Trials@uspto.gov
`571-272-7822
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` Paper 41
`Entered: February 23, 2022
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`____________
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`
`
`
`APPLE INC.,
`Petitioner,
`
`v.
`
`MASIMO CORPORATION,
`Patent Owner.
`
`
`IPR2020-01539
`Patent 10,588,554 B2
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Before GEORGE R. HOSKINS, ROBERT L. KINDER, and
`AMANDA F. WIEKER, Administrative Patent Judges.
`WIEKER, Administrative Patent Judge.
`
`
`
`
`JUDGMENT
`Final Written Decision
`Determining Some Challenged Claims Unpatentable
`35 U.S.C. § 318(a)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`571-272-7822
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`
`
`
`
` Paper 41
`Entered: February 23, 2022
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`____________
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`
`
`
`APPLE INC.,
`Petitioner,
`
`v.
`
`MASIMO CORPORATION,
`Patent Owner.
`
`
`IPR2020-01539
`Patent 10,588,554 B2
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Before GEORGE R. HOSKINS, ROBERT L. KINDER, and
`AMANDA F. WIEKER, Administrative Patent Judges.
`WIEKER, Administrative Patent Judge.
`
`
`
`
`JUDGMENT
`Final Written Decision
`Determining Some Challenged Claims Unpatentable
`35 U.S.C. § 318(a)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`IPR2020-01539
`Patent 10,588,554 B2
`
`
`I.
`
`INTRODUCTION
`
`A. Background
`Apple Inc. (“Petitioner”) filed a Petition requesting an inter partes
`review of claims 1–28 (“challenged claims”) of U.S. Patent No. 10,588,554
`B2 (Ex. 1001, “the ’554 patent”). Paper 3 (“Pet.”). Masimo Corporation
`(“Patent Owner”) waived filing a Preliminary Response. Paper 7. We
`instituted an inter partes review of all challenged claims 1–28 on all asserted
`grounds of unpatentability, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 314. Paper 8 (“Inst.
`Dec.”).
`After institution, Patent Owner filed a Response (Paper 23, “PO
`Resp.”) to the Petition, Petitioner filed a Reply (Paper 26, “Pet. Reply”), and
`Patent Owner filed a Sur-reply (Paper 30, “PO Sur-reply”).1 An oral hearing
`was held on December 7, 2021, and a transcript of the hearing is included in
`the record. Paper 40 (“Tr.”).
`We issue this Final Written Decision pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 318(a)
`and 37 C.F.R. § 42.73. For the reasons set forth below, Petitioner has met
`its burden of showing, by a preponderance of the evidence, that challenged
`claims 1–12 and 14–28 of the ’554 patent are unpatentable. However,
`Petitioner has not met its burden of showing, by a preponderance of the
`evidence, that challenged claim 13 is unpatentable.
`
`
`1 After the Sur-reply was filed, we authorized Petitioner to file an
`Identification of Testimony. Paper 36.
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`B. Related Proceedings
`The parties identify the following matters related to the ’554 patent:
`Masimo Corporation v. Apple Inc., Civil Action No. 8:20-cv-00048
`(C.D. Cal.) (filed Jan. 9, 2020);
`Apple Inc. v. Masimo Corporation, IPR2020-01538 (PTAB Sept. 2,
`2020) (also challenging claims 1–7 and 20–28 of the ’554 patent);
`Apple Inc. v. Masimo Corporation, IPR2020-01520 (PTAB Aug. 31,
`2020) (challenging claims of U.S. Patent No. 10,258,265 B1);
`Apple Inc. v. Masimo Corporation, IPR2020-01521 (PTAB Sept. 2,
`2020) (challenging claims of U.S. Patent No. 10,292,628 B1);
`Apple Inc. v. Masimo Corporation, IPR2020-01523 (PTAB Sept. 9,
`2020) (challenging claims of U.S. Patent No. 8,457,703 B2);
`Apple Inc. v. Masimo Corporation, IPR2020-01524 (PTAB Aug. 31,
`2020) (challenging claims of U.S. Patent No. 10,433,776 B2);
`Apple Inc. v. Masimo Corporation, IPR2020-01526 (PTAB Aug. 31,
`2020) (challenging claims of U.S. Patent No. 6,771,994 B2);
`Apple Inc. v. Masimo Corporation, IPR2020-01536 (PTAB Aug. 31,
`2020) (challenging claims of U.S. Patent No. 10,588,553 B2); and
`Apple Inc. v. Masimo Corporation, IPR2020-01537 (PTAB Aug. 31,
`2020) (challenging claims of U.S. Patent No. 10,588,553 B2).
