`
`Petition for Inter Partes Review of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,989,830
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`––––––––––
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`––––––––––
`
`FITBIT, INC.
`Petitioner
`
`v.
`VALENCELL, INC.
`Patent Owner
`
`––––––––––
`
`
`
`––––––––––
`
`
`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`
`OF U.S. PATENT NO. 8,989,830
`
`
`
`Mail Stop PATENT BOARD
`Patent Trial and Appeal Board
`U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`

`

`
`
`Petition for Inter Partes Review of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,989,830
`
`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`
`V.
`
`I.
`Introduction ...................................................................................................... 1
`II. Mandatory Notices (37 C.F.R. § 42.8(a)(1)) ................................................... 2
`III. Grounds for Standing (37 C.F.R. § 42.104(a)) ................................................ 4
`IV.
`Identification of Challenge (37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)) ....................................... 5
`A.
`Citation of Prior Art .............................................................................. 5
`B.
`Statutory Grounds for the Challenge ..................................................... 6
`C.
`[This Section Intentionally Omitted]. ................................................... 7
`The ’830 Patent ................................................................................................ 7
`A. Overview of the ’830 Patent .................................................................. 7
`B.
`Summary of the Prosecution History .................................................. 10
`C.
`Level of Ordinary Skill in the Art ....................................................... 11
`D.
`Claim Construction ............................................................................. 11
`1.“cladding material” (claims 1 and 11) ............................................. 13
`2.“near” (claims 1 and 11) .................................................................. 14
`VI. Overview of the Applied References............................................................. 14
`A. Goodman ............................................................................................. 15
`B.
`Hicks .................................................................................................... 16
`C.
`Asada ................................................................................................... 18
`D. Hannula................................................................................................ 21
`E.
`Delonzor .............................................................................................. 23
`VII. Overview of the Grounds .............................................................................. 24
`VIII. Ground 1: Goodman Renders Claims 1-4 and 11-14 Obvious ..................... 25
`A. Goodman renders independent claim 1 obvious. ................................ 25
`1.Goodman discloses “[a] monitoring device configured to be
`attached to the body of a subject” [1P]. .................................... 25
`2.Goodman discloses “an outer layer and an inner layer secured
`together” [1.1]. .......................................................................... 26
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`Petition for Inter Partes Review of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,989,830
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`3.Goodman discloses “the inner layer comprising light
`transmissive material, and having inner and outer
`surfaces” [1.2]. .......................................................................... 27
`4.Goodman discloses “a base secured to at least one of the outer
`and inner layers and comprising at least one optical
`emitter and at least one optical detector” [1.3]. ........................ 27
`5.Goodman discloses “a layer of cladding material near the
`outer surface of the inner layer” [1.4]. ...................................... 28
`6.Goodman discloses “at least one window formed in the layer
`of cladding material that serves as a light-guiding
`interface to the body of the subject” [1.5]. ............................... 29
`7.Goodman discloses “wherein the light transmissive material
`is in optical communication with the at least one optical
`emitter and the at least one optical detector, wherein the
`light transmissive material is configured to deliver light
`from the at least one optical emitter to the body of the
`subject along a first direction and to collect light from the
`body of the subject and deliver the collected light in a
`second direction to the at least one optical detector,
`wherein the first and second directions are substantially
`parallel” [1.6]. ........................................................................... 30
`Goodman renders independent claim 11 obvious. .............................. 33
`1.Goodman discloses “[a] monitoring device configured to be
`attached to the body of a subject” [11.P]. ................................. 33
`2.Goodman discloses “a first layer comprising light
`transmissive material, the first layer having inner and
`outer surfaces” [11.1]. ............................................................... 34
`3.Goodman discloses “a base secured to the first layer and
`comprising at least one optical emitter and at least one
`optical detector” [11.2]. ............................................................ 35
`4.Goodman discloses “a layer of cladding material near the
`inner and outer surfaces of the first layer” [11.3]. .................... 36
`5.Goodman discloses “at least one window formed in the layer
`of cladding material that serves as a light-guiding
`interface to the body of the subject” [11.4]. ............................. 37
`
`- ii -
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`B.
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`

