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`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
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`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
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`FORD MOTOR COMPANY
`Petitioner
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`v.
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`PAICE LLC & THE ABELL FOUNDATION, INC.
`Patent Owner
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`Case IPR2015-00791
`Patent 7,237,634
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`Patent Owner’s Preliminary Response to
`Petition for Inter Partes Review of U.S.
`Patent No. 7,237,634
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`PUBLIC- REDACTED VERSION
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`1
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`PAICE 2003
`BMW v. Paice
`IPR2020-01386
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`Patent No. 7,237,634
`Patent Owner’s Preliminary Response
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`Case IPR2015-00791
`Attorney Docket No: 36351-0015IP9
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`TABLE OF CONTENTS
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`
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`I. 
`
`II. 
`
`INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 1 
`
`PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND ................................................................. 2 
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`III.  THE ’634 PATENT ......................................................................................... 3 
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`A. 
`
`B. 
`
`Background of the ’634 Patent .............................................................. 3 
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`Claim Construction ............................................................................... 6 
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`1. 
`
`2. 
`
`3. 
`
`“setpoint (SP)” ............................................................................ 7 
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`“monitor patterns of vehicle operation over time” ................... 13 
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`“abnormal and transient conditions” ......................................... 17 
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`IV.  ARGUMENT ................................................................................................. 19 
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`A. 
`
`The Board Should Exercise its Discretion to Reject Ford’s Tenth Bite
`at the Apple ......................................................................................... 20 
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`1. 
`
`The Petition is Ford’s Tenth Bite at the Apple ......................... 23 
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`Ford Advances Substantially the Same Prior Art and
`2. 
`Substantially the Same Arguments ..................................................... 28 
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`3. 
`
`Estoppel Considerations Support Rejecting Ford’s Petition .... 32 
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`B. 
`
`The Petition is Procedurally Improper ................................................ 35 
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`1. 
`
`2. 
`
`The Petition Improperly Incorporates by Reference ................ 35 
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`The Petition Creates an Overly Voluminous Record ............... 40 
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`C. 
`
`Ground 1 is Deficient .......................................................................... 41 
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`Ford’s Proposed Grounds Fail to Present a Proper Obviousness
`1. 
`Analysis Under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) ..................................................... 42 
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`2. 
`
`3. 
`
`Claim 33 .................................................................................... 47 
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`Additional Claims ..................................................................... 52 
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`D.  Ground 2 is Deficient .......................................................................... 53 
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`E. 
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`F. 
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`Ground 3 is Deficient .......................................................................... 55 
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`Ground 4 is Deficient .......................................................................... 58 
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`V. 
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`CONCLUSION .............................................................................................. 59 
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`TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
`
` Page(s)
`
`Cases
`In re Abbott Diabetes Care Inc.,
`696 F.3d 1142 (Fed. Cir. 2012) .......................................................................... 12
`
`Apple, Inc., v. ContentGuard Holdings, Inc.,
`IPR2015-00356, Paper 9 (PTAB Jun. 26, 2015) ................................................ 41
`
`Apple Inc. v. ContentGuard Holdings, LLC,
`IPR2015-00448, Paper 9 (PTAB Jul. 10, 2015) ............................... 38, 47, 52, 55
`
`ASUSTeK Computer Inc. v. Exotablet, Ltd.,
`IPR2015-00041, Paper 6 (PTAB Apr. 23, 2015) ............................................... 22
`
`Bettcher Indus., Inc. v. Bunzl USA, Inc.,
`661 F.3d 629 (Fed. Cir. 2011) ............................................................................ 43
`
`Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. v. Cordis Corp.,
`554 F.3d 982 (Fed. Cir. 2009) ...................................................................... 44, 49
`
`Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLC v. Gevo, Inc.,
`IPR2014-00581, Paper 8 (PTAB Oct. 14, 2014) .............................. 21, 23, 24, 33
`
`Cisco v. C-Cation Technologies,
`IPR2014-00454, Paper 12 (PTAB Aug. 29, 2014) ............................................. 36
`
`Conopco, Inc. dba Unilever v. Procter & Gamble Company,
`IPR2014-00628, Paper 23 (PTAB Mar. 20, 2015) ................................. 22, 32, 33
`
`Continental Automotive Sys., Inc. v. Wasica Finance GMBH,
`IPR2014-01454, Paper 14 (PTAB Feb. 13, 2015) .............................................. 31
`
`In re Cortright,
`165 F.3d 1353 (Fed. Cir. 1999) ...................................................................... 7, 11
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`In re Cuozzo Speed Tech., LLC,
`778 F.3d 1271 (Fed. Cir. 2015), reh’g denied, __ F.3d __ (Fed. Cir.
