throbber
UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`____________________________________________
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`____________________________________________
`
`TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
`Petitioner
`
`v.
`
`GODO KAISHA IP BRIDGE 1
`Patent Owner.
`
`Case IPR2017-018411
`
`REPLY DECLARATION OF STANLEY R. SHANFIELD, PH.D.
`
`1 Case IPR2017-01842 has been consolidated with this proceeding.
`
`TSMC 1027
`TSMC v. GODO KAISHA
`IPR2017-01841
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent 7,893,501
`IPR2017-01841
`Reply Declaration of Stanley R. Shanfield, Ph.D.
`
`
`
`
`I, Stanley R. Shanfield, Ph.D., declare as follows:
`
`1. My name is Stanley R. Shanfield. I have been retained by counsel for
`
`Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd. to serve as a technical
`
`expert in this inter partes review proceeding.
`
`2. My background is set forth in paragraphs 2-12 of my initial
`
`Declaration in this proceeding (Ex. 10022). As I explained in paragraphs 2-12 and
`
`30-32 of my initial Declaration, I would have been a person with at least ordinary
`
`skill in the art of U.S. Patent No. 7,893,501 (the “’501 patent”) as of the time of its
`
`alleged invention.
`
`3.
`
`Since my prior declaration, I have reviewed Patent Owner’s
`
`Preliminary Responses dated November 7, 2017, Patent Owner’s district court
`
`infringement contentions (Ex. 1021), the Board’s Decision to Institute dated
`
`February 6, 2018, the transcript of my deposition on March 27, 2018 and March
`
`28, 2018 (Exs. 2009 and 2010), the Patent Owner’s Response dated April 20, 2018,
`
`the Declaration of Dr. Alexander D. Glew (Ex. 2007), the transcript of Dr. Glew’s
`
`deposition (Ex. 1024), and the exhibits submitted in connection with the forgoing.
`
`
`2 Unless otherwise specified with the “-01842” prefix, references to exhibits and
`
`papers herein are to those filed in Case IPR2017-01841.
`
`- 2 -
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent 7,893,501
`IPR2017-01841
`Reply Declaration of Stanley R. Shanfield, Ph.D.
`
`
`I confirm that everything I included in my prior declaration, and all of the
`
`testimony given during my deposition on March 27, 2018 and March 28, 2018
`
`remain true to the best of my knowledge. I have been asked to provide expert
`
`testimony in this declaration in reply to issues raised by the Patent Owner’s
`
`Response (“Response”) and the Declaration of Alexander D. Glew (Ex. 2007).
`
`4.
`
`Specifically, I understand that Patent Owner again argues that the
`
`“active region” should be limited to a single transistor. As I will discuss, there is
`
`nothing in the ’501 patent or any other evidence I have reviewed that supports such
`
`a narrow interpretation.
`
`5.
`
`I also understand that Patent Owner again argues that the Fifth
`
`Embodiment described in Igarashi does not teach shallow trench isolation (“STI”)
`
`regions forming an active region and that the Petition relies on Woerlee only for
`
`the location of the STI regions, not formation of STI regions in Igarashi’s fifth
`
`embodiment. As I explained in my initial Declaration, a POSITA would have
`
`understood that the disclosure of the features in Igarashi common to its different
`
`illustrations—including the STI regions—are applicable to the Fifth Embodiment
`
`shown in, for example, Figure 12. See e.g., Ex. 1002, ¶60 (“A POSITA would
`
`have understood that the disclosure of the features in Igarashi common to different
`
`illustrations are applicable to the embodiment shown in Figure 12 because the
`
`- 3 -
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent 7,893,501
`IPR2017-01841
`Reply Declaration of Stanley R. Shanfield, Ph.D.
`
`
`same reference numerals are used to describe common features of Igarashi’s
`
`disclosure.”) Moreover, I also explained that it would have been obvious to apply
`
`Igarashi’s undisputed teaching of an active region to the Fifth Embodiment. See
`
`e.g., Ex. 1002, ¶75 (“[I]t would have been obvious to apply Woerlee’s teachings to
`
`Igarashi by forming Igarashi’s active region in the substrate and defining it with
`
`STI regions that divide the active region.”)