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`
`Petition for Inter Partes Review of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,989,830
`
`6.Goodman discloses “wherein the light transmissive material
`is in optical communication with the at least one optical
`emitter and the at least one optical detector, and is
`configured to deliver light from the at least one optical
`emitter to the body of the subject along a first direction
`and to collect light from the body of the subject and
`deliver the collected light in a second direction to the at
`least one optical detector, wherein the first and second
`directions are substantially parallel” [11.5]. ............................. 38
`Goodman renders claims 2 and 12 obvious. ....................................... 40
`C.
`D. Goodman renders claims 3 and 13 obvious. ....................................... 41
`E.
`Goodman renders claims 4 and 14 obvious. ....................................... 42
`IX. Ground 2: The Combination of Goodman and Hicks Renders Claims 5
`and 15 Obvious .............................................................................................. 43
`A. Motivation for the Combination of Goodman and Hicks ................... 43
`B.
`The combination of Goodman and Hicks render claims 5 and
`15 obvious. .......................................................................................... 44
`X. Ground 3: The Combination of Goodman, Hannula, and Asada
`Renders Claims 6 and 16 Obvious ................................................................ 46
`A. Motivation for the Combination of Goodman, Hannula, and
`Asada ................................................................................................... 46
`The combination of Goodman, Hannula, and Asada renders
`claims 6 and 16 obvious. ..................................................................... 49
`1.The combination of Goodman, Hannula, and Asada teaches or
`suggests “a light reflective material on at least a portion
`of one or both of the inner and outer surfaces of the
`[inner / first] layer” [6.1 / 16.1]................................................. 49
`2.The combination of Goodman, Hannula, and Asada discloses
`that “the at least one optical detector comprises first and
`second optical detectors” [6.2 / 16.2]. ...................................... 50
`3.The combination of Goodman, Hannula, and Asada discloses
`“a signal processor” [6.3 / 16.3]................................................ 51
`4.The combination of Goodman, Hannula, and Asada discloses
`that “at least a portion of light reflected by the light
`reflective material and detected by the second optical
`
`B.
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`Petition for Inter Partes Review of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,989,830
`
`detector is processed by the signal processor as a motion
`noise reference for attenuating motion noise from signals
`produced by the first optical detector” [6.4 / 16.4]. .................. 51
`XI. Ground 4: The Combination of Goodman and Asada Renders Claims
`8, 9, 18 and 19 Obvious ................................................................................. 53
`A. Motivation for the Combination of Goodman and Asada ................... 53
`B.
`The combination of Goodman and Asada renders claims 8 and
`18 obvious. .......................................................................................... 54
`The combination of Goodman and Asada renders claims 9 and
`19 obvious. .......................................................................................... 55
`XII. Ground 5: The Combination of Goodman and Delonzor Renders
`Claims 10 and 20 Obvious ............................................................................. 56
`A. Motivation for the Combination of Goodman and Delonzor .............. 56
`B.
`The combination of Goodman and Delonzor discloses that “the
`at least one window comprises at least two windows” [10.1 /
`20.1]. .................................................................................................... 58
`The combination of Goodman and Delonzor discloses “light
`blocking material positioned between the at least one optical
`emitter and the at least one optical detector such that the at least
`one optical emitter and the at least one optical detector are not
`in direct optical communication with each other” [10.2 /20.2]. ......... 59
`XIII. Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 60
`
`
`C.
`
`C.
`
`
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`

