IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`
`In re Patent of: Walter G. Mayfield, et al.
`U.S. Patent No.:
`10,259,021 Attorney Docket No.: 50095-0029IP1
`Issue Date:
`April 16, 2019
`
`Appl. Serial No.: 15/852,000
`
`Filing Date:
`December 22, 2017
`
`Title:
`APPARATUS FOR CLEANING VIEW SCREENS AND
`LENSES AND METHOD FOR THE USE THEREOF
`
`
`
`Mail Stop Patent Board
`Patent Trial and Appeal Board
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW OF UNITED STATES PATENT
`NO. 10,259,021 PURSUANT TO 35 U.S.C. §§ 311–319, 37 C.F.R. § 42
`
`
`
`

`

`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0029IP1
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 10,259,021
`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`
`
`
`I.
`
`II.
`
`REQUIREMENTS FOR IPR—37 C.F.R. § 42.104 ........................................ 1
`A. Standing—37 C.F.R. § 42.104(a) ............................................................. 1
`B. The Challenge and Relief Requested—37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b) ................ 1
`SUMMARY OF THE ’021 PATENT ............................................................. 3
`A. Brief Description ....................................................................................... 3
`B. Claimed Subject Matter ............................................................................ 6
`C. Prosecution History ................................................................................... 7
`III. LEVEL OF ORDINARY SKILL .................................................................... 7
`IV. CLAIM CONSTRUCTION ............................................................................ 8
`V.
`THE CHALLENGED CLAIMS ARE UNPATENTABLE ............................ 9
`A. GROUND 1A—Gundlach and Lee render claims 1, 4-7, 10, 14-16, and
`19 obvious. ................................................................................................ 9
`1. Overview of Gundlach .................................................................... 9
`2. Overview of Lee ............................................................................ 12
`3.
`The Gundlach-Lee Combination ................................................... 14
`5.
`Element-by-Element Analysis ....................................................... 19
`B. GROUND 1B—Gundlach, Lee, and Nishikawa render claims 4 and 14
`obvious. ................................................................................................... 51
`1. Overview of Nishikawa ................................................................. 51
`2.
`The Gundlach-Lee-Nishikawa Combination ................................ 52
`3.
`Element-By-Element Analysis ...................................................... 52
`C. GROUND 1C—Gundlach, Lee, and Rosener render claim 10 obvious.
`
`53
`1. Overview of Rosener ..................................................................... 53
`2.
`The Gundlach-Lee-Rosener Combination .................................... 54
`3.
`Element-by-Element Analysis ....................................................... 55
`D. GROUND 1D—Gundlach, Lee, and Brown render claims 2 and 12
`obvious. ................................................................................................... 56
`1. Overview of Brown ....................................................................... 56
`2.
`The Gundlach-Lee-Brown Combination ....................................... 57
`3.
`Element-by-Element Analysis ....................................................... 59
`E. GROUND 1E—Gundlach, Lee, and Mak-Fan render claims 8, 9, and 17
`obvious. ................................................................................................... 60
`1. Overview of Mak-Fan ................................................................... 60
`2.
`The Gundlach-Lee-Mak-Fan Combination ................................... 61
`
`i
`
`

