UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`____________
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`NORTHERN STATES METALS COMPANY,
`Petitioner,
`
`v.
`
`NEXTracker Inc.,
`Patent Owner.
`
`
`
`
`
`Case IPR2021-00025
`Patent 9,806,669
`
`
`
`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW UNDER 37 C.F. R. § 42.101
`
`
`
`
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`IPR2021-00025 Petition
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`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`
`Table of Authorities ................................................................................................. v
`Exhibit List Pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 42.63(e) ..................................................... vi
`I.
`Introduction .................................................................................................... 1
`II. Mandatory Notices......................................................................................... 3
`A.
`37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(1): Real Parties-in-Interest .................................... 3
`B.
`37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(2): Related Matters ............................................... 3
`C.
`37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(3) & (4): Lead and Back-Up Counsel And
`Service Information ............................................................................... 4
`III. Payment of Fees Pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 42.103 ........................................ 4
`IV. Certification of Standing Under 37 C.F.R. § 42.104 .................................. 5
`V.
`Summary of the ’669 Patent ......................................................................... 5
`VI. Overview of Challenge and Relief Requested ............................................. 6
`A.
`37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)(1): Claims for Which IPR is Requested ........... 6
`B.
`37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)(2): Grounds for Challenge ................................ 6
`C.
`37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)(3): Claim Construction ..................................... 8
`1.
`Solar Collector. ........................................................................... 9
`2.
`Guide Rail. ................................................................................ 10
`3.
`Rolling Members....................................................................... 11
`37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)(4): How the Claims are Unpatentable ............ 11
`D.
`37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)(5): Evidence Supporting Challenge ................ 11
`E.
`VII. Level of Ordinary Skill in the Art .............................................................. 12
`
`i
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`IPR2021-00025 Petition
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`VIII. Overview of the Prior Art ........................................................................... 13
`A.
`Funger .................................................................................................. 13
`B.
`Liao ...................................................................................................... 14
`C.
`The ’236 Patent ................................................................................... 15
`D.
`The ’314 Patent ................................................................................... 16
`E.
`Fitch ..................................................................................................... 17
`IX. Specific Grounds for the Petition ............................................................... 18
`A. Ground 1: Claims 1-3, 8-11Are Obvious Over Funger Alone
`and/or in View of Fitch and/or the ’314 Patent. .................................. 18
`1.
`Claim 1 ...................................................................................... 18
`2.
`Claim 2 ...................................................................................... 39
`3.
`Claim 3 ...................................................................................... 40
`4.
`Claim 8 ...................................................................................... 43
`5.
`Claim 9 ...................................................................................... 46
`6.
`Claim 10 .................................................................................... 47
`7.
`Claim 11 .................................................................................... 48
`Ground 2: Claims 4-7, 12, and 13 Are Obvious Over Funger
`and/or in View of Liao and/or in View of Fitch and in Further
`View of the ’314 Patent. ...................................................................... 49
`1. Motivation to Combine Funger/Fitch with the ’314
`Patent. ........................................................................................ 49
`Claim 4 ...................................................................................... 50
`Claim 5 ...................................................................................... 53
`Claim 6 ...................................................................................... 55
`ii
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`2.
`3.
`4.
`
`B.
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`IPR2021-00025 Petition
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`C.
`
`5.
`Claim 7 ...................................................................................... 57
`Claim 12 .................................................................................... 58
`6.
`Claim 13 .................................................................................... 58
`7.
`Ground 3: Claims 1 and 4-13 are Obvious Over Liao in view of
`the ’236 Patent and/or the ’314 Patent ................................................ 59
`1. Motivation to Combine Liao and the ’236 Patent and the
`’314 Patent ................................................................................ 59
`Claim 1 ...................................................................................... 63
`2.
`Claim 4 ...................................................................................... 76
`3.
`Claim 5 ...................................................................................... 78
`4.
`Claim 6 ...................................................................................... 79
`5.