`
`6.
`
`I provide further explanation below regarding these issues, with which
`
`I disagree with the Patent Owner and Dr. Glew.
`
`
`
`I.
`
`Patent Owner’s Interpretation of “an active region made of a
`semiconductor substrate” is Inappropriately Narrow
`7.
`In its Response, Patent Owner claims that “there is no dispute that
`
`under BRI, ‘an active region made of a semiconductor substrate’ is ‘an area of the
`
`semiconductor substrate defined by an isolation region where the transistor is
`
`formed.’” Response, 26. PO then advances an unduly narrow interpretation of this
`
`proposed construction that seeks to limit the active region to having only a single
`
`transistor, as it sought to do through a different construction in the POPR, which
`
`the Board properly rejected. Response 74; POPR, 25, 29; DI, 9. Nothing in the
`
`’501 patent or prior art requires such a one-to-one correspondence. Under PO’s
`
`- 4 -
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent 7,893,501
`IPR2017-01841
`Reply Declaration of Stanley R. Shanfield, Ph.D.
`
`
`inappropriately narrow interpretation, PO’s proposed construction for “an active
`
`region made of a semiconductor substrate” is indeed disputed.
`
`8.
`
`First, Patent Owner already tried to advance its narrow view of an
`
`“active region” in the POPR, proposing the following construction: “a region of a
`
`semiconductor substrate dedicated to the MISFET and defined by isolation regions
`
`that isolate the MISFET from other transistors formed in the substrate.” POPR, 25.
`
`Patent Owner then (as it does again in the Response) further interpreted its
`
`construction to require a single transistor. E.g., POPR, 29 (arguing the “‘active
`
`region’ refers to a region dedicated to a single transistor”) (emphasis original);
`
`Response, 74 (arguing “active region refers to a region in which a single transistor
`
`is formed”). The Board properly rejected this position in the DI, highlighting
`
`examples of active regions in the prior art having more than one transistor:
`
`“For example, Plummer describes that “regions between these
`[isolation] layers, where transistors will be built, are called the ‘active’
`regions of the substrate” (Ex. 1008, 53), and Rabaey describes “active
`regions” as “the regions where transistors will be constructed” (Ex.
`1010, 42). Nothing about these descriptions connotes a requirement
`for a one-to-one correspondence of active regions-to-transistors, as
`Patent Owner contends.”
`
`DI, 9 (emphasis added).
`
`- 5 -
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent 7,893,501
`IPR2017-01841
`Reply Declaration of Stanley R. Shanfield, Ph.D.
`
`
`9.
`
`Now in its Response, Patent Owner has merely reworded its prior
`
`construction and still attempts to interpret the new construction in the same way
`
`already rejected by the Board. That is, Patent Owner is forcing an additional “one-
`
`to-one correspondence” requirement into its interpretation of an “active region”
`
`(compare “active region” as “a region of a semiconductor substrate dedicated to
`
`the MISFET and defined by isolation regions that isolate the MISFET from other
`
`transistors formed in the substrate,” POPR, 25, with “an active region made of a
`
`semiconductor substrate” as “an area of the semiconductor substrate defined by an
`
`isolation region where the transistor is formed,” Response, 26 (emphasis
`
`added)).3
`
`10.
`
`Second, I do not agree with Patent Owner’s construction as Patent
`
`Owner interprets it. As noted above, Patent Owner mistakenly claims that there is
`
`
`3 Patent Owner’s Responses in this proceeding and in related IPR2017-01843 also
`
`make clear its constructions are driven by attempting to avoid the prior art because
`
`Patent Owner offers constructions for different terms in each Response, despite
`
`those Responses both addressing the same challenged patent and claims. Compare
`
`IPR2017-01841 Response (construing only the term “active region made of a
`
`- 6 -
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent 7,893,501
`IPR2017-01841
`Reply Declaration of Stanley R. Shanfield, Ph.D.