`

`2.
`
`3.
`
`4.
`
`5.
`
`3.
`
`4.
`
`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0029IP1
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 10,259,021
`Element-by-Element Analysis ....................................................... 63
`3.
`VI. DISCRETION SHOULD NOT PRECLUDE INSTITUTION ..................... 66
`A. Relevant Facts ......................................................................................... 66
`B. The Advanced Bionics Test Favors Institution—§ 325(d) ..................... 68
`C. The General Plastic Factors Favor Institution—§ 314(a) ....................... 69
`1.
`Factor 1: Petitioner Apple and Samsung Are Separate, Unrelated
`Petitioners ...................................................................................... 69
`Factors 2 & 4: Petitioner Apple Filed This Petition Promptly
`Following Samsung’s Petition, After Searching Revealed the
`Applied Art .................................................................................... 71
`Factor 3: This Petition Does Not Implicate Road-Mapping
`Concerns ........................................................................................ 71
`Factor 5: Petitioner Diligently Prepared Its Petition in the
`Intervening Month ......................................................................... 72
`Factors 6 and 7: Institution would Efficiently Promote Patent
`Quality ........................................................................................... 72
`6. Additional Factor: Institution Denial would Potentially Prejudice
`Petitioner ....................................................................................... 73
`D. The Fintiv Factors Favor Institution—§ 314(a) ..................................... 73
`1.
`Factor 1: Either Party May Request Stay ...................................... 74
`2.
`Factor 2: With No Set Trial Date, The Board’s Final Written
`Decision Will Likely Issue Many Months in Advance of Trial .... 74
`Factor 3: Petitioner’s Diligence and Investment in IPR Outweighs
`the Parties’ Minimal Investment in Litigation .............................. 75
`Factor 4: The Petition’s Grounds Are Materially Different From
`Any That Might Be Raised in Litigation ....................................... 76
`Factor 5: Institution Would Promote Judicial Efficiency ............. 77
`5.
`Factor 6: The Merits of this Petition Strongly Favor Institution .. 78
`6.
`VII. PAYMENT OF FEES—37 C.F.R. § 42.103 ................................................. 78
`VIII. MANDATORY NOTICES—37 C.F.R § 42.8(a)(1) .................................... 78
`A. Real Party-In-Interest—37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(1) ...................................... 78
`B. Related Matters—37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(2) ............................................... 79
`C. Lead And Back-Up Counsel—37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(3) ........................... 80
`D. Service Information ................................................................................ 80
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ii
`
`

`

`APPLE-1001
`APPLE-1002
`APPLE-1003
`APPLE-1004
`APPLE-1005
`APPLE-1006
`APPLE-1007
`APPLE-1008
`APPLE-1009
`APPLE-1010
`APPLE-1011
`APPLE-1012
`APPLE-1013
`APPLE-1014
`APPLE-1015
`APPLE-1016
`APPLE-1017
`APPLE-1018
`APPLE-1019
`APPLE-1020
`
`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0029IP1
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 10,259,021
`
`EXHIBITS
`
`U.S. Patent No. 10,259,021 to Walter G. Mayfield, et al.
`Excerpts from the Prosecution History of the ’021 patent
`Declaration of Dr. Jeremy Cooperstock
`Reserved
`U.S. Patent Publication No. 2008/0132293 to Gundlach, et al.
`U.S. Patent No. 7,548,040 to Lee, et al.
`Reserved
`U.S. Patent No. 7,631,811 to Brown
`U.S. Patent Publication No. 2009/0124308
`U.S. Patent Publication No. 2008/0012706 to Mak-Fan, et al.
`U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/515,752
`U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/555,310
`U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/561,087
`U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/568,031
`U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/569,093
`U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/576,834
`U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/592,344
`U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/619,229
`U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/661,090
`
`Wireless charging mats and receivers for your iPhone, iPod,
`BlackBerry and other devices, Powermat,
`https://web.archive.org/web/20110103055034/http://www.powe
`rmat.com/
`
`iii
`
`

`

`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0029IP1
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 10,259,021
`
`Palm | HP® Official Store,
`https://web.archive.org/.../http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp
`/shopping/can.do?storeName=accessories&landing=handheld&
`category=categories&subcat1=palm&orderflow=1&sort=top_se
`llers
`Palm Touchstone Kit Review,
`http://www.palminfocenter.com/news/9819/palm-touchstone-
`kit-review/
`U.S. Pat. No. 7,211,986
`U.S. Publication. No. 2008/0085617
`Newton’s Telecom Dictionary (26th Expanded and Updated
`Edition) (excerpt)
`Chambers Dictionary of Science and Technology (excerpt)
`U.S. Publication No. 2008/0152182
`Lecture 10: Magnetic Force; Magnetic Fields; Ampere’s Law,
`Massachusetts Institute of Technology—Department of Physics
`(8.022 Spring 2004)
`U.S. Pat. No. 7,627,289
`U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,790
`
`APPLE-1021
`
`APPLE-1022
`
`APPLE-1023
`APPLE-1024
`APPLE-1025
`
`APPLE-1026
`APPLE-1027
`APPLE-1028
`
`APPLE-1029
`APPLE-1030
`APPLE-1031
`
`APPLE-1032
`
`Inclusive design and human factors: designing mobile phones
`for older users (Vol. 4, No. 3), PsychNology Journal
`Inductive Power Transmission, Wireless Power Consortium,
`https://web.archive.org/...b/20110821051544/http://www.wirele
`sspowerconsortium.com/technology/basic-principle-of-
`inductive-power-transmission.html
`U.S. Publication No. 2011/0151941
`APPLE-1033
`APPLE-1034-1039
`Reserved
`APPLE-1040
`Plantronics Discovery 975—User Guide, Plantronics
`
`iv
`
`