`Claim 7 ...................................................................................... 81
`6.
`Claim 8 ...................................................................................... 82
`7.
`Claim 9 ...................................................................................... 83
`8.
`Claim 10 .................................................................................... 83
`9.
`10. Claim 11 .................................................................................... 84
`11. Claim 12 .................................................................................... 85
`12. Claim 13 .................................................................................... 85
`D. Ground 4: Claims 2 and 3 Are Obvious Over the ’930 Patent in
`View of the ’236 Patent and/or the ’314 Patent and in Further
`View of Funger. ................................................................................... 86
`1.
`Claim 2 ...................................................................................... 86
`2.
`Claim 3 ...................................................................................... 89
`There is No Sound Basis For A Discretional Denial ................................. 89
`iii
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`X.
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`IPR2021-00025 Petition
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`XI. Conclusion .................................................................................................... 90
`CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE .................................................................. 92
`CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE ............................................................................ 93
`
`
`** All Emphasis Added Unless Otherwise Noted **
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`iv
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`IPR2021-00025 Petition
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`TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
`
`Page(s)
`
`Cases
`Amazon.com, Inc. v. CustomPlay, LLC, IPR2018-01496, Paper 12, 7-8
`
`(P.T.A.B. Sept. 6, 2019) .................................................................................... 83
`
`Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. v. Cordis Corp., 554 F.3d 982, 991
`
`(Fed. Cir. 2009) .................................................................................................. 39
`
`GNB Battery Techs., Inc. v. Exide Corp., 78 F.3d 605 (Fed. Cir. 1996) ................ 39
`
`Ormco Corp. v. Align Tech., Inc., 463 F.3d 1299 (Fed. Cir. 2006) ........................ 39
`
`
`Statutory Authorities
`35 U.S.C. § 102 .......................................................................................................... 7
`35 U.S.C. § 282 .......................................................................................................... 8
`35 U.S.C. § 314 ........................................................................................................ 83
`35 U.S.C. § 325 ........................................................................................................ 82
`Rules and Regulations
`37 C.F.R. § 42 et seq .........................................................................................passim
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`v
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`IPR2021-00025 Petition
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`EXHIBIT LIST PURSUANT TO 37 C.F.R. § 42.63(E)
`
`Exhibit No.
`1001
`
`Description1
`U.S. Patent No. 9,806,669
`
`1002
`
`1003
`
`1004
`
`1005
`
`1006
`
`1007
`
`1008
`
`1009
`
`1010
`
`1011
`
`1012
`
`1013
`
`1014
`
`1015
`
`File History for U.S. Patent No. 9,806,669
`
`Declaration of Dr. T. Kim Parnell
`
`Curriculum Vitae of Dr. T. Kim Parnell
`
`U.S. Publication No. 2002/0078945 (“Funger”)
`
`U.S. Pub. No. 2013/0008431 (“Fitch”)
`
`KR 10-1017314 (“the ’314 Patent”)
`
`Translation of KR 10-1017314
`
`Translator’s Declaration of Christine Lee
`
`U.S. Patent No. 8,671,930 (“Liao”)
`
`CN 101820236 (“the ’236 Patent”)
`
`Translation of CN 101820236
`
`Translator’s Declaration of Samuel Chong
`
`Definition of “guide rail” Webster’s Third New International
`Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, (1993)
`
`Complaint, NEXRACKER INC. v. SOLAR FLEXRACK and
`NORTHERN STATES METALS COMPANY, 1-20-cv-00849
`
`
`1 Descriptions are for convenience only and are not admissions or evidence.
`
`vi
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`IPR2021-00025 Petition
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`Exhibit No.