`
`
`no dispute as to this construction and that the only dispute between the parties
`
`relates to whether the claim requirement that “the MISFET includes: an active
`
`region” is met by the prior art relied upon in the grounds. Response, 26-27. To
`
`support this assertion, Patent Owner adopts language similar to that used in the
`
`Petition and during my deposition, but then proposes interpreting this language in
`
`the same manner as its previously rejected construction. Id., 27-28. This unilateral
`
`statement by Patent Owner does not signal Petitioner’s agreement with the
`
`incorrect interpretation that an active region contains only one transistor. There is
`
`nothing in the ’501 patent or prior art that prohibits multiple transistors from being
`
`formed in an active region, or that requires each transistor to be isolated from any
`
`other transistor.
`
`11. Third, Patent Owner cannot reconcile its incorrect interpretation with
`
`its own infringement contentions in the co-pending litigation, which identify an
`
`alleged “active region” having multiple transistors and which were made of record
`
`in this proceeding months before Patent Owner filed its response. As highlighted
`
`
`semiconductor substrate”) with IPR2017-01843 (construing only the term “silicon
`
`nitride film”).
`
`- 7 -
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent 7,893,501
`IPR2017-01841
`Reply Declaration of Stanley R. Shanfield, Ph.D.
`
`by Patent Owner’s infringement contentions, the alleged “active region” shown in
`
`blue contains at least four transistors:
`
`
`
`
`
`Ex. 1021, 32.
`
`12. Patent Owner’s inconsistent positions on an “active region” infect its
`
`arguments throughout its Response. For example, Patent Owner argues that the
`
`MISFET must “include” the entirety of the active region. Response, 16 (“the plain
`
`language and structure of the claims require that it is the MISFET that is the larger
`
`whole that ‘includes’ the entirety of the active region and not the other way
`
`around.”) This is simply another indirect way of Patent Owner rearguing its
`
`- 8 -
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent 7,893,501
`IPR2017-01841
`Reply Declaration of Stanley R. Shanfield, Ph.D.
`
`
`rejected construction requiring a one-to-one correspondence of active regions-to-
`
`transistors and is directly contradicted by Patent Owner’s own district court
`
`infringement allegations, which allege the opposite. Patent Owner cannot have it
`
`both ways.
`
`13. Fourth, as recognized by the Board, the Petition and the
`
`semiconductor textbooks cited in the Petition consistently recognize the “active
`
`region” as the region where transistors are formed. For example:
`
` “The active regions are found between the shallow trench isolation regions
`
`(STI). (See Rabaey at 42-43 (Ex-1010).) The active regions are where the
`
`transistors are formed. (Id. at 42.) The source and drain regions (green), the
`
`channel (area between the source and drain regions), and the well (‘N Well’
`
`and ‘P Well’) are formed in regions of the active regions. (Plummer at 86
`
`(Ex-1008).)” Petition, 7 (emphasis added).
`
` “[T]he manufacturing process for a MISFET ‘starts with the definition of the
`
`active regions—these are the regions where transistors will be constructed.
`
`All other areas of the die will be covered with a thick layer of silicon dioxide
`
`(SiO2) called the field oxide. This oxide acts as the insulator between
`
`neighboring devices, and it is either grown (as in the process of Figure 2-1)
`
`- 9 -
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent 7,893,501
`IPR2017-01841
`Reply Declaration of Stanley R. Shanfield, Ph.D.
`
`
`or deposited in etched trenches (Figure 2-2)—hence, the name trench
`
`insulation.’” Petition, 26 (quoting Ex-1010); see also Petition, 8; DI, 8-9.
`
`
`
`And indeed, a region bounded by isolation regions where transistors are
`
`formed is precisely what is shown in Igarashi, as I identified in my initial
`
`declaration:
`
` “A POSITA would have understood that Igarashi discloses an active region
`
`made of the semiconductor substrate 1 because Igarashi discloses: ‘First, an
`
`insulating film for isolating elements is formed on a silicon semiconductor
`
`substrate 1. Element isolation is performed using methods such as the
`
`LOCOS method or the trench method. Thereafter, ion implantation is
`
`performed to the active element region for forming the well and controlling
`
`the threshold value.’ (Igarashi at [0068] (Ex-1004).)” Ex. 1002, ¶66.