`

`APPLE-1041
`
`APPLE-1042
`APPLE-1043
`APPLE-1044
`APPLE-1045
`
`APPLE-1046
`APPLE-1047
`APPLE-1048
`APPLE-1049
`
`APPLE-1050
`APPLE-1051
`
`APPLE-1052
`APPLE-1053
`APPLE-1054
`
`APPLE-1055
`
`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0029IP1
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 10,259,021
`Plantronics Discovery 975 Storage Case & Charger 79413-02,
`https://web.archive.org/web/20101124231910/https://headsetpl
`us.com/product1200/product_info.html
`U.S. Pat. No. 7,012,802
`U.S. Publication No. 2008/0167088
`U.S. Publication No. 2008/0157110
`Advantages and Weaknesses of LED Application, LEDinside,
`https://web.archive.org/web/20121102080414/https://www.ledi
`nside.com/knowledge/2007/12/Advantages_and_weaknesses_o
`f_LED_Application_200712
`U.S. Publication No. 2007/0135185
`U.S. Pat. No. 7,130,654
`U.S. Publication No. 2008/0132168
`Plastics in Electrical and Electronic Applications, BPF: British
`Plastics Federation,
`https://web.archive.org/web/20110811172429/https://www.bpf.
`co.uk/innovation/plastics_in_electrical_and_electronic_applicat
`ions.aspx
`U.S. Publication No. 2008/0076489 to Rosener, et al.
`Next-Generation Stereo Bluetooth Headsets, TechHive,
`https://www.techhive.com/article/162341/stereo_bluetooth_hea
`dsets.html
`Motorola Elite Sliver—User Guide, Motorola
`U.S. Publication No. 2011/0199727
`Magnetic Closures For Packaging, Adams Magnetic Products,
`https://www.adamsmagnetic.com/blogs/magnet-blog-magnets-
`packaging-closures
`U.S. Pat. No. 3,716,091
`
`v
`
`

`

`APPLE-1056
`
`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0029IP1
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 10,259,021
`MacBook Air shells and sleeves Review, Macworld,
`https://web.archive.org/web/20120403022106/https://www.mac
`world.com/article/1134919/airshellsleeve.html
`
`APPLE-1057
`
`APPLE-1058
`APPLE-1059
`APPLE-1060
`APPLE-1061
`APPLE-1062
`APPLE-1063
`APPLE-1064
`APPLE-1065
`APPLE-1066
`
`Applications for Hall Effect IC Switches in Portable
`Applications, ROHM Semiconductor
`Reserved
`U.S. Patent Publication No. 2007/0145255 to Nishikawa, et al.
`U.S. Patent Publication No. 2011/0167287
`U.S. Patent Publication No. 2008/0168286
`U.S. Patent No. 7,195,362
`U.S. Patent No. 8,064,194
`EP Patent Publication No. 0 517 497
`U.S. Patent Publication No. 2010/0195860
`Plugfones.com,
`https://web.archive.org/web/20110820072700/https://www.plug
`fones.com/
`CES: Hands On with the Kleer Wireless Earbuds, Gadget Lab |
`WIRED,
`https://web.archive.org/web/20140721204820/http://www.wire
`d.com/2007/01/ces_hands_on_wi/
`U.S. Patent Publication No. 2006/0111044
`APPLE-1068
`APPLE-1069-1099
`Reserved
`APPLE-1100
`Complaint for Patent Infringement, GUI Global Products, Ltd.
`D/B/A Gwee v. Apple Inc., Case No. 4:20-cv-02652 (SDTX)
`Complaint for Patent Infringement, GUI Global Products, Ltd.
`D/B/A Gwee v. Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd, et al., Case No.
`4:20-cv-02624 (SDTX)
`
`APPLE-1067
`
`APPLE-1101
`
`vi
`
`