`1016
`
`Description1
`U.S. Pub. No. 2008/0308091 (“Corio”)
`
`1017
`
`1018
`
`National Renewable Energy Laboratory, “Rotation Angle for
`the Optimum Tracking of One-Axis Trackers,” July 2013
`
`Definition of “solar collector” Merriam-Webster online
`Dictionary, (2020)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`vii
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`

`

`Petition for Inter Partes Review of U.S. Patent No. 9,806,669
`
`I.
`
`INTRODUCTION
`Northern States Metals Company (“NSM” or “Petitioner”) respectfully
`
`requests inter partes review (“IPR”) of claims 1-13 (“the Challenged Claims”) of
`
`U.S. Patent No. 9,806,669 (“the ’669 Patent”) (Ex. 1001).
`
`The ’669 Patent describes a purported improvement to a “single-axis tracker
`
`support system” by “integrating one or several bearing(s) which allow bringing the
`
`horizontal axis of rotation close to the center of gravity of the platform/solar
`
`collector(s) set, or still making this horizontal axis of rotation pass by this center of
`
`gravity.” Ex. 1001, 1:65-2:3. The alleged inventive bearing comprises a “rotatable
`
`part” 5, including a housing for holding the horizontal central beam 32 of the tracker
`
`system and a guide rail in a “circular-arc shape” centered on the horizontal axis of
`
`rotation “A,” and “rolling members” 8 mounted to roll in the guide rail of the
`
`rotatable part. Id., 2:15-23, 4:36-55; see also id., Fig. 3.
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`1
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`IPR2021-00025 Petition
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`
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`But the use of a circular arc-shaped bearing to house a central horizontal beam
`
`to allow the axis of rotation to be closer to the center of gravity was not new and the
`
`’669 Patent was granted without full consideration to a wide body of applicable art.
`
`As Dr. T. Kim Parnell (“Dr. Parnell”) explains in his accompanying declaration, arc-
`
`shaped rotatable housings were commonly used in solar tracking systems before the
`
`’669 Patent’s earliest priority date. For example, U.S. Pub. No. 2002/0078945
`
`(“Funger”) discloses a single-axis solar tracking system with bearings that are
`
`functionally identical to the claimed bearings of the ’669 Patent and are structurally
`
`the same in critical respects to the claimed bearings of the ’669 Patent. See Ex. 1005,
`
`Fig. 8; Ex. 1003 ¶¶89, 106.
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`2
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`IPR2021-00025 Petition
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`
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`Funger was published on June 27, 2002, long before the ’669 Patent’s earliest
`
`possible priority date.
`
`Other cited references likewise disclose the use of bearings with arc-shaped
`
`housings for central beams, as discussed in detail below. Petitioner therefore asks
`
`the Board to institute review and find all Challenged Claims unpatentable.
`
`II. MANDATORY NOTICES
`Petitioner provides the following mandatory notices under 37 C.F.R. § 42.8.
`
`A.
`37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(1): Real Parties-in-Interest
`The real party-in-interest is Northern States Metal Company.
`
`B.
`37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(2): Related Matters
`The ’669 Patent is at issue in the following case:
`
` NEXTracker Inc. v. Solar FlexRack, et al., C.A. No. 20-849 (D. Del.) Ex. 1015.
`
`
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`3
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`IPR2021-00025 Petition
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`C.
`
`37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(3) & (4): Lead and Back-Up Counsel And
`Service Information
`Lead Counsel
`David A. Mancino
`Reg. No. 39,289
`dmancino@bakerlaw.com
`Postal and Hand-Delivery Address:
`BAKER & HOSTETLER LLP
`312 Walnut Street
`Suite 3200
`Cincinnati, OH 45202-4074
`Telephone: (513) 929-3495
`
`Backup Counsel
`Kevin W. Kirsch
`Reg. No. 53,136
`kkirsch@bakerlaw.com
`Postal and Hand-Delivery Address:
`BAKER & HOSTETLER LLP
`200 Civic Center Drive
`Suite 1200
`Columbus, OH 43215-4138
`Telephone: (614) 462-2673
`
`Kevin P. Flynn
`Reg. No. 71,906
`kflynn@bakerlaw.com
`Postal and Hand-Delivery Address:
`BAKER & HOSTETLER LLP
`312 Walnut Street
`Suite 3200
`Cincinnati, OH 45202-4074
`Telephone: (513) 929-3499
`
`
` Power of Attorney accompanies this Petition pursuant to 37 C.F.R.
`
` A
`
`§ 42.10(b).
`
` NSM
`
`consents
`
`to
`
`electronic
`
`service
`
`by
`
`email
`
`at
`
`dmancino@bakerlaw.com, kkirsch@bakerlaw.com, and kflynn@bakerlaw.com.
`
`III. PAYMENT OF FEES PURSUANT TO 37 C.F.R. § 42.103
`Petitioners request review of 13 claims. The Director may charge the
`
`§ 42.15(a)(1) fee and any additional fees in connection with this Petition to Deposit
`
`Account No. 506092.
`
`
`
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`IPR2021-00025 Petition
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`IV. CERTIFICATION OF STANDING UNDER 37 C.F.R. § 42.104
`Petitioner certifies that the ’669 Patent is available for IPR and that Petitioner
`
`is not barred or estopped from requesting an IPR of the Challenged Claims of the
`
`’669 Patent on the grounds identified herein.
`
`V.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE ’669 PATENT
`The ’669 Patent is titled “Single-Axis Follower Support System for a Solar
`
`Collector” and issued from Application No. 15/124,659, filed on September 8, 2016.
`
`Ex. 1001, Cover.
`
`The ’669 Patent relates to a single-axis tracker support system with a platform
`
`to support solar collector panels attached to a horizontal central beam and a fixed
`
`structure to anchor the support system to the ground. The horizontal central beam is
`
`attached to the support structure so that it allows rotation to permit the panels to face
`
`and track the sun from east to west each day. The axis of rotation for the central
`
`beam is offset from the beam axis so that the rotation axis is located at the panel
`
`center of gravity. Ex. 1001, 1:32-40.
`
`The ’669 Patent identifies a problem with conventional single-axis tracker
`
`systems, in that said systems used bearings consisting of an annular sleeve in which
`
`the central beam was pivotally mounted and generally journal-type bearing, causing
`
`the horizontal axis of rotation to be coincident with the central axis of the central
`
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`5
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`IPR2021-00025 Petition
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`beam. Id., 1:44-51. This resulted in the horizontal axis of rotation being away from
`
`the platform “by a minimum distance substantially equivalent to the outer radius of
`
`the cylindrical sleeve of the bearing, thereby contributing in bringing the horizontal
`
`axis of rotation away from the center of gravity of the platform/solar collector(s)
`
`set.” Id., 1:44-56.
`
`The ’669 Patent’s alleged solution to this problem was to bring the horizontal
`
`axis of rotation close to the center of gravity of the platform, or make the horizontal
`
`axis of rotation pass by the center of gravity, by using at least one bearing containing
`
`a rotatable part for housing the central beam, and a circular-arc-shaped guide rail
`
`centered on the axis of rotation and below the housing, with rolling members
`
`mounted so as to roll in the guide rail. Id., 2:4-23. See, also, Section I above.
`
`The ’669 Patent has 13 claims. Claim 1 is the only independent claim.
`
`VI. OVERVIEW OF CHALLENGE AND RELIEF REQUESTED
`A.
`37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)(1): Claims for Which IPR is Requested
`Petitioners challenge claims 1-13 of the ’669 Patent.
`
`B.
`37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)(2): Grounds for Challenge
`Petitioners challenge claims 1-13 based on the following references:
`
` U.S. Pub. No. 2002/0078945 (“Funger”), published June 27, 2002. Ex.
`1005.
`
` U.S. Pub. No. 2013/0008431 (“Fitch”), published Jan. 10, 2013. Ex. 1006.
