`571-272-7822
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`
`
`
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` Paper 9
` Entered: January 13, 2015
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`
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`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`____________
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`____________
`
`LG DISPLAY CO., LTD.,
`Petitioner,
`
`v.
`
`INNOVATIVE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGIES LLC,
`Patent Owner.
`____________
`
`Case IPR2014-01097
`Patent 7,300,194
`____________
`
`
`
`
`Before THOMAS L. GIANNETTI, NEIL T. POWELL, and
`BEVERLY M. BUNTING, Administrative Patent Judges.
`
`
`
`
`GIANNETTI, Administrative Patent Judge.
`
`
`
`
`
`DECISION
`Institution of Inter Partes Review
`37 C.F.R. § 42.108
`
`Page 1 of 19
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`TOYOTA EXHIBIT 1007
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`
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`Case IPR2014-01097
`Patent 7,300,194
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`LG Display Co., Ltd. (“Petitioner”) filed a Petition pursuant to 35
`
`U.S.C. §§ 311–319 to institute an inter partes review of claims 1, 4–6, 16,
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`22, 23, 27, 28, and 31 of U.S. Patent No. 7,300,194 (“the ’194 patent”).
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`Paper 2 (“Pet.”). Innovative Display Technologies LLC (“Patent Owner”)
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`filed a Preliminary Response. Paper 7 (“Prelim. Resp.”). Applying the
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`standard set forth in 35 U.S.C. § 314(a), which requires demonstration of a
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`reasonable likelihood that Petitioner would prevail with respect to at least
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`one challenged claim, we grant the Petition and institute institute an inter
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`partes review of all challenged claims.
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`
`
`I. BACKGROUND
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`A. The ʼ194 patent (Ex. 1001)
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`The ʼ194 patent is entitled “Light Emitting Panel Assemblies.” The
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`Abstract describes the subject matter as follows:
`
`Light emitting assemblies include at least one light
`source and at least one film, sheet, plate or substrate having
`optical elements or deformities of well defined shape on at least
`one surface that have reflective or refractive surfaces for
`controlling the light output ray angle distribution of the emitted
`light. The film, sheet, plate or substrate may be positioned near
`the light emitting surface of a light emitting panel member with
`an air gap therebetween or over a cavity or recess in a tray
`through which light from a light source in the cavity or recess is
`emitted.
`
`Ex. 1001, Abstract.
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`B. Illustrative Claim
`
`Claim 1 is illustrative of the claims at issue:
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`1. A light emitting assembly comprising at least a light
`emitting panel member having a light emitting surface,
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`Patent 7,300,194
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`at least one light source,
`at least one film, sheet, plate or substrate positioned near
`the light emitting surface through which light from the panel
`member is emitted, and
`an air gap between the film, sheet, plate or substrate and
`the panel member, wherein at least one surface of the film,
`sheet, plate or substrate has one or more reflective or refractive
`surfaces, and at least one of the reflective or refractive surfaces
`has well defined optical elements or deformities for controlling
`the emitted light such that at least some of the light is redirected
`to pass through a liquid crystal display with low loss.
`
`C. Related Proceedings
`
`
`
`Patent Owner states that it has asserted infringement by Petitioner of
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`the ʼ194 patent in the following proceeding: Delaware Display Group LLC
`
`et al. v. LG Electronics, Inc. et al., No. 1:13-cv-02109 (D. Del., filed Dec.
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`31, 2013). Paper 5.
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`Patent Owner identifies numerous other proceedings in which it has
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`alleged infringement of the ʼ194 patent. See Paper 5 for a listing.
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`In addition, there are four other pending requests for inter partes
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`review by Petitioner for patents related to the ’194 patent. Id. Those are as
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`follows:
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`1. IPR2014-01092 (U.S. Patent No. 7,434,974);
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`2. IPR2014-01094 (U.S. Patent No. 7,404,660);
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`3. IPR2014-01095 (U.S. Patent No. 8,215,816); and
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`4. IPR2014-01096 (U.S. Patent No. 7,537,370).
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`D. Claim Construction
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`The Board interprets claims of an unexpired patent using the broadest
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`reasonable construction in light of the specification of the patent in which
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`they appear. 37 C.F.R. § 42.100(b); see also Office Patent Trial Practice
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`Guide, 77 Fed. Reg. 48,756, 48,766 (Aug. 14, 2012).
