Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC, Mercedes-Benz US
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`International, Inc. (“Mercedes”), challenged claims 1-5, 5-7, 9-10, 13-15, 19, 21, and
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`23-27 of the ’177 patent in IPR2015-00359, filed December 4, 2014, Ex. 1009; LG
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`Electronics (“LGE”), challenged claims 1-5, 5-7, 9-10, 13-15, 19, 21, and 23-27 of the
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`’177 patent in IPR2015-00489, filed December 29, 2014, Ex. 1008; and Sony Corp.
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`challenged claims 1-3, 5-7, 9-10, 13-15, 19, 21, and 23-27 of the ’177 patent in
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`IPR2015-00756, filed February 17, 2015, Ex. 1012.
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`Inter Partes Review
`United States Patent No. 7,384,177
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`On March 2, 2015, the Board granted institution of IPR2014-01362. Ex. 1017.
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`As of the filing date of this petition, the Board has not rendered institution decisions
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`in IPR2015-00359, IPR2015-00489, or IPR2015-00756. Notwithstanding the Board’s
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`decision instituting trial in IPR2014-01362, and regardless of whether the Board
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`institutes trial on any grounds in IPR2015-00359, IPR2015-00489, or IPR2015-00756,
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`the Board should grant this petition and institute trial on all grounds because the
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`primary and secondary references relied on here disclose features of the claims Patent
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`Owner argued the references in IPR2014-01362 lacked.2 As explained below in
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`Section VI, the primary references relied on here disclose these features and more
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`clearly show how the references disclose or suggest these features. Moreover, the
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`Board should grant this petition and institute trial on all grounds because claim 22 in
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`this petition was not addressed in the earlier petitions.
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`And although the present petition asserts in part the same Pristash reference
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`asserted in the above-identified petitions, the grounds presented in this petition are
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`distinct and substantially different from the grounds presented in the above-identified
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`petitions. Furthermore, the present petition serves the important purpose, unique to
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`Petitioner, to preserve the grounds of invalidity based in part on Pristash so that they
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`2 Specifically, Patent Owner argued in its preliminary response that the references did
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`not disclose or suggest “a hollow cavity or recess completely surrounded by the side
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`walls.” Ex. 1007 at 4-7.
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`7
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`Inter Partes Review
`United States Patent No. 7,384,177
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`may be pursued should any one of the above parties (e.g., LGD, Mercedes, LGE,
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`and/or Sony) reach a settlement, or should the case otherwise be terminated, prior to
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`the Board issuing a final written determination. (Petitioner’s time window under 35
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`U.S.C. § 315(b) will expire on April 28, 2015—the date one year after Patent Owner
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`filed a waiver of service of the complaint against Petitioner.)
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`C.
`Lead and Back-Up Counsel, and Service Information
`Lead Counsel: P. Andrew Riley (Reg. No. 66,290), Finnegan, Henderson,
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`Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP, 901 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC
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`20001 (202.408.4266; e-mail: andrew.riley@finnegan.com; fax: 202.408.4400).
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`Backup Counsel: Thomas W. Winland (Reg. No. 27,605), Finnegan,
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`Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP, 901 New York Avenue, NW,
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`Washington, DC 20001 (202.408.4085; e-mail: tom.winland@finnegan.com; fax:
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`202.408.4400).
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`Backup Counsel: David C. Reese (Reg. No. 67,942), Finnegan, Henderson,
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`Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP, 901 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC
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`20001 (202.408.6098; e-mail: david.reese@finnegan.com; fax: 202.408.4400).
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`Petitioner consents to e-mail service at Toyota-IDT-IPR@finnegan.com.
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`III. THE ’177 PATENT
`A. Overview of the Disclosure
`Part of a large family, the ’177 patent is one of several continuations,
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`continuation-in-part, and/or divisions stemming from U.S. Patent No. 5,613,751. Ex.
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`8
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`Inter Partes Review
`United States Patent No. 7,384,177
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`1001 at 1:6-15. These patents, including the ’177 patent, are directed to light emitting
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`assemblies. Id. at title.