`
`
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`6
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`IPR2021-00025 Petition
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` Korean Patent No. 10-1017314 (“the ’314 Patent”), published Feb. 28,
`2011, registered Feb. 17, 2011. Exs. 1007-1009.2
`
` U.S. Patent No. 8,671,930 (“Liao”), issued March 18, 2014. Ex. 1010.
`
` Chinese Patent No. 101820236 (“the ’236 Patent”), published September
`1, 2010. Exs. 1011-1013.3
`The ’669 Patent was filed after March 16, 2013 so the Patent Act as amended
`
`by the AIA applies. Funger, Fitch, the ’314 Patent, Liao, and the ’236 Patent are
`
`prior art under 35 U.S.C. § 102(a) (AIA) because they all published before
`
`November 5, 2014, prior to the earliest possible effective filing date of the ’669
`
`Patent. Funger, Fitch, the ’314 Patent, Liao, and the ’236 Patent qualify as prior art
`
`under pre-AIA 102 or post-AIA 102.
`
`Petitioners request IPR on the following grounds:
`
`
`2 Pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 42.63(b), Petitioners submit as Exhibit 1008 a certified
`English-language translation of the ’314 Patent. A declaration attesting to the
`accuracy of the certified English-language translation is submitted as Exhibit 1009.
`Citations to the ’314 Patent are to the assigned paragraph numbers in the English-
`language version.
`3 Pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 42.63(b), Petitioners submit as Exhibit 1012 a certified
`English-language translation of the ’236 Patent. A declaration attesting to the
`accuracy of the certified English-language translation is submitted as Exhibit 1013.
`Citations to the ’236 Patent are to the assigned paragraph numbers in the English-
`language version.
`
`
`7
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`IPR2021-00025 Petition
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`Ground
`
`Claims
`
`Basis
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`1-3, 8-11
`
`Obvious over Funger alone and/or in view of Liao
`and/or in view of Fitch and/or in view of the ’314
`Patent.
`4-7, 12, 13 Obvious over Funger and/or in view of Liao and/or in
`view of Fitch and in further view of the ’314 Patent.
`
`1, 4-13
`
`Obvious over Liao in view of the ’236 Patent and/or
`the ’314 Patent.
`
`4
`
`2,3
`
`Obvious over Liao in view of the ’236 Patent and/or
`the ’314 Patent and Funger.
`C.
`37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)(3): Claim Construction
`Under 37 C.F.R. § 42.100, claims should 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) (the “Phillips standard”). The level of ordinary skill in the art is
`
`addressed in Section VII below. Petitioner submits that all terms from claims 1-13
`
`should be construed according to their plain and ordinary meanings except for “solar
`
`collector.” For example:
`
`Term
`
`Claims
`
`Proposed Construction
`
`“solar collector”
`
`1-13
`
`A device that collects, integrates, transforms
`or reflects solar radiation; including
`photovoltaic panels, solar panels transforming
`solar radiation into thermal energy and mirror
`panels.
`
`“guide rail”
`
`1-13
`
`Plain and ordinary meaning, i.e., a track or
`rail that serves as a guide
`
`
`
`
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`8
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`IPR2021-00025 Petition
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`“rolling members”
`
`1-13
`
`Plain and ordinary meaning, i.e., components
`that roll; examples include ball bearing type,
`needle bearing type, or roller bearing type
`rollers.
`
`1.
`Solar Collector.
`The plain and ordinary meaning of the term “solar collector” would be a
`
`device that collects or absorbs solar radiation. Ex. 1003 (Parnell) ¶69. The ’669
`
`Patent specification, however, expressly defines the term much more broadly.
`
`As stated in the specification of the’669 Patent: “The invention finds an
`
`application in single-axis tracker support systems supporting one or several solar
`
`collector(s), in particular of the type: photovoltaic solar panel integrating
`
`photovoltaic cells …; concentrated photovoltaic solar panel integrating optical
`
`systems for concentrating the solar radiation …; solar panel transforming the solar
`
`radiation into thermal energy; mirror panel reflecting the solar radiation towards a
`
`solar collector.” EX1001, 1:13-31.