`Pet. 3–4; Paper 5, 1–3.
`
`Patent Owner further identifies the following pending patent
`applications, among other issued and abandoned applications, that claim
`priority to, or share a priority claim with, the ’554 patent:
`
`U.S. Patent Application No. 16/834,538;
`
`U.S. Patent Application No. 16/449,143; and
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`U.S. Patent Application No. 16/805,605.
`
`Paper 5, 1–2.
`
`
`
`C. The ’554 Patent
`The ’554 patent is titled “Multi-Stream Data Collection System for
`Noninvasive Measurement of Blood Constituents,” and issued on March 17,
`2020, from U.S. Patent Application No. 16/544,713, filed August 19, 2019.
`Ex. 1001, codes (21), (22), (45), (54). The ’554 patent claims priority
`through a series of continuation and continuation-in-part applications to
`Provisional Application Nos. 61/078,228 and 61/078,207, both filed July 3,
`2008. Id. at codes (60), (63).
`The ’554 patent discloses a two-part data collection system including
`a noninvasive sensor that communicates with a patient monitor. Id. at 2:38–
`40. The sensor includes a sensor housing, an optical source, and several
`photodetectors, and is used to measure a blood constituent or analyte, e.g.,
`oxygen or glucose. Id. at 2:29–35, 64–65. The patient monitor includes a
`display and a network interface for communicating with a handheld
`computing device. Id. at 2:45–48.
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`Figure 1 of the ’554 patent is reproduced below.
`
`
`Figure 1 illustrates a block diagram of data collection system 100 including
`sensor 101 and monitor 109. Id. at 11:47–58. Sensor 101 includes optical
`emitter 104 and detectors 106. Id. at 11:59–63. Emitters 104 emit light that
`is attenuated or reflected by the patient’s tissue at measurement site 102. Id.
`at 14:3–7. Detectors 106 capture and measure the light attenuated or
`reflected from the tissue. Id. In response to the measured light,
`detectors 106 output detector signals 107 to monitor 109 through front-end
`interface 108. Id. at 14:7–10, 26–32. Sensor 101 also may include tissue
`shaper 105, which may be in the form of a convex surface that: (1) reduces
`the thickness of the patient’s measurement site; and (2) provides more
`surface area from which light can be detected. Id. at 11:2–14.
`Monitor 109 includes signal processor 110 and user interface 112. Id.
`at 15:16–18. “[S]ignal processor 110 includes processing logic that
`determines measurements for desired analytes . . . based on the signals
`received from the detectors.” Id. at 15:21–24. User interface 112 presents
`
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`the measurements to a user on a display, e.g., a touch-screen display. Id. at
`15:46–56. The monitor may be connected to storage device 114 and
`network interface 116. Id. at 15:60–16:11.
`
`The ’554 patent describes various examples of sensor devices.
`Figures 14D and 14F, reproduced below, illustrate detector portions of
`sensor devices.
`
`
`
`Figure 14D illustrates portions of a detector submount and Figure 14F
`illustrates portions of a detector shell. Id. at 6:44–47. As shown in
`Figure 14D, multiple detectors 1410c are located within housing 1430 and
`under transparent cover 1432, on which protrusion 605b (or partially
`cylindrical protrusion 605) is disposed. Id. at 35:36–39, 36:30–37.
`Figure 14F illustrates a detector shell 306f including detectors 1410c on
`substrate 1400c. Id. at 37:9–17. Substrate 1400c is enclosed by shielding
`enclosure 1490 and noise shield 1403, which include window 1492a and
`window 1492b, respectively, placed above detectors 1410c. Id.
`Alternatively, cylindrical housing 1430 may be disposed under noise
`shield 1403 and may enclose detectors 1410c. Id. at 37:47–48.