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`The background of the ’177 disclosure acknowledges that light emitting panel
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`assemblies are generally known. Id. at 1:24. In particular, the disclosure recognizes the
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`following functionality and structure of prior art light emitting panel assemblies: a
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`transparent light emitting panel 2 and one or more light sources 3 which emit light in
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`a predetermined pattern and a light transition member or area 4 used to make the
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`transition from the light source 3 to the light emitting panel 2, “as well known in the
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`art.” Id. at 2:64-3:4 and Fig. 1 (describing these elements and their functionalities as
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`being “well known in the art”). The ’177 disclosure further describes that the light is
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`emitted along the entire length of the light emitting panel 2 or from one or more light
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`output areas along the length of the panel 2 as desired to produce a desired light
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`output distribution to fit a particular application. Id. at 3:4-9 and Fig. 1.
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`Figure 1 below shows the well-known light emitting panel assembly 1, light
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`emitting panel 2, light source 3, and light transition member or area 4:
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`9
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`Inter Partes Review
`United States Patent No. 7,384,177
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`Purportedly to improve control and utilization of light output from such
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`assemblies, the ’177 patent discloses a light emitting panel assembly 32 including a
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`panel member 33, one or more light sources 3, one or more light output areas 34, and
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`a tray 35 having a cavity or recess 36 in which the panel assembly 32 is received. Id. at
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`6:62-7:-3 and Fig. 6 (copied below – the only figure of the patent showing a tray). The
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`’177 disclosure describes the tray 35 as a back reflector, as well as end edge and/or
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`side edge reflectors for the panel 33 and side and/or back reflectors 37 for the light
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`sources 3. Id. The ’177 patent also discloses that one or more secondary reflective or
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`refractive surfaces 38 may be provided on the panel member 33 and/or tray 35 to
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`reflect a portion of the light around one or more corners or curves in a non-
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`rectangular shaped panel member 33. Id. at 7:3-7. The ’177 patent further discloses
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`that the secondary reflective/refractive surfaces 38 may be flat, angled, faceted or
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`curved, and may be used to extract a portion of the light away from the panel member
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`in a predetermined pattern. Id. at 7:7-10.
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`Figure 6 shows the light emitting panel assembly 32, panel member 33,
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`“secondary” reflective or refractive surfaces 38, and tray 35:
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`The ’177 patent discloses in another embodiment (without any tray), a light
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`emitting panel assembly 11 (Fig. 3 – shown below) including a light transition area 12
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`at one end of a light emitting panel 14 having reflective and/or refractive surfaces 15
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`around and behind two light sources 3. Id. at 3:45-56 and Fig. 3. The ’177 patent
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`discloses providing reflective materials or coatings on portions of the reflective
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`and/or refractive surfaces 15 to focus a portion of light emitted from the light sources
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`3 through the light transition areas 12 into a light input surface 19 of the light emitting
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`panel 14. Id. A back reflector 26 is attached or positioned against one side of the panel
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`member 14 using a suitable adhesive 28. Id. at 6:18-24 and Figs. 3 and 5. A transparent
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`film, sheet or plate 27 is attached or positioned against the side of sides of the panel
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`member 14 (from which light is emitted) using a suitable adhesive 28. Id. at 6:29-38.
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`The ’177 disclosure describes that the member 27 may be used to further improve the
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`uniformity of the light output distribution and indicates that the member 27 may be a
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`colored film, a diffuser, or a label or display, a portion of which may be a transparent
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`overlay that may be colored and/or have text or an image thereon. Id.
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`Figure 3 below shows the light emitting panel assembly 11, light emitting panel
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`14, reflective and/or refractive surfaces 15, back reflector 26, and transparent film 27:
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`Figure 5 below shows the light emitting panel assembly 11, light emitting panel
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`14, back reflector 26, transparent film 27, and adhesive 28:
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`The ’177 specification discloses that each light source 3 may be of any suitable
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`type including, for example, an arc lamp, an incandescent bulb, a lens end bulb, a line
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`light, a halogen lamp, a light emitting diode (LED), a chop from an LED, a neon
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`bulb, a florescent tube, a fiber optic light pipe, a laser or laser diode, or any other
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`suitable light source. Id. at 4:24-30.