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`The only claim term for which Petitioner proposes a construction is
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`the term “deformities,” appearing in all challenged claims. Petitioner asserts
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`that the ʼ194 patent “expressly defines” the term to mean “any change in the
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`shape or geometry of the panel surface and/or coating or surface treatment
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`that causes a portion of light to be emitted.” Pet. 7 (citing ʼ194 patent, Ex.
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`1001, col. 4, ll. 44–48). Patent Owner takes no position on claim
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`construction. Prelim. Resp. 4. Patent Owner points out, however, that the
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`construction of “deformities” proffered by Petitioner was agreed to and
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`adopted by the district court. Id. at 5.
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`We have considered Petitioner’s construction of “deformities” and
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`determined that at this stage it should be adopted here.
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`We have further determined that, except as may be indicated in the
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`discussion below, the remaining terms should be given their plain and
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`ordinary meaning.
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`Petitioner relies on the following references1:
`
`E. References
`
`Pristash
`Funamoto
`Gyoko2
`Kobayashi
`Nishio
`
`
`US 5,005,108
`US 5,619,351
`JP H06-273756
`US 5,408,388
`US 5,598,280
`
`Apr. 2, 1991
`May 10, 1994
`Sep. 30, 1994
`Apr. 18, 1995
`Mar. 22, 1994
`
`Ex. 1006
`Ex. 1007
`Ex. 1008
`Ex. 1011
`Ex. 1012
`
`
`1 The references are ordered by exhibit number with effective dates asserted
`by Petitioner.
`2 Exhibit 1008 is a certified translation of the original Japanese document,
`Exhibit 1009.
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`Petitioner also states that it is relying on Admitted Prior Art (“APA”)
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`from the ʼ194 patent specification. Pet. 8; Ex. 1001, col. 2, l.
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`64–col. 3, l .4. Petitioner also relies on a Declaration from Michael J.
`
`Escuti, Ph.D. (“Escuti Decl.”). Ex. 1004.
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`F. Grounds Asserted
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`Petitioner challenges claims 1, 4–6, 16, 22, 23, 27, 28, and 31 of the
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`ʼ194 patent on the following grounds.
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`
`References
`
`Pristash
`Funamoto
`Funamoto
`Gyoko
`Kobayashi
`Nishio
`Nishio and Funamoto
`
`Claims Challenged
`1, 4–6, 28
`1, 16, 22, 23, 27, 31
`4, 5, 6
`16, 22, 23, 27, 31
`28
`1, 4–6, 28
`16, 22, 23, 27, 31
`
`Basis
`§ 103(a)
`§ 102(e)
`§ 103(a)
`§ 102(a)
`§ 102(a)
`§ 102(e)
`§ 103(a)
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`
`
`
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`II. ANALYSIS
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`A. Real Party-in-Interest
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`Patent Owner’s Preliminary Response does not identify any
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`deficiencies in Petitioner’s arguments for obviousness or anticipation of the
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`challenged claims. Prelim. Resp. 2. Instead, Patent Owner asserts that the
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`Petition should be denied for failure to name two real parties-in-interest: LG
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`Display Co., Ltd. and LG Electronics U.S.A., Inc. Id. at 2-3. We therefore
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`address this challenge to the Petition before turning to the merits.
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`In its Preliminary Response in related IPR2014 -01096 (Paper 9 in
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`that proceeding), Patent Owner makes the same argument. For the reasons
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`stated in our Institution Decision in IPR2014 -01096, we determine that
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`Patent Owner has not demonstrated that the Petition here should be denied
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`on this ground.
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`
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`B. Asserted Grounds Based On Pristash (Claims 1, 4–6, and 28)
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`Petitioner contends that these claims are obvious over Pristash under
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`35 U.S.C. § 103(a). Pet. 11–25. For the reasons that follow, we are
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`persuaded that Petitioner has demonstrated a reasonable likelihood of
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`prevailing on this ground.
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`
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`1. Pristash Overview
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`Pristash describes a “[t]hin panel illuminator [that] includes a solid
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`transparent panel member having one or more deformed output regions.”
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`Ex. 1006, Abstract. The arrangement causes light entering the panel along
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`an input edge to be emitted along the length of the panel. Id.
