throbber
UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`APPLE INC.,
`
`Petitioner,
`
`COMARCO WIRELESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.,
`Patent Owner.
`
`Case No. IPR2015~01879
`
`U.S. Patent No. 8,492,933
`
`DECLARATION OF MASSOUD PEDRAM, Ph. D.,
`
`IN SUPPORT OF PATENT OWNER'S RESPONSE
`
`Comarco Ex. 2001
`
`

`
`I, Massoud
`
`’edram, have been retained by Comarco Wireless
`
`Technologies, Inc., to testify as an expert witness in this matter. To that end, I
`
`declare, pursuant to 28 USC. § 1746, as follows:
`
`I.
`
`Bac
`
`round
`
`1.
`
`I am the Stephen and Etta Varra Professor in the Viteri School
`
`of Engineering of the University of Southern California. This is an endowed
`
`position that I have held since 2013.
`
`I was a Professor in the Department of
`
`Electrical Engineering at USC from 2000 to 2012, Associate Professor from 1996
`
`to 2000, and an Assistant Professor from 1991 to 1996.
`
`2.
`
`I graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a
`
`Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in 1991, and
`
`a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in 1989.
`
`I
`
`received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in 1986 from the
`
`California Institute of Technology.
`
`3.
`
`I have continuously taught undergraduate and graduate courses
`
`in electrical engineering since 1991 concerning a variety of subjects, including
`
`Advanced Switching Theory and Logic Design, Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor
`
`Very~Large-— Scale Integration (VLSI) Circuit Design, VLSI System Design I and
`
`II, Computer Aided Design of Digital Systems I and II.
`
`

`
`4.
`
`I have authored or co-authored nearly 600 peer-reviewed
`
`conference and archival papers, 20 book chapters, and four books. A complete list
`
`of my publications, articles, reports, and invited lectures in the fields of electrical
`
`engineering and computer science is included in my resume, which is attached as
`
`Exhibit A.
`
`5.
`
`I am a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics
`
`Engineers
`
`(IEEE),
`
`and a distinguished scientist of Advanced Computing
`
`Machinery (ACM).
`
`I was a Distinguished Lecturer/Speaker for the Association for
`
`Computing Machinery (ACM) (2007-2014), and the IEEE Solid State Circuits
`
`Society (2001-2007).
`
`6.
`
`I have served as a member of research or technical advisory
`
`boards for a number of high technology companies, including Atrenta Inc. (2003-
`
`2015), Fulcrum Microsystems (2001-2004), Magma Design Automation Inc.
`
`(1997-2002), and EPIC Design Technology (1994-1997).
`
`7.
`
`Among other awards and honors, I have received the following:
`
`—- Charles A. Desoer Technical Achievement Award in 2015
`
`from the IEEE Circuits and Systems Society " for contributions to modeling and
`
`design of low power VLSI circuits and systems, and energy efficient computing."
`
`

`
`-- Frequent Author Award (Top Three Author Award) at the
`
`Asia and South Pacific Design Automation Conference 20th Anniversary Award
`
`(2015)
`
`-- Bronze Cited Author at the 50th Anniversary of the Design
`
`Automation Conference (2013)
`
`-- ACM SIGDA Distinguished Service Award (2014 and 2000)
`
`-- Seven Best Paper Awards at seven major conferences and
`
`symposia in the field of microelectronic design and electronic design automation
`
`-— Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers
`
`(1996), and the National Science Foundation’s Young Investigator Award (1994).
`
`8.
`
`I served as the inaugural Editor—in-Chief of the IEEE Journal on
`
`Emerging and Selected Topics in Circuits and Systems (2010-2013), and as Editor-
`
`in—Chief of the ACM Transaction on Design Automation of Electronic Systems
`
`(2008-2014).
`
`I also co-founded the IEEE/ACM International Symposium on Low
`
`Power Electronics and Design in 1996, and have served as its General Chair,
`
`Technical Program Chair, and am currently Chair of its Executive Committee.
`
`9.
`
`I am a co-inventor of ten United States Patents as listed on my
`
`resume.
`
`10. A list of the matters in which I have provided expert testimony
`
`is attached as Exhibit B.
`
`