`Jul. 8, 2015) ........................................................................................................... 7
`
`CustomPlay, LLC v. ClearPlay, Inc.,
`IPR2014-00783, Paper 9 (PTAB Nov. 7, 2014) ................................................. 33
`
`eBay Inc. v. MoneyCat Ltd.,
`CBM2015-00008, Paper 9 (PTAB May 1, 2015) ............................................... 33
`
`Fidelity National v. DataTreasury,
`IPR2014-00491, Paper 9 (PTAB Aug. 13, 2014) ............................................... 36
`
`Fuji Photo Film Co. v. Int'l Trade Comm’n,
`386 F.3d 1095 (Fed. Cir. 2004) .......................................................................... 11
`
`In re Giannelli,
`739 F.3d 1375 (Fed. Cir. 2014) .......................................................................... 50
`
`Graham v. John Deere Co.,
`383 U.S. 1 (1966) ................................................................................................ 43
`
`Innogenetics, N.V. v. Abbott Labs.,
`512 F.3d 1363 (Fed. Cir. 2008) .......................................................................... 59
`
`Ex Parte James R. Bosserdet Jr.,
`Appeal 2012-001420, 2014 WL 5590704 (PTAB Oct. 9, 2014) ....................... 48
`
`In re Kahn,
`441 F.3d 977 (Fed. Cir. 2006) ............................................................................ 46
`
`KSR Int’l Co. v. Teleflex Inc.,
`550 U.S. 398 (2007) ............................................................................... 42, 46, 50
`
`MasterImage 3D, Inc. v. Reald Inc.,
`IPR2015-00033, Paper 12 (PTAB Apr. 22, 2015) ....................................... 50, 57
`
`MaxLinear, Inc. v. Cresta Technology Corp.,
`IPR2015-00591, Paper 9 (PTAB Jun. 15, 2015) ................................................ 28
`
`Micro Motion, Inc. v. Invensys Systems, Inc.,
`IPR2014-0393, Paper 16 (PTAB Aug. 4, 2014) ................................................. 36
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`Microsoft Corp. v. Proxyconn, Inc.,
`2015 WL 3747257 (Fed. Cir. Jun. 16, 2015) ............................................ 7, 11, 18
`
`In re NTP, Inc.,
`654 F.3d 1279 (Fed. Cir. 2011) ...................................................................... 7, 11
`
`In re Oelrich,
`666 F.2d 578 (CCPA 1981) ................................................................................ 43
`
`Plantronics v. Aliph, Inc.,
`724 F.3d 1343 (Fed. Cir. 2013) .......................................................................... 57
`
`Samsung Elecs. Co. v. Rembrandt Wireless Technologies, LP,
`IPR2015-00555, Paper 20 (PTAB Jun. 19, 2015) .................................. 22, 26, 33
`
`Shaw Industries Group, Inc. v. Automated Creel Sys., Inc.,
`IPR2013-00584, Paper 16 (PTAB Dec. 21, 2013) ............................................. 36
`
`In re Suitco Surface, Inc.,
`603 F.3d 1255 (Fed. Cir. 2010) ...................................................................... 7, 17
`
`Tempo Lighting Inc. v. Tivoli LLC,
`742 F.3d 973 (Fed. Cir. 2014) ............................................................................ 18
`
`Tempur Sealy Int’l Inc. v. Select Comfort Corp.,
`IPR2014-01419, Paper 7 (PTAB Feb. 17, 2015) ................................................ 36
`
`Texas Instruments v. United States ITC,
`988 F.2d 1165 (Fed. Cir. 1993) .......................................................................... 48
`
`Travelocity.com L.P. v. Cronos Techs., LLC,
`CBM2015-00047, Paper 7 (PTAB Jun. 15, 2015) ............................................. 25
`
`Travelocity.com L.P. v. Cronos Techs. LLC,
`CBM2014-00082, Paper 10 (PTAB Sept. 15, 2014) .......................................... 43
`
`Unified Patents, Inc. v. PersonalWeb, LLC,
`IPR2014-00702, Paper 13 (PTAB Jul. 24, 2014) ............................................... 35
`
`Unilever, Inc., v. Proctor & Gamble Co.,
`IPR2014-00506, Paper 17 (PTAB Jul. 7, 2014) ................................................. 33
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`In re Vaidyanathan,
`381 Fed. Appx. 985 (Fed. Cir. 2010) .................................................................. 11
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`ZTE Corp. v. ContentGuard Holdings, Inc.,
`IPR2013-00454, Paper 12 (PTAB Sept. 25, 2013) ............................................. 26
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`Statutes
`
`35 U.S.C. § 103 ............................................................................................ 28, 42, 43
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`35 U.S.C. § 313 .......................................................................................................... 1