`
`Consequently, based on the ’669 Patent’s broader definition of the term,
`
`which includes devices that reflect solar radiation, a “solar collector” should be
`
`construed as “a device that collects, integrates, transforms or reflects solar radiation;
`
`including photovoltaic panels, solar panels transforming solar radiation into thermal
`
`energy, and mirror panels reflecting the solar radiation.” Ex. 1003 (Parnell) ¶¶70-
`
`71.
`
`
`
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`IPR2021-00025 Petition
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`2. Guide Rail.
`“Guide rail” is used in the ’669 Patent according to its plain and ordinary
`
`meaning. A person of ordinary skill in the art (hereinafter referred to as “POSITA”)
`
`would understand this plain and ordinary meaning to be “a track or rail that serves
`
`as a guide.” Ex. 1014, p.1009. This standard meaning is well understood by a
`
`POSITA. Ex. 1003 (Parnell) ¶72. The ’669 Patent specification describes a
`
`“through slot 51 presenting a circular-arc shape centered on the horizontal axis of
`
`rotation A.” Ex. 1001, 5:1-6. All figures show that the “rolling members 8” are
`
`positioned within and roll in this slot 51. For example, see Figs. 3 and 4.
`
`
`
`“Referring to FIG. 3, the slot 51 presents two opposite terminations 52,
`
`forming stoppers for the rolling members 8, …” Id., 5:11-16. The ABSTRACT of
`
`the’669 Patent equates this slot 51 with the claimed guide rail. “… the at least one
`
`bearing (4) comprises: a rotatable part (5) having a cavity (50) for receiving the
`
`central beam and a guide rail (51) in the shape of a circular arc centered on said
`
`
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`10
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`IPR2021-00025 Petition
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`horizontal rotational axis, …; and a base (7) retained on the stationary structure and
`
`onto which rolling members are attached which are rollingly mounted in the guide
`
`rail of the rotatable part.” Id., ABSTRACT. The intrinsic record of the ’669 Patent
`
`does not alter this plain and ordinary understanding.
`
`3.
`Rolling Members.
`“Rolling members” is used in the ’669 Patent according to its plain and
`
`ordinary meaning. A POSITA would understand this plain and ordinary meaning to
`
`be “components that roll.” Ex. 1003 ¶73. Rolling members are described in the
`
`’669 Patent to roll in the “guide rail.” Ex. 1001, ABSTACT. The ’669 Patent
`
`provides examples of rolling members: “[T]he rolling members are of the ball
`
`bearing type, needle bearing type or roller bearing type….” Id., 3:27-28. These are
`
`typical configurations for rolling members and well known and understood by a
`
`POSITA. Ex. 1003 ¶73. The intrinsic record of the ’669 Patent does not alter this
`
`plain and ordinary understanding.
`
`D.
`37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)(4): How the Claims are Unpatentable
`Section IX explains the Challenged Claims’ unpatentability.
`
`E.
`37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)(5): Evidence Supporting Challenge
`Supporting exhibits are identified on pages vi-vii of this petition. The
`
`relevance and specific portions supporting the challenge are provided throughout the
`
`petition, e.g., in Section IX. Petitioners submit as Ex. 1003 a declaration from Dr.
`
`11
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`IPR2021-00025 Petition
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`T. Kim Parnell in support of this Petition under 37 C.F.R. § 1.68.
`
`VII. LEVEL OF ORDINARY SKILL IN THE ART
`A POSITA with respect to the ’669 Patent will have at least a bachelor’s
`
`degree in mechanical engineering or structural engineering (or an equivalent
`
`degree/experience) with sufficient experience in designing, manufacturing, erecting
`
`and/or trouble-shooting photovoltaic tracker or similar systems. Ex. 1003 ¶36-38.