`
`11.
`
`I am being compensated by Comarco at my normal consulting
`
`rate of $750 per hour.
`
`I have no financial or other interest in Comarco, Apple, or
`
`the outcome of this matter.
`
`II.
`
`The Basis of My Testimony and Materials Considered
`
`12.
`
`I have reviewed the opinion of the Board instituting a trial to
`
`determine whether claims 1 and 2 of United States Patent No. 8,492,933 (the ‘"933
`
`patent") are patentable, and understand that the question for resolution is whether
`
`claims 1 and 2 (the "challenged claims") are obvious in light of U.S. Patent No.
`
`7,243,246 to Allen, et al. (Ex. 1003, "Allen"), in combination with U.S. Patent No.
`
`7,296,164 to Breen, et al. (Ex. 1004, "Breen") and U.S. Patent No. 6,054,846 to
`
`Castleman, et al. (Ex. 1005, "Castleman").
`
`13.
`
`In formulating my testimony I have reviewed and considered
`
`Apple's Petition for Inter Partes Review, the Declaration of Nathaniel J. Davis, IV,
`
`Ph. D., Dr. Davis's deposition testimony, as well as the ‘933 patent and the Allen,
`
`Breen, and Castleman patents.
`
`14.
`
`In addition to my background and experience as summarized
`
`above, I believe that I am qualified to render testimony that may assist the Board in
`
`resolving the question presented for the following supplementary reasons.
`
`15.
`
`The
`
`challenged claims
`
`cover power
`
`supply
`
`equipment
`
`comprised of an adapter containing circuitry for producing an analog data signal
`
`

`
`for use by the electronic device to control an amount of power drawn by the
`
`electronic device; a cable that conveys converted DC power from the adapter to the
`
`electronic device; and an output connector containing circuitry that receives a data
`
`request
`
`from an electronic device and transmits a data output
`
`in response
`
`identifying the power supply equipment, including the adapter and the connector.
`
`16.
`
`I have been involved in the design and analysis of application
`
`specific integrated circuits, microprocessor—based devices and systems, and
`
`embedded systems since at least mid 19905. All of these matters are implicated by
`
`the current trial. For example, my research projects have included design and
`
`runtime control of a microcomputer system equipped with various power
`
`optimization and management features (the APOLLO and POLAR projects funded
`
`by the Department of Defense), analysis and optimization of power consumption in
`
`different computing systems comprised of one or more CPUS, different types of
`
`memory, and various I/O devices (e. g., a project on power management in battery-
`
`powered embedded systems and another on power management in multi-«processor
`
`systems, both funded by the National Science Foundation).
`
`In addition, a review
`
`of my publications and lectures will demonstrate that much of my work is related
`
`to power management systems,
`
`including the design of power converters and
`
`power efficiency considerations
`
`in computing systems
`
`including embedded
`
`systems and mobile devices.
`
`

`
`17. My testimony is also informed by my understanding of the law
`
`of obviousness based on my experience as a patentee and as an expert witness in
`
`other matters.
`
`In this regard, it is my understanding that a claimed invention is
`
`obvious if the differences between the claimed subject matter and the prior art are
`
`such that the subject matter as a whole would have been obvious to a person
`
`having ordinary skill.
`
`In part relevant here, it is also my understanding that, in
`
`evaluating the obviousness of the challenged claims, I should consider the scope
`
`and teachings of the prior art, the differences between the claimed invention and
`
`the prior art, and the level of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention.
`
`18.
`
`I am also aware that a patent claim composed of known
`
`components in the prior art is not necessarily obvious because many patented
`
`inventions are comprised of combinations of known components.
`
`It is, therefore,
`
`my understanding that
`
`there must be an articulated reason with a rational
`
`underpinning that would have led a person of ordinary skill to modify a prior art
`
`reference in a particular way, or to combine two or more prior art references, in
`
`order to render a claimed invention obvious.
`
`19. A rational reason for combining known components may be
`
`based on the general knowledge of a person of ordinary skill of a market demand
`
`or need to combine components in a way that would satisfy that need or demand,
`
`or when the combination would lead to a predictable result.
`
`