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`35 U.S.C. § 315 ............................................................................................ 22, 32, 34
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`35 U.S.C. § 316 ........................................................................................................ 40
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`35 U.S.C. § 322 .................................................................................................. 42, 45
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`35 U.S.C. § 325 .................................................................................................. passim
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`Other Authorities
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`37 C.F.R. § 42.1 ........................................................................................... 22, 26, 40
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`37 C.F.R. § 42.6 ........................................................................................... 35, 36, 55
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`37 C.F.R. § 42.22 ......................................................................................... 35, 42, 45
`
`37 C.F.R. § 42.100 ........................................................................................... 2, 7, 35
`
`37 C.F.R. § 42.104 ....................................................................................... 38, 39, 55
`
`37 C.F.R. § 42.107 ..................................................................................................... 1
`
`157 Cong. Rec. S952 (2011) .................................................................................... 20
`
`77 Fed. Reg. 48756 (Aug. 4, 2012).......................................................................... 40
`
`H.R. Rep. No. 112-98 (2011) ................................................................. 21, 23, 27, 40
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`EXHIBITS
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`Exhibit Number
`Ex. 2401
`Ex. 2402
`Ex. 2403
`Ex. 2404
`Ex. 2405
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`
`Exhibit Name
`Table of Ford’s IPR Petitions
`Gregory Davis Deposition Transcript (Feb. 25, 2015)
`The Oxford Essential Dictionary, American Ed.
`(1998) (excerpt)
`U.S. Patent No. 8,214,097 File History
`Appendix A (Jan. 15, 2014)
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`Patent No. 7,237,634
`Patent Owner’s Preliminary Response
`I.
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`INTRODUCTION
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`Case IPR2015-00791
`Attorney Docket No: 36351-0015IP9
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`In accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 313 and 37 C.F.R. § 42.107, Paice LLC and
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`the The Abell Foundation, Inc. (“Patent Owner” or collectively referred to as
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`“Paice”) respectfully submit this Preliminary Response to the Petition for Inter
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`Partes Review (“the Petition” or “Pet.”) of U.S. Patent No. 7,237,634 (Ex. 1450)
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`(“the ’634 patent”) filed by Ford Motor Company (“Ford” or “Petitioner”).
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`In its tenth out of thirteen petitions for inter partes review (IPR) of the ’634
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`patent, Ford asserts that claims 33, 37, 39, 40, 41, 80, 93, 94, 96, 99, 106, 107, 108,
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`113, 114, 127, 128, 132, 139, 140, 141, 146, 215, 229, and 231 are obvious in view
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`of U.S. Patent No. 5,789,882 to Ibaraki et al. (Ex. 1452) (“Ibaraki ’882”), either
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`alone or in combination with U.S. Patent No. 5,623,104 to Suga (Ex. 1454) (“Suga
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`’104”), U.S. Patent No. 6,116,363 to Frank (Ex. 1489) (“Frank”), U.S. Patent No.
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`5,823,280 to Lateur et al. (Ex. 1490) (“Lateur”), Automotive Electronics
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`Handbook, Ronald Jurgen (Ex. 1491) (“Jurgen”), and “the knowledge of a POSA.”