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`Figures 4A and 4B, reproduced below, illustrate an alternative
`
`example of a tissue contact area of a sensor device.
`
`
`
`Figures 4A and 4B illustrate arrangements of protrusion 405 including
`measurement contact area 470. Id. at 23:18–24. “[M]easurement site
`contact area 470 can include a surface that molds body tissue of a
`measurement site.” Id. “For example, . . . measurement site contact area
`470 can be generally curved and/or convex with respect to the measurement
`site.” Id. at 23:39–43. The measurement site contact area may include
`windows 420–423 that “mimic or approximately mimic a configuration of,
`or even house, a plurality of detectors.” Id. at 23:49–63.
`
`D. Illustrative Claim
`Of the challenged claims, claims 1 and 20 are independent. Claim 1 is
`illustrative and is reproduced below.
`1. A physiological measurement system comprising:
`[a] a physiological sensor device comprising:
`[b] a plurality of emitters configured to emit light into tissue
`of a user;
`[c] at least four detectors, wherein each of the at least four
`detectors has a corresponding window that allows light
`to pass through to the detector;
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`[d] a wall that surrounds at least the at least four detectors;
`and
`[e] a cover that operably connects to the wall and that is
`configured to be located between tissue of the user and
`the at least four detectors when the physiological
`sensor device is worn by the user, wherein:
`[f] the cover comprises a single protruding convex surface,
`and
`[g] at least a portion of the cover is sufficiently rigid to
`cause tissue of the user to conform to at least a
`portion of a shape of the single protruding convex
`surface when the physiological sensor device is
`worn by the user; and
`[h] a handheld computing device in wireless communication
`with
`the physiological sensor device, wherein
`the
`handheld computing device comprises:
`[i] one or more processors configured to wirelessly receive
`one or more signals from the physiological sensor
`device, the one or more signals responsive to at least
`a physiological parameter of the user;
`[j] a touch-screen display configured to provide a user
`interface,
`
`wherein:
`[k] the user interface is configured to display indicia
`responsive to measurements of the physiological
`parameter, and
`[l] an orientation of the user interface is configurable
`responsive to a user input; and
`[m] a storage device configured to at least temporarily
`store at least the measurements of the physiological
`parameter.
`
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`Ex. 1001, 44:51–45:21 (bracketed identifiers a–m added). Independent
`claim 20 includes limitations substantially similar to limitations [a]–[h] of
`claim 1. Id. at 46:31–52.
`
`E. Applied References
`Petitioner relies upon the following references:
`Aizawa, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0188210
`A1, filed May 23, 2002, published December 12, 2002 (Ex. 1006,
`“Aizawa”);
`Inokawa et al., Japanese Patent Application Publication
`No. 2006-296564 A, filed April 18, 2005, published November 2,
`2006 (Ex. 1007, “Inokawa”);2
`Ohsaki et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No.
`2001/0056243 A1, filed May 11, 2001, published December 27, 2001
`(Ex. 1009, “Ohsaki”);
`Y. Mendelson et al., “A Wearable Reflectance Pulse Oximeter
`for Remote Physiological Monitoring,” Proceedings of the 28th IEEE
`EMBS Annual International Conference, 912–915 (2006) (Ex. 1010,
`“Mendelson-2006”); and
`Bergey, U.S. Patent No. 3,789,601, filed July 15, 1971, issued
`February 5, 1974 (Ex. 1016, “Bergey”).
`Pet. 12.
`Petitioner also submits, inter alia, a Declaration of Dr. Thomas W.
`Kenny, Ph.D. (Ex. 1003) and a Second Declaration of Dr. Kenny (Ex. 1047).
`Patent Owner submits, inter alia, the Declaration of Dr. Vijay K. Madisetti
`(Ex. 2004). The parties also provide deposition testimony from Dr. Kenny
`and Dr. Madisetti, including from this proceeding and others. Exs.
`1041–1043, 2006–2009, 2027.
`
`2 Petitioner relies on a certified English translation of Inokawa (Ex. 1008).
`Ex. 1008, 24. In this Decision, we also refer to the translation.
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`
`F. Asserted Grounds of Unpatentability
`We instituted an inter partes review based on the following grounds.