`
`20.
`
`Conversely,
`
`it is my understanding that a person of ordinary
`
`skill would have no reason or motivation to combine known elements from the
`
`prior art when,
`
`in so doing, the prior art would have to be redesigned for no
`
`apparent benefit, or the combination would change the basic principle of operation
`
`of a prior art reference, or the combination of elements would render the prior
`
`inoperable.
`
`21.
`
`I am informed and believe that one cannot use a claimed
`
`invention as a map to pick and choose elements or components from the prior art in
`
`order to replicate a claimed invention. Thus, I understand that obviousness is
`
`evaluated from the perspective of a person of ordinary skill at the time of the
`
`invention and that hindsight reconstruction of the prior art in light of the patented
`
`invention is improper.
`
`22.
`
`I agree with Dr. Davis's description of the qualifications and
`
`experience of a person of ordinary skill.
`
`I disagree with Dr. Davis’s reasoning and
`
`conclusions that that person of ordinary skill would consider the challenged claims
`
`obvious, for the reasons that follow.
`
`I begin with understandings of the nature and
`
`operation of the challenged claims as well as the teachings of Allen, Breen, and
`
`Castleman.
`
`I then explain why, in my view, the challenged claims are not obvious.
`
`

`
`III. The '933 Patent
`
`23.
`
`The '933 patent discloses power supply equipment that provide
`
`DC power to an electronic device 335, such as a laptop computer or cell phone.
`
`The equipment includes an adapter 340 that converts different levels of power
`
`drawn from either an AC power source 300 or a DC power source 305 into an
`
`appropriate level of DC power to operate and/or charge the batteries of an
`
`electronic device safely.
`
`Power supply Sy$€<:fl'I 30}
`
`/I
`
`\
`
`Came 342
`
`340
`
`{Table 350
`
`
`
`» Cabic345
`
`rcgpfifiizm
`i £:£re:u§Ery325
`
`Micro ~
`centxrafler 9%,?
`
`I
`
`=
`
`device
`
`(Iontroier
`3“
`
`=
`
`'
`
`B33973’
`charging
`Circufiry
`60!:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`_ in
`» 3d‘*l5““ 315 {
`'
`
`.

`
`’
`
`V
`; Coinpaxison
`f circuitry 320
`
`
`Control
`
`circuitry
`3 7%
`
`H
`
`‘
`
`p
`
`_
`
`FIG. I]
`
`D
`'
`WW“
`SOIIWQ
`305
`“WWW”
`
`

`
`A cable 350 running from the adapter has an output connector or tip 330 at its
`
`distal end that plugs into the electronic device and carries converted DC power
`
`from the adapter to the electronic device. Because electronic devices usually have
`
`power input ports of different shapes and sizes, the output connector or tip 330
`
`may be detachable from the cable and replaced with a differently configured
`
`connector that fits the power port of a particular electronic device. Apple 1001 at
`
`3:57-60. Thus, the power supply equipment of the '933 patent can supply power
`
`drawn from either AC or DC sources to a plurality of different electronic devices
`
`having different power requirements and power input configurations.
`
`Id. at 3:57-
`
`60; 4:15-18.
`
`24.
`
`The '933 patent also discloses comparison circuitry 320 in a
`
`power adapter that transmits an analog data signal -- Vdata, identified as value or
`
`character string 980 in Figure 9A -- through an output connector to an electronic
`
`device.
`
`Id. at 6:65-68 and 7:7—l2; 9:8-10. Vdam generally indicates the maximum
`
`amount of power the adapter can provide to the electronic device.
`
`Id. at 7:7—l2;
`
`9:8-20.
`
`

`
`¢’.2onc1\_»:tL>r 995
`
`gm
`
`/
`
`Qumm Conmcmr 9%
`
`lnpazz Connector 98$
`Vain: or character
`smug 98!}
`
`‘v'”.,,.,,~ (from adapter {M0}
`
`(END ifmm adapxrzr 94(3)’
`
`y
`
`.............a ...... ..
`
`To
`fiiedtfifiifi
`dcvaoe
`935
`
`
`
`D-igrtal or mining
`control circuitry 902 1
`
`
`
`
`
`
`5
`1§1
`
`Como‘: sigma?
`
`gm adapzer9403
`
`5
`
`5
`
`i
`
`,.__*_i
`Conimlltr950
`
`FIG. 9A
`
`Vdata may be based on the differing levels of power capability of a standard AC
`
`source, such as a wall socket, or DC sources, such as those provided in motor
`
`vehicles or airplanes. Apple 1001 at 9:10-14. Alternatively, or in addition, Vdam
`
`may be based on the output power capacity of an adapter. For example, Vdm "may
`
`represent that only 70 watts of power are available from the power adapter because
`
`the power adapter has been limited to that output power." Id. at 727-13; 9:14-20.
`
`Vdata enables an electronic device to manage power drawn from the adapter to, for
`
`example, prevent recharging of its battery if the amount of power is insufficient, or
`
`to simultaneously charge its batteries and operate its other functions if there is
`
`sufficient power.
`
`Id. at 4:54-64; 5:46-54; 614-18.
`
`10
`
`