`
` “The use of the ‘trench method’ confirms the ‘active element region’ (active
`
`region) is made of the semiconductor substrate 1 because according to the
`
`trench method the active region is formed in the substrate and defined by the
`
`STI regions.” Ex. 1002, ¶66.
`
`14. Fifth, Patent Owner’s reliance on the exemplary embodiments of the
`
`’501 to argue that “[e]very embodiment in the specification includes a single
`
`transistor in an active region bounded by isolation regions” does not compel an
`
`- 10 -
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent 7,893,501
`IPR2017-01841
`Reply Declaration of Stanley R. Shanfield, Ph.D.
`
`
`interpretation of “active region” having only a single transistor. E.g., Response,
`
`28-29, 74. For example, where Patent Owner cites to the description of Figure 1
`
`(Response, 28, citing Ex. 1001, 3:21-23), that figure shows only “a cross-sectional
`
`view illustrating a semiconductor device according to a first embodiment of the
`
`present invention.” Ex. 1001, 3:19-21. Where Patent Owner cites to various
`
`descriptions of manufacturing process steps (e.g., Response, 28, citing Ex. 1001,
`
`6:22-26, 9:38-39, 10:53-54, 12:25-28), those steps are directed to “the first
`
`embodiment,” “modified example[s]” of the first embodiment, or “a second
`
`embodiment.” Ex. 1001, 6:18-21, 9:32-35, 10:48-50, 12:21-24. Critically, nothing
`
`in the specification or claims of the ’501 patent states that the “active region” can
`
`only contain a single transistor.
`
`15. Moreover, the cited figures in the ’501 patent only show a “cross-
`
`sectional” (i.e., from the side) view of the example embodiments (the “plane view”
`
`of Figure 9 is directed to a different, “third embodiment”). Ex. 1001, 2:47-3:7,
`
`Figs. 1-8; see also, Ex. 1024, 80:2-81:5 (confirming that “the views of the first
`
`embodiment and its modifications are all cross-sectional views,” which “merely
`
`show[] what can be viewed in one cutaway.”) These cross-sectional perspectives
`
`do not foreclose on the existence of additional transistors within the active regions.
`
`Because neither the specification nor the claims of the ’501 patent limit the “active
`
`- 11 -
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent 7,893,501
`IPR2017-01841
`Reply Declaration of Stanley R. Shanfield, Ph.D.
`
`
`region” to a one-to-one correspondence of active regions-to-transistors, Patent
`
`Owner cannot rely on its presumptions about certain exemplary embodiments
`
`depicted in the drawings to support a narrowing interpretation of the “active
`
`region.”
`
`16. Finally, Patent Owner’s interpretation of an “active region” does not
`
`make technical sense. For example, all functional MOSFET transistors have an
`
`active region and Dr. Glew cites no evidence to the contrary. A POSITA would
`
`understand that the active region is electrically isolated from other active regions
`
`with isolation regions. Nothing about this understanding precludes multiple
`
`transistors from being formed within the active region. In the case where two
`
`transistors share a drain, electrical isolation is not required between the transistors
`
`and both transistors are formed within the same active region.
`
`17. Other examples in the prior art confirm the understanding that more
`
`than one transistor can exist in an active region. For example, U.S. Patent No.
`
`5,389,810 to Agata (“Agata”) describes a “plurality of pairs of MOSFETs 10 []
`
`arranged in a row in the active region 2.” Ex. 1025, 5:18-19. First MOSFET 10a
`
`and second MOSFET 10b make up an example pair which, as shown, share
`
`“source region 11.” Id., 5:37-38. Critically, both MOSFET 10a and MOSFET 10b
`
`(annotated below in green) are formed and exist in the same “active region 2,”
`
`- 12 -
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent 7,893,501
`IPR2017-01841
`Reply Declaration of Stanley R. Shanfield, Ph.D.