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`This is illustrated in Figure 1 of Pristash, reproduced here:
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`In the above Figure 1, light emitting panel 2 and disruptions 16 in the
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`exterior surface 18 of the panel are shown. Ex. 1006, col. 3, ll. 9–48.
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`Figure 7 of Pristash shows another embodiment of the light panel and
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`is reproduced here:
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`In the above Figure 7, light emitting panel 50, transparent prismatic
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`film 51, prismatic surface 52, back reflector 53, second prismatic film 60,
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`
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`and air gap 61 are shown.
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`
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`2. Discussion
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`Petitioner’s analysis of claims 1, 4–6, and 28 of the ʼ194 patent in
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`relation to Pristash appears at pages 11–19 of the Petition and paragraphs
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`67–96 of the Escuti Declaration. Petitioner asserts that Pristash “teaches
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`each and every element of Claims 1, 4–6, and 28.” Pet. 12. For example,
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`Petitioner identifies the claimed “light emitting panel member” with
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`Pristash’s transparent prismatic film 51. Pet. 13, 15. Petitioner identifies the
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`claimed “film . . . positioned near the light emitting surface” with Pristash’s
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`second prismatic film 60. Id. at 15. Further, Petitioner contends that a
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`person of ordinary skill would have been motivated to combine the various
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`embodiments of Pristash. Pet. 12; Escuti Decl. ¶ 66.
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`We have reviewed the information provided by Petitioner, including
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`the claim chart analysis (Pet. 15–19) and are persuaded that, based on this
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`record, Petitioner has demonstrated a reasonable likelihood of prevailing on
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`this challenge to claims 1, 4–6, and 28 as obvious over Pristash.
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`
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`
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`C. Asserted Grounds Based On Funamoto
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`
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`1. Funamoto Overview
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`This patent describes a surface-type illumination device for providing
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`
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`
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`backlight in a liquid crystal display. Ex. 1007, Abstract. As disclosed, the
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`device makes use of a fluorescent tube and polarizer. This is illustrated in
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`Figure 4 of Funamoto, reproduced here:
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`In the above Figure 4, polarizer 21, fluorescent light 22, reflectors 23a
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`and 23b, pattern sheet 24, and reflecting sheet 25 are shown. Ex. 1001,
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`col. 6, ll. 32–48.
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`
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`
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`2. Anticipation of Claims 1, 16, 22, 23, 27, and 31
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`Petitioner contends that these claims are anticipated by Funamoto
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`under 35 U.S.C. § 102(e). Pet. 19–29. For the reasons that follow, we are
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`persuaded that Petitioner has demonstrated a reasonable likelihood of
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`prevailing on this ground.
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`Petitioner asserts that Funamoto “describes each and every element of
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`Claims 1, 16, 22, 23, 27, and 31.” Pet. 19; Escuti Decl. ¶¶ 99–139. For
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`example, Petitioner identifies the claimed “light emitting panel member”
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`with Funamoto’s polarizer. Pet. 20. Petitioner acknowledges, however, that
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`“it is not immediately clear that the polarizer is a light emitting panel
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`member.” Id. Petitioner therefore points to U.S. Patent No. 6,108,060 (Ex.
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`1013), which it describes as “Funamoto’s child patent.” According to
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`Petitioner, in that patent, the term “polarizer” is replaced with “light guide
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`plate.” Pet. 20.
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`We are not persuaded by this argument. Petitioner has not provided a
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`sufficient rationale for the Board to consider the “child patent,” which issued
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`in August 2000, long after the effective filing date of the ʼ194 patent. We
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`note further that the change in language from “polarizer” to “light guide
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`plate” is not clear proof that they are the same thing, for it could have
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`resulted from a desire to broaden the description in the disclosure.
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`We are, however, more convinced by the description of the light panel
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`in the Specification of the ʼ194 patent: “A transparent light emitting material
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`of any suitable type . . . may be used for the light emitting panels.”
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`Ex. 1001, col. 4, ll. 10–12. This description, which would encompass a
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`polarizer, persuades us that Petitioner has sufficiently demonstrated that the
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`polarizer in Funamoto meets the light emitting panel limitation in the claims.
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`We have reviewed the other information provided by Petitioner,
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`including the claim chart analysis (Pet. 23–29), and are persuaded that,
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`based on this record, Petitioner has demonstrated a reasonable likelihood of
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`prevailing on this challenge to claims 1, 16, 22, 23, 27, and 31 as anticipated
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`by Funamoto.