`

`APPLE-1102
`
`APPLE-1103
`
`APPLE-1104
`
`APPLE-1105
`
`APPLE-1106
`
`APPLE-1107
`
`APPLE-1108
`
`APPLE-1109
`
`APPLE-1110
`
`APPLE-1111
`
`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0029IP1
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 10,259,021
`Joint Motion to Consolidate, GUI Global Products, Ltd. D/B/A
`Gwee v. Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd, et al., Case No. 4:20-cv-
`02624 (SDTX)
`Response to Joint Motion to Consolidate, GUI Global
`Products, Ltd. D/B/A Gwee v. Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd, et
`al., Case No. 4:20-cv-02624 (SDTX)
`Order re Joint Motion to Consolidate, GUI Global Products,
`Ltd. D/B/A Gwee v. Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd, et al., Case
`No. 4:20-cv-02624 (SDTX)
`Defendant Apple Inc.’s Motion to Transfer Venue to the
`Northern District of California, GUI Global Products, Ltd.
`D/B/A Gwee v. Apple Inc., Case No. 4:20-cv-02652 (SDTX)
`Defendant Samsung’s Motion to Transfer Venue to the
`Northern District of California, GUI Global Products, Ltd.
`D/B/A Gwee v. Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd, et al., Case No.
`4:20-cv-02624 (SDTX)
`Joint Submission Regarding Agreed and Non-Agreed
`Scheduling Dates, GUI Global Products, Ltd. D/B/A Gwee v.
`Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd, et al., Case No. 4:20-cv-02624
`(SDTX)
`Amended Scheduling Order, GUI Global Products, Ltd. D/B/A
`Gwee v. Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd, et al., Case No. 4:20-cv-
`02624 (SDTX)
`Stipulation by Apple Inc.
`
`Transcript of Discovery Hearing, GUI Global Products, Ltd.
`D/B/A Gwee v. Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd, et al., Case No.
`4:20-cv-02624 (SDTX)
`SDTX 2011 Onward – Time to Milestones Search, Docket
`Navigator
`
`vii
`
`

`

`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0029IP1
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 10,259,021
`
`Apple Inc. (“Petitioner”) petitions for inter partes review (“IPR”) of claims 1,
`
`2, 4-10, 12, 14-17 and 19 (“the Challenged Claims”) of U.S. Patent No. 10,259,021
`
`(“the ’021 patent”).
`
`I.
`
`REQUIREMENTS FOR IPR—37 C.F.R. § 42.104
`A.
`Standing—37 C.F.R. § 42.104(a)
`Petitioner certifies that the ’021 patent is available for IPR and Petitioner is
`
`not barred or estopped from requesting IPR on the grounds identified below.
`
`B.
`The Challenge and Relief Requested—37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)
`Petitioner requests IPR of the Challenged Claims on the grounds listed below.
`
`A declaration from Dr. Jeremy Cooperstock (APPLE-1003) supports this Petition.
`
`Basis for Rejection
`Claims 1, 4-7, 10, 14-16, and 19 are obvious in view of US
`2008/0132293 (“Gundlach”; APPLE-1005) and US 7,548,040
`(“Lee”; APPLE-1006)
`Claims 4 and 14 are obvious in view of Gundlach, Lee, and US
`2007/0145255 (“Nishikawa”; APPLE-1059)
`Claim 10 is obvious in view of Gundlach, Lee, and US
`2008/0076489 (“Rosener”; APPLE-1050)
`Claims 2 and 12 are obvious in view of Gundlach, Lee, and US
`7,631,811 (“Brown”; APPLE-1008)
`Claims 8, 9, and 17 are obvious in view of Gundlach, Lee, and US
`2008/0012706 (“Mak-Fan”; APPLE-1010)
`
`Ground
`1A
`
`1B
`
`1C
`
`1D
`
`1E
`
`
`
`
`
`1
`
`