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`Paice requests that the Board deny institution for at least the following
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`reasons: (1) the Petition relies on substantially the same arguments that Ford has
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`already presented to the Board, representing Ford’s tenth shot at the ’634 patent
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`and part of an overall strategy designed to drive up costs and overburden Paice
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`with twenty-five petitions for IPR based on serial grounds of obviousness; (2) the
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`Petition is procedurally improper, containing improper incorporation by reference,
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`and creating an excessively voluminous record; and (3) the Petition is defective
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`and deficient because Ford fails to establish that the proposed combinations render
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`the challenged claims obvious.
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`II.
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`PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
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`On June 5, 2014, Ford filed a first petition (IPR2014-00904) against claims
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`1, 14, 16, 18, and 24 of the ’634 patent. On December 11, 2014, the Board
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`instituted review of those claims, and on July 1, 2015, the Board heard oral
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`arguments on the petition. The Board is expected to issue a final written decision
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`no later than December 11, 2015. See 37 C.F.R. § 42.100(c). On August 29, 2014,
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`Ford filed a second petition (IPR2014-01416) for IPR against claims 80, 93, 98,
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`99, 102, 109, 114, 127, 131, 132, 135, 139, 142, 161, 215, 228, 232, 233, 235, 236,
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`and 237. On March 12, 2015, the Board instituted review of those claims, and is
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`expected to issue a final written decision before March 12, 2016.
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`In a transparent effort to continue its abusive tactics and exert pressure on
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`Paice, Ford filed eleven additional petitions for IPR regarding the ’634 patent
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`between January 28, 2015 and February 24, 2015 (IPR2015-00606, IPR2015-
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`00722, IPR2015-00758, IPR2015-00784, IPR2015-00785, IPR2015-00787,
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`IPR2015-00790, IPR2015-00791, IPR2015-00799, IPR2015-00800, IPR2015-
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`00801), including serial claim challenges to many claims.
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`This Petition, therefore, is the tenth out of thirteen petitions for IPR that Ford
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`has filed against the ’634 patent. Ford states that it “is filing several IPRs to
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`address the ’634 Patent claims and is trying to group the claims according to
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`claimed subject matter.” Pet. at 1. However, Ford has filed serial claim challenges
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`against fifteen of the twenty-five claims challenged in this Petition. Specifically,
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`Ford has filed serial challenges to claims 33 (in two other petitions), 80 (in five
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`other petitions), 93 (in one other petition), 96 (in one other petition), 99 (in three
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`other petitions), 106 (in one other petition), 107 (in one other petition), 108 (in one
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`other petition), 114 (in five other petitions), 127 (in one other petition), 132 (in
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`three other petitions), 139 (in one other petition), 140 (in one other petition), 141
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`(in one other petition), and 215 (in five other petitions). See Ex. 2401. Ford
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`included many of these claims (claims 80, 93, 99, 114, 127, 132, 139, and 215) in
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`IPR2014-01416, which it filed nearly seven months before the instant Petition.
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`III. THE ’634 PATENT
`A. Background of the ’634 Patent
`The ’634 patent, entitled “Hybrid Vehicles,” issued on July 3, 2007, from an
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`application with a priority date of September 14, 1998. The ’634 patent discloses
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`embodiments of a hybrid electric vehicle, with an internal combustion engine, two
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`electric motors and a battery bank. A microprocessor is employed to control the
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`internal combustion engine, the two electric motors, and the battery bank based on
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`the hybrid vehicle’s instantaneous torque requirements such that the internal
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`combustion engine is only run under high efficiency conditions. See, e.g., Ex.
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`1450 at Abstract.
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`An embodiment of the hybrid vehicle disclosed in the ’634 patent is shown
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`in Figure 3, reproduced below:
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`Id. at Fig. 3. As shown, a traction motor 25 is connected to the road wheels 34
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`through a differential 32. A starter motor 21 is connected to the internal
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`combustion engine 40. The motors 21 and 25 are functional as either motors or
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`generators, depending on the operation of the corresponding inverter/charger units
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`23 and 27, which connect the motors to the battery bank 22. See id. at 26:19-30.