`
`
`(annotated below in blue) as shown in the annotated Figure 2 of Agata below. Id.,
`
`5:33-37.
`
`
`
`Id., Figure 2.
`
`18.
`
`Isolation regions are designed to isolate one active region from
`
`another active region, not each transistor from every other transistor. That is, the
`
`isolation regions do not necessitate a one-to-one correspondence of active regions-
`
`to-transistors as Patent Owner asserts. For example, when observing a plan view
`
`laying out a configuration of semiconductor devices, it becomes evident that an
`
`active region can include more than one transistor. U.S. Patent No. 8,618,607 to
`
`Rashed et al. (“Rashed”) illustrates such a plan view, describing a device that
`
`- 13 -
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent 7,893,501
`IPR2017-01841
`Reply Declaration of Stanley R. Shanfield, Ph.D.
`
`
`“includes a continuous active region defined in a semiconducting substrate, first
`
`and second transistors formed in and above the continuous active region.” Ex.
`
`1026, Abstract. Rashed even acknowledges that the prior art teaches the formation
`
`of multiple devices in a single active region, as shown for example in its Figure 1.
`
`Ex. 1026, 1:55-58 (“A plurality of PFET devices 20P1-2 are formed in and above
`
`the active region 12PA and a plurality of PFET devices 20P3-4 are formed in and
`
`above the active region 12PB.”)
`
`19. Dr. Glew states that semiconductor devices have been made without
`
`
`
`- 14 -
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent 7,893,501
`IPR2017-01841
`Reply Declaration of Stanley R. Shanfield, Ph.D.
`
`
`isolation regions and cites a single patent from the 1980’s stating that a retrograde
`
`doping profile may be used “with or without trench dielectric isolation structures.”
`
`E.g., Ex. 2007, ¶¶112-113, citing Ex. 2014 at 5:41-47. These examples are
`
`misleading. First, even transistors that do not use isolation regions such as STI
`
`still have active regions—otherwise, the transistors would simply not function.
`
`The absence of an isolation region does not signify the absence of an active region.
`
`Second, by the time of the alleged invention in 2003, virtually all transistors
`
`included isolation regions. A POSITA at the time of the alleged invention would
`
`not have understood Igarashi to be implemented in a manner that omitted isolation
`
`regions or structures (such as STI) because: (i) the transistors commonly used by
`
`then were too small for spacing alone to be a functional alternative to isolation
`
`regions or structures (such as STI); and (ii) Igarashi expressly discloses the use of
`
`isolation regions and such isolation regions would have been obvious in view of
`
`Woerlee. Ex. 1002, ¶¶66-67; Ex. 1024, 111:18-25 (admitting that using spacing
`
`rather than isolation “would not be a typical solution” for memory cells in the 2003
`
`timeframe).
`
`- 15 -
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent 7,893,501
`IPR2017-01841
`Reply Declaration of Stanley R. Shanfield, Ph.D.
`
`
`20. Accordingly, Patent Owner’s interpretation of an “active region” is
`
`inappropriately narrow, forecloses substantial portions of the technical field, and is
`
`purely designed to escape the overwhelming prior art.
`
`II.
`
`Igarashi and Woerlee Disclose the Claimed “Active Region”
`21. Patent Owner again incorrectly argues that the Fifth Embodiment
`
`described in Igarashi, itself, does not teach STI regions forming an active region.
`
`Response, 37. The Board has already rejected this argument: “[W]e find it is clear
`
`from Igarashi that the disclosure of ‘active element region[s]’ discussed in
`
`paragraph 68 with respect to the ‘First Embodiment’ is equally applicable to the
`
`‘Fifth Embodiment’ upon which Petitioner primarily relies.” DI, 18-20.
`
`A.
`
`Patent Owner’s Imagined Inherency Argument Mischaracterizes my
`testimony
`22. Patent Owner attempts to mischaracterize my deposition testimony,
`
`claiming that I have advanced a “new” inherency argument by suggesting that
`
`isolation regions were present in that embodiment because they were necessary for
`
`the device to work. Response, 12.