`

`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0029IP1
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 10,259,021
`As shown below, each reference pre-dates the ’021 patent’s earliest
`
`proclaimed priority date (August 5, 2011; “Critical Date”), which Petitioner does not
`
`concede.
`
`Reference
`Gundlach
`(APPLE-1005)
`Lee
`(APPLE-1006)
`Brown
`(APPLE-1008)
`Nishikawa
`(APPLE-1059)
`Rosener
`(APPLE-1050)
`Mak-Fan
`(APPLE-1010)
`
`Filing
`
`Publication
`
`Status
`
`Sep. 6, 2007
`
`Jun. 5, 2008
`
`§ 102(b)
`
`Jul. 28, 2006
`
`Jun. 16, 2009
`
`§ 102(b)
`
`Oct. 4, 2007 Dec. 15, 2009
`
`§ 102(b)
`
`Dec. 20, 2006
`
`Jun. 28, 2007
`
`§ 102(b)
`
`Aug. 7, 2006 Mar. 27, 2008
`
`§ 102(b)
`
`Jul. 12, 2006
`
`Jan. 17, 2008
`
`§ 102(b)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`2
`
`

`

`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0029IP1
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 10,259,021
`
`II.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE ’021 PATENT
`A. Brief Description
`The ’021 patent traces its lineage back to the disclosures of nine provisional
`
`applications filed between August 2011 and June 2012.
`
`Eight of those provisional applications (yellow, below) are directed to various
`
`embodiments of a device for cleaning the view screens of portable electronic
`
`devices. (See APPLE-1011-APPLE-1019.) Such a device is described in the
`
`provisionals and the ’021 patent as a “cleaning device.” (E.g., APPLE-1001, 3:54-
`
`63.)
`
`
`
`3
`
`

`

`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0029IP1
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 10,259,021
`The single remaining provisional application in the ’021 patent’s priority
`
`chain (green, above) discloses various embodiments of a “switching device” for
`
`activating and deactivating the magnetic switch of a portable electronic device. (See
`
`APPLE-1016, p.8 (“The invention relates to an apparatus for activating a magnetic
`
`switch.”).) This “switching device” provisional disclosure is what most closely
`
`resembles the claimed subject matter of the ’021 patent, despite the misnomer title
`
`“APPARATUS FOR CLEANING VIEW SCREENS AND LENSES AND METHOD FOR THE USE
`
`THEREOF.” (See APPLE-1001, 21:37-39 (“What is claimed is: 1. A system
`
`comprising: a portable switching device…).)
`
`The ’021 patent’s SUMMARY references “a switching device for use with a
`
`portable electronic device having…at least one switch that can be activated or de-
`
`activated.” (APPLE-1001, 3:64-4:3; APPLE-1003, ¶¶21-25.) As one example, the
`
`switch of the portable electronic device can be activated/deactivated “by introducing
`
`a magnetic field to the at least one switch” via a magnet in the switching device.
`
`(Id.) Figure 24 (below) is a front view of a switching device 2401 and a portable
`
`electronic device 2402 discussed in the ’021 patent’s DETAILED DESCRIPTION.
`
`(APPLE-1001, 18:5-31.)
`
`4
`
`

`

`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0029IP1
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 10,259,021
`
`
`
`As shown, the switching device 2401 “is selectively coupled to the front of the
`
`portable electronic device 2402.” (Id., 18:6-9.) And consistent with the above-
`
`discussed example in the SUMMARY, the electronic device 2402 includes a magnetic
`
`switch 2404 activated/deactivated by applying the switching device 2401 either
`
`“directly to the magnetic switch or [] to either side of the switch and then slid past
`
`it.” (Id., 18:9-18; see also 17:54-58, 20:14-16 (“The switching devices have a
`
`functionality of being able to activ[ate] magnetic switches on devices having such
`
`switches.”).) In one embodiment, activation/deactivation of the switch causes the
`
`device to turn on/off. (Id., 17:54-58.)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`5
`
`

`

`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0029IP1
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 10,259,021
`
`B. Claimed Subject Matter
`As noted above, the ’021 patent’s claims are directed to a “system”
`
`comprising a “portable switching device coupled to a portable electronic device.”
`
`As recited in Claim 1, “[a] first case [of the switching device] functions to protect
`
`[a] second case [of the electronic device].” And Claim 1 also specifies, inter alia,
`
`that “the portable switching device is configured to activate, deactivate, or send into
`
`hibernation the portable electronic device.” Claim 10 then further narrows Claim 1
`
`to a specific configuration where “the electronic device is wireless earplugs.”
`
`Claim 10 therefore implicates a protective case (switching device) for wireless
`
`earplugs (electronic device), where the case is configured to activate/deactivate the
`
`earplugs. But the ’021 patent does not describe, or even suggest, such an
`
`embodiment. And it appears Patent Owner only attempted to pursue claims to a case
`
`for earplugs after Petitioner’s Apple AirPods—the product line named in Patent
`
`Owner’s
`
`infringement allegations 1 —popularized “true wireless earbuds.”
`
`Regardless, the aspects of a protective earplugs case recited in the ’021 patent’s
`
`Challenged Claims were already known to those of skill in the pre-existing wireless
`
`headset art, as detailed below in Section V with reference to Gundlach, Lee, and
`
`other complementary publications.
`
`
`
`
`1 See generally APPLE-1100, ¶¶76-105.
`
`6
`
`

`

`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0029IP1
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 10,259,021
`
`C.
`Prosecution History
`The ’021 patent was filed on December 22, 2017 as U.S. Appl. No.
`
`15/852,000 (“the ’000 application”). (APPLE-1002, p.163.) The ’000 application’s
`
`original claims were initially rejected as either anticipated or rendered obvious by
`
`prior art in a First Office Action dated January 2, 2019. (Id., pp.81-88.) The
`
`Applicant responded to the rejection by conducting an interview with the Examiner,
`
`where claim amendments were discussed and agreed upon. (Id., p.29) The next
`
`action from the Office was a Notice of Allowance including an Examiner’s
`
`amendment adding the following language to Claim 1: “the portable switching
`
`device is configured to activate, deactivate or send into hibernation the portable
`
`electronic device” (Element [1g] infra in Section V). (Id., pp.21-28.) As detailed
`
`below with reference to the Gundlach-Lee combination, the Examiner was mistaken
`
`to conclude that the prior art “neither anticipates nor renders obvious” this added
`
`claim feature. (Id., p.27.)
`
`III. LEVEL OF ORDINARY SKILL
`A person of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the ’021 patent (a
`
`“POSITA”) would have had at least a Bachelor’s degree in an academic area
`
`emphasizing electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or a similar discipline,
`
`and at least two years of experience in the field working with electronic devices.
`
`(APPLE-1003, ¶20.) Superior education could compensate for a deficiency in work
`
`7
`
`