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`IV. GROUNDS FOR STANDING
`Petitioner certifies the ’177 patent is available for inter partes review and that
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`Petitioner is not barred or estopped from requesting inter partes review of the ’177
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`patent challenging the patent claims on the grounds identified in this petition. This
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`Petition is timely filed under 35 U.S.C. § 315(b) because it is filed within one year of
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`the service of the complaint alleging infringement of the ’177 patent by Innovative
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`Display. See Exs. 1013-1014.
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`Additionally, the primary references relied on here disclose, for example,
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`features of the claims Patent Owner argued the references in IPR2014-01362 lacked,
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`and more clearly show how the references disclose or suggest these features. Also,
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`claim 22 in this petition was not addressed in the earlier petitions. Furthermore, the
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`primary references are non-duplicative of those cited in recently instituted IPR2014-
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`01362. See Ex. 1017.
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`V.
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`STATEMENT OF PRECISE RELIEF REQUESTED FOR EACH
`CLAIM CHALLENGED
`A.
`Claims for Which Review is Requested
`Petitioner respectfully requests review under 35 U.S.C. § 311 of claims 1, 6-7, 9-
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`10, 13-15, 19, and 22 of the ’177 patent, and the cancellation of these claims as
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`unpatentable.
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`B.
`Statutory Grounds of Challenge
`Claims 1, 6-7, 9-10, 13-15, 19, and 22 are unpatentable under 35 U.S.C. §§ 102
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`and 103. The claim construction, reasons for unpatentability, and specific evidence
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`supporting this request are detailed below.
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`C.
`Claim Construction
`Claim terms in an expired patent are given their ordinary and accustomed
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`meaning as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art,3 consistent with the
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`standard expressed in Phillips v. AWH Corp., 415 F.3d 1303, 1312-13 (Fed. Cir. 2005)
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`(en banc); Ex Parte Ronald A. Katz Tech. Licensing L.P., No. 2008-005127, 2010 WL
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`1003878, at *3-4 (BPAI Mar. 15, 2010). The ’177 patent will expire on April 4, 2016,
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`before a final decision is expected in this IPR, and should thus be construed under
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`these principles.
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`The following term from the claims of the ’177 patent requires construction for
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`this proceeding.4 All other terms should be given their ordinary and accustomed
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`meanings.
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`3 Petitioner submits that a person of ordinary skill in the art (“POSITA”) would have
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`at least an undergraduate degree in a science or engineering discipline and a few years
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`of work experience in a field related to optical technology, a graduate degree in a field
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`related to optical technology, or a few years of continuing education toward a
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`graduate degree in a field related to optical technology. Petitioner applies this level of
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`ordinary skill in this petition.
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`4 Because the IPR procedure does not permit challenges under 35 U.S.C. § 112,
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`Petitioner has not included any indefiniteness arguments herein. Petitioner will,
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`however, raise such arguments in other proceedings.
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`“deformities” (Claim 14)
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`The specification of the ’177 patent expressly defines the term “deformities,” as
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`follows: “As used herein, the term deformities or disruptions are used interchangeably
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`to mean any change in the shape or geometry of the panel surface and/or coating or
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`surface treatment that causes a portion of the light to be emitted.” Id. at 4:44-48.
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`Accordingly, in light of the express definition provided by the ’177 patent,
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`“deformities,” should be construed to mean “any change in the shape or geometry of
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`a surface and/or coating or surface treatment that causes a portion of the light to be
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`emitted.” See also Ex. 1004 at ¶31.
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`VI. CLAIMS 1, 6-7, 9-10, 13-15, 19, and 22 OF THE ’177 PATENT ARE
`UNPATENTABLE
`A. Ground 1: Endo anticipates claims 1, 6-7, 9-10, 13-15, 19, and 22
`U.S. Patent No. 5,064,276 to Endo issued on November 12, 1991. Ex. 1002.