`Inst. Dec. 9, 32.
`Claims Challenged
`1–7, 20–28
`
`35 U.S.C. §
`103
`
`8–19
`
`
`
`103
`
`References/Basis
`Aizawa, Inokawa, Ohsaki,
`Mendelson-2006
`Aizawa, Inokawa, Ohsaki,
`Mendelson-2006, Bergey
`
`II. DISCUSSION
`
`A. Claim Construction
`For petitions filed on or after November 13, 2018, a claim shall be
`construed using the same claim construction standard that would be used to
`construe the claim in a civil action under 35 U.S.C. § 282(b). 37 C.F.R.
`§ 42.100(b) (2019). Petitioner submits that no claim term requires express
`construction. Pet. 11. Patent Owner submits that claim terms should be
`given their ordinary and customary meaning, consistent with the
`Specification. PO Resp. 9.
`We agree that no claim terms require express construction. Nidec
`Motor Corp. v. Zhongshan Broad Ocean Motor Co. Ltd., 868 F.3d 1013,
`1017 (Fed. Cir. 2017).
`
`B. Principles of Law
`A claim is unpatentable under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) if “the differences
`between the subject matter sought to be patented and the prior art are such
`that the subject matter as a whole would have been obvious at the time the
`invention was made to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said
`subject matter pertains.” KSR Int’l Co. v. Teleflex Inc., 550 U.S. 398, 406
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`(2007). The question of obviousness is resolved on the basis of underlying
`factual determinations, including (1) the scope and content of the prior art;
`(2) any differences between the claimed subject matter and the prior art;
`(3) the level of skill in the art; and (4) objective evidence of
`nonobviousness.3 Graham v. John Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1, 17–18 (1966).
`When evaluating a combination of teachings, we must also “determine
`whether there was an apparent reason to combine the known elements in the
`fashion claimed by the patent at issue.” KSR, 550 U.S. at 418 (citing In re
`Kahn, 441 F.3d 977, 988 (Fed. Cir. 2006)). Whether a combination of
`elements would have produced a predictable result weighs in the ultimate
`determination of obviousness. Id. at 416–417.
`In an inter partes review, the petitioner must show with particularity
`why each challenged claim is unpatentable. Harmonic Inc. v. Avid Tech.,
`Inc., 815 F.3d 1356, 1363 (Fed. Cir. 2016); 37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b). The
`burden of persuasion never shifts to Patent Owner. Dynamic Drinkware,
`LLC v. Nat’l Graphics, Inc., 800 F.3d 1375, 1378 (Fed. Cir. 2015). To
`prevail, Petitioner must support its challenge by a preponderance of the
`evidence. 35 U.S.C. § 316(e); 37 C.F.R. § 42.1(d).
`We analyze the challenges presented in the Petition in accordance
`with the above-stated principles.
`
`C. Level of Ordinary Skill in the Art
`Petitioner identifies the appropriate level of skill in the art as that
`possessed by a person having “a Bachelor of Science degree in an academic
`discipline emphasizing the design of electrical, computer, or software
`
`
`3 Patent Owner has not presented objective evidence of non-obviousness.
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`technologies, in combination with training or at least one to two years of
`related work experience with capture and processing of data or information.”
`Pet. 10 (citing Ex. 1003 ¶¶ 1–18, 20–21). “Additional education in a
`relevant field or industry experience may compensate for one of the other
`aspects of the . . . characteristics stated above.” Id. at 11.
`Patent Owner makes several observations regarding Petitioner’s
`identified level of skill in the art but, “[f]or this proceeding, [Patent Owner]
`nonetheless applies Petitioner’s asserted level of skill.” PO Resp. 10.
`We adopt Petitioner’s assessment as set forth above, which appears
`consistent with the level of skill reflected in the Specification and prior art.
`
`D. Obviousness over the Combined Teachings of
`Aizawa, Inokawa, Ohsaki, and Mendelson-2006
`Petitioner contends that claims 1–7 and 20–28 of the ’554 patent
`would have been obvious over the combined teachings of Aizawa, Inokawa,
`Ohsaki, and Mendelson-2006. Pet. 41–87; see also Pet. Reply 1–36. Patent
`Owner disagrees. PO Resp. 11–67; see also PO Sur-reply 1–27.