`

`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0029IP1
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 10,259,021
`
`experience, and vice-versa. Id.
`
`IV. CLAIM CONSTRUCTION
`Based on the well-established principal that “claim terms need only be
`
`construed to the extent necessary to resolve the controversy,” no express
`
`constructions are required to institute review and find the Challenged Claims
`
`unpatentable. Wellman, Inc. v. Eastman Chem. Co., 642 F.3d 1355, 1361 (Fed. Cir.
`
`2011). As discussed throughout Section V, the Challenged Claims are obvious under
`
`any reasonable interpretation.
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`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0029IP1
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 10,259,021
`V. THE CHALLENGED CLAIMS ARE UNPATENTABLE
`A. GROUND 1A—Gundlach and Lee render claims 1, 4-7, 10,
`14-16, and 19 obvious.
`1. Overview of Gundlach
`Gundlach’s disclosure—entitled “WIRELESS HEADSET”—includes a variety of
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`embodiments consistent with the theme of an expandable/collapsible wireless
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`headset having a “relatively thin shape [that] may allow the headset to be stored and
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`charged in a portable cradle,” such as “a holder, clip, case or card.” (APPLE-1005,
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`[0003], [0005], [0055-0056]; APPLE-1003, ¶¶26-30.)
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`Gundlach describes the basic components of its wireless headset with
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`reference to a schematic view provided in Figure 1 (below). (See APPLE-1005,
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`[0058].) Gundlach’s wireless headset 100 includes a housing 101 for supporting
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`various functional components, including a microphone 102 and a speaker 105
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`directing sound through an earpiece 104. (Id.)
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`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0029IP1
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 10,259,021
`The housing 101 further supports “a transceiver 106 for sending and receiving
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`information 108 from a host device 110, such as a computer, a cell phone or a media
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`player,” and a power source 111 in the form of a rechargeable battery. (Id.)
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`Gundlach’s Figures 2a-2d (below) provide perspective, front, bottom, and top
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`views of a wireless headset 200, highlighting its compact design.
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`Figures 3a-3b (below) illustrate expanded and collapsed states of Gundlach’s
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`wireless headset 300. (APPLE-1005, [0055-0056], [0060].)
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`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0029IP1
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 10,259,021
`Gundlach’s disclosure is expansive on the topic of “storage,” noting broadly
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`at the outset that the wireless headset can be “stored and charged in a portable
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`cradle,” such as “a holder, clip, case or card.” (APPLE-1005, [0056].) Gundlach
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`then goes on to illustrate and describe a variety of exemplary cradle designs with
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`embedded magnets and/or mechanical elements for retaining a wireless headset.
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`(E.g., id., [0068], [0073], [0075], Figures 10a-19b.) As one example, in Figures 18a-
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`18b (below) the “portable cradle” is a clamshell case 1860 that retains the wireless
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`headset 1800 within a contoured recess 1846 in one of two opposing lids. (Id.,
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`[0080].)
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`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0029IP1
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 10,259,021
`
`2. Overview of Lee
`Lee is entitled “WIRELESS BATTERY CHARGING OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES
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`SUCH AS WIRELESS HEADSETS/HEADPHONES.” Similar to Gundlach, and as its title
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`suggests, Lee “relates to wireless battery charging of wireless headphones/headsets.”
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`(APPLE-1006, 3:21-22, 1:14-29; APPLE-1003, ¶¶31-34.) And while Gundlach was
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`more concerned with the physical form factor of the wireless headset and charging
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`case, Lee sought improvements relating to energy transfer. (Id., 1:62-2:2, 3:17-20.)
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`The basic paradigm of Lee’s solution is illustrated in Figures 5 and 18 (below),
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`where “[t]he power source 200 provides energy via a conductive means 202 to a
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`power adapter 201,” and “[t]he power adapter 201 provides power to the wireless
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`headphone/headset apparatus 204 via non-conductive means 203, typically inductive
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`coupling.” (APPLE-1006, 3:32-37.) Notably, and consistent with Gundlach, Lee’s
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`“power adapter” is illustrated in certain embodiments with the physical form factor
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`of a protective charging case. (Id., 6:31-38.)
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`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0029IP1
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 10,259,021
`Lee provides more detail about the disclosed inductive charging solution with
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`reference to Figure 12 (below). As shown, energy transferred to the headset
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`apparatus 460 is received by an energy collection element 465 via inductive coupling
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`461. (APPLE-1006, 4:51-57.) Energy received by collection element 465 is
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`converted from AC voltage to DC voltage by rectifier 464 and filtered using an
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`energy storage capacitor 469 en route to a battery charging circuit 462 that provides
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`the proper voltage to the battery 463. (Id., 4:59-5:66.)
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`Recognizing that “audio distortion” may occur when the energy collection
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`element 465, a speaker transducer coil, is connected to the above-discussed charging
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`components, Lee provides an isolation switch 470. (APPLE-1006, 5:12-26.)
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`Closing switch 470 places the headset apparatus 460 in a “charging mode” and
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`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0029IP1
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 10,259,021
`opening switch 470 places headset apparatus 460 in a “non-charging mode.” (Id.)
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`Operation of switch 470 occurs either automatically when the power adapter is
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`“sense[d]” near the headset apparatus 460, or in response to a wireless control signal
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`from the power adapter. (Id., 5:30-40.)
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`3.
`The Gundlach-Lee Combination
`Gundlach teaches a variety of embodiments featuring “a wireless mono or
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`stereo headset” that is “stored and charged” in a “portable cradle,” such as “a holder,