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`These components are controlled by a microprocessor 48 or any controller
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`capable of examining input parameters and signals and controlling the mode of
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`operation of the vehicle. See, e.g., id. at 26:31-27:25. For example, control of
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`engine 40 is accomplished by way of control signals provided by the
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`microprocessor to the electronic fuel injection (EFI) unit 56 and electronic engine
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`management (EEM) unit 55. Control of (1) starting of the engine 40; (2) use of
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`motors 21 and 25 to provide propulsive torque; or (3) use of motors as generators
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`to provide regenerative recharging of battery bank 22, is accomplished through
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`control signals provided by the microprocessor to the inverter/charger units 23 and
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`27. See, e.g., id. at 26:64-27:25; 28:42-52.
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`The hybrid vehicle may be operated in a number of modes based on the
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`vehicle’s instantaneous torque requirements, the engine’s maximum torque output,
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`the state of charge of the battery, and other operating parameters. In an
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`implementation of the ’634 patent, the microprocessor employs a hybrid system
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`control strategy based on sensed and calculated values for system variables that are
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`evaluated against setpoints and causes the vehicle to operate in various operating
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`modes pursuant to this control strategy. See, e.g., id. at 40:16-26.
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`For example, in mode I, the hybrid vehicle is operated as an electric car,
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`with the traction motor providing all torque to propel the vehicle. Id. at 37:24-32.
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`As the vehicle continues to be propelled in electric only mode, the state of charge
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`of the battery may become depleted, and need to be recharged. In this case, the
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`hybrid vehicle may transition to mode II to recharge the battery, in which the
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`vehicle operates as in mode I, with the addition of the engine running the
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`starter/generator motor to provide electrical energy to operate the traction motor
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`and recharge the battery. See, e.g., id. at 37:32-36. When the internal combustion
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`engine can be operated in its fuel efficient range to propel the vehicle, the hybrid
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`vehicle operates in mode IV, with the engine providing torque to propel the
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`vehicle. Id. at 37:42-44; 38:51-61. If the vehicle requires additional torque, such
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`as for acceleration or hill-climbing, the vehicle may enter mode V, where the
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`traction motor provides additional torque to propel the vehicle beyond that
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`provided by engine 40. Id. at 38:1-8.
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`B. Claim Construction
`Ford construes “road load,” “set point,” “low-load mode I,” “highway
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`cruising mode IV,” “acceleration mode V,” and “abnormal and transient
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`conditions.” Pet. at 9-12. At this stage, Paice addresses only Ford’s constructions
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`of “setpoint,” and “abnormal and transient conditions.” Paice also proposes a
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`construction of “monitoring patterns of vehicle operation over time,” because
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`Ford’s analysis demonstrates that it interprets the phrase in an unreasonably broad
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`manner.
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`In IPR proceedings, the Board applies the “broadest reasonable
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`interpretation” standard, which mandates that “[a] claim in an unexpired patent
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`shall be given its broadest reasonable construction in light of the specification of
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`the patent in which it appears.” 37 C.F.R. § 42.100(b); see also In re Cuozzo
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`Speed Tech., LLC, 778 F.3d 1271, 1281 (Fed. Cir. 2015), reh’g denied, __ F.3d __
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`(Fed. Cir. Jul. 8, 2015). The Federal Circuit has recognized, however, that that
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`standard requires that the claims must be read in light of the specification as it
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`would be interpreted by one of ordinary skill in the art. In re Suitco Surface, Inc.,
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`603 F.3d 1255, 1260 (Fed. Cir. 2010). In Microsoft Corp. v. Proxyconn, Inc., the
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`Federal Circuit explained that the broadest reasonable interpretation does not mean
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`that “the Board may construe the claims during IPR so broadly that its
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`constructions are unreasonable under general claim constructions principles,” and
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`that the construction must not be “divorced from the specification and the record
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`evidence” and inconsistent with “the one that those skilled in the art would reach.”