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`Endo is prior art under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b), because the earliest effective priority date
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`of claims 1, 6-7, 9-10, 13-15, 19, and 22 is June 27, 1995.
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`As shown below in annotated Figures 1 and 2, Endo discloses a liquid crystal
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`display device including a transparent plate 4A (in light purple), a lower side frame 1
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`(in yellow), an upper side frame 2 (in orange), a reflecting plate 4C (in blue), a
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`reflecting plate 4D (in teal), and a diffusing plate (not labeled, in red). Ex. 1002 at
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`2:49-66; 3:46-59; 4:50-55; 5:41-51, 59-64; 6:1-5, Figs. 1-3, 9.
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`The frames 1, 2 collectively form a hollow cavity completely surrounded by
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`continuous side walls. Id. For example, the frame 1 has a back wall and the frames 1
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`and 2 each have continuous side walls. Id. Endo further discloses that the reflecting
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`plate 4C (which covers the light source 4B) and the reflecting plate 4D (located
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`underneath the transparent substrate 4A) effectively reflect the light of light source 4B
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`toward the transparent plate 4A. Id. Accordingly, the frames 1, 2, together with the
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`aluminum reflecting plates 4C and 4D function collectively as a tray to securely hold
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`and support the light source 4B and the transparent plate 4A further within the cavity.
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`See id.; see also Ex. 1004 at ¶34 (citing 2:49-66; 3:46-59; 4:50-55; 5:41-51, 59-64; 6:1-5,
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`Figs. 1-3, 9.).
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`Furthermore, Endo discloses that at least the frame 2, reflecting plate 4C, and
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`reflecting plate 4D act as at least one of a back, side edge, and end edge reflector and
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`have one or more secondary flat, angled, or curved reflective or refractive surfaces to
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`redirect at least a portion of the light emitted by the light source 4B (in green) in a
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`predetermined manner within the cavity and further facilitate better mixing of light
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`rays within the cavity to produce a desired light output uniformity within the cavity.
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`Id. at 2:49-66; 3:46-59; 4:50-55; 5:41-51, 59-64; 6:1-5, Figs. 1-3, 9; see also Ex. 1004 at
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`¶35 (citing id.).
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`For example, as shown in annotated Figure 2, above, Endo discloses that each
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`end face (see exemplary light purple surface) of transparent plate 4A is positioned
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`adjacent interior side surfaces of the frames 1, 2. To help keep the light within the
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`device and from escaping through the interior side surfaces of the frames 1, 2 (and
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`thus preventing an inadvertent decrease in the overall brightness, uniformity, and
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`luminance of the device), Ex. 1004 at ¶36 (citing 2:58-66; 5:45-51, 59-64), one having
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`ordinary skill in the art would recognize that the interior side surfaces of the frames 1,
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`2 would have reflective or refractive properties so as to help deter light from escaping
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`to the outside of the display device from the side walls of the transparent substrate
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`4A. Id. In fact, Endo discloses that the frame 2 is made, e.g., of a metallic material such
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`as aluminum alloy (see id. at 2:58-66). Moreover, one of ordinary skill in the art would
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`further recognize that the frame 1, disclosed as being formed, e.g., out of a resin
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`material, (see id. at 2:58-59) also has reflective and/or refractive properties so as to
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`further assist with preventing light escaping from the side walls of the transparent
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`substrate 4A to the outside of the display device. Ex. 1004 at ¶36 (citing 2:59-66; 5:45-
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`51, 59-64). Endo also discloses that the reflecting plates 4C and 4D are made, e.g., by
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`an aluminum plate coated with white paint (acrylic resin paint) (see id. at 5:45-51, 59-
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`64).
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`Accordingly, at least the interior side surfaces of the frame 2 and the reflecting
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`plate 4D of the tray act as exemplary side edge and back reflectors, respectively, and
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`the interior surfaces of the overhangs of the frame 2 and the reflecting plates 4C of
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`the tray act as exemplary secondary flat reflective or refractive surfaces to redirect at
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`least a