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`Petition for Inter Partes Review of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,989,830
`
`TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
`
`Page(s)
`
`CASES
`Cuozzo Speed Techs., LLC v. Lee,
`136 S. Ct. 2131 (2016) ........................................................................................ 11
`
`STATUTES
`
`35 U.S.C. §§ 102(a) and 102(b) ............................................................................. 5, 6
`
`35 U.S.C. § 103 .......................................................................................................... 7
`
`OTHER AUTHORITIES
`
`37 C.F.R. § 42.100(b) .............................................................................................. 11
`
`37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b) ................................................................................................ 5
`
`
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`Petition for Inter Partes Review of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,989,830
`
`EXHIBIT LIST
`
`Description
`U.S. Patent No. 8,989,830 to LeBoeuf et al. titled “Wearable
`Light-Guiding Devices for Physiological Monitoring,” issued
`March 24, 2015
`U.S. Patent No. 8,989,830 File History
`Declaration of Dr. Brian W. Anthony in Support of Petition for
`Inter Partes Review of U.S. Patent No. 8,989,830
`Curriculum Vitae of Dr. Brian W. Anthony
`Asada, H. et al. “Mobile Monitoring with Wearable
`Photoplethysmographic Biosensors,” IEEE Engineering in
`Medicine and Biology Magazine, May/June 2003; pp. 28-40
`U.S. Patent No. 5,226,417 to Swedlow et al. titled “Apparatus
`for the Detection of Motion Transients,” issued July 13, 1993
`U.S. Patent No. 4,830,014 to Goodman et al. titled “Sensor
`Having Cutaneous Conformance,” issued May 16, 1989
`U.S. Patent No. 6,745,061 to Hicks et al. titled “Disposable
`Oximetry Sensor,” issued June 1, 2004
`U.S. Patent No. 7,190,986 to Hannula et al. titled “Non-
`Adhesive Oximeter Sensor for Sensitive Skin,” issued March 13,
`2007
`U.S. Patent No. 5,797,841 to Delonzor et al. titled “Shunt Barrier
`in Pulse Oximeter Sensor,” issued August 25, 1998
`U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0123763 to Al-
`Ali et al. titled “Optical Sensor Including Disposable and
`Reusable Elements,” published May 31, 2007
`Excerpt from Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary,
`Eleventh Edition, 2008; p. 828
`Mendelson, Y. et al., “Skin Reflectance Pulse Oximetry: In Vivo
`Measurements from the Forearm and Calf,” Journal of Clinical
`Monitoring, Vol. 7, No. 1, January 1991; pp. 7-12
`Konig, V. et al., “Reflectance Pulse Oximetry – Principles and
`Obstetric Application in the Zurich System,” Journal of Clinical
`Monitoring and Computing, Vol. 14, No. 6, August 1998; pp.
`403-412
`
`- vi -
`
`
`Ex. No.
`1001
`
`1002
`1003
`
`1004
`1005
`
`1006
`
`1007
`
`1008
`
`1009
`
`1010
`
`1011
`
`1012
`
`1013
`
`1014
`
`
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`

`

`Petition for Inter Partes Review of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,989,830
`
`
`Ex. No.
`1015
`
`1016
`
`1017
`
`1018
`
`1019
`1020
`1021
`
`Description
`Mendelson, Y. et al. “A Wearable Reflectance Pulse Oximeter
`for Remote Physiological Monitoring,” Proceedings of the 28th
`IEEE EMBS Annual International Conference, New York City,
`New York, August 30-September 3, 2006; pp. 912-915
`U.S. Patent No. 6,608,562 to Kimura et al. titled “Vital Signal
`Detecting Apparatus,” issued August 19, 2003
`Tremper, K. et al., “Pulse Oximetry,” Medical Intelligence
`Article, Anesthesiology, Vol. 70, No. 1, January 1989; pp. 98-
`108
`Declaration of Gerard P. Grenier in support of Asada, H. et al.
`“Mobile Monitoring with Wearable Photoplethysmographic
`Biosensors,” IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology
`Magazine, May/June 2003; pp. 28-40 (Ex. 1005)
`Intentionally Left Blank
`Intentionally Left Blank
`Intentionally Left Blank
`
`- vii -
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`