`Based on our review of the parties’ arguments and the cited evidence
`of record, we determine that Petitioner has met its burden of showing by a
`preponderance of the evidence that claims 1–7 and 20–28 are unpatentable.
`
` Overview of Aizawa (Ex. 1006)
`Aizawa is a U.S. patent application publication titled “Pulse Wave
`Sensor and Pulse Rate Detector,” and discloses a pulse wave sensor that
`detects light output from a light emitting diode and reflected from a patient’s
`artery. Ex. 1006, codes (54), (57).
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`Figure 1(a) of Aizawa is reproduced below.
`
`
`Figure 1(a) is a plan view of a pulse wave sensor. Id. ¶ 23. As shown in
`Figure 1(a), pulse wave sensor 2 includes light emitting diode (“LED”) 21,
`four photodetectors 22 symmetrically disposed around LED 21, and
`holder 23 for storing LED 21 and photodetectors 22. Id. Aizawa discloses
`that, “to further improve detection efficiency, . . . the number of the
`photodetectors 22 may be increased.” Id. ¶ 32, Fig. 4(a). “The same effect
`can be obtained when the number of photodetectors 22 is 1 and a plurality of
`light emitting diodes 21 are disposed around the photodetector 22.” Id. ¶ 33.
`
`Figure 1(b) of Aizawa is reproduced below.
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`Figure 1(b) is a sectional view of the pulse wave sensor. Id. ¶ 23. As shown
`in Figure 1(b), pulse wave sensor 2 includes drive detection circuit 24 for
`detecting a pulse wave by amplifying the outputs of photodetectors 22. Id.
`¶ 23. Arithmetic circuit 3 computes a pulse rate from the detected pulse
`wave and transmitter 4 transmits the pulse rate data to an “unshown
`display.” Id. The pulse rate detector further includes outer casing 5 for
`storing pulse wave sensor 2, acrylic transparent plate 6 mounted to detection
`face 23a of holder 23, and attachment belt 7. Id.
`Aizawa discloses that LED 21 and photodetectors 22 “are stored in
`cavities 23b and 23c formed in the detection face 23a” of the pulse wave
`sensor. Id. ¶ 24. Detection face 23a “is a contact side between the holder 23
`and a wrist 10, respectively, at positions where the light emitting face 21s of
`the light emitting diode 21 and the light receiving faces 22s of the
`photodetectors 22 are set back from the above detection face 23a.” Id. ¶ 24.
`Aizawa discloses that “a subject carries the above pulse rate detector 1 on
`the inner side of his/her wrist 10 . . . in such a manner that the light emitting
`face 21s of the light emitting diode 21 faces down (on the wrist 10 side).”
`Id. ¶ 26. Furthermore, “the above belt 7 is fastened such that the acrylic
`transparent plate 6 becomes close to the artery 11 of the wrist 10. Thereby,
`adhesion between the wrist 10 and the pulse rate detector 1 is improved.”
`Id. ¶¶ 26, 34.
`
` Overview of Inokawa (Ex. 1007)
`Inokawa is a Japanese published patent application titled “Optical
`Vital Sensor, Base Device, Vital Sign Information Gathering System, and
`Sensor Communication Method,” and discloses a pulse sensor device.
`Ex. 1008 code (57), ¶ 6.
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`Figure 1 of Inokawa is reproduced below.
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`
`
`Figure 1 illustrates a schematic view of a pulse sensor. Id. ¶ 56. Pulse
`sensor 1 includes box-shaped sensor unit 3 and flexible annular wristband 5.
`Id. ¶ 57. Sensor unit 3 includes a top surface with display 7 and control
`switch 9, and a rear surface (sensor-side) with optical device component 11
`for optically sensing a user’s pulse. Id.
`Figure 2 of Inokawa is reproduced below.
`
`
`Figure 2 illustrates a schematic view of the rear surface of the pulse sensor.
