U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`
`
`
`
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`______________________________________________
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`______________________________________________
`
`
`
`
`SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.,
`SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS AMERICA, INC.,
`SONY CORPORATION; AND
`SONY MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS INC.
`Petitioners
`
`v.
`
`NEODRON LTD.
`Patent Owner.
`
`
`
`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`OF U.S. PATENT NO. 8,749,251
`
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`
`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`
`Page
`
`I.
`INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................... 1
`II. MANDATORY NOTICES, GROUNDS FOR STANDING, AND FEE
`AUTHORIZATION ....................................................................................... 1
`PRECISE RELIEF REQUESTED ................................................................. 3
`III.
`IV. THE CHALLENGED ’251 PATENT ............................................................ 3
`V.
`’251 PATENT PROSECUTION HISTORY.................................................. 5
`VI. LEVEL OF ORDINARY SKILL IN THE ART ............................................ 6
`VII. CLAIM CONSTRUCTION ........................................................................... 6
`A.
`“key touch on the touchscreen” (claims 1, 10, 16) .............................. 6
`VIII. SPECIFIC EXPLANATION OF GROUNDS ............................................... 9
`A. Ground 1: Claims 6 and 15 are rendered obvious by Mese in view
`of Oh ..................................................................................................... 9
`1.
`Summary of Mese ...................................................................... 9
`2.
`Summary of Oh ........................................................................ 11
`3.
`Claim 1 ..................................................................................... 13
`a.
`Element 1[pre]: “An apparatus comprising” ................. 13
`b.
`Element 1[a]: “a sensing element of a touch screen”
` ....................................................................................... 14
`Element 1[b]: “one or more computer-readable non-
`transitory storage media coupled to the sensing
`element and embodying logic that is operable when
`executed to” ................................................................... 17
`Element 1[c]: “determine an amount of time that has
`elapsed since the sensing element last detected a
`change of capacitance indicative of a key touch on
`the touch screen; and” .................................................... 18
`
`d.
`
`c.
`
`i
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`
`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`(continued)
`
`Page
`
`e.
`
`c.
`
`d.
`
`Element 1[d]: “if the amount of time that has
`elapsed exceeds a predetermined time duration,
`then initiate a particular function of the apparatus” ...... 20
`Claim 6 ..................................................................................... 21
`a.
`Element 6[a]: “wherein the particular function
`comprises turning off the apparatus.” ............................ 21
`Claim 10 ................................................................................... 22
`a.
`Element 10[pre]: “A method comprising” .................... 22
`b.
`Element 10[a]: “monitoring detection by a sensing
`element of a key touch on a touch screen, the
`sensing element being of the touch screen” .................. 23
`Element 10[b]: “determining an amount of time that
`has elapsed since the sensing element last detected
`a change of capacitance indicative of a key touch on
`the touch screen”............................................................ 23
`Element 10[c]: “if the amount of time that has
`elapsed exceeds a predetermined time duration,
`then initiating a particular function of an apparatus”
` ....................................................................................... 23
`Claim 15 ................................................................................... 24
`a.
`Element 15[a]: “wherein the particular function
`comprises turning off power to an apparatus” ............... 24
`7. Motivation to Combine Mese and Oh ...................................... 24
`Ground 2: Claims 6 and 15 are rendered obvious by Mese in view
`of Chaudhri in further view of Oh ...................................................... 26
`1.
`Summary of Chaudhri .............................................................. 26
`
`4.
`
`5.
`
`6.
`
`B.
`
`ii
`
`

`

`2.
`
`3.
`
`4.
`
`U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`
`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`(continued)
`
`Page
`
`b.
`
`a.
`
`Claim 1 ..................................................................................... 28
`a.