`
`25.
`
`In addition, the ’933 patent teaches the use of a cable output
`
`connector or tip with circuitry that can communicate with an electronic device.
`
`For example, Figure 9B and the associated text depict and describe a tip 900 that
`
`contains a controller 950 comprising a receiver 952, a memory 954, and a
`
`transmitter 956. Id at 7:26-34.
`
`'»»’w, (Rom adapter 940)
`
`GND(from ada§:nt::__’9«4C6}:%____W”
`
`M \
`
`Lligitaé or arming
`cmm-oi circmtry M12
`
`Control sigxxaflwww
`{IO aCl&p!t:t‘ 9343)
`
`Rzcmvci
`952
`
`r » — — ~
`M1”-'
`Z
`.
`r
`s
`r
`5
`K
`6
`
`To
`electronic
`device
`935
`
`To
`electronic
`device 935
`
`u
`
`v,
`,
`:
`i
`E
`V
`1a
`I
`n
`
`
`
`Controller 956)
`
`
`FIG. 98
`
`This circuitry is capable of receiving a data request signal from an electronic
`
`device and transmitting a signal
`
`in response that
`
`identifies the power supply
`
`equipment providing power to the electronic device. Id. at 7:34-42 and 47-49. The
`
`ability of the tip to respond to an identification inquiry from an electronic device
`
`enables electronic device manufacturers to identify the power supply equipment to
`
`the electronic device and ensure that only approved power supply equipment,
`
`including adapters and tips, are connected to the electronic device.
`
`11
`
`

`
`26.
`
`As discussed below,
`
`the disclosure of the
`
`‘933 patent
`
`concerning the use of (i) an analog data signal to enable an electronic device to
`
`control the amount of power drawn from an adapter, and (ii) an output connector
`
`with reception/response circuitry to identify the power supply equipment to the
`
`electronic device, distinguish the challenged claims from the prior art. These
`
`features are recited in limitations l(b) and l(e) of claim 1 of the '933 patent. The
`
`challenged claims provide, in full:
`
`1.
`
`Power supply equipment comprising:
`
`an adapter to convert power from a power
`[a]
`source, external to the adapter, to DC power
`for
`powering an electronic device,
`
`the adapter including circuitry for producing
`[b]
`an analog data signal for use by the electronic
`device to control
`an amount of power drawn by
`the electronic device; and
`
`[c] a cable having proximal and distal ends, the
`proximal end being electrically coupled to the
`adapter and the distal end terminating in an output
`connector, the output connector including:
`
`[(1] a plurality of conductors to transfer the DC
`power and the analog data signal to the electronic
`device; and
`
`[e] circuitry to receive a data request from the
`electronic device and in response transmit a data
`output to the electronic device to identify the
`power supply equipment to the electronic device.
`
`12
`
`

`
`2.
`
`The power supply equipment of claim 1 wherein
`the output connector can be detached from the
`cable.
`
`IV. Allen, Breen, and Castleman
`
`A.
`
`Allen
`
`27. Allen discloses a power adapter that converts power from either
`
`an AC power source or a DC power source and outputs DC power to an electronic
`
`device. As depicted in Figure 4, Allen's adapter 12 contains a power detection
`
`circuit 74 that detects whether the power source for adapter is AC or DC.
`
`
` 1
`
`mwmwww
`01:
`
`fiazma
`4
`Low as
`
`W» Dam: om
`
`43
`
`i .W.«..../:........W.....“§ mgmnfiemamj
`
`;
`
`“X5
`
`Qmm
`iwwtm’
`3.3
`
`Figure 4
`
`Detection circuit 74 activates either AC identification circuit 77 or DC
`
`identification circuit 78 and thereby causes a data signal to be transmitted to an
`
`electronic device that indicates whether the DC power carried on DC power lines
`
`38 to the electronic device is generated from an AC or a DC power source. Apple
`
`13
`
`