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`3. Obviousness of Claims 4, 5, and 6
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`These claims depend from independent claim 1. Petitioner contends
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`that these claims are obvious over Funamoto under 35 U.S.C. § 103.
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`Pet. 29–30. For the reasons that follow, we are persuaded that Petitioner has
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`demonstrated a reasonable likelihood of prevailing on this challenge.
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`Petitioner contends that “Funamoto describes each and every element
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`of independent Claim 1.” Pet. 29. Petitioner argues that the elements added
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`by claims 4, 5, and 6 are “disclosed within Funamoto in a separate
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`embodiment.” Id. One example is the requirement of claim 4 for multiple
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`light sources. Petitioner relies on Figure 19 of Funamoto to meet this
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`requirement. Id. at 30; Escuti Dec. ¶ 144. Petitioner contends that a person
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`of ordinary skill would have been motivated to combine these embodiments.
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`Id. at 29; Escuti Decl. ¶ 143. Based on this record, we determine that
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`Petitioner has provided a sufficient rationale for combining the
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`embodiments.
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`We have reviewed the other information provided by Petitioner,
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`including the claim chart analysis (Pet. 28–29), and are persuaded that,
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`based on this record, Petitioner has demonstrated a reasonable likelihood of
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`prevailing on this challenge to claims 4, 5, and 6 as obvious over Funamoto.
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`D. Asserted Grounds Based on Gyoko (Claims 16, 22, 23, 27, and 31)
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`
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`Petitioner contends that these claims are anticipated by Gyoko under
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`35 U.S.C. § 102(a). Pet. 30–37. For the reasons that follow, we are not
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`persuaded that Petitioner has a reasonable likelihood of prevailing on this
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`ground.
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`1. Gyoko Overview
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`Gyoko describes an illuminating device suitable for use as a backlight
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`for illuminating the rear surface of an LCD display. Ex. 1008, [0001].
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`Figure 1 of Gyoko is reproduced here:
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`
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`In the above Figure 4, light guide body13, light emitting surface 13a,
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`fluorescent lamps 14a, 14b, lower reflecting sheet 15, diffusing sheet 16, and
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`rough surface reflecting portions 17 are shown. Ex. 1008, 13.
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`2. Discussion
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`Petitioner’s analysis of claims 16, 22, 23, 27, and 31 of the ʼ194
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`patent in relation to Gyoko appears at pages 30–37 of the Petition and
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`paragraphs 157–188 of the Escuti Declaration. Petitioner asserts that Gyoko
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`“discloses each and every element of Claims 16, 22, 23, 27, and 31.”
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`Pet. 31. For example, Petitioner identifies the “film sheet, plate or substrate
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`positioned over the cavity or recess through which light from the light
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`source is emitted” in independent claim 16 with the diffusing sheet 16 in
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`Gyoko. Pet. 34-35; Escuti Decl. ¶ 164. Claim 16 further recites: “wherein
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`at least one surface of the film sheet . . . has one or more reflective or
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`refractive surfaces.” Furthermore, the claim recites: “at least one of the
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`reflective or refractive surfaces has well defined optical elements or
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`deformities for controlling the emitted light.”
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`
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`To meet this limitation of the claim, Petitioner points to the diffusing
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`sheet in Gyoko. Pet. 34; Escuti Decl. ¶¶ 165–66. According to the Escuti
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`Declaration: “diffusion sheet (16) can inherently include reflective and
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`refractive surfaces.” Id. at ¶ 165. The Escuti Declaration concludes that this
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`element of claim 16 is present in Gyoko. Id. at ¶ 168.
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`
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`We are not persuaded by Petitioner’s argument that this element is
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`met by Gyoko. The claim calls for “well defined optical elements or
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`deformities.” Neither the Petition nor the Escuti Declaration points to such a
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`description in Gyoko. Instead, the Escuti Declaration opines: “a diffusing
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`sheet has defusing deformities which can be embodied as nearly any
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`interruption on the surface of a planar optical sheet.” Id. ¶ 166 (emphasis
`
`added). The Declaration states further, “[a] person of ordinary skill would
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`understand that the diffusing sheet (16) of Gyoko would cause the light
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`redirected into the panel member to necessarily interact with the
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`deformities.” Id. The Escuti Declaration provides no further support for this
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`conclusion. We are not persuaded by this conclusory analysis that this
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`element would be met by Gyoko.