`Elements 1[pre]-1[b]: “An apparatus comprising: a
`sensing element of a touch screen; and one or more
`computer-readable non-transitory storage media
`coupled to the sensing element and embodying
`logic that is operable when executed to:” ...................... 28
`Element 1[c]: “determine an amount of time that has
`elapsed since the sensing element last detected a
`change of capacitance indicative of a key touch on
`the touch screen; and” .................................................... 28
`Element 1[d]: “if the amount of time that has
`elapsed exceeds a predetermined time duration,
`then initiate a particular function of the apparatus” ...... 31
`Claim 6 ..................................................................................... 31
`a.
`Element 6[a]: “wherein the particular function
`comprises turning off the apparatus.” ............................ 32
`Claim 10 ................................................................................... 32
`a.
`Element 10[pre]: “A method comprising” .................... 32
`b.
`Element 10[a]: “monitoring detection by a sensing
`element of a key touch on a touch screen, the
`sensing element being of the touch screen” .................. 32
`Element 10[b]: “determining an amount of time that
`has elapsed since the sensing element last detected
`a change of capacitance indicative of a key touch on
`the touch screen”............................................................ 32
`
`c.
`
`iii
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`

`

`U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`
`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`(continued)
`
`Page
`
`d.
`
`5.
`
`Element 10[c]: “if the amount of time that has
`elapsed exceeds a predetermined time duration,
`then initiating a particular function of an apparatus”
` ....................................................................................... 32
`Claim 15 ................................................................................... 33
`a.
`Element 15[a]: “wherein the particular function
`comprises turning off power to an apparatus” ............... 33
`6. Motivation to Combine Mese and Chaudhri and Oh ............... 33
`IX. DISCRETIONARY DENIAL IS NOT APPROPRIATE ............................ 36
`A.
`The Board should not deny institution under 35 U.S.C. §314(a) ...... 36
`1.
`The Pending Petitions Filed by Other Parties Do Not
`Justify Discretionary Denial .................................................... 36
`a.
`Factor One ..................................................................... 37
`b.
`Factors Two – Five ........................................................ 38
`c.
`Factor Six ....................................................................... 39
`d.
`Factor Seven .................................................................. 39
`e.
`Factor Eight ................................................................... 40
`f.
`Factor Nine .................................................................... 40
`The Pending ITC Investigation (Concerning Different
`Claims Not Challenged Herein) and Stayed District Court
`Litigations Do Not Justify Discretionary Denial ..................... 41
`The Board should not deny institution under 35 U.S.C. §325(d) ...... 45
`1.
`Advanced Bionics Step 1: The Petition Does Not Present
`the Same or Substantially Same Art or Arguments
`Previously Considered ............................................................. 46
`
`2.
`
`B.
`
`iv
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`
`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`(continued)
`
`Page
`
`2.
`
`Factors (a) and (b) .......................................................... 46
`a.
`Factor (d) ....................................................................... 50
`b.
`Advanced Bionics Step 2: Even if the Petition’s Art or
`Arguments Were Considered Previously, the Office Erred
`Materially in Such Consideration ............................................ 52
`a.
`Factor (c) ........................................................................ 52
`b.
`Factors (e) and (f) .......................................................... 53
`CONCLUSION ............................................................................................. 54
`
`X.
`
`
`
`
`
`v
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`
`LIST OF EXHIBITS
`
`Ex-1001
`
`U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251 (“’251 Patent”)
`
`Ex-1002
`
`Declaration of Dr. Benjamin B. Bederson
`
`Ex-1003
`
`Curriculum Vitae of Dr. Benjamin B. Bederson
`
`Ex-1004
`
`Prosecution History of U.S. Application No. 13/116,764 (U.S.