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`No. 2014-1542, 2015 WL 3747257, at *3 (Fed. Cir. June 16, 2015) (quoting In re
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`NTP, Inc., 654 F.3d 1279, 1288 (Fed. Cir. 2011); In re Cortright, 165 F.3d 1353,
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`1358 (Fed. Cir. 1999)). “A construction that is ‘unreasonably broad’ and which
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`does not ‘reasonably reflect the plain language and disclosure’ will not pass
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`muster.” Microsoft, No. 2014-1542, 2015 WL 3747257, at *3 (quoting Suitco, 603
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`F.3d at 1260).
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`“setpoint (SP)”
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`1.
`Paice respectfully requests that the Board construe “setpoint” as “a definite,
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`but potentially variable value at which a transition between operating modes may
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`occur,” 1 and reject Ford’s proposed construction—a “predetermined torque
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`value”—because it is unreasonably broad and does not reflect the disclosure of the
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`’634 patent.
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` The claims and the specification of the ’634 patent make clear that a
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`“setpoint” is not simply a numerical value divorced from the context of the control
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`system. Rather, “setpoint” serves the crucial function of marking the transition
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`from one claimed mode to another, and in particular, the transition from propelling
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`1 As an initial matter, Patent Owner notes that the U.S. District Court for the
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`Eastern District of Texas and the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
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`both have construed the term “setpoint (SP)” to mean “a definite, but potentially
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`variable value at which a transition between operating modes may occur.” See
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`Paice LLC v. Toyota Motor Corp., Case No. 2:07-cv-180 (E.D. Tex. Dec. 5, 2008)
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`(Ex. 1456 at 204); Paice LLC v. Hyundai Motor Corp., Case No. 2:12-cv-499 (D.
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`Md. Jul. 24, 2014) (Ex. 1457 at 103) (“The Plaintiffs’ proposed construction of
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`‘setpoint’ as ‘a definite, but potentially variable value at which a transition between
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`operating modes may occur,’ is consistent with the language of the claims and the
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`intrinsic evidence.”).
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`the vehicle with the motor to propelling the vehicle with the engine. See, e.g., Ex.
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`1450 at 40:41-49.
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`For example, in claims 33, 80, and 161, the “setpoint” marks the transition
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`between a mode in which only the motor propels the vehicle, to modes in which
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`the engine also can be used to propel the vehicle or charge the battery. See id. at
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`claims 33 (“operating at least one electric motor to propel the hybrid vehicle when
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`the RL required to do so is less than a setpoint (SP)”), 80 (same), 161 (“wherein
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`the hybrid vehicle is operated in a plurality of operating modes corresponding to
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`values for the RL and a setpoint (SP)”).
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`Additionally, the specification unambiguously defines “setpoint” as
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`synonymous with a “transition point” between modes:
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`[I]n the example of the inventive control strategy discussed above, it is
`repeatedly stated that the transition from low-speed operation to
`highway cruising occurs when road load is equal to 30% of MTO. This
`setpoint, referred to in the appended claims as "SP", and sometimes
`hereinafter as the transition point (i.e., between operation in modes I
`and IV) is obviously arbitrary and can vary substantially, e.g., between
`30-50% of MTO, within the scope of the invention.
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`Id. at 40:41-49; see also id. at 40:16-26 (“the microprocessor tests sensed and
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`calculated values for system variables, such as the vehicle’s instantaneous torque
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`requirement, i.e., the ‘road load’ RL . . . against setpoints, and uses the results of
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`the comparisons to control the mode of vehicle operation.”), 40:63-65 (“For
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`example, in response to recognition of a regular pattern as above, the transition
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`point might be adjusted to 60% of MTO”), 41:4-8 (“It is also within the scope of
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`the invention to make the setpoint SP to which the road load is compared to control
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`the transition from mode I to mode IV somewhat ‘fuzzy’ [sic], so that SP may vary
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`from one comparison of road load to MTO to the next depending on other
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`variables”), 41:59-63 (“FIG. 9 thus shows the main decision points of the control
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`program run by the microprocessor, with the transition point between mode I, low-
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`speed operation, and mode IV highway cruising, set at a road load equal to 30% of
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`MTO”), 44:24-31 (“Further, as noted above the transition points between modes I,
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`IV, and V in particular may vary in accordance with the operator's commands”).
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`The “setpoint” marks the amount of “road load” at which the claimed
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`control system actively changes the vehicle from one mode to another (e.g. from
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`motor propulsion to engine propulsion). The challenged patent recognizes the
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`significant efficiencies to be gained by transitioning between motor propulsion to
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`engine propulsion in response to “road load.” See, e.g., id. at 13:44-51 (“By
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`comparison . . . the vehicle’s operating mode—that is, the selection of the source
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`of torque needed to propel the vehicle—is determined based on the amount of
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`torque actually required. In this way the proper combination of engine, traction
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`motor, and starting motor is always available. This apparently simple point has
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`evidently been missed entirely by the art.”), 13:52-14:2 (noting that prior art
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`references using vehicle speed to transition between modes “inherently operate the
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`engine under less efficient conditions”).
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`Ford’s construction of “setpoint” as a “predetermined torque value,” see Pet.
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`at 10, is incorrect and unreasonably broad because it fails to recognize that
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`“setpoint” represents a point at which a transition between different operating
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`modes may occur. The broadening construction is “divorced from the
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`specification and the record evidence” and inconsistent with “the one that those
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`skilled in the art would reach.” See Microsoft, No. 2014-1542, 2015 WL 3747257,
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`at *3 (quoting NTP, 654 F.3d at 1288; Cortright, 165 F.3d at 1358).
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`In essence, Ford asks the Board to construe the claims as broadly covering
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`hybrid vehicle systems where transitions between modes never occur—a clear
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`error that is fundamentally contrary to the specification of the ’634 patent. See
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`Fuji Photo Film Co. v. Int'l Trade Comm’n, 386 F.3d 1095, 1098 (Fed. Cir. 2004)
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`(claim should not be given overly broad construction that is inconsistent with how
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`claim term is used in the specification). The Board’s “broadest reasonable
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`interpretation” must be reasonable, and must be in conformity with the invention
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`as described in the specification. In re Vaidyanathan, 381 Fed. Appx. 985, 995-96
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`(Fed. Cir. 2010). Because Ford’s proposed construction fails to consider the
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`entirety of the claims and specification, it is improper and should be rejected. See,
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`e.g., In re Abbott Diabetes Care Inc., 696 F.3d 1142, 1149 (Fed. Cir. 2012)
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`(holding that Board’s construction of “electrochemical sensor” was “unreasonable
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`and inconsistent with the language of the claims and the specification”).
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`Ford’s construction is also incorrect because it impermissibly limits
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`“setpoint” to a torque value while the specification makes clear that a setpoint is
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`not limited to a torque value and in fact could also be a measure of the state of
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`charge of the battery:
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`[T]he microprocessor tests sensed and calculated values for system
`variables, such as the vehicle's instantaneous torque requirement, i.e.,
`the “road load” RL, the engine's instantaneous torque output ITO, both
`being expressed as a percentage of the engine's maximum torque output
`MTO, and the state of charge of the battery bank BSC, expressed as a
`percentage of its full charge, against setpoints, and uses the results of
`the comparisons to control the mode of vehicle operation.
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`Ex. 1450 at 40:22-31 (emphasis added). Ford relies on this specification passage
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`in its Petition, see Pet. at 10, but deliberately omits the language regarding state of
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`charge of the battery. Thus, Ford’s construction, in this regard, impermissibly
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`narrows the broadest reasonable interpretation of setpoint as used in the
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`specification.
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`Therefore, Paice respectfully requests that the Board reject Ford’s
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`construction and adopt Paice’s construction of “setpoint” to make clear that it is a
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`value “at which a transition between operating modes may occur.”
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`“monitor patterns of vehicle operation over time”
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`2.
`The Board should construe “monitor patterns of vehicle operation over time”
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`to mean “track and record the driver’s repeated driving operations over time.”
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`Claim 33 of the ’634 patent, for example, requires “monitoring patterns of
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`vehicle operation over time and varying the SP accordingly.” Ford and Dr. Davis
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`misapply this claim language to Ibaraki ’882, as discussed below. In order to
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`clarify the scope of this claim in light of this misapplication, and for the purposes
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`of this IPR only, Paice respectfully requests that the Board give the phrase
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`“monitor patterns of vehicle operation over time” its broadest reasonable
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`interpretation, which is: “track and record the driver’s repeated driving operations
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`over time.”
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`The specific