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`We are, therefore, not persuaded by the information presented that
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`Petitioner is reasonably likely to prevail on this challenge to claim 16 or its
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`dependent claims 22, 23, and 27. Independent claim 33 contains similar
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`language, and Petitioner’s challenge to that claim relies on its analysis of
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`claim 16. Pet. 36-37. We, therefore, reach the same conclusion as to claim
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`16, that Petitioner has not shown it is reasonably likely to prevail on this
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`challenge based on Gyoko.
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`E. Asserted Grounds Based on Kobayashi (Claim 28)
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`Petitioner contends that this claim is anticipated by Kobayashi under
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`35 U.S.C. § 102(b). Pet. 37–41. For the reasons that follow, we are
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`persuaded that Petitioner has a reasonable likelihood of prevailing on this
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`ground.
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`
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`1. Kobayashi Overview
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`This patent describes “planar illuminating device used as a back light
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`for liquid crystal displays.” Ex. 1011, col.1, ll. 6–9. The device has a
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`rectangular light transmitting plate of a transparent material. Id., col. 4,
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`ll. 10–11. One side of the plate has prismatic cuts. Id., col. 4, l. 27. The
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`other side has a reflecting finish, e.g., an array of spot-shaped light reflecting
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`layers. Id., col. 4, ll. 28–29. This is illustrated by Figure 2 of Kobayashi,
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`reproduced here:
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`In Figure 2 above, light plate 2, fluorescent lamps 3, and array of
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`spot-shaped reflective layers 22 (e.g., of white paint or aluminum vapor
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`deposition) are shown. Id., col 4, ll. 45–47.
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`2. Discussion
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`Petitioner contends that Kobayashi discloses all elements of claim 28.
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`Pet. 39. For example, the claim calls for “deformities of well defined shape
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`on or in the top or bottom surfaces.” Patent Owner identifies both the
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`prismatic cuts and the array of spot-shaped light reflecting layers as such
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`“deformities.” See Pet. 39; Escuti Decl. ¶ 201.
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`
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`We have reviewed the other information provided by Petitioner,
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`including the claim chart analysis (Pet. 39–41) and are persuaded that, based
`
`on this record, Petitioner has demonstrated a reasonable likelihood of
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`prevailing on this challenge to claim 28.
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`F. Asserted Grounds Based on Nishio (Claims 1, 4–6, and 28)
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`Petitioner contends that these claims are anticipated by Nishio under
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`35 U.S.C. § 102(e). Pet. 41–48. For the reasons that follow, we are
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`persuaded that Petitioner has demonstrated a reasonable likelihood of
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`prevailing on this ground.
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`
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`1. Nishio Overview
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`This patent described a film lens and surface light source for
`
`back-lighting a liquid crystal display. Ex. 1012, col. 1, ll. 7–10. Figure 6
`
`of Nishio is reproduced here:
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`
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`In Figure 6, light guide plate 1, reflecting layer 2, light source 3, lens
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`sheet 4, and gap 9 are shown.
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`2. Discussion
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`Petitioner contends that Nishio discloses all elements of claim 1, 4–6,
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`and 28. Pet. 41. For example, Petitioner identifies the “light emitting panel
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`member” in the claims as light guide plate 1. Id. at 43. Petitioner identifies
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`the “at least one film, sheet, plate or substrate” in the claims as lens sheet 4.
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`Id. at 44. And Petitioner identifies the “reflective or refractive surfaces” in
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`the claims as the triangular shaped deformities 42 shown in Figure 6. Id. at
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`45; Escuti Decl. ¶ 214.
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`
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`We have reviewed the other information provided by Petitioner,
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`including the claim chart analysis (Pet. 43–48), and are persuaded that,
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`based on this record, Petitioner has demonstrated a reasonable likelihood of
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`prevailing on this challenge to claims 1, 4–6, and 28.