`

`
`I.
`
`Petition for Inter Partes Review of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,989,830
`
`Introduction
`Petitioner Fitbit, Inc. petitions for inter partes review of claims 1-6, 8-16,
`
`and 18-20 of United States Patent No. 8,989,830 to LeBoeuf et al. (“the ʼ830
`
`patent”). Fitbit demonstrates below that a reasonable likelihood exists that all
`
`challenged claims of the ’830 patent1 are unpatentable.
`
`For decades prior to the ’830 patent, artisans had developed and continued to
`
`improve sensor devices commonly known as non-invasive optical biosensors for
`
`optically detecting and measuring physiological information, such as blood oxygen
`
`saturation and heart rate. (Anthony Decl., Ex. 1003 ¶27.) These sensors came in a
`
`variety of form-factors and included pulse oximeters, which were well-known by
`
`the 1970s. (Id. at ¶28.) These sensors require only a few opto-electronic
`
`components: a light source (often red or near infrared) to illuminate the tissue
`
`(commonly at the finger, nose, ear, or wrist) and a photodetector to measure the
`
`variations in light intensity associated with changes in blood volume. (Id. at ¶¶29-
`
`31.) Some employed the well-known photoplethysmography (PPG) technique
`
`described in the ’830 patent. (Id. at ¶¶32-34.) A simple, appropriately programmed
`
`signal processor can extract heart rate and a variety of other physiological
`
`parameters. (Id. at ¶29.)
`
`
`1 The ’830 patent is provided as Ex. 1001.
`
`
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`

`Petition for Inter Partes Review of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,989,830
`
`It has long been known that PPG measurements were sensitive to patient
`
`
`
`and/or device-tissue movement artifacts. (Id. at ¶35.) Numerous motion
`
`cancellation techniques have been developed, including the incorporation of
`
`sensors that could provide a reference signal to the signal processor to cancel the
`
`motion contribution in the sensed PPG signal. (Id. at ¶36.)
`
`In recent decades, the desire for small, reliable, low-cost and simple-to-use,
`
`non-invasive (cardiovascular) assessment techniques were key factors that have
`
`propelled the use of PPG. (Id. at ¶37.) Developments in semiconductor technology
`
`(e.g., light emitting diodes (LED), photodiodes, and phototransistors) have made
`
`considerable improvements in the size, sensitivity, reliability and reproducibility of
`
`PPG devices. (Id. at ¶38.) As this technology became smaller and more robust, it
`
`was integrated into wireless, wearable technology such as rings, wristwatches, and
`
`earphones. (Id.)
`
`The claims of the ’830 patent recite nothing more than what was already
`
`known in the prior art. (Ex. 1003, ¶45.) Accordingly, Fitbit respectfully requests
`
`inter partes review of claims 1-6, 8-16, and 18-20 of the ’830 patent.
`
`II. Mandatory Notices (37 C.F.R. § 42.8(a)(1))
`REAL PARTY IN INTEREST: The real party in interest of the Petitioner is
`
`Fitbit, Inc. (“Fitbit”).
`
`
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`

`

`Petition for Inter Partes Review of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,989,830
`
`RELATED MATTERS: The ’830 Patent is the subject of the following civil
`
`
`
`actions: Valencell, Inc. v. Apple Inc., Case No. 5-16-cv-00001 (E.D.N.C.);
`
`Valencell, Inc. v. Bragi Store, LLC, et al., Case No. 5-16-cv-00895 (E.D.N.C.); and
`
`Valencell v. Fitbit, Inc., Case No. 5-16-cv-00002 (E.D.N.C.).
`
`The ’830 Patent claims the benefit of U.S. Patents 8,886,269 (“’269 Patent”)
`
`and 8,700,111. U.S. Patent No. 9,301,696 claims the benefit of the ’830 Patent.
`
`The ’830 Patent is the subject of an instituted inter partes review, Apple Inc.
`
`v. Valencell, Inc., Case IPR2017-00317 (instituted June 5, 2017). Petitioner is
`
`filing concurrently with this Petition a Motion for Joinder with the -00317 case.
`
`The ’269 Patent is also the subject of an instituted inter partes review. Apple Inc.
`
`v. Valencell, Inc., Case IPR2017-00318 (instituted June 5, 2017). Petitioner is
`
`filing concurrently a Petition for Inter Partes Review of the ’269 Patent, Case
`
`IPR2017-01554.
`
`LEAD AND BACKUP COUNSEL: Pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(3) and
`
`42.10(a), Petitioner designates Harper Batts (Reg. No. 56,160) as its lead counsel
`
`and Jeremy Taylor (Reg. No. 73,912) as its back-up counsel, both of Baker Botts,
`
`L.L.P.
`
`SERVICE INFORMATION: Service information is as follows: Baker Botts
`
`L.L.P, 1001 Page Mill Road, Building One, Suite 200, Palo Alto, CA, 94304; Tel.
`
`(650) 739-7500; Fax (650) 739-7609. Petitioner consents to electronic service by
`
`
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`

