`
`
`
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`____________
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`____________
`
`
`
`
`
`SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. AND DELL TECHNOLOGIES INC.
`Petitioners
`
`v.
`
`MYPAQ HOLDINGS LTD.
`Patent Owner
`____________
`
`Case No. IPR2022-00311
`Patent 8,477,514
`____________
`
`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW OF
`U.S. PATENT NO. 8,477,514
`
`
`
`
`

`

`Petition for IPR of USP 8,477,514
`
`
`
`
`I.
`
`II.
`
`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`
`MANDATORY NOTICES ............................................................................ 1
`
`STANDING AND FEES................................................................................ 3
`
`III.
`
`OVERVIEW OF THE ’514 PATENT ........................................................... 3
`
`A. Subject Matter ............................................................................................ 3
`
`B. Prosecution History .................................................................................... 5
`
`IV.
`
`SUMMARY OF PRIOR ART ....................................................................... 6
`
`A. Chagny (EX1004) ...................................................................................... 6
`
`B. Hwang (EX1006) ....................................................................................... 7
`
`V.
`
`VI.
`
`SUMMARY OF GROUNDS ......................................................................... 8
`
`LEVEL OF ORDINARY SKILL ................................................................... 9
`
`VII. CLAIM CONSTRUCTION ........................................................................... 9
`
`VIII.
`
`INSTITUTION IS PROPER .......................................................................... 9
`
`A. Institution is Proper Under 35 U.S.C. § 314(a) ......................................... 9
`
`B. Institution is Proper Under 35 U.S.C. § 325 (d) ......................................12
`
`IX. GROUND 1A: Chagny Anticipates Claims 1-12, 14-17, and 19-20 ...........13
`
`A. Claim 1 .....................................................................................................13
`
`B. Claim 2 .....................................................................................................20
`
`C. Claim 3 .....................................................................................................22
`
`D. Claim 4 .....................................................................................................23
`
`E. Claim 5 .....................................................................................................24
`
`F. Claim 6 .....................................................................................................24
`
`G. Claim 7 .....................................................................................................28
`
`H. Claim 8 .....................................................................................................28
`
`I. Claim 9 .....................................................................................................28
`
`J. Claim 10 ...................................................................................................29
`
`K. Claim 11 ...................................................................................................29
`
`L. Claim 12 ...................................................................................................36
`
`M. Claim 14 ...................................................................................................37
`
`N. Claim 15 ...................................................................................................37
`
`i
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`

`

`Petition for IPR of USP 8,477,514
`
`
`
`
`O. Claim 16 ...................................................................................................38
`
`P. Claim 17 ...................................................................................................39
`
`Q. Claim 19 ...................................................................................................39
`
`R. Claim 20 ...................................................................................................39
`
`X.
`
`GROUND 1B: Chagny in View of the Knowledge of POSITA
`Renders Obvious Claims 1-20 ......................................................................40
`
`A. Claims 1-5 ................................................................................................40
`
`B. Claims 6-12 and 14-15 .............................................................................40
`
`C. Claims 11-12, 14-17, 19-20 .....................................................................42
`
`D. Claims 13 and 18 ......................................................................................43
`
`XI. GROUND 2A: Hwang Anticipates Claims 1-10, 16-17, and 19-20 ............45
`
`A. Claim 1 .....................................................................................................45
`
`B. Claim 2 .....................................................................................................50
`
`C. Claim 3 .....................................................................................................54
`
`D. Claim 4 .....................................................................................................55
`
`E. Claim 5 .....................................................................................................56
`
`F. Claim 6 .....................................................................................................56
`
`G. Claim 7 .....................................................................................................60
`
`H. Claim 8 .....................................................................................................61
`
`I. Claim 9 .....................................................................................................61
`
`J. Claim 10 ...................................................................................................61
`
`K. Claim 16 ...................................................................................................61
`
`L. Claim 17 ...................................................................................................68
`
`M. Claim 19 ...................................................................................................69
`
`N. Claim 20 ...................................................................................................69
`
`XII. GROUND 2B: Hwang in view of Chagny Renders Obvious Claims
`11-12, 14-17, and 19-20 ...............................................................................69
`
`A. Motivation to Combine ............................................................................69
`
`B. Claim 11 ...................................................................................................72
`
`C. Claim 12 ...................................................................................................80
`
`D. Claim 14 ...................................................................................................81
`
`ii
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`

`

`Petition for IPR of USP 8,477,514
`
`
`
`
`E. Claim 15 ...................................................................................................81
`
`F. Claims 16-17 and 19-20 ...........................................................................81
`
`XIII. GROUND 2C: Hwang in view of the knowledge of a POSITA
`Renders Obvious Claim 18 ..........................................................................82
`
`A. Claim 18 ...................................................................................................82
`
`XIV. GROUND 2D: Hwang in view of Chagny and the Knowledge of a
`POSITA Renders Obvious Claims 13 and 18 ..............................................84
`
`A. Claims 13 and 18 ......................................................................................84
`
`XV. CONCLUSION ............................................................................................84
`
`iii
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`