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`G. Asserted Grounds Based on Nishio and Funamoto
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`(Claims 16, 22, 23, 27, and 31)
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`
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`Petitioner asserts that Nishio “alone will render Claims 16, 22, 23, 27,
`
`and 31 obvious.” Pet. 48. However, Petitioner recognizes that because
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`Nishio does not “expressly describe” a housing, the “tray that forms a cavity
`
`or recess” called for in the claims is not “explicitly shown” in Nishio. Id. at
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`48-49. Therefore, because Funamoto describes a housing, Petitioner urges
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`the Board to “combine the teachings” of Nishio and Funamoto. Id. at 49.
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`
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`Petitioner proffers the rationale for making this combination as
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`follows: “Because Nishio teaches a housing containing all the elements of
`
`the assembly, but does not expressly describe a housing, a person of
`
`ordinary skill in the art would look to a reference such as Funamoto to
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`disclose the housing for the device.” Id. at 49. Petitioner states further, “A
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`person of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to combine the
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`teachings of Nishio and Funamoto because they are both directed to the
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`improvement of light emitting panel assemblies in terms of uniformity and
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`efficiency.” Id.
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`
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`We are not persuaded by Petitioner’s argument. While it is possible
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`that it would have been obvious to provide Nishio’s light assembly with a
`
`housing, Petitioner has not demonstrated sufficiently that a person of
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`ordinary skill would choose the particular housing taught by Funamoto. The
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`fact that both Nishio and Funamoto are directed to the general goal of
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`improving light emitting panel assemblies is insufficient rationale for
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`making that choice.
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`We conclude therefore that Petitioner has not sufficiently shown that
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`Nishio itself meets all elements of the claims, or that there is sufficient
`
`rationale for combining Nishio and Funamoto, Petitioner has not
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`demonstrated a reasonable likelihood of prevailing on this challenge to
`
`claims 16, 22, 23, 27, and 31.
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`III. SUMMARY
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`The information presented shows there is a reasonable likelihood that
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`Petitioner will prevail on the following challenges to patentability of the
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`ʼ194 patent:
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`A. Obviousness of claims 1, 4–6, and 28 over Pristash;
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`B. Anticipation of claims 1, 16, 22, 23, 27, and 31 by Funamoto;
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`C. Obviousness of claims 4, 5, and 6 over Funamoto;
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`D. Anticipation of claim 28 by Kobayashi; and
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`E. Anticipation of claims 1, 4–6, and 28 by Nishio.
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`The information presented does not show there is a reasonable
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`likelihood that Petitioner will prevail on any of the following challenges to
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`patentability of the ʼ194 patent:
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`F. Anticipation of claims 16, 22, 23, 27, and 31 by Gyoko;
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`G. Obviousness of claims 16, 22, 23, 27, and 31 over Nishio alone or
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`Nishio and Funamoto.
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`17
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`Page 17 of 19
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`Case IPR2014-01097
`Patent 7,300,194
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`At this stage of the proceeding, the Board has not made a final
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`determination as to the patentability of any challenged claim or the
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`construction of any claim term.
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`
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`IV. ORDER
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`It is, therefore,
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`ORDERED that the Petition is granted as to all challenged claims;
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`FURTHER ORDERED that pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 314(a), an inter
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`partes review is hereby instituted on the following grounds:
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`A. Obviousness of claims 1, 4–6, and 28 over Pristash;
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`B. Anticipation of claims 1, 16, 22, 23, 27, and 31 by Funamoto;
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`C. Obviousness of claims 4, 5, and 6 over Funamoto;
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`D. Anticipation of claim 28 by Kobayashi; and
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`E. Anticipation of claims 1, 4–6, and 28 by Nishio;
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`FURTHER ORDERED that no other proposed grounds of
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`unpatentability are authorized; and
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`FURTHER ORDERED that pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 314(c) and
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`37 C.F.R. § 42.4, notice is hereby given of the institution of a trial
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`commencing on the entry date of this decision.
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`18
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`Page 18 of 19
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`Case IPR2014-01097
`Patent 7,300,194
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`PETITIONER:
`
`Robert G. Pluta
`Amanda K. Streff
`Baldine B. Paul
`Anita Y. Lam
`MAYER BROWN LLP
`rpluta@mayerbrown.com
`astreff@mayerbrown.com
`bpaul@mayerbrown.com
`alam@mayerbrown.com
`
`
`
`PATENT OWNER:
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`Justin B. Kimble
`BRAGALONE CONROY P.C.
`jkimble@bcpc-law.com
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`19
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`Page 19 of 19
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