`Petition for Inter Partes Review of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,989,830
`
`at
`
`the
`
`email
`
`addresses:
`
`harper.batts@bakerbotts.com,
`
`
`email
`
`jeremy.taylor@bakerbotts.com, and dlfitbit-valencell@bakerbotts.com.
`
`FEES: The Office is authorized to charge fees for this Petition to Deposit
`
`Account No. 02-0384, Ref. 085520.0101.
`
`
`
`III. Grounds for Standing (37 C.F.R. § 42.104(a))
`Petitioner certifies that the ’965 Patent is available for inter partes review.
`
`Petitioner further certifies that it is not barred or estopped from requesting this
`
`inter partes review on the grounds identified herein. See also 37 C.F.R. §
`
`42.122(b) (“The time period set forth in § 42.101(b) shall not apply when the
`
`petition is accompanied by a request for joinder”).
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`- 4 -
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`

`
`IV.
`
`Petition for Inter Partes Review of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,989,830
`
`Identification of Challenge (37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b))
`A. Citation of Prior Art
`The ’830 patent is a continuation of U.S. Patent No. 8,886,269, filed on
`
`February 19, 2014, which is a continuation of U.S. Patent No. 8,700,111, filed on
`
`January 21, 2010, and further claims priority to Provisional Application Nos.:
`
`61/274,191, filed on August 14, 2009; 61/212,444, filed on April 13, 2009;
`
`61/208,567, filed on February 25, 2009; and 61/208,574, filed on February 25,
`
`2009.2 The following prior art documents applied in the grounds of unpatentability
`
`were published prior to the earliest possible priority date, February 25, 2009.
`
`U.S. Patent No. 4,830,014 to Goodman, R. et al. titled “Sensor Having
`
`Cutaneous Conformance,” provided as Ex. 1007 (“Goodman”), is prior art under at
`
`least 35 U.S.C. §§ 102(a) and 102(b) because it was published on May 16, 1989,
`
`more than one year before the earliest effective filing date of the ’830 patent.
`
`U.S. Patent No. 6,745,061 to Hicks et al., titled “Disposable Oximetry
`
`Sensor” provided as Ex. 1008 (“Hicks”), is prior art under at least 35 U.S.C. §§
`
`102(a) and 102(b) because it was published on June 1, 2004, more than one year
`
`before the earliest possible priority date of the ’830 patent.
`
`
`2 Fitbit does not acquiesce that the ’830 patent is entitled to priority benefit of any
`
`of these provisional applications.
`
`
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`