`
`23. The Response asserts that “[Dr.] Shanfield testified that every
`
`embodiment must be isolated using LOCOS or the trench method to ‘have a
`
`functional integrated circuit.’ Ex.-2009, 98:10-13.” Response, 45. But in the
`
`context of the surrounding testimony omitted from the Response (bracketed
`
`- 16 -
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent 7,893,501
`IPR2017-01841
`Reply Declaration of Stanley R. Shanfield, Ph.D.
`
`
`below), it is clear that my testimony is directed to the understanding of one of
`
`ordinary skill in the art when reading Igarashi and not inherency:
`
`“[Someone of skill in the art, reading this, would understand that what
`Igarashi means is, I'm going to describe the method for manufacturing
`the semiconductor device of the first embodiment. But the following
`description of the manufacturing method -- the major process for
`forming the silicon nitride film -- will be described and other processes
`will be described without referring to the drawings, and the process is -
`-
`they describe, for example,
`the
`isolation applied
`to other
`embodiments. Clearly isolation is required in any embodiment.
`And so, for example, it says ‘Element isolation is performed using
`methods such as LOCOS or trench method.’]
`
`“A person of skill in the art would understand that that applies to all
`the embodiments, because you wouldn't have a functional integrated
`circuit without it.”
`
`Ex. 2009, 97:19-98:13; see also id., 99:6-21 (“Someone of skill in the art will
`
`understand there has to be an isolation. LOCOS and the trench method were the
`
`alternatives at the time, and, of course, [Igarashi’s] got to be referring to every
`
`embodiment. It couldn’t be interpreted any other way.”)
`
`24. Patent Owner also cites the following testimony to support its own
`
`invented inherency argument: “And that’s understood to apply to all the
`
`- 17 -
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent 7,893,501
`IPR2017-01841
`Reply Declaration of Stanley R. Shanfield, Ph.D.
`
`
`embodiments. There’s no way electrically it can be not isolated.’)” Response, 45,
`
`citing Ex. 2009, 100:24-101:10 (emphasis by Patent Owner). But again, when my
`
`testimony is taken in context, my response is clearly intended only to correct
`
`Patent Owner’s misinterpretation of Igarashi: “[No, but it -- that's -- if you're
`
`attempting to imply that it doesn't have isolation, then it's a misreading of the end
`
`of paragraph 68. It says ‘Element isolation is performed using methods such as
`
`LOCOS or the trench method.’] And that’s understood to apply to all the
`
`embodiments. There’s no way electrically it can be not isolated.” Ex. 2009, 101:3-
`
`7 (omitted testimony in brackets). In other words, and consistent with both the
`
`Petition and my initial declaration, I am only confirming that a person of ordinary
`
`skill, when reading Igarashi, would have understood that the disclosure of the
`
`features in Igarashi that are common to different illustrations are applicable to the
`
`embodiment shown in Figure 12 because the same reference numerals are used to
`
`describe common features of Igarashi’s disclosure.
`
`25. Moreover, inherency is irrelevant in this case because—putting aside
`
`the fact that neither Petitioner nor I have ever raised an inherency argument in this
`
`case—Igarashi expressly discloses an active region: “First, an insulating film for
`
`isolating elements is formed on a silicon semiconductor substrate 1. Element
`
`isolation is performed using methods such as the LOCOS method or the trench
`
`- 18 -
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent 7,893,501
`IPR2017-01841
`Reply Declaration of Stanley R. Shanfield, Ph.D.
`
`
`method. Thereafter, ion implantation is performed to the active element region for
`
`forming the well and controlling the threshold value.” Ex. 1002, ¶66, citing Ex.
`
`1004, [0068] (emphasis added).