`
`1003 at 5:17-30. The power management components of the electronic device use
`
`the data signal to implement various power management functions. Id. at 5:31-42.
`
`28. Allen discloses that AC and DC identification circuits 77 and
`
`78 can be implemented with a memory circuit or chip that generates a 64-bit data
`
`word containing information related to numerous parameters of the power adapter
`
`including the model and revision number of the adapter, the output voltage, current
`
`output, and error checking data. Id. at 5:43-51.
`
`29.
`
`Referring to Allen’s Figure 3, the external power identification
`
`signal produced by either the AC identification circuit 77 or the DC identification
`
`circuit 78 inside the power adapter is transmitted to a subsystem manager 56 in the
`
`electronic device. The subsystem manager 56 is a Super I/O processor (e.g., one
`
`from Silicon Microsystem Corp) which manages the operations of the electronic
`
`device. Apple 1003 at 4230-33, 4:56-66. An external power state machine 60,
`
`which is implemented as a software module running on the subsystem manager 56,
`
`executes instructions to determine the status of external power sources.
`
`Id. at
`
`4:30-55.
`
`30. Allen's subsystem manager and power state machine do not
`
`send a data request to the adapter and the adapter does not contain circuitry that
`
`responds to a data request. This is confirmed by the flow diagram of Allen's
`
`Figure 5 and the associated text, which depict and describe the process by which
`
`14
`
`

`
`the power state machine follows to determines the status of external power sources.
`
`Precisely,
`
`the power state machine polls the identification chip of the power
`
`adapter to obtain the power identification signal while also reading a power
`
`available status signal generated by charger 50. Apple 1003 at 4:21-24; 4:33-40.
`
`These signals are subsequently used by the power state machine to determine
`
`whether the external power is available, not available, or faulty.
`
`Id. at 4:35-55. If
`
`an external power source is available, the power state machine can determine an
`
`external power state corresponding to an AC power source or DC power source.
`
`Id. at 5:52-6:24.
`
`31.
`
`The subsystem manager 56 in the electronic device uses the AC
`
`or DC power source signal "to implement various power management functions."
`
`Id. at 5:30-42.
`
`"For example, if the data signal .
`
`.
`
`. indicates that the external
`
`power source is AC, the power management components may allow the battery to
`
`be fully charged .
`
`.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`If, on the other hand, the data signal .
`
`.
`
`. indicates that the
`
`external power is from a DC source, the power management components may limit
`
`the charging of the battery and also limit the power consumption of the various
`
`system components." Id. at 5:33-42.
`
`B.
`
`Breen
`
`32.
`
`Breen discloses a power supply system in which
`
`power
`
`H
`
`peripherals," such as power adapters and external batteries, are identified in order
`
`15
`
`

`
`to maintain compatibility and operational coordination among various 'mix-n-
`
`match’ power peripherals connected to an electronic device or
`
`Information
`
`Handling System ("IHS") as Breen calls it. Apple 1004 at 1:52-2:2; 2:9-14; 3:9-1 1.
`
`In this system, each peripheral adapter or external battery contains a semiconductor
`
`chip with power supply identification information ("PSID") for the peripheral.‘
`
`Apple 1004 at 5:67-6:2.
`
`33.
`
`The IHS or electronic device 101 in Breen's system contains a
`
`controller 260 that "sends a request signal to one or more power peripherals over a
`
`bi-directional PSID line [250] to request PSID information" whenever there is a
`
`power event, such as "when power peripherals are attached or detached."
`
`Id. at
`
`5:31-37; 5:47-53; 725-9. The controller makes such a request because a peripheral
`
`battery or adapter may provide power at different levels and create a danger that "a
`
`mismatch of component specifications such as wattage, voltage and current may
`
`result in unsafe operation" of an electronic device. Id. at 2:12-14.
`
`34.
`
`Thus, the controller uses the PSID information transmitted by
`
`each peripheral to ensure "compatibility and co-ordination of operation between
`
`various mix-n-match components of the power supply system 100." Id. at 219-11;
`
`2:67-3:12; 3:57-67. This, for example, means that "when a legacy AC-DC adapter
`
`"Information included in a PSID for each power peripheral may include
`1
`attributes such as power type (e.g., AC or DC), wattage/voltage/current rating,
`peripheral manufacturer, part number, country of origin and similar others." Apple
`1004 at 5:3-7.
`
`16
`
`