`Petition for Inter Partes Review of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,989,830
`
`Asada, H. et al. “Mobile Monitoring with Wearable Photoplethysmographic
`
`
`
`Biosensors” provided as Ex. 1005 (“Asada”), is prior art under at least 35 U.S.C.
`
`§§ 102(a) and 102(b) because it was published by IEEE in May-June 2003
`
`and publicly available no later than the last day of July 2003, more than one year
`
`before the ’830 patent’s earliest possible priority date. (Ex. 1018.)
`
`U.S. Patent No. 7,190,986 to Hannula et al., titled “Non-Adhesive
`
`Oximeter Sensor for Sensitive Skin” provided as Ex. 1009 (“Hannula”), is prior art
`
`under at least 35 U.S.C. §§ 102(a) and 102(b) because it was published on March
`
`13, 2007, more than one year before the ’830 patent’s earliest possible priority
`
`date.
`
`U.S. Patent No. 5,797,841 to Delonzor et al., titled “Shunt Barrier in Pulse
`
`Oximeter Sensor” provided as Ex. 1010 (“Delonzor”), is prior art under at least 35
`
`U.S.C. §§ 102(a) and 102(b) because it was published on August 25, 1998, more
`
`than one year before the ’830 patent’s earliest possible priority date.
`
`Statutory Grounds for the Challenge
`
`B.
`Fitbit requests review of claims 1-6, 8-16, and 18-20 on the following
`
`grounds:
`
`
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`

`Ground
`
`References
`
`Basis
`
`Claims Challenged
`
`Petition for Inter Partes Review of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,989,830
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`Goodman
`
`§ 103
`
`1-4, 11-14
`
`Goodman, Hicks
`
`§ 103
`
`5, 15
`
`Goodman, Hannula, Asada
`
`§ 103
`
`6, 16
`
`Goodman, Asada
`
`§ 103
`
`8, 9, 18, 19
`
`Goodman, Delonzor
`
`§ 103
`
`10, 20
`
`
`
`
`
`C.
`[This Section Intentionally Omitted].
`[This section is omitted as it originally referred to another Petition for Inter
`
`Partes Review that was not instituted.]
`
`V. The ’830 Patent
`A. Overview of the ’830 Patent
`The ’830 patent is primarily directed to embodiments of headset and earbud
`
`devices, shown in Figures 1–21. The devices can include physiological sensors to
`
`measure, for example, heart rate, pulse rate, VO2, etc. (Ex. 1001, 4:33-67.) For
`
`example, the sensors can be photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors for measuring
`
`blood flow properties such as blood oxygen level. (Id. at 3:67-4:5; Ex. 1003, ¶¶39-
`
`43.)
`
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`Petition for Inter Partes Review of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,989,830
`
`The ’830 patent states that devices can be shaped for use with other body
`
`
`
`parts, for example, “a digit, finger, toe, limb, around the nose or earlobe, or the
`
`like,” or in the form of “a patch, such as a bandage that sticks on a person’s body.”
`
`(Ex. 1001. at 11:53-58.) These embodiments are shown in Figures 22A, 22B, and
`
`23.
`
`
`
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`

`
`
`Petition for Inter Partes Review of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,989,830
`
`
`Ex. 1001, Figures 22A, 22B, and 23, Annotated (Ex.1003, ¶40)
`
`The ’830 patent claims are specifically directed to devices having multiple
`
`layers, as shown in Figures 22B and 23. Figure 22B is essentially the “patch” or
`
`“bandage” type of sensor shown in Figure 23, but wrapped into a form factor that
`
`can be placed around a finger. (Ex. 1003, ¶41.)
`
`The Figure 23 embodiment is referred to as a bandage or “band-aid.” (Ex.
`
`1001, 29:16-19.) The bandage has an outer layer that “may be formed from
`
`virtually any type of material.” (Id. at 29:21-23.) An inner layer includes “light
`
`transmissive material,” such as silicone, although “various types of light
`
`transmissive materials may be utilized without limitation.” (Id. at 29:38-45.) A
`
`base is secured to the inner and outer layers to provide support to the optical
`
`emitter and optical detector(s). (Id. at 29:31-37.) An adhesive can be used to
`
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`removably attach the device to the body of the subject being monitored. (Id. at
`
`Petition for Inter Partes Review of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,989,830
`
`30:13-19; Ex. 1003, ¶42.)
`
`A layer of “cladding material” can be “applied to (or near)” the outer surface
`
`and the inner surface of the inner body portion. (Ex. 1001 at 29:46-50.) The outer
`
`body portion can serve as the cladding layer. (Id. at 29:57-59.) The cladding
`
`material can have one or more windows so that light can pass from the emitter into
`
`the body and from the body to the detector. (Id. at 29:60-30:1.) In some
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`embodiments, multiple emitters and/or multiple detectors can be used to assist in
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`detecting motion artifacts, for example, from finger motion. (Id. at 30:5-13; Ex.
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`1003, ¶43.)
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`Summary of the Prosecution History
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`B.
`On September 12, 2014, Valencell filed the application that became the ’830
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`patent as a continuation application of U.S. Patent Application No. 14/184,364
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`(now U.S. Patent No. 8,886,269), which is a continuation of U.S. Patent
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`Application No. 12/691,388 (now U.S. Patent No. 8,700,111). In a non-final Office
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`Action dated November 12, 2014, the Office rejected all pending claims based on
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`multiple grounds of obviousness-type double patenting. (Ex. 1002, pp. 108-113.)
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`On November 18, 2014, Valencell filed Terminal Disclaimers to all of the patents
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`and applications asserted by the Office. (Id. at 134-136.) On January 20, 2015,
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`Valencell submitted an Information Disclosure Statement listing 266 documents.
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`(Id. at 143-150.) The Office issued a Notice of Allowance on February 2, 2015–
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`Petition for Inter Partes Review of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,989,830
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`less than five months after the filing date. (Id. at 482-488.)
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`C. Level of Ordinary Skill in the Art
`Based on the disclosure of the ’830 patent, a person having ordinary skill in
`
`the art (“POSA”) at the relevant time would have had at least a four-year degree in
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`electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering, optical
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`engineering, or related field of study, or equivalent experience, and at least two
`
`years’ experience in academia or industry studying or developing physiological
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`monitoring devices such as non-invasive optical biosensors. (Ex. 1003, ¶¶25-26.)
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`A person of ordinary skill in the art would have also been familiar with, for
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`example, optical system design and signal processing. (Id.)
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`D. Claim Construction
`In accordance with 37 C.F.R. §42.100(b), the challenged claims must be
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`given their broadest reasonable interpretations (“BRI”) in light of the specification
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`of the ’830 patent. See Cuozzo Speed Techs., LLC v. Lee, 136 S. Ct. 2131, 2144-
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`2146 (2016). Terms in need of construction are discussed below.3 The Board
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`3 Fitbit reserves the right to present different constructions in another forum where
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`a different claim construction standard applies. Fitbit’s proposed claim
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`constructions do not constitute an admission that the claims are valid under 35
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`should adopt Fitbit’s constructions because they are consistent with the
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`Petition for Inter Partes Review of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,989,830
`
`specification and how the terms would have been understood by a POSA. (Ex.
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`1003, ¶46.)
`
`Claim Term
`“cladding material”
`
`“near”
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`
`
`
`
`Construction
`“a material that blocks or reflects at
`least some light”
`“within a short distance”
`
`
`U.S.C. § 112, and Fitbit reserves the right to challenge the validity of the claims
`
`under § 112 in other venues.
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`
`Petition for Inter Partes Review of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,989,830
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`1.
`“cladding material” (claims 1 and 11)
`Under BRI, the ’830 patent does not expressly define “cladding material,”
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`but rather provides numerous examples. (Ex. 1003, ¶47). Referring to Figure 23,
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`the ’830 patent describes that “[a] layer of cladding material 21 is applied to (or
`
`near) the outer surface 74a of the inner body portion 74 and a layer of cladding
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`material 21 is applied to (or near) the inner surface 74b of the inner body portion
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`74.” (Ex. 1001, 29:46-50.) The cladding material “may be embedded within the
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`inner body portion 74 adjacent to the outer surface 74a and inner surface 74b,” or
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`“the outer body portion 72 may serve as a cladding layer adjacent to the inner body
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`portion outer surface 74a.” (Id. at 29:54-59.) The “outer body portion” itself “may
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`be formed from virtually any type of material.” (Id. at 29:21-23 (emphasis
`
`added).) Indeed, the ’830 patent discloses that the cladding material may be: “air, a
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`polymer, plastic, or a soft material having a lower index of refraction than silicone”
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`(id. at 13:51–54); a “reflective material” (id. at 14:63-64); or even “transparent or
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`mostly transparent with a lower index of refraction than the light transmissive
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`material.” (Id. at 14:64-67).
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`Because “windows 74w are formed in the cladding material 21 and serve as
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`light-guiding interfaces to the body of a subject,” the ’830 patent presumably
`
`intends that at least some light does not pass through the cladding material itself.
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`(Ex. 1001, 29:60-62; Ex. 1003, ¶48.) Therefore, because the cladding material can
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`be “virtually any type of material,” Fitbit proposes to construe the term “cladding
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`Petition for Inter Partes Review of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,989,830
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`material” under BRI as “a material that blocks or reflects at least some light.” (Ex.
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`1003, ¶48.)
`
`2.
`“near” (claims 1 and 11)
`The ’830 patent does not define what constitutes “near” regarding the
`
`components of the disclosed devices. (Ex. 1003, ¶49). Referring to Figure 23, the
`
`’830 patent describes that “[a] layer of cladding material 21 is applied to (or near)
`
`the outer surface 74a of the inner body portion 74 and a layer of cladding material
`
`21 is applied to (or near) the inner surface 74b of the inner body portion 74.” (Ex.
`
`1001, 29:46-50.) Therefore, Fitbit proposes to construe “near” as “within a short
`
`distance.” (Ex. 1003, ¶49.) Fitbit’s proposed construction is consistent with the
`
`plain and ordinary meaning of the term “near.” (See Ex. 1012, p. 828, defining
`
`“near” as “at, within, or to a short distance or time.”)
`
`VI. Overview of the Applied References
`Each applied reference is from the field of non-invasive optical biosensors.
`
`(Ex. 1003, ¶¶27, 50.) These devices monitor physiological parameters such as
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`pulse rate and blood oxygen levels by passing light into blood perfused tissue and
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`using a photodetector to sense the amount of light absorbed by the body. (Id.)
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`Although the form-factors may be somewhat different–flat sensors, finger
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`wraps, or rings–these devices typically include a multi-layered structure. (Id. at
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`¶51.) And as the technology progressed, devices transitioned from wired to
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`Petition for Inter Partes Review of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,989,830
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`wireless assemblies. (Id.) As the literature repeatedly expresses, common problems
`
`such as blocking ambient light and reducing motion artifacts are present
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`throughout the developments in this field. (Id.)
`
`A. Goodman
`Goodman discloses a non-invasive optical biosensor that measures arterial
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`oxygen saturation. (Ex. 1007, 1:11-14; Ex. 1003, ¶52.) The sensor “conforms to
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`and with the cutaneous layer of the blood perfused portion of flesh upon which the
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`sensor is placed.” (Ex. 1007, 4:34-36.) For example, the sensors can be used with a
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`finger, hand, toe, foot, or nose. (Id. at 9:65-68, 10:7-9, Figures 4 and 6A-6B.)
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`Ex. 1007, Figures 4 and 6B
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`
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`As shown in Figure 2C, the sensor has a flexible layered substrate structure,
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`including a portion (24) having LEDs (25, 26) and a portion (14) having a
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`photosensor (19). (Id. at 8:49-56, 8:66-9:2, Figures 2C and 3A-3B.) The LEDs and
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`photosensor are supported on a flexible tape layer (34) and an opaque vinyl strip
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`(30). (Id. at 9:20-25.) A second opaque vinyl strip (37) is placed over the
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`Petition for Inter Partes Review of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,989,830
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`photoactive elements with apertures (40, 41) to allow light to pass from the LEDs
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`and to the photosensor. (Id. at 9:33-40.) A clear polyester layer (45) is disposed on
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`the opaque vinyl layer (37) with an adhesive side (47) to bond to the skin. (Id. at