`Patent No. 8,749,251)
`
`Ex-1005
`
`U.S. Patent No. 5,396,443 (“Mese”)
`
`Ex-1006
`
`Korean Laid-Open Publication No. 10-2005-0045541 (“Oh”)
`
`Ex-1007
`
`U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2007/0150842 A1 (“Chaudhri”)
`
`Ex-1008
`
`Ex-1009
`
`Ex-1010
`
`Ex-1011
`
`U.S.I.T.C. Investigation No. 337-TA-1162, In the Matter of Certain
`Touch-Controlled Mobile Devices, Computers, and Components
`Thereof, Order No. 15
`
`U.S.I.T.C. Investigation No. 337-TA-1193, In the Matter of Certain
`Capacitive Touch-Controlled Mobile Devices, Computers, and
`Components Thereof, Neodron’s Initial Infringement Contentions
`Against Sony, U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`
`U.S.I.T.C. Investigation No. 337-TA-1162, In the Matter of Certain
`Touch-Controlled Mobile Devices, Computers, and Components
`Thereof, Order No. 15
`
`U.S.I.T.C. Investigation No. 337-TA-1193, In the Matter of Certain
`Capacitive Touch-Controlled Mobile Devices, Computers, and
`Components Thereof, Complainant Neodron Ltd.’s Opening Claim
`Construction Brief
`
`Ex-1012
`
`Declaration of Do-Hyung Kim in Support of Petition for Inter Partes
`Review of U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`
`vi
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`
`Ex-1013
`
`Ex-1014
`
`Ex-1015
`
`Declaration of Lee Hill in Support of Petition for Inter Partes
`Review of U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`
`U.S.I.T.C. Investigation No. 337-TA-1193, In the Matter of Certain
`Capacitive Touch-Controlled Mobile Devices, Computers, and
`Components Thereof, Complaint
`
`U.S.I.T.C. Investigation No. 337-TA-1193, In the Matter of Certain
`Capacitive Touch-Controlled Mobile Devices, Computers, and
`Components Thereof, Order No. 8
`
`Ex-1016
`
`U.S. Pat. Pub. 2007/0076897 (“Phillipp ’897”)
`
`Ex-1017
`
`U.S. Patent No. 6,058,485 to Koziuk, et al. (“Koziuk”)
`
`Ex-1018
`
`U.S. Patent No. 5,283,559 to Kalendra, et al. (“Kalendra”)
`
`Ex-1019
`
`Quantum Research Group QT110 Data Sheet (“QT110”)
`
`Ex-1020
`
`U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2005/0121980 to Bruwer (“Bruwer”)
`
`Ex-1021
`
`Quantum Research Group QT60161 Data Sheet (“QT60161”)
`
`Ex-1022
`
`U.S. Patent Publication No. 2009/0027068 to Philipp, et al. (“the
`’068 Publication”)
`
`Ex-1023
`
`(Intentionally Left Blank)
`
`Ex-1024
`
`Ex-1025
`
`U.S.I.T.C. Investigation No. 337-TA-1193, In the Matter of Certain
`Capacitive Touch-Controlled Mobile Devices, Computers, and
`Components Thereof, Order No. 6
`
`U.S.I.T.C. Investigation No. 337-TA-1162, In the Matter of Certain
`Touch-Controlled Mobile Devices, Computers, and Components
`Thereof, Order No. 58
`
`Ex-1026
`
`U.S.I.T.C. Investigation No. 337-TA-1166, In the Matter of Certain
`Foodservice Equipment and Components Thereof, Order No. 51
`
`vii
`
`

`

`Ex-1027
`
`Ex-1028
`
`Ex-1029
`
`Ex-1030
`
`Ex-1031
`
`Ex-1032
`
`Ex-1033
`
`U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`
`U.S.I.T.C. Investigation No. 337-TA-1170, In the Matter of Certain
`Mobile Devices with Multifunction Emulators, Order No. 24
`
`U.S.I.T.C. Investigation No. 337-TA-1180, In the Matter of Certain
`Wireless Communication Devices, and Related Components
`Thereof, Order No. 41
`
`U.S.I.T.C. Investigation No. 337-TA-1193, In the Matter of Certain
`Capacitive Touch-Controlled Mobile Devices, Computers, and
`Components Thereof, Neodron Initial Validity Contentions, Exhibit
`C-8 (“U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251 (“’251 Patent”) in light of Mese”)
`
`U.S.I.T.C. Investigation No. 337-TA-1193, In the Matter of Certain
`Capacitive Touch-Controlled Mobile Devices, Computers, and
`Components Thereof, Neodron Initial Validity Contentions, Exhibit
`C-22 (“U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251 (“’251 Patent”) in light of any of
`the purported ‘Secondary References,’ alone or in combination”)
`
`U.S.I.T.C. Investigation No. 337-TA-1193, In the Matter of Certain
`Capacitive Touch-Controlled Mobile Devices, Computers, and
`Components Thereof, Order No. 8
`
`Hilary Browne et al., Designing a Collaborative Finger Painting
`Application for Children, HCIL-2000-17, CS-TR-4184, UMIACS-
`TR-2000-66 (Sept. 2000), available at https://hcil.umd.edu/pub-
`perm-link/?id=2000-17
`
`Pekka Parhi, Amy K. Karlson, and Benjamin B. Bederson. 2006.