`
`without PSID is attached to the portable IHS device 101, .
`
`.
`
`. the BIOS [the basic
`
`input/output system of the portable IHS device] sets the operation of the device
`
`101 in a safe, battery optimized mode and disables the charging of the internal
`
`batteries." Apple 1004 at 5:12-18. As another example, "when an AC-DC adapter
`
`with PSID is electrically coupled to the portable IHS device 101, the source of
`
`power is known. The portable IHS device 101 will operate at a pre-determined
`
`power level (identified by BIOS), based on the AC-DC adapter capacity identified
`
`in the PSID information for that peripheral." Id. at 5:18-25.
`
`35.
`
`Breen's system is illustrated in Figure 2, reproduced below:
`
`1» 2&3
`
`
`
`HG. 2
`
`As shown, power peripheral 230 is an AC/DC converter that is connected by a
`
`cable to external battery 240, which, in turn, is connected by a cable to IHS or
`
`electronic device 101. The cable conveys DC power along lines 220 and 225 and
`
`PSID information along PSID line 250.
`
`36.
`
`The external battery 2 0 contains a power event
`
`trigger
`
`component 270.
`
`Id. at 6:35-40. When an AC/DC converter is plugged or
`
`17
`
`

`
`unplugged from the wall socket (which in turn causes a change in the intermediate
`
`voltage line 220), the power event trigger component 270 in the battery causes a
`
`switch in the battery to momentarily interrupt power supplied on line 225 and a
`
`pulse or trigger signal to be sent to the electronic device. Apple 1004 at Abstract;
`
`2:51-55; 417-12, 6:40—46, 7:54-63. The pulse or trigger signal,
`
`in turn, causes
`
`controller 260 in the electronic device to transmit a PSID request to peripheral
`
`devices. Apple 1004 at 5:32-36. Each power peripheral, which is queried, sends a
`
`response signal over the PSID line 250. Id. at 5:36-37.
`
`37.
`
`Breen's Figure 3 illustrates a pulse signal triggering a power
`
`event
`
`in an electronic device. With this arrangement, when any peripheral
`
`is
`
`attached or detached, the controller 260 in the electronic device is automatically
`
`triggered to send a PSID request to peripherals 230 and 240 along PSID line 250,
`
`and read/update the PSID information to adjust power parameters and device
`
`performance accordingly. Apple 1004 at 5:32-37; 7:5-9.
`
`C.
`
`Castlema
`
`38.
`
`Castleman discloses a power supply connection system that can
`
`deliver different levels of power to a multiplicity of different electronic devices (or
`
`power adapters associated with any of such electronic devices) from one source of
`
`electrical power. Apple 1005 at Abstract; 6:54-57; 8:42-47; 10:18-24. The power
`
`supply system includes means
`
`for accepting electronic—device identification
`
`18
`
`

`
`information from any connected electronic device or power adapter associated with
`
`any such electronic device. Apple 1005 at 6:66-7-1, 10:27-30. This identification
`
`information is encoded in a memory chip and identifies the device to the power
`
`supply system and is used to select power parameters for passage of power to the
`
`electronic devices.2 Id. at Abstract; 7:4-8; 8:6-9; 8:64-9:2; 10:35-40; 11:9—12;
`
`12:13-17. This identification information includes, for example, power parameters
`
`for associated power adapter(s) inside one or more of the electronic devices.
`
`In
`
`one of Castleman's embodiments, the output connector of a cable that plugs into an
`
`electronic device contains a memory chip with information about
`
`the power
`
`requirements of the electronic device.
`
`Id. at 5:6-11; 16:58-67; Figure 2. A
`
`microprocessor in Castleman's multiple port supply system "read[s]" the memory
`
`in the output connector and causes the system to provide power
`
`to the
`
`corresponding electronic device at the appropriate level.
`
`Id. at Abstract; 16:4-8;
`
`19:1-3.
`
`V.
`
`Allen and Breen Do _Not Disclose Limitation 1(B)
`
`39.
`
`Limitation 1(b) of the challenged claims requires an adapter
`
`with circuitry that produces an analog data signal that enables an electronic device
`
`Castleman explains: "[I]nformation about each device can be encoded in a
`2
`memory chip and provided to the power-supply apparatus whenever that device
`respectively is connected to receive power from the supply apparatus. In other
`words each device can be caused to have an associated respective memory chip
`which provides the needed identification." Apple 1005 at 4:60-65.
`
`19
`
`