`
`The type of experience is as relevant as the length of experience. Id ¶37. The more
`
`direct experience that involves an understanding of how the topographical and
`
`environmental factors relate to the mechanical design, installation, and maintenance
`
`of solar tracker systems, the better. Id. Additional education may substitute for
`
`some of the direct design, fabrication, and field experience with solar tracker
`
`systems. Id. Likewise, certain direct experience may substitute for some education.
`
`Id. Due to the extraordinary design complexities in the field, a POSITA with respect
`
`to the ’669 Patent will have a high-level of problem solving acumen and would seek
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`solutions to mechanical problems not only in the field of solar trackers, but would
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`look to other areas of mechanical and structural technology (such as, for example,
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`satellite dish installation and tracking) to find similar solutions to similar problems
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`confronted in the solar tracker field. Id. ¶38. It is also common for a POSITA to be
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`a professional engineer. Id. Dr. Parnell understood and possessed the knowledge of
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`a POSITA as of the ’669 Patent’s earliest possible priority date. Id. ¶40
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`VIII. OVERVIEW OF THE PRIOR ART
`A.
`Funger
`Funger was not considered during prosecution of the ’669 Patent. Funger
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`describes a single-axis solar tracking system. Ex. 1003 ¶89. Funger describes the
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`design of bearings arranged along a carrier for rotation (i.e., the rotatable beam) of
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`planar solar panels (mirrors in this instance). Ex. 1005, [0008]. The planar solar
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`panels (mirrors) of Funger are orientable according to the solar altitude. Id., [0030].
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`The planar solar panels (mirrors) of Funger are mounted rotatably about an axis of
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`rotation (parallel to the length of the panels). Id., [0030]; Ex. 1003 ¶88. The axis of
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`rotation is offset from the axis of the carrier. Id., [0033]; Ex. 1003 ¶¶89, 91, 106.
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`As will be described in detail herein, the bearings of Funger are functionally
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`identical to the claimed bearings of the ’669 Patent and are structurally the same in
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`critical respects to the claimed bearings of the ’669 Patent. See also Ex. 1003 ¶92.
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`As will be further described herein, any structural differences between the bearings
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`of Funger and the claimed bearings of the ’669 Patent are merely obvious and
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`predictable variations of the same functional design well known in the industry.
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`B.
`Liao
`Liao was not considered during prosecution of the ’669 Patent. Liao describes
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`the design of single-axis solar tracking systems. Ex. 1010,1:13-14. As will be
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`discussed herein, the embodiment of Fig. 9 describes a bearing design for a single-
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`axis tracker that is functionally the same as claimed in the ’669 Patent. Ex. 1003
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`¶75.
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`As will be further described herein, any structural differences between the
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`bearings of Liao and the claimed bearings of the ’669 Patent are merely obvious and
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`predictable variations of the same functional design well known in the industry.
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`C. The ’236 Patent
`The ’236 Patent was not considered during prosecution of the ’669 Patent.
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`The ’236 Patent discloses a dual-axis solar tracking system that is more complicated
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`than the single-axis solar tracking system disclosed in the ’669 Patent. Ex. 1003
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`¶122.
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`As will be described herein, the ’236 Patent discloses a bearing design that is
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`structurally the same in all critical respects to that as claimed in the ’669 Patent and
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`it would have been obvious for a POSITA to utilize aspects of the bearing design of
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`the ’236 Patent in place of the bearing design of Liao, rendering predictable results.
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`D. The ’314 Patent
`The ’314 Patent was not considered during the prosecution of the ’669 Patent.