`Target size study for one-handed thumb use on small touchscreen
`devices. In Proceedings of the 8th Conference on Human-Computer
`Interaction with Mobile Devices and Services (MobileHCI ’06).
`Association for Computing Machinery, New York, NY, USA, 203–
`210. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1145/1152215.1152260
`
`viii
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`
`Karlson, Amy & Bederson, Benjamin & Contreras-Vidal, José.
`(2008). Understanding One-Handed Use of Mobile Devices.
`Handbook of Research on User Interface Design and Evaluation for
`Mobile Technology. 86-101. DOI:10.4018/978-1-59904-871-
`0.ch006
`
`Neodron Ltd. v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (W.D. Tex. 20-cv-
`00121), Complaint
`
`Neodron Ltd. v. Sony Corporation (W.D. Tex. 20-cv-00122),
`Complaint
`
`Ex-1034
`
`Ex-1035
`
`Ex-1036
`
`
`
`ix
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`
`I.
`
`INTRODUCTION
`Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Samsung Electronics America, Inc., Sony
`
`Corporation, and Sony Mobile Communications Inc. (collectively, “Petitioners”)
`
`request inter partes review (“IPR”) of Claims 6 and 15 of U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`
`(“the ’251 Patent”) (Ex-1001), assigned to Neodron Ltd. (“Patent Owner”).
`
`This Petition presents non-cumulative invalidity grounds that were not
`
`considered during prosecution. These grounds are likely to prevail; accordingly, the
`
`Board should grant this Petition and cancel the challenged claims.
`
`II. MANDATORY NOTICES, GROUNDS FOR STANDING, AND FEE
`AUTHORIZATION
`Real Parties-in-Interest: Petitioners identify the following real parties-in-
`
`interest: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Samsung Electronics America, Inc., Sony
`
`Corporation, Sony Mobile Communications Inc., Sony Electronics Inc., and Sony
`
`Corporation of America.
`
`Related Matters: Patent Owner has asserted the ’251 Patent against
`
`Petitioners in In the Matter of Certain Capacitive Touch-Controlled Mobile Devices,
`
`Computer, and Components Thereof, Investigation No. 337-TA-1193 (U.S.
`
`International Trade Commission) (the “1193 ITC Investigation”) as well as Neodron
`
`Ltd. v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al (W.D. Tex. 20-cv-00121) and Neodron
`
`Ltd. v. Sony Corporation (W.D. Tex. 20-cv-00122) (“the District Court Matters”).
`
`1
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`The District Court Matters have been stayed pending the 1193 ITC Investigation. In
`
`addition, Petitioners Apple Inc. and Microsoft Corp. have challenged claims 1-20 of
`
`the ’251 Patent in IPR2020-00998 and IPR2020-01000.
`
`Lead and Back-Up Counsel:
`
`• Lead Counsel: John Kappos (Reg. No. 37,861), O’Melveny & Myers
`
`LLP, 610 Newport Center Drive, 17th Floor, Newport Beach,
`
`California 92660; telephone: (949) 823-6954; fax: 213-430-6407.
`
`• Back-Up Counsel:
`
` Nicholas J. Whilt
`
`(Reg. No. 72,081,
`
`nwhilt@omm.com) and Nancy Lynn Schroeder (Reg. No. 75,538,
`
`nschroeder@omm.com), both of O’Melveny & Myers LLP, 400 S.
`
`Hope Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071; telephone: 213-430-6000; fax:
`
`213-430-6407. Randy J. Pritzker (Reg. No. 35,986, RPritzker-
`
`PTAB@wolfgreenfield.com) and Marc S. Johannes (Reg. No. 64,978,
`
`MJohannes-PTAB@wolfgreenfield.com), both of Wolf Greenfield &
`
`Sacks P.C., 600 Atlantic Ave., Boston, MA 02210-2206.
`
`Service Information: Petitioners consent to electronic service by email to
`
`NeodronSamsungOMM@omm.com. Please address all postal and hand-delivery
`
`correspondence to lead counsel at O’Melveny & Myers LLP, 610 Newport Center
`
`Drive, 17th Floor, Newport Beach, California 92660, with courtesy copies to the
`
`email address identified above.
`
`2
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`Grounds for Standing: Under 37 C.F.R. § 42.102(a)(2), § 42.104(a),
`
`Petitioners certify that the ’251 Patent is available for inter partes review, this
`
`Petition is timely filed, and Petitioners are not barred or estopped from requesting
`
`inter partes review on the grounds presented.
`
`Fee Authorization: Pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 42.15(a), § 42.103(a), the PTO
`
`is authorized to charge any and all fees to Deposit Account No. 50-2862.
`
`III. PRECISE RELIEF REQUESTED
`Petitioners respectfully request review and cancellation of Claims 6 and 15 of
`
`the ’251 Patent under 35 U.S.C. §§ 102 and/or 103 based on the following grounds:
`
`Ground 1: Claims 6 and 15 are rendered obvious by U.S. Patent No.
`
`5,396,443 (“Mese”) (Ex-1005) in view of Korean Laid-Open Publication No. 10-
`
`2005-0045541 (“Oh”) (Ex-1006);
`
`Ground 2: Claims 6 and 15 are rendered obvious by Mese in view of U.S.
`
`Patent Publication No. 2007/0150842 A1 (“Chaudhri”) (Ex-1007) in further view of
`
`Oh.
`
`IV. THE CHALLENGED ’251 PATENT
`The ’251 patent, titled “Proximity Sensor,” was filed May 26, 2011, is a
`
`continuation of application No. 12/179,769, filed July 25, 2008 (now U.S. Patent
`
`No. 7,952,366), and claims priority to Provisional Application No. 60/952,053, filed
`
`July 26, 2007. Ex-1001, cover.
`
`3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`The ’251 Patent relates generally to capacitive touch sensors. Ex-1001, 1:13,
`
`-41. Capacitive sensing microprocessors found in “touch-controlled devices”
`
`provided “an ‘on’ output signal when a finger is adjacent to a sensor and an ‘off
`
`output signal when a finger is not adjacent to a sensor.” Id., 1:29-33. According to
`
`the ’251 Patent, “[s]ome touch-controlled devices remain ‘on’ or ‘active’ despite the
`
`user having moved away from the device or a particular function is no longer being
`
`required,” which “results in the device consuming a large amount of power which is
`
`not efficient.” Id., 1:37-41.
`
`To address this inefficiency, the ’251 Patent purports to describe a touch
`
`sensor that “can produce an output signal automatically to prevent the capacitance
`
`measurement circuit from continually measuring changes in capacitance….” Id.,
`
`4:47-54. The “control circuit” of the touch sensor may include an “auto-off” feature
`
`that “is able to deactivate, turn-off, or power down the capacitance measurement
`
`circuit where an apparatus has inadvertently been left on or with the erroneous
`
`perception that a user is still present.” Id., 4:55-59. The “auto-off signal” that
`
`“prevent[s]” continual capacitance measurements may be “produced” after a
`
`predetermined amount of time in which “no presence of the user” is detected. Id.,
`
`4:58-5:10. This predetermined amount of time is called the “auto off delay.” Id.,
`
`10:41-54. The preferred embodiment provides three predefined delay times: infinity
`
`(i.e., no auto-off functionality), 15 minutes, and 60 minutes. Id., 10:55-62, Tables
`
`4
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`3.2, 3.3. Users may also program their own delay times. Id., 11:37-57. Figure 1 of
`
`the ’251 Patent provides an example chip for implementing the “auto-off” feature
`
`described above:
`
`
`
`Fig. 1
`
`The embodiment disclosed in the ’251 Patent specification is “a single key device
`
`featuring a touch on/touch off (toggle) output with a programmable auto switch-off
`
`capability.” Id., 5:48-50.
`
`V.
`
`’251 PATENT PROSECUTION HISTORY
`The ’251 Patent issued from U.S. Patent Application No. 13/116,764 (“’251
`
`Application”), filed May 26, 2011, which is a continuation of application No.
`
`12/179,769, filed July 25, 2008 (now U.S. Patent No. 7,952,366), and claims priority
`
`to Provisional Application No. 60/952,053, filed July 26, 2007. Ex-1001, cover.
`
`The PTO allowed the ’251 Patent without any rejections. After the initial
`
`application was filed on May 26, 2011, the Applicant filed a preliminary amendment
`
`5
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`correcting the provisional application filing date (Ex-1004 at 63-66) and submitted
`
`replacement sheets for Figures 15 and 16 (Ex-1004 at 79-81). The PTO mailed a
`
`Notice of Allowance on January 31, 2014. Ex-1004 at 244-251.
`
`VI. LEVEL OF ORDINARY SKILL IN THE ART
`A person having ordinary skill in the art (“PHOSITA”) at the time of the ’251
`
`Patent would have had a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer
`
`engineering, computer science, or a related field, and at least two years of experience
`
`in the research, design, development, and/or testing of touch sensors, human-
`
`machine interaction and interfaces, and related firmware and software, or the
`
`equivalent, with additional education substituting for experience and vice versa. Ex-
`
`1002 ¶¶29-31.
`
`VII. CLAIM CONSTRUCTION
`Petitioners interpret the claims of the ’251 Patent according to the Phillips
`
`standard. 83 Fed. Reg. 51340, 51340-44 (Oct. 11, 2018); Phillips v. AWH Corp.,
`
`415 F.3d 1303 (Fed. Cir. 2005).
`
`A.
`“key touch on the touchscreen” (claims 1, 10, 16)
`Other than the Abstract and the claims, the ’251 Patent does not contain any
`
`disclosure or discussion of a “touchscreen,” and thus contains no disclosure of the
`
`meaning of a “key touch on the touchscreen.” Instead, the integrated circuit chip
`
`disclosed in the ’251 Patent specification is “a single key device featuring a touch
`
`6
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`on/touch off (toggle) output with a programmable auto switch-off capability,”
`
`although the specification notes that the invention can include “more than one key,
`
`for example two, three, or more keys.” Ex-1001, 5:48-50, 17:13-17.
`
`In the 1193 ITC Investigation, Patent Owner treats the phrase “key touch on
`
`the touch screen” as encompassing a single touch anywhere on the touch screen.
`
`This approach seemingly gives no meaning to the word “key.” Instead, Patent
`
`Owner’s charts treating a “key touch on the touch screen” as synonymous with
`
`“touching the [accused product’s] touch screen.” See, e.g., Ex-1008, 3, 6-7, 11-12;
`
`Ex-1009, 3, 12-13. Ground 1 demonstrates how the challenged claims are
`
`unpatentable under patent owner’s apparent understanding of the claims. This
`
`understanding is consistent with Patent Owner’s construction of “key” in USITC
`
`Investigation No. 337-TA-1162, in which the Patent Owner agreed to construing
`
`“key” in U.S. Patent No. 9,024,790, which shares the same inventor as the ’251
`
`Patent, as “a dimensional sensing surface such as an XY touch screen or a
`
`‘trackpad’”—i.e., the entire touch screen. Ex-1008, 18. Ground 1 assumes this
`
`construction of “key touch on the touch screen.” 10X Genomics, Inc. v. Bio-Rad
`
`Labs., Inc., IPR2020-00086, Paper 8 at 19-20 (PTAB Apr. 27, 2020) (instituting
`
`review, citing 35 U.S.C. § 301(a)(2): “[W]e see no problem with Petitioner relying
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`on statements by Patent Owner in the related district court action in which Patent
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`Owner took a position on the scope of a challenged claim….”); Western Digital
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`U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`Corp., v. SPEX Techs., Inc., IPR2018-00084, Paper 14 at 11 (PTAB April 25, 2018)
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`(instituting review: “We agree with Petitioner that 37 C.F.R. § 104(b)(3) does not
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`require Petitioner to express its subjective agreement regarding correctness of its
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`proffered claim constructions or to take ownership of those constructions. Petitioner
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`complies with our rules by identifying claim constructions it proposes as the basis
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`for requesting review of the challenged claims”).
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`Ground 2 demonstrates how the challenged claims are unpatentable under an
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`alternative interpretation of the claims in which the word “key” is given meaning
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`such that a “key touch on the touchscreen” is interpreted to mean a “touch on a
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`specific region of the touchscreen by a user.” Under this construction, a “key touch”
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`is distinguished from a “touch,” and must correspond to a specific region of the
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`screen, such as an icon or other subregion of the screen (i.e., a virtual “key”). Ex-
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`1002, ¶41. In other words, Ground 2 assumes this alternative construction of “key
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`touch on the touch screen.” See 10X Genomics, IPR2020-00086, Paper 8 at 22
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`(instituting review: “Petitioner proposes alternative claim constructions and presents
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`at least one ground of unpatentability for each construction. Pet. 18–20, 24–25. The
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`regulatory history accompanying 37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)(3) expressly contemplates
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`that a petitioner may rely on alternative claim constructions.”).
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`U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`
`VIII. SPECIFIC EXPLANATION OF GROUNDS
`A. Ground 1: Claims 6 and 15 are rendered obvious by Mese in view
`of Oh
`1.
`Summary of Mese
`Mese was filed October 7, 1993, and published March 7, 1995, more than a
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`decade before the July 26, 2007 effective filing date of the ’251 Patent. Ex-1005,
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`cover, Ex-1001, cover. Mese therefore qualifies as prior art under at least pre-AIA
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`35 U.S.C. §102(b).
`
`Mese is directed to conserving power consumption when a device is not in
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`use. Ex-1005, Abstract. According to Mese, prior art solutions for conserving
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`energy in devices like portable personal computers and word processors included a
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`“resume operation for interrupting the supply of the whole power after information
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`for continuing work had been saved in a nonvolatile memory” if a “user operation
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`medium such as a keyboard or a mouse is not in use for a long period of time.” Id.,
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`1:22-31. This method, however, cannot be utilized in devices “having no user
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`operation medium such as a keyboard or a mouse” and is instead “operated with a
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`pen or fingers.” Id., 1:50-55. Another method to conserve power is to adjust the
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`device display’s brightness “in accordance with a quantity of external light.” Id.,
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`1:22-55. This solution, however, failed to conserve battery when the user “has left
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`his seat and the electronic equipment has not been in use during a long period of
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`U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
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`time.” Id.
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`
`
`Mese discloses an “information processing apparatus” that includes a “sensor
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`102,” such as a “tablet,” that detects whether a user’s finger or pen (collectively, the
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`“operation media”) approaches or comes into contact with the device. Id., 3:58-4:40.
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`The sensor 102 and state display unit 103, a display that enables “the user to know
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`whether the information processing apparatus is being energized or set in the standby
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`state,” together form “a part of the housing unit 104.” If the “operation media” has
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`“been away from the sensor 102” for a “predetermined time or more,” then the
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`“controlled object 106,” which “might include a part of or whole of the sensor 102
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`and the state display unit 103,” is “wholly or partly set in the power saving state.”
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`Id. The components of Mese’s information processing apparatus are shown below:
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`Id., Fig. 1. Mese discloses various methods for saving power in the power saving
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`state, such as switching certain power supply voltages from a high voltage to a low
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`voltage, reducing the brightness of or turning off the backlight of a liquid crystal
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`
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`U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`display, and turning off power to certain components within the device. See id.,
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`7:61-8:53.
`
`2.
`Summary of Oh
`Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2005-0045541 (“Oh”), entitled “Power
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`Supply Control Device and Method,” was published on May 17, 2005 and qualifies
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`as prior art under at least pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. §102(b).
`
`Oh relates to “an apparatus and method to effectively control the power supply
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`required to drive electronic products.” Ex-1006 at 2. According to Oh, energy
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`conservation, especially for mobile products that rely on cells or batteries, was a
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`“very important factor for consumers to make selections.” Id. Prior art methods of
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`conserving power either put the device into a “power save mode” or completely
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`powered down the device “when a certain amount of time elapsed.” Id. However,
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`those prior art methods did not allow the user to set the amount of no-use time
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`required before entering power save mode or turning the device off. Id.
`
`To address this issue, Oh discloses a device that includes, inter alia, a “power
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`on/off switch 10, a touch sensor 20”, a “power mode selection unit 40”, and “device
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`units 60.” These components are shown in Figure 1:
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`U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`
`
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`Id. Fig. 1. “[T]ouch sensor 20 detects whether there was contact from the user using
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`the changes in capacitance according to the changes in dielectric constant; and
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`generates switching signals according to said detection result. In other words, said
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`touch sensor 20 has a function of generating predetermined operation commands
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`according to the manipulation done by the user.” Id. at 2. The touch sensor can be
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`“positioned on the area [of the device] that frequently comes into contact while the
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`product is being used.” Id. at 3.
`
`
`
`When the device is powered, the user can select different power modes:
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`General Mode, Power Save Mode, and Off Mode, or select a mode that operates both
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`Power Save Mode and Off Mode. Id. In General Mode, power is supplied
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`continually until the user manually switches power off. Id. “Power Save Mode
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`indicates a state that saves power when a certain length of time elapses without
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`U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`manipulation, and Off Mode indicates a state in which power is cut off when a
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`certain length of time elapses without any manipulation.” Id. Users can set the
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`amount of time with no detected manipulation that must pass before the device enters
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`Power Save Mode, Off Mode, or a combination of the two. Id. For example, if
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`Power Save Mode is set to 5 minutes and Off Mode is set to 10 minutes, the device
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`first enters Power Save Mode if no manipulations are detected in 5 minutes, and then
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`completely turns off if no manipulations are detected in 10 minutes. Id.
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`3.
`
`Claim 1
`a.
`Element 1[pre]: “An apparatus comprising”
`If the preamble is limiting, Mese discloses an apparatus. For example, Mese
`
`
`
`discloses an information processing apparatus that includes a sensor 102, a state
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`display unit 103, an electric power saving control circuit unit 105, and a controlled
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`object. Ex-1005, 3:58-4:41 & Fig. 1. Mese Figure 5 (reproduced below) shows “an
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`arrangement of the hardware of the information processing apparatus.”
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`U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`
`Id., Fig. 5; see also id., 7:7-60 (describing components shown in Figure 5); Ex-
`
`
`
`1002, ¶54.
`
`b.
`Element 1[a]: “a sensing element of a touch screen”
`Mese discloses a “sensing element of a touch screen.” A PHOSITA would
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`understand that a sensor and a control circuit, 503 and 504 in Figure 5, together form
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`the claimed “sensing element.”
`
`First, Mese discloses sensing elements. Mese discloses “a sensor 102,” such
`
`as a “tablet,” that “detects whether the operation media 100, 101 approach[es] or
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`U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`come[s] in contact with the information processing apparatus.” Ex-1005, 4:2-5.
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`Figure 5 (below), which shows “an arrangement of the hardware of the information
`
`processing apparatus” of Mese, s