`
`to control the amount of power drawn from an adapter.
`
`I disagree with Petitioner's
`
`contentions that Allen and Breen disclose this limitation either explicitly or
`
`implicitly.
`
`21.
`
`Allen
`
`40.
`
`In my view, a person of ordinary skill would understand that
`
`Allen's AC and DC identification circuits are digital circuits that produce and
`
`transmit digital signals. This view is supported by the fact that Allen's external
`
`power state machine, which receives and processes the power identification signal
`
`produced by the AC or DC identification circuit as well as the power source
`
`available signal produced by the charger, operates on exclusively digital data.
`
`41. Allen employs a "power source detector 74" in the adapter to
`
`determine whether the adapter is drawing power from an AC source or a DC
`
`source. A person of ordinary skill would understand that detection circuit 74
`
`generates a digital signal (e.g., on/off; one/zero) indicating whether an AC or a DC
`
`source is providing power to the adapter. This is confirmed, in part, by the fact
`
`that the complete absence of AC and DC power sources is identified to the
`
`electronic device by the external power source available signal 54, which is
`
`produced by charger 50 acting on external power bus lines 48, which in turn
`
`correspond to DC power lines 38 carrying power from the adapter. Apple 1003 at
`
`413-24 and Figure 3. Furthermore, when present, the type of power source (AC or
`
`20
`
`

`
`DC) is reported to the electronic device by appropriate activation of either the AC
`
`identification circuit 77 or the DC identification circuit 78 and subsequent
`
`generation of a digital power source identification signal on Data Out 42.
`
`Id. at
`
`5:17-30. There is no need for Allen’s power detection circuit 74 to produce
`
`anything other than a simple binary—valued logic signal
`
`indicating whether the
`
`adapter is drawing power from an AC or DC power source.
`
`42. Allen confirms that
`
`the AC and DC identification circuits
`
`output a digital signal by stating that "in an embodiment .
`
`.
`
`. the AC identification
`
`circuit 77 and the DC identification circuit 78 are implemented using DS250l
`
`circuits." Apple 1003 at 5243-48. A DS250l circuit
`
`is a standard EPROM
`
`(Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) semiconductor chip, which,
`
`in
`
`Allen's system, stores information indicative of the power source and "data relating
`
`to numerous parameters of the adapter" such as the model and revision number of
`
`the power adapter, the output voltage, current output, and error checking data.
`
`Id.
`
`at 5: 3-51.
`
`43.
`
`A DS250l chip produces a digital output. As such, a person of
`
`ordinary skill would understand that Allen's AC identification circuit 77 or DC
`
`identification circuit 78 transmits a digital data signal
`
`indicative of the power
`
`source, together with information relating to the identity of the adapter an: /or its
`
`capabilities.
`
`Id. Allen would not have disclosed implementing the AC/DC
`
`21
`
`

`
`identification circuits with DS2501 chips if the output of the identification circuits
`
`were analog.
`
`44. Allen's description of the operation of the external power state
`
`machine (a software module) in an electronic device also demonstrates that Allen
`
`discloses and contemplates a digital output from the AC and DC identification
`
`circuits. This is so because the power state machine "ping[s]" the external power
`
`identification signal transmitted by either AC or DC identification circuit 77 or 78
`
`for connection (by polling the identification chips of the power adapter) and takes
`
`the power available status signal provided by the charger. The external power state
`
`machine then checks whether either the AC identification circuit 77 is active, the
`
`DC identification circuit 78 is active, or whether neither is active. Apple 1003 at
`
`5:52~6:24.
`
`If the AC or DC power source identification signals were analog, a
`
`person of ordinary skill would expect Allen to explain that the power state machine
`
`software evaluated the output of an analog to digital converter that converted the
`
`analog signal coming from the adapter.
`
`Indeed Allen does not provide any hint of
`
`or justification for the output of the identification circuits to be analog. Nor does he
`
`describe any embodiment
`
`in which the output of the identification circuits is
`
`analog.
`
`5.
`
`I am aware that Petitioner's expert, Dr. Davis, asserted during
`
`his deposition that the digital output of Allen's AC or DC identification circuits
`
`22
`
`