`Id. ¶ 58. The rear-side (sensor-side) of pulse sensor 1 includes a pair of
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`light-emitting elements, i.e., green LED 21 and infrared LED 23, as well as
`photodiode 25 and lens 27. Id. In various embodiments, Inokawa discloses
`that the sensor-side lens is convex. See id. ¶¶ 99, 107. Green LED 21 is
`used to sense “the pulse from the light reflected off of the body (i.e.[,]
`change in the amount of hemoglobin in the capillary artery),” and infrared
`LED 23 is used to sense body motion from the change in reflected light. Id.
`¶ 59. The pulse sensor stores this information in memory. Id. ¶ 68. To read
`and store information, the pulse sensor includes a CPU that “performs the
`processing to sense pulse, body motion, etc. from the signal . . . and
`temporarily stores the analysis data in the memory.” Id. ¶ 69.
`Figure 3 of Inokawa is reproduced below.
`
`
`Figure 3 illustrates a schematic view of a pulse sensor mounted to a base
`device. Id. ¶ 60. Pulse sensor 1 is depicted as mounted to base device 17,
`which “is a charger with communication functionality.” Id. When so
`mounted, sensor optical device component 11 and base optical device
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`component 41 face each other in close proximity. Id. ¶ 66. In this position,
`pulse sensor 1 can output information to the base device through the coupled
`optical device components. Id. ¶ 67. Specifically, the pulse sensor CPU
`performs the controls necessary to transmit pulse information using infrared
`LED 23 to photodetector 45 of base device 17. Id. ¶¶ 67, 70, 76. In an
`alternative embodiment, additional sensor LEDs and base photodetectors can
`be used to efficiently transmit data and improve accuracy. Id. ¶ 111.
`
` Overview of Ohsaki (Ex. 1009)
`Ohsaki is a U.S. patent application publication titled “Wristwatch-type
`Human Pulse Wave Sensor Attached on Back Side of User’s Wrist,” and
`discloses an optical sensor for detecting a pulse wave of a human body.
`Ex. 1009, code (54), ¶ 3. Figure 1 of Ohsaki is reproduced below.
`
`
`Figure 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of pulse wave sensor 1 attached on
`the back side of user’s wrist 4. Id. ¶¶ 12, 16. Pulse wave sensor 1 includes
`detecting element 2 and sensor body 3. Id. ¶ 16.
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`Figure 2 of Ohsaki, reproduced below, illustrates further detail of
`
`detecting element 2.
`
`
`Figure 2 illustrates a mechanism for detecting a pulse wave. Id. ¶ 13.
`Detecting element 2 includes package 5, light emitting element 6, light
`receiving element 7, and translucent board 8. Id. ¶ 17. Light emitting
`element 6 and light receiving element 7 are arranged on circuit board 9
`inside package 5. Id. ¶¶ 17, 19.
`“[T]ranslucent board 8 is a glass board which is transparent to light,
`and attached to the opening of the package 5. A convex surface is formed
`on the top of the translucent board 8.” Id. ¶ 17. “[T]he convex surface of
`the translucent board 8 is in intimate contact with the surface of the user’s
`skin,” preventing detecting element 2 from slipping off the detecting
`position of the user’s wrist. Id. ¶ 25. By preventing the detecting element
`from moving, the convex surface suppresses “variation of the amount of the
`reflected light which is emitted from the light emitting element 6 and
`reaches the light receiving element 7 by being reflected by the surface of the
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`user’s skin.” Id. Additionally, the convex surface prevents penetration by
`“noise such as disturbance light from the outside.” Id.
`
`Sensor body 3 is connected to detecting element 2 by signal line 13.
`Id. ¶ 20. Signal line 13 connects detecting element 2 to drive circuit 11,
`microcomputer 12, and a monitor display (not shown). Id. Drive circuit 11
`drives light emitting element 6 to emit light toward wrist 4. Id. Detecting
`element 2 receives reflected light which is used by microcomputer 12 to
`calculate pulse rate. Id. “The monitor display shows the calculated pulse
`rate.” Id.
`
` Mendelson-2006 (Ex. 1010)
`Mendelson-2006 is a journal article titled “A Wearable Reflectance
`Pulse Oximeter for Remote Physiological Monitoring,” and discloses a
`wireless wearable pulse oximeter connected to a personal digital assistant
`(“PDA”). Ex. 1010, 1.4
`Figure 1 of Mendelson-2006 is reproduced below.