`

`
`
`
`
`
`Petition for IPR of USP 8,477,514
`
`LIST OF EXHIBITS
`
`1001
`
`U.S. Patent No. 8,477,514 by Artusi et al. (“the ’514 Patent”)
`
`1002
`
`Expert Declaration of Dr. Sayfe Kiaei
`
`1003
`
`Excerpts of the ’514 Patent File History
`
`1004
`
`U.S. Patent No. 6,873,136 to Chagny (“Chagny”)
`
`1005
`
`Reserved
`
`1006
`
`U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0174152 to Hwang et al.
`(“Hwang”)
`
`1007
`
`U.S. Patent No. 6,748,545 to Helms (“Helms”)
`
`1008
`
`Comparisons of Claims 11-15 to 16-20 of the ’514 Patent
`
`1009
`
`1010
`
`1011
`
`1012
`
`1013
`
`1014
`
`1015
`
`Ned Mohan et al., Power Electronics: Converters, Applications, and
`Design (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 2d Ed. 1995)
`
`MyPAQ’s Preliminary Infringement Contentions, Exhibit 16, served
`in MyPAQ Holdings, Ltd. v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al.,
`6:21-CV-398-ADA
`
`MyPAQ’s Preliminary Infringement Contentions, Exhibit 21, served
`in MyPAQ Holdings, Ltd. v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al.,
`6:21-CV-398-ADA
`
`Alan Grebene, Bipolar and MOS Analog Integrated Circuit Design
`(John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1984) (“Grebene”)
`
`MyPAQ’s Preliminary Infringement Contentions, served in MyPAQ
`Holdings, Ltd. v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al., 6:21-CV-398-
`ADA
`
`MyPAQ Holdings Ltd. v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al., No. 21-
`cv-00398, Dkt. 40 (W.D. Tex. Nov. 29, 2021) (“Scheduling Order”)
`
`S.A. Money, Microprocessor Data Book (Academic Press, Inc., 2nd ed.
`1990)
`
`iv
`
`

`

`
`
`
`1016
`
`1017
`
`1018
`
`Petition for IPR of USP 8,477,514
`
`MyPAQ’s Preliminary Infringement Contentions, served in MyPAQ
`Holdings, Ltd. v. Dell Technologies Inc. et al., 6:21-CV-933-ADA
`
`MyPAQ’s Preliminary Infringement Contentions, Exhibit 5, served in
`MyPAQ Holdings, Ltd. v. Dell Technologies Inc. et al., 6:21-CV-933-
`ADA
`
`MyPAQ’s Preliminary Infringement Contentions, Exhibit 7, served in
`MyPAQ Holdings, Ltd. v. Dell Technologies Inc. et al., 6:21-CV-933-
`ADA
`
`Citations to exhibits including patents and patent applications reference original
`
`page, column, paragraph, or line numbers found in the underlying document.
`
`Citations to other exhibits refer to exhibit page numbering.
`
`
`
`
`
`v
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`

`

`
`
`
`Claim 1:
`
`Petition for IPR of USP 8,477,514
`
`LIST OF CLAIMS
`
`1[pre] A power converter coupled to a load, comprising:
`a power switch configured to conduct for a duty cycle to provide an
`1[a]
`output characteristic at an output thereof; and
`a power converter controller configured to receive a signal from said load
`indicating a system operational state of said load and
`control an internal operating characteristic of said power converter as a
`function of said signal.
`
`1[b]
`
`1[c]
`
`Claim 2:
`
`2
`
`Claim 3:
`
`3
`
`Claim 4:
`
`4
`
`Claim 5:
`
`5
`
`The power converter as recited in claim 1 wherein said power converter
`controller is further configured to provide another signal to control said
`duty cycle of said power switch as a function of said output characteristic
`and in accordance with said signal.
`
`The power converter as recited in claim 1 wherein said power converter
`controller is configured to adjust said internal operating characteristic
`over a period of time.
`
`The power converter as recited in claim 1 wherein said load is a
`processor and said system operational state is dependent on one of a core
`state and a performance state of said processor.
`
`The power converter as recited in claim 1 wherein said internal operating
`characteristic is selected from the group consisting of: a gate drive
`voltage level of said power switch of said power converter, a switching
`frequency of said power converter, and an internal direct current bus
`voltage of said power converter.
`
`vi
`
`