`
`could be converted to an analog signal and transmitted to an electronic device in
`
`analog form. Comarco 2002 at 73:1 -17; 17:13-21. That might be possible if
`
`consecutive bit outputs of DS2501 were bundled into, say, eight-bit digital data,
`
`which is subsequently converted into analog data using an eight—bit digital-to-
`
`analog converter and transmitted as an analog signal to the electronic device. On
`
`the electronic device side, the eight-bit digital data would have to be reconstructed
`
`by applying an eight—bit analog-to-digital converter to each received analog signal.
`
`Considering that the full output of the DS2501 in Allen’s design is a 6 -bit digital
`
`word,
`
`the receiver must
`
`repeatedly apply the aforesaid procedure to the
`
`consecutively received analog signals and assemble the corresponding eight—bit
`
`digital data into a 6 -bit digital word. This approach would add significant
`
`complexity and cost for no apparent gain.
`
`It would be far more practical and less
`
`costly to simply transmit the output of the DS2501 in its original, digital form, just
`
`as Allen discloses.
`
`46.
`
`In another possible scenario, which appears to be what Dr.
`
`Davis has in mind (see Comarco 2002 at 73:12-17), the full 64-bit output of
`
`DS2501 could theoretically be directly converted into analog data and transmitted
`
`to the electronic device. This would result in unavoidable loss of information
`
`because the only possible output from a 64-bit digital to analog converter would be
`
`a voltage value that is the sum of all of the discrete bits of the 6 -bit word
`
`23
`
`

`
`generated by the DS250l (multiplied by their respective weights); that is, a voltage
`
`with 1.845 x 1019 distinct values. No digital to analog converter exists with that
`
`degree of resolution. Under this scenario, the digital to analog conversion that Dr.
`
`Davis proposes would render Allen inoperable.
`
`48..
`
`It is my opinion, in sum, that a person of ordinary skill would
`
`not conclude that Allen's AC/DC identification circuits output an analog signal or
`
`cause an analog signal to be transmitted to an electronic device. Nor would a
`
`person of ordinary skill have any motivation to transform Allen's digital circuits
`
`into analog circuits on the ground that an analog implementation might be
`
`"simpler" or "more convenient." Apple Brief at 17; Apple 1010, 11 72. Plainly, as
`
`dis cussed above, it would be neither simple nor convenient to do so.
`
`b.
`
`Breen
`
`49.
`
`I also disagree with Apple's contention that Breen's power event
`
`trigger signal meets the requirements of the analog data signal as dictated by
`
`limitation l(b). Apple Brief at 33; Apple 1010, 11 89.
`
`50.
`
`Breen discloses that a power event is generated by a power
`
`trigger component 270 in an external battery 240 that is coupled between an
`
`adapter and an electronic device when there is a change of input power to the
`
`battery peripheral 240 resulting, for example, from ”the plugging or unplugging" of
`
`an AC-DC adapter to or from an AC wall outlet. Apple 1004 at 2:51-55; 523137;
`
`24
`
`

`
`5:47-452; 7:5-9. The power trigger component produces two binary o

This document is available on Docket Alarm but you must sign up to view it.


Or .

Accessing this document will incur an additional charge of $.

After purchase, you can access this document again without charge.

Accept $ Charge
throbber

Still Working On It

This document is taking longer than usual to download. This can happen if we need to contact the court directly to obtain the document and their servers are running slowly.

Give it another minute or two to complete, and then try the refresh button.

throbber

A few More Minutes ... Still Working

It can take up to 5 minutes for us to download a document if the court servers are running slowly.

Thank you for your continued patience.

This document could not be displayed.

We could not find this document within its docket. Please go back to the docket page and check the link. If that does not work, go back to the docket and refresh it to pull the newest information.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

You need a Paid Account to view this document. Click here to change your account type.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

Set your membership status to view this document.

With a Docket Alarm membership, you'll get a whole lot more, including:

  • Up-to-date information for this case.
  • Email alerts whenever there is an update.
  • Full text search for other cases.
  • Get email alerts whenever a new case matches your search.

Become a Member

One Moment Please

The filing “” is large (MB) and is being downloaded.

Please refresh this page in a few minutes to see if the filing has been downloaded. The filing will also be emailed to you when the download completes.

Your document is on its way!

If you do not receive the document in five minutes, contact support at support@docketalarm.com.

Sealed Document

We are unable to display this document, it may be under a court ordered seal.

If you have proper credentials to access the file, you may proceed directly to the court's system using your government issued username and password.


Access Government Site

We are redirecting you
to a mobile optimized page.





Document Unreadable or Corrupt

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket

We are unable to display this document.

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket