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
`
`
`
`
`
`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 ............................................................ 4
`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) .............................. 7
`B.
`“deactivation of measurement of changes in capacitance” (claims
`2, 11, 17) ............................................................................................... 9
`VIII. SPECIFIC EXPLANATION OF GROUNDS ............................................. 10
`A. Ground 1: Claims 1-3, 7-12, and 16-18 are anticipated and/or
`rendered obvious by Krah in view of the knowledge of one of
`ordinary skill in the art ....................................................................... 10
`1.
`Summary of Krah ..................................................................... 10
`2.
`Claim 1 ..................................................................................... 14
`a.
`Element 1[pre]: “An apparatus comprising” ................. 14
`b.
`Element 1[a]: “a sensing element of a touch screen”
` ....................................................................................... 15
`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
`
`c.
`
`i
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`U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
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`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`(continued)
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`Page
`
`e.
`
`d.
`
`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” .................................................... 20
`Element 1[d]: “if the amount of time that has
`elapsed exceeds a predetermined time duration,
`then initiate a particular function of the apparatus.” ..... 22
`Claim 2 ..................................................................................... 24
`a.
`Element 2[a]: “wherein the particular function
`comprises deactivation of measurement of changes
`in capacitance by the sensing element.” ........................ 24
`Claim 3 ..................................................................................... 25
`a.
`Element 3[a]: “wherein the particular function
`comprises recalibration of measurement of changes
`in capacitance by the sensing element” ......................... 25
`Claim 7 ..................................................................................... 27
`a.
`Element 7[a]: “wherein sensing element comprises
`a control circuit” ............................................................ 28
`Claim 8 ..................................................................................... 28
`a.
`Element 8[a]: “wherein the sensing element further
`comprises a pattern of electrodes within the touch
`screen, the electrodes being coupled to the control
`circuit” ........................................................................... 28
`Claim 9 ..................................................................................... 30
`a.
`Element 9[a]: “wherein the electrodes comprise
`indium tin oxide (ITO)” ................................................. 30
`Claim 10 ................................................................................... 31
`
`ii
`
`3.
`
`4.
`
`5.
`
`6.
`
`7.
`
`8.
`
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`U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`
`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`(continued)
`
`Page
`
`a.
`b.
`
`c.
`
`Element 10[pre]: “A method comprising” .................... 31
`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” .................. 31
`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
`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 11 ................................................................................... 32
`a.
`Element 11[a]: “wherein the particular function
`comprises deactivating measurement of changes in
`capacitance by the sensing element” ............................. 32
`10. Claim 12 ................................................................................... 33
`a.
`Element 12[a]: “wherein the particular function
`comprises recalibrating measurement of changes in
`capacitance by the sensing element” ............................. 33
`11. Claim 16 ................................................................................... 33
`a.
`Element 16[pre]: “A computer-readable non-
`transitory storage media embodying logic that is
`operable when executed to” ........................................... 33
`Element 16[a]: “monitor detection by a sensing
`element of a key touch on a touch screen, the
`sensing element being of a touch screen” ...................... 33
`
`9.
`
`d.
`
`b.
`
`iii
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`U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
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`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`(continued)
`
`Page
`
`c.
`
`d.
`
`B.
`
`Element 16[b]: “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”............................................................ 34
`Element 16[c]: “if the amount of time that has
`elapsed exceeds a predetermined time duration,
`then initiate a particular function of an apparatus” ....... 34
`12. Claim 17 ................................................................................... 34
`a.
`Element 17[a]: “wherein the particular function
`comprises deactivation of measurement of changes
`in capacitance by the sensing element” ......................... 34
`13. Claim 18 ................................................................................... 34
`a.
`Element 18[a]: “wherein the particular function
`comprises recalibration of measurement of changes
`in capacitance by the sensing element” ......................... 35
`Ground 2: Claims 2, 11, and 17 are rendered obvious by Krah in
`view of Wilson ................................................................................... 35
`1.
`Summary of Wilson ................................................................. 35
`2.
`Claim 2 ..................................................................................... 36
`a.
`Element 2[a]: “wherein the particular function
`comprises deactivation of measurement of changes
`in capacitance by the sensing element.” ........................ 36
`Claim 11 ................................................................................... 38
`a.
`Element 11[a]: “wherein the particular function
`comprises deactivating measurement of changes in
`capacitance by the sensing element” ............................. 38
`Claim 17 ................................................................................... 38
`
`3.
`
`4.
`
`iv
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`U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`
`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`(continued)
`
`Page
`
`a.
`
`C.
`
`Element 17[a]: “wherein the particular function
`comprises deactivation of measurement of changes
`in capacitance by the sensing element” ......................... 39
`5. Motivation to Combine Krah and Wilson ................................ 39
`Ground 3: Claims 1-3, 7-12, 16-18 are rendered obvious by Krah
`in view Chaudhri ................................................................................ 42
`1.
`Summary of Chaudhri .............................................................. 42
`2.
`Claim 1 ..................................................................................... 43
`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:” ...................... 44
`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” .................................................... 44
`Element 1[d]: “if the amount of time that has
`elapsed exceeds a predetermined time duration,
`then initiate a particular function of the apparatus.” ..... 47
`Claim 2 ..................................................................................... 47
`Claim 3 ..................................................................................... 47
`Claim 7 ..................................................................................... 48
`Claim 8 ..................................................................................... 48
`Claim 9 ..................................................................................... 48
`Claim 10 ................................................................................... 48
`
`b.
`
`c.
`
`3.
`4.
`5.
`6.
`7.
`8.
`
`v
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`U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`
`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`(continued)
`
`Page
`
`a.
`b.
`
`c.
`
`d.
`
`Element 10[pre]: “A method comprising” .................... 48
`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” .................. 48
`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”............................................................ 48
`Element 10[c]: “if the amount of time that has
`elapsed exceeds a predetermined time duration,
`then initiating a particular function of an apparatus”
` ....................................................................................... 49
`Claim 11 ................................................................................... 49
`9.
`10. Claim 12 ................................................................................... 49
`11. Claim 16 ................................................................................... 49
`a.
`Element 16[pre]: “A computer-readable non-
`transitory storage media embodying logic that is
`operable when executed to” ........................................... 49
`Element 16[a]: “monitor detection by a sensing
`element of a key touch on a touch screen, the
`sensing element being of a touch screen” ...................... 49
`Element 16[b]: “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”............................................................ 50
`
`b.
`
`c.
`
`vi
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`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`
`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`(continued)
`
`Page
`
`d.
`
`Element 16[c]: “if the amount of time that has
`elapsed exceeds a predetermined time duration,
`then initiate a particular function of an apparatus” ....... 50
`12. Claim 17 ................................................................................... 50
`13. Claim 18 ................................................................................... 50
`14. Motivation to Combine Krah and Chaudhri ............................ 50
`D. Ground 4: Claims 2, 11, and 17 are rendered obvious by Krah in
`view of Chaudhri in further view of Wilson ...................................... 53
`1.
`Claim 2 ..................................................................................... 53
`a.
`Element 2[a]: “wherein the particular function
`comprises deactivation of measurement of changes
`in capacitance by the sensing element.” ........................ 53
`Claim 11 ................................................................................... 53
`a.
`Element 11[a]: “wherein the particular function
`comprises deactivation of measurement of changes
`in capacitance by the sensing element” ......................... 53
`Claim 17 ................................................................................... 54
`a.
`Element 17[a]: “deactivation…” ................................... 54
`4. Motivation to Combine Krah, Chaudhri, and Wilson .............. 54
`IX. DISCRETIONARY DENIAL IS NOT APPROPRIATE ............................ 55
`A.
`The Board should not deny institution under 35 U.S.C. §314(a) ...... 55
`1.
`The Pending Petitions Filed By Other Parties Do Not
`Justify Discretionary Denial .................................................... 55
`a.
`Factor One ..................................................................... 56
`b.
`Factors Two-Five ........................................................... 57
`
`2.
`
`3.
`
`vii
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`U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`
`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`(continued)
`
`Page
`
`2.
`
`2.
`
`Factor Six ....................................................................... 57
`c.
`Factor Seven .................................................................. 58
`d.
`Factor Eight ................................................................... 59
`e.
`Factor Nine .................................................................... 59
`f.
`The Pending ITC Investigation and the Stayed District
`Court Litigations Do Not Justify Discretionary Denial ........... 60
`The Board should not deny institution under 35 U.S.C. §325(d) ...... 63
`1.
`Advanced Bionics Step 1: The Petition Does Not Present
`the Same or Substantially Same Art or Argument
`Previously Considered ............................................................. 64
`a.
`Factors (a) and (b) .......................................................... 64
`b.
`Factor (d) ....................................................................... 68
`Advanced Bionics Step 2: Even if the Petition’s Art or
`Arguments Were Considered Previously, the Office Erred
`Materially in Such Consideration ............................................ 70
`a.
`Factor (c) ........................................................................ 70
`b.
`Factors (e) and (f) .......................................................... 70
`CONCLUSION ............................................................................................. 71
`
`B.
`
`X.
`
`
`
`
`
`viii
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`
`
`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 Pub. No. 2008/0162996 A1 (“Krah”)
`
`Ex-1006
`
`U.S. Patent No. 6,504,530 B1 (“Wilson”)
`
`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-1193, In the Matter of Certain
`Capacitive Touch-Controlled Mobile Devices, Computers, and
`Components Thereof, Complaint Exhibit 99
`
`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
`
`ix
`
`
`
`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
`
`Ex-1023
`
`Ex-1024
`
`Ex-1025
`
`U.S. Patent Publication No. 2009/0027068 to Philipp, et al. (“the
`’068 Publication”)
`
`U.S.I.T.C. Investigation No. 337-TA-1193, In the Matter of Certain
`Capacitive Touch-Controlled Mobile Devices, Computers, and
`Components Thereof, Respondents’ Initial Markman Brief
`
`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
`
`x
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`
`Ex-1026
`
`Ex-1027
`
`Ex-1028
`
`Ex-1029
`
`U.S.I.T.C. Investigation No. 337-TA-1166, In the Matter of Certain
`Foodservice Equipment and Components Thereof, Order No. 51
`
`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-6 (“U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251 (“’251 Patent”) in light of Krah”)
`
`Ex-1030
`
`(Intentionally Left Blank)
`
`Ex-1031
`
`Ex-1032
`
`Ex-1033
`
`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
`
`xi
`
`
`
`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
`
`
`
`xii
`
`
`
`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 1-3, 7-12, and 16-18 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
`
`1
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`Ltd. v. Sony Corporation (W.D. Tex. 20-cv-00122) (“the District Court Matters”).
`
`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
`
`2
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`
`email address identified above.
`
`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 1-3, 7-12,
`
`and 16-18 of the ’251 Patent under 35 U.S.C. §§ 102 and/or 103 based on the
`
`following grounds:
`
`Ground 1: Claims 1-3, 7-12, and 16-18 are anticipated and/or rendered
`
`obvious by U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2008/0162996 A1 (“Krah”) (Ex-1005), in view of
`
`the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art;
`
`Ground 2: Claims 2, 11, and 17 are rendered obvious by Krah in view of
`
`U.S. Patent No. 6,504,530 (“Wilson”) (Ex-1006);
`
`Ground 3: Claims 1-3, 7-12, and 16-18 are rendered obvious by Krah in view
`
`of U.S. Patent Application No. 11/322,549 (“Chaudhri”) (Ex-1007);
`
`Ground 4: Claims 2, 11, and 17 are rendered obvious by Krah in view of
`
`Chaudhri in further view of Wilson.
`
`3
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`Krah, Wilson, and Chaudhri were not cited or discussed during prosecution
`
`of the ’251 Patent. Ex-1001, 1-2.
`
`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.
`
`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,” which wastes power. 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
`
`4
`
`
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`U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`“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
`
`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
`
`5
`
`
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`U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`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 rejection. After filing on May 26,
`
`2011, Applicant filed a preliminary amendment correcting the provisional
`
`application filing date (Ex-1004 at 63-66) and submitted replacement Figures (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).
`
`6
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`
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`U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`
`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
`
`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 treats 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. Grounds 1-2 demonstrate how the challenged claims are unpatentable under
`
`Patent Owner’s apparent construction of this limitation. 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 construe “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-1010, 18. Grounds 1-2 assume this construction of “key touch on the
`
`7
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`
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`U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`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 on statements by Patent Owner in the
`
`related district court action in which Patent Owner took a position on the scope of a
`
`challenged claim….”); Western Digital Corp., v. SPEX Techs., Inc., IPR2018-
`
`00084, Paper 14 at 11 (PTAB April 25, 2018) (instituting review: Rule 104(b)(3)
`
`“does not require Petitioner to express its subjective agreement regarding correctness
`
`of its proffered claim constructions or to take ownership of those constructions.”).
`
`Grounds 3-4 demonstrate how the challenged claims are unpatentable under
`
`an alternative interpretation of the claims in which the word “key” is given meaning
`
`such that a “key touch on the touchscreen” is interpreted to mean a “touch on a
`
`specific region of the touchscreen by a user.” Under this construction, a “key touch”
`
`is distinguished from a “touch,” and must correspond to a specific region of the
`
`screen, such as an icon or other subregion of the screen (i.e., a virtual “key”). Ex-
`
`1002, ¶ 41. In other words, Grounds 3-4 assume this alternative construction of “key
`
`touch on the touch screen.” See 10X Genomics, IPR2020-00086, Paper 8 at 22
`
`(instituting review: “Petitioner proposes alternative claim constructions and presents
`
`at least one ground of unpatentability for each construction…. The regulatory
`
`history accompanying [Rule 42.104(b)(3)] expressly contemplates that a petitioner
`
`may rely on alternative claim constructions.”).
`
`8
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`
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`U.S. Patent No. 8,749,251
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`
`B.
`
`“deactivation of measurement of changes in capacitance” (claims
`2, 11, 17)
`In the 1193 ITC Investigation, the parties presented one claim term—
`
`“deactivation of measurement of changes in capacitance” found in claims 2, 11, and
`
`17 of the ’251 Patent—for resolution. Petitioners proposed construing the term as
`
`“stopping all current and schedule
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