`
`
`
`
`4 Petitioner cites to the page numbers added to Exhibit 1010, rather than the
`native page numbering that accompanies the article. See, e.g., Pet. 20–22.
`We follow Petitioner’s numbering scheme.
`19
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`IPR2020-01539
`Patent 10,588,554 B2
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`Figure 1 illustrates a sensor module attached to the skin (top), and a
`photograph of a disassembled sensor module and receiver module (bottom).
`The sensor module includes an optical transducer, a stack of round printed
`circuit boards, and a coin cell battery. Id. at 2.
`
`Figure 2 of Mendelson-2006 is reproduced below.
`
`
`Figure 2 depicts a system block diagram of the wearable, wireless, pulse
`oximeter including the sensor module (top) and the receiver module
`(bottom). Id. The sensor module includes at least one light-emitting diode
`(“LED”), a photodetector, signal processing circuitry, an embedded
`microcontroller, and an RF transceiver. Id. at 1–2. Mendelson-2006
`discloses that a concentric array of discrete photodetectors could be used to
`increase the amount of backscattered light detected by a reflectance type
`pulse oximeter sensor. Id. at 4. The receiver module includes an embedded
`
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`20
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`microcontroller, an RF transceiver for communicating with the sensor
`module, and a wireless module for communicating with the PDA. Id. at 2.
`As a PDA for use with the system, Mendelson-2006 discloses “the HP
`iPAQ h4150 PDA because it can support both 802.11b and Bluetooth™
`wireless communication” and “has sufficient computational resources.” Id.
`at 3. Mendelson-2006 further discloses that
`[t]he use of a PDA as a local terminal also provides a low-cost
`touch screen interface. The user-friendly touch screen of the
`PDA offers additional flexibility. It enables multiple controls to
`occupy the same physical space and the controls appear only
`when needed. Additionally, a touch screen reduces development
`cost and time, because no external hardware is required. . . . The
`PDA can also serve to temporarily store vital medical
`information received from the wearable unit.
`
`Id.
`
`The PDA is shown in Figure 3 of Mendelson-2006, reproduced below.
`
`
`Figure 3 illustrates a sample PDA and its graphical user interface (“GUI”).
`Id. Mendelson-2006 explains that the GUI allows the user to interact with
`the wearable system. Id. “The GUI was configured to present the input and
`
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`output information to the user and allows easy activation of various
`functions.” Id. “The GUI also displays the subject’s vital signs, activity
`level, body orientation, and a scrollable PPG waveform that is transmitted by
`the wearable device.” Id. For example, the GUI displays numerical oxygen
`saturation (“SpO2”) and heart rate (“HR”) values. Id.
`
` Independent Claim 1
`Petitioner contends that claim 1 would have been obvious over the
`combined teachings of Aizawa, Inokawa, Ohsaki, and Mendelson-2006.
`Pet. 41–65. Below, we set forth how the combination of prior art references
`teaches or suggests the claim limitations that are not disputed by the parties.
`For those limitations and reasons for combining the references that are
`disputed, we examine each of the parties’ contentions and then provide our
`analysis.
`
`i. “A physiological measurement system comprising”
`The cited evidence supports Petitioner’s undisputed contention that
`Aizawa satisfies the subject matter of the preamble.5 Pet. 41; see, e.g.,
`Ex. 1006 ¶ 2 (“The present invention relates to a pulse wave sensor for
`detecting the pulse wave of a subject.”).
`
`ii. “[a] a physiological sensor device comprising”
`The cited evidence supports Petitioner’s undisputed contention that
`Aizawa discloses a physiological sensor device including a pulse rate
`detector. Pet. 41–43; see, e.g., Ex. 1006 ¶ 23 (pulse wave sensor 2),
`Figs. 1(a)–(b).
`
`
`5 Whether the preamble is limiting need not be resolved because Petitioner
`shows sufficiently that the preamble’s subject matter is satisfied by the art.
`22
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`iii. “[b] a plurality of emitters configured to emit light into tissue of a user”
`Petitioner’s Undisputed Contentions
`
`Petitioner contends that Aizawa discloses an emitter—LED 21—and
`also states that, in certain embodiments, multiple LEDs may be employed.