`
`26. My initial declaration is also clear that a “POSITA would have
`
`understood that the disclosure of the features in Igarashi common to different
`
`illustrations are applicable to the embodiment shown in Figure 12 because the
`
`same reference numerals are used to describe common features of Igarashi’s
`
`disclosure.” Ex. 1002, ¶60. For example, “semiconductor substrate 1” where the
`
`active region is formed is a common feature between Figure 1 (Embodiment 1) and
`
`Figure 12 (Embodiment 5). I note that Dr. Glew admitted that he used the same
`
`approach to interpret the ’501 patent, admitting that he based his assessment of the
`
`’501 patent’s first embodiment in the 501 patent’s third embodiment because “it
`
`uses the same Item No. 2, which indicates to me that it is going to be substantially
`
`similar to the other uses of Item 2.” Ex. 1024, 81:8-24. This uniform numbering
`
`- 19 -
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent 7,893,501
`IPR2017-01841
`Reply Declaration of Stanley R. Shanfield, Ph.D.
`
`
`scheme for common features (which also includes elements numbered 2-6) is
`
`undeniably evident when the two figures in Igarashi are viewed side by side.
`
`
`
`Figures 1 and 12 of Igarashi showing a uniform numbering scheme for common
`
`features (Ex. 1004)
`
`This same reasoning applies to common features, like the isolation regions, even if
`
`they are not specifically shown in the figures. As noted in my initial declaration,
`
`where features differ between figures, the differences are described in the
`
`disclosure of Igarashi. Ex. 1002, ¶60; see also, Ex. 1024, 112:1-15 (confirming
`
`that a POSITA at the relevant time would not rely on spacing the devices in Figure
`
`12 of Igarashi so far apart that isolation would not be needed).
`
`27. Moreover, my initial declaration showed that Igarashi’s isolation
`
`region teachings were applicable to its Figure 12 embodiment. Specifically, I cite
`
`Figure 12, which shows the “semiconductor substrate 1.” Ex. 1002, ¶66. Then, I
`
`explained that a POSITA would have understood that the semiconductor substrate
`
`- 20 -
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent 7,893,501
`IPR2017-01841
`Reply Declaration of Stanley R. Shanfield, Ph.D.
`
`
`1 in Figure 12 has an active region because Igarashi expressly discloses an “active
`
`element region” made of the semiconductor substrate 1. Ex. 1002, ¶66; Ex. 1010,
`
`42-43.
`
`28. Accordingly, both the Petition and I have been clear and consistent
`
`throughout this proceeding: Igarashi discloses the “active region” of the challenged
`
`claims in connection with its Fifth Embodiment. Moreover, as discussed below in
`
`Section III.D, I also demonstrated it would have been obvious to form the active
`
`region disclosed in Igarashi in semiconductor substrate 1 of Igarshi’s Fifth
`
`Embodiment in view of the teachings of Woerlee.
`
`Igarashi Shows a MISFET that Includes an “Active Region”
`B.
`29. A person of ordinary skill would have viewed the region between the
`
`two STI in Igarashi where the two transistors are formed as an “active region”
`
`formed between those two STI. As noted in the my initial declaration: “The use of
`
`the ‘trench method’ confirms the ’active element region’ (active region) is made of
`
`the semiconductor substrate 1 because according to the trench method the active
`
`region is formed in the substrate and defined by the STI regions. Ex. 1002 ¶66,
`
`citing Ex, 1010, 42-43 (explaining that the manufacturing process for a MISFET
`
`“starts with the definition of the active regions—these are the regions where
`
`transistors will be constructed. All other areas of the die will be covered with a
`
`- 21 -
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent 7,893,501
`IPR2017-01841
`Reply Declaration of Stanley R. Shanfield, Ph.D.
`
`
`thick layer of silicon dioxide (SiO2) called the field oxide. This oxide acts as the
`
`insulator between neighboring devices, and it is either grown (as in the process of
`
`Figure 2-1) or deposited in etched trenches (Figure 2-2)—hence, the name trench
`
`insulation.”) As discussed in Section II above with respect to Agata and Rashed
`
`(and Patent Owner’s district court infringement contentions), it is visibly clear that
`
`Igarashi discloses the claimed “active region” of the ’501 patent.
`
`30. As discussed below, I was asked during deposition whether this active
`
`region would be considered one active region or two active regions.
`
`31.