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`clip case or card.” (APPLE-1005, [0055].) But beyond noting that “[t]he case may
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`contain…charging circuitry” and “electrical contacts,” Gundlach is largely
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`unconcerned with the implementation details of charging the wireless headset.
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`(APPLE-1005, [0069] (electrical contacts), [0073] (electrical contacts), [0079]
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`(electrical contacts) [0080] (charging circuitry); APPLE-1003, ¶35.) For example,
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`although a POSITA would have found it obvious that Gundlach’s wireless headset
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`includes “an electronic circuit that is responsive to the” portable cradle ([1d]),
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`Gundlach does not expressly describe the manner in which the headset’s “charging
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`circuitry” responds when placed in the cradle for charging.
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`A POSITA considering Gundlach, and noting its limited disclosure on
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`charging, would have seen a need for elaboration and description of design options.
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`(APPLE-1003, ¶35.) In seeking a supplement to Gundlach, the POSITA would have
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`encountered Lee’s disclosure on charging in the familiar context of wireless
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`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0029IP1
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 10,259,021
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`headsets. (Id.)
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`Like Gundlach, Lee also discloses multiple embodiments for storing and
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`charging a wireless headset in a protective case. (E.g., APPLE-1006, 3:32-37, 3:50-
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`62, 6:31-38.) Although otherwise similar, one notable distinction between Gundlach
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`and Lee is the technology used to effect charging. (APPLE-1003, ¶¶36-37.) The
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`embodiments described in Gundlach include electrical contacts for conductive
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`charging, while Lee’s charging case and headset employ inductive charging.
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`(Compare APPLE-1005, [0066], [0069], [0073], [0079] with APPLE-1006, 3:32-37,
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`3:50-62, 4:11-5:40.) A POSITA motivated to combine Gundlach and Lee (for at
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`least the reasons below) would have done so by exchanging the conductive charging
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`components hinted at by Gundlach with the more thoroughly explained inductive
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`charging components of Lee. (APPLE-1003, ¶37.) These modifications would have
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`been well within a POSITA’s skill. (Id., ¶38.)
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`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0029IP1
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 10,259,021
`The resulting Gundlach-Lee combination (diagrammed above2) would facilitate
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`inductive charging in the manner described by Lee. (APPLE-1003, ¶39.) As
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`discussed (see Section V.A.2), when the isolation switch (Lee’s element 470) is
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`closed, the battery charging circuit (Lee’s element 462) in the headset is activated to
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`provide energy to the battery at the proper voltage for charging (Lee’s element 463).
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`(Id.)
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`A POSITA would have been amply motivated to pursue the above-discussed
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`Gundlach-Lee combination. First, a POSITA would have recognized inductive
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`charging as a suitable alternative to conductive charging that was known to produce
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`similar results. (APPLE-1003, ¶¶40-41 (citing APPLE-1020; APPLE-1021,
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`APPLE-1022).) The routine design process of a POSITA developing a headset and
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`charging case in view of Gundlach would have, therefore, contemplated an inductive
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`charging solution like Lee’s. (Id.)
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`Second, given Gundlach and Lee’s clear similarities—i.e., both disclose a
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`charging case for a wireless headset—a POSITA would have appreciated that the
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`benefits of inductive charging disclosed by Lee, such as enhanced reliability, would
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`apply to Gundlach’s embodiments. (APPLE-1003, ¶¶42-43 (citing APPLE-1006,
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`2 Petitioner provides this visual aid for the Board’s convenience. In doing so,
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`Petitioner does not intend to represent a bodily incorporation of Lee with Gundlach.
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`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0029IP1
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 10,259,021
`1:62-2:2 (noting that exposed electrical connectors “increase the risk of
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`failure...caused by fatigue and corrosion”); APPLE-1023).)
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`Third, a POSITA would have appreciated that Lee’s inductive charging
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`solution was consistent with Gundlach’s goal of providing a compact form factor.
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`(APPLE-1003, ¶44 (citing APPLE-1005, [0056-0057] (noting the headset’s
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`“relatively thin shape”)).) Lee, for example, utilized a single coil for both audio
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`transmission and inductive charging, which avoided unnecessary bulk and achieved
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`“a reduction of size and weight.” (Id. (citing APPLE-1006, 2:62-66, 4:55-57, Figure
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`12; APPLE-1029).)
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`Fourth, a POSITA would have viewed Lee’s inductive charging solution as
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`providing yet another advantage to Gundlach’s wireless headset—i.e., charger
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`interoperability absent the added bulk of a standardized connection (e.g., USB).
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`(APPLE-1003, ¶45 (citing APPLE-1005, [0066]; APPLE-1006, Figures 16, 18, 19).)
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`By employing Lee’s space-efficient dual-purpose coil for inductive charging in the
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`context of Gundlach, the wireless headset could be recharged using other types of
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`chargers (e.g., a charging pad) beyond the clamshell case without the size penalty of
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`additional hardware. (Id.)
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`This predictable combination of Gundlach and Lee renders obvious each and
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`every feature of the ’021 patent’s claims 1, 4-7, 10, 14-16, and 19. While Gundlach
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`may be invalidating on its own, a POSITA would have been motivated to incorporate
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`17
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`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0029IP1
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 10,259,021
`Lee’s related teachings