`Pet. 13, 22. Patent Owner does not dispute this contention, and we agree
`with Petitioner. See Ex. 1006 ¶¶ 23 (“LED 21”), 32 (“The arrangement of
`the light emitting diode 21 and the photodetectors 22 is not limited to this.”).
`For example, Aizawa explains that “[t]he same effect can be obtained when
`the number of photodetectors 22 is 1 and a plurality of light emitting diodes
`21 are disposed around the photodetector.” Id. ¶ 33.
`Petitioner also contends that Inokawa teaches a sensor with two
`LEDs–a green LED to sense pulse and an infrared LED to sense body
`motion. Pet. 16, 23. Petitioner also contends that when Inokawa’s sensor is
`mounted on a base device, the infrared LED also is used to wirelessly
`transmit vital information to the base device. Id. at 17–18, 23–24. Patent
`Owner does not dispute these contentions, and we agree. Inokawa teaches a
`pair of LEDs 21, 23, where “the basic function of the S-side green LED 21 is
`to sense the pulse from the light reflected off of the body . . ., while the S-
`side infrared LED 23 serves to sense body motion from the change in this
`reflected light.” Ex. 1008 ¶¶ 58–59. Inokawa also explains that “vital sign
`information stored in the memory 63 [of the sensor], such as pulse and body
`motion, is transmitted to the base device 17 using the S-side infrared LED
`23 of the pulse sensor 1 and the B-side PD 45 of the base device 17,” such
`that “there is no need to use a special wireless communication circuit or a
`communication cable.” Id. ¶¶ 76–77.
`
`
`
`23
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`Petitioner’s Disputed Contentions
`
`Moreover, Petitioner contends that a person of ordinary skill in the art
`would have been motivated to modify Aizawa “to include an additional LED
`as taught by Inokawa to improve the detected pulse wave by distinguishing
`between blood flow detection and body movement.” Pet. 23–24, 26, 43–45.
`According to Dr. Kenny, “one of ordinary skill would have recognized that
`this would improve Aizawa’s sensor by enabling it to account for motion
`load through use of the second LED, by detecting and recording body
`motion in addition to blood flow.” Ex. 1003 ¶ 120 (cited at Pet. 43).
`As a second and independent motivation, Petitioner also contends that
`such a modification also would have provided “additional functionality,
`including that of a wireless communication method,” which would have
`“eliminate[d] problems associated with a physical cable, and, as taught by
`Inokawa, without requiring a separate RF circuit.” Pet. 23–24. Petitioner
`contends that although Aizawa discloses data transmission, Aizawa “is silent
`about how such transmission would be implemented.” Id. at 24. According
`to Petitioner, a skilled artisan “would have recognized that Aizawa’s LED
`could have been used for wireless data communication with a personal
`computer to eliminate problems associated with a physical cable, and, as
`taught by Inokawa, without requiring a separate RF,” which “would result in
`enhanced accuracy of the transmitted information.” Id. According to
`Dr. Kenny, “as one of ordinary skill would have recognized, the LEDs
`provided on the sensor can be used not only to detect pulse rate, but also to
`‘accurately, easily, and without malfunction’ transmit sensed data to a base
`station.” Ex. 1003 ¶ 122.
`
`
`
`24
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`To illustrate its proposed modification, Petitioner includes annotated
`and modified views of Aizawa’s Figures 1(a) and 1(b), reproduced below.
`Pet. 25; see also id. at 44 (similar figures); Ex. 1003 ¶ 76.
`
`
`Petitioner’s annotated and modified figures depict the sensor of Aizawa with
`an added “LED B” (illustrated in light purple), as Petitioner contends would
`have been rendered obvious by Inokawa. Id. at 26–27, 44–45; see also
`Ex. 1003 ¶¶ 71–79, 110–129.
`
`Patent Owner’s Arguments
`
`Patent Owner disputes Petitioner’s contentions regarding the
`obviousness of modifying Aizawa to include two emitters. See PO
`Resp. 51–58; Sur-reply 23–25.
`
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`
`First, Patent Owner argues that neither Aizawa nor Inokawa discloses
`a device with both multiple detectors and multiple emitters in the same
`sensor, because Aizawa’s embod
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