`
`In either view, Igarashi’s disclosure meets the claim limitations
`
`because the MISFETs in either case include an active region bounded by STI.
`
`Under the first view, each MISFET includes an active region because each
`
`transistor is formed in the active region between the STI. There is nothing that
`
`precludes multiple transistors, each with their own channel, from being formed in
`
`the active region, nor does the claim require that each transistor have its own active
`
`region that is separated from other active regions by isolation regions. See Section
`
`II, above; Ex. 1025. I note that Dr. Glew admitted that the term “includes” in
`
`claim 1 means “that it has at least these features.” Ex. 1024, 94:20-95:7. Under
`
`- 22 -
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent 7,893,501
`IPR2017-01841
`Reply Declaration of Stanley R. Shanfield, Ph.D.
`
`
`the second view, each transistor includes an active region because there are two
`
`transistors and two active regions.
`
`32. Patent Owner’s (and Dr. Glew’s) arguments against Igarashi’s “active
`
`region” are internally inconsistent. For example, in its Response, Patent Owner
`
`first argues that the entire region bounded by isolation regions is not the formation
`
`region for any transistors. Response, 17-18 (“In the Petitions’ modified-Igarashi
`
`Fig. 12, the entire region of the substrate bounded by the alleged isolation region is
`
`not the formation region for any MISFET. Ex.-2007, ¶145.”) Yet, in the very next
`
`sentence, Patent Owner concedes that this region is the formation region for at
`
`least two transistors. Response, 18 (“It is undisputed that there are at least two
`
`transistors in Igarashi’s Fig. 12.”).
`
`33. PO’s attempt to argue that Igarashi’s Figure 12 embodiment somehow
`
`does not have an active region because it is a memory device also fails. Response,
`
`33-34. When asked to provide examples of known devices having “active
`
`regions,” Dr. Glew admitted that there were various types of devices—including
`
`logic and memory devices—that would have “active regions.” Ex. 1024, 97:21-
`
`98:7 (“Q. Could you provide some examples of the types of devices you're familiar
`
`with from that timeframe that had active regions? A. Starting at the bottom of
`
`Paragraph 30 and paragraphs 63 through 66 I describe a number of references that
`
`- 23 -
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent 7,893,501
`IPR2017-01841
`Reply Declaration of Stanley R. Shanfield, Ph.D.
`
`use this term consistent with my understanding. Each of these references describes
`
`various types of devices that would have such regions. One could generally
`
`characterize and say logic and memory devices, as well as other types
`
`additionally.”) Dr. Glew also confirmed in his declaration, that Igarashi’s Fifth
`
`Embodiment shown in Figure 12 “comprises a portion of a memory cell”—
`
`precisely the type of device that Dr. Glew would expect to have an “active region.”
`
`Ex. 2007, ¶¶91-92; see also, Ex. 1024, 111:11-17 (“Q. You state in Paragraph 92
`
`that Igarashi's fifth embodiment comprises a portion of a memory cell formed by
`
`two interconnected MOS transistors. Is that still your testimony? A. Yes, I
`
`understand that this is what I believe Igarashi to be.”)
`
`Patent Owner’s Attacks on my Testimony are Purely a Distraction
`C.
`34. Patent Owner desperately attacks my deposition testimony in its
`
`Response for allegedly not answering the question of whether Igarashi shows one
`
`active region or two active regions. Specifically, Patent Owner claims that
`
`“Petitioner’s expert could not answer a simple question—was it his position that
`
`there is one active region or two in the Petitions’ modified-Igarashi Fig. 12.”
`
`Response, 13-14. However, I repeatedly tried to explain how this was not a
`
`distinction relevant to the challenged claims or my analysis. When Patent Owner
`
`persisted in trying to get me to say it was one active region or two, I testified
`
`- 24 -
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent 7,893,501
`IPR2017-01841
`Reply Declaration of Stanley R. Shanfield, Ph.D.
`
`
`truthfully that this was not a question that made sense technically. I was not
`
`unable or unwilling to answer the question. I repeatedly and patiently answered
`
`Patent Owner’s questions over two full days of depositi

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