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`The ’314 Patent discloses a dual-axis solar collecting device “of a highly superior
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`structure” such that “damages or breakdowns due to strong wind may be drastically
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`reduced.” Ex. 1008, ¶¶ [0016]-[0017]
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`The ’314 Patent describes that one of the axes of pivoting is supported by a
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`bearing structure that is the same in critical respects to that as claimed in the ’669
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`Patent. As discussed herein, it would have been obvious for a POSITA to utilize
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`certain aspects of the design of the ’314 Patent with that of Funger, Liao and/or the
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`’236 Patent, yielding predictable results.
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`E.
`Fitch
`Fitch was not considered during the prosecution of the ’669 Patent. Fitch
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`discloses a solar tracking system that includes flap assemblies for solar energy
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`substrates (planar mirrors or planar solar collector panels) controllable to counter
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`wind-induced movement. Ex. 1006, ABSTRACT.
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`IX. SPECIFIC GROUNDS FOR THE PETITION
`The sections below demonstrate obviousness of the Challenged Claims.
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`A. Ground 1: Claims 1-3, 8-11Are Obvious Over Funger Alone
`and/or in View of Fitch and/or the ’314 Patent.
`1.
`Claim 1
`“A single-axis tracker support system for at least one
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`solar collector, said support system comprising:”
`Funger discloses a single-axis tracker support system for solar mirrors that
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`reflect onto a solar collector, as shown in Figure 1:
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`Ex. 1005, Fig. 1; id., [0066]; Ex. 1003 ¶¶89-90. The above annotations to Fig. 1
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`have been reviewed as accurate by Dr. Parnell. Ex. 1003 ¶94.
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`Funger also explains that “FIG. 1 is an overall schematic view of the apparatus
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`for utilizing [sic] solar energy. The rows of mirrors 3, rotatable about an axis, are
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`arranged on a framework 5 in the lower region. … The mirrors 3 are automatically
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`tracked in their angle by electrically operated drives, depending on the solar
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`altitude.” Ex. 1005, [0066] See also id., [0030]
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`As discussed in Section VI.C.1, the mirror panels of Funger are “solar
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`collectors” as properly construed. It would also have been obvious to replace the
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`mirrors of Funger with solar collector panels, which would allow the Funger system
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`to eliminate the collector framework 14 above the mirrors 3. Ex. 1003 ¶¶100-101.
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`The design objectives for the mirror panel system of Funger is highly similar to the
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`design objectives for the PV panel system of the ’669 Patent, and substitution of PV
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`panels for the mirrors and collectors of Funger to achieve the system claimed in the
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`’669 Patent is straight forward and would expect predictable results. Id.
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`Fitch expressly discloses that the planar mirrors of Funger are interchangeable
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`with planar photo-voltaic cells (absorbing solar energy) when dealing with
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`mechanics of solar tracking systems, referring to the mirrors and the photo-voltaic
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`panels collectively as “solar energy substrates.” Ex. 1006, [0002] As stated in Fitch:
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`“A solar energy substrate can be a substrate that is generally directed toward the Sun
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`and moves in at least one direction to track the Sun as the Sun appears to move across
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`the sky. A mirror (or a collection of mirrors) included in a heliostat is an example
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`of a solar energy substrate. The mirror reflects solar rays that are incident on the
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`mirror toward a receiver that is typically mounted on a receiver tower. … A
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`photovoltaic panel that includes one or more photovoltaic cells is another example
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`of a solar energy substrate. … The solar energy substrates are subjected to
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`environmental conditions including wind, which can have a tendency to affect
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`orientation of the solar energy substrate[.]” Id.
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`“a fixed structure for anchorage to a ground; and”
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`Funger discloses a framework structure 15 with multiple posts. Ex. 1003 ¶94.
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`This is shown in Figure 1 (see annotations above IX.A.1.a):
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`A POSITA would understand and expect that such posts of the Funger
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`framework 15 would be anchored to the ground in certain applications. Ex. 1003
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`¶95.
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`Additionally, a POSITA considering Liao and Funger together would
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`understand that it would be obvious to anchor such posts of Funger to the ground as
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`expressly taught by Liao, rendering pred