`

`
`
`Claim 6:
`
`Petition for IPR of USP 8,477,514
`
`6[b]
`6[c]
`
`6[pre] A power system, comprising:
`a power system controller configured to provide a signal characterizing
`6[a]
`a power requirement of a processor system; and
`a power converter coupled to said processor system, comprising:
`a power switch configured to conduct for a duty cycle to provide an
`output characteristic at an output thereof, and
`a power converter controller configured to receive a signal from said
`power system controller to control an internal operating characteristic of
`said power converter as a function of said signal.
`
`6[d]
`
`Claim 7:
`
`7
`
`Claim 8:
`
`8
`
`Claim 9:
`
`9
`
`The power system as recited in claim 6 wherein said power converter
`controller is further configured to provide another signal to control said
`duty cycle of said power switch as a function of said output characteristic
`and in accordance with said signal.
`
`The power system as recited in claim 6 wherein said power converter
`controller is configured to adjust said internal operating characteristic
`over a period of time.
`
`The power system as recited in claim 6 wherein said power requirement
`of a processor system is dependent on one of a core state and a
`performance state of said processor system.
`
`Claim 10:
`
`10
`
`The power system as recited in claim 6 wherein said internal operating
`characteristic is selected from the group consisting of: a gate drive
`voltage level of said power switch of said power converter, a switching
`frequency of said power converter, and an internal direct current bus
`voltage of said power converter.
`
`vii
`
`

`

`
`
`Claim 11:
`
`Petition for IPR of USP 8,477,514
`
`11[b]
`
`11[c]
`
`11[pre] A power system, comprising:
`a power system controller configured to enable operation of
`11[a]
`components of a processor system to establish a state of power drain
`thereof,
`said power system controller configured to provide a signal to identify
`operation of said processor system in said state of power drain; and
`a power converter, coupled to said processor system, comprising a
`power converter controller configured to receive said signal from said
`power system controller, to sense a power level of said state of power
`drain in response to said signal, and
`to control an internal operating characteristic of said power converter
`as a function of said power level.
`
`11[d]
`
`Claim 12:
`
`12[pre] The power system as recited in claim 11
`wherein said power converter further comprises a power switch
`12[a]
`configured to conduct for a duty cycle to provide an output characteristic
`at an output thereof,
`said power converter controller further configured to control said duty
`cycle of said power switch dependent on said output characteristic and
`in accordance with said power level.
`
`12[b]
`
`Claim 13:
`
`13
`
`The power system as recited in claim 11 wherein said signal is provided
`upon startup of said processor system.
`
`Claim 14:
`
`The power system as recited in claim 11 wherein said power converter
`controller is configured to adjust said internal operating characteristic
`over a period of time.
`
`14
`
`
`
`
`
`viii
`
`

`

`
`
`Claim 15:
`
`Petition for IPR of USP 8,477,514
`
`15
`
`The power system as recited in claim 11 wherein said internal operating
`characteristic is selected from the group consisting of:
`a gate drive voltage level of a power switch of said power converter,
`a switching frequency of said power converter, and
`an internal direct current bus voltage of said power converter.
`
`Claim 16:
`
`16[b]
`
`16[pre] A method of operating a power system, comprising:
`enabling operation of components of a processor system to establish a
`16[a]
`state of power drain thereof;
`providing a signal to identify operation of said processor system in said
`state of power drain;
`sensing a power level of said state of power drain in response to said
`signal; and
`controlling an internal operating characteristic of a power converter as a
`function of said power level.
`
`16[c]
`
`16[d]
`
`Claim 17:
`
`17[pre] The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising:
`inducing a power switch of said power converter to conduct for a duty
`17[a]
`cycle to provide an output characteristic at an output thereof; and
`controlling said duty cycle of said power switch dependent on said
`output characteristic and in accordance with said power level.
`
`17[b]
`
`Claim 18:
`
`18
`
`The method as recited in claim 16 wherein said signal is provided upon
`startup of said processor system.
`
`Claim 19:
`
`The method as recited in claim 16 wherein said controlling said internal
`operating characteristic comprises occurs over a period of time.
`
`19
`
`
`
`ix
`
`

`

`
`
`Claim 20:
`
`Petition for IPR of USP 8,477,514
`
`20
`
`The method as recited in claim 16 wherein said internal operating
`characteristic is selected from the group consisting of:
`a gate drive voltage level of a power switch of said power converter,
`a switching frequency of said power converter, and
`an internal direct current bus voltage of said power converter.
`
`x
`
`

`

`
`
`I. MANDATORY NOTICES
`
`Petition for IPR of USP 8,477,514
`
`Real Party in Interest: The real parties in interest include Samsung Electronics
`
`Co., Ltd. (“Samsung”) and Dell Technologies Inc. (“Dell”), (collectively
`
`“Petitioners”). The real parties in interest further include Samsung Electronics
`
`America, Inc., Samsung Semiconductor, Inc., and Samsung Austin Semiconductor,
`
`LLC, as well as Dell Inc.
`
`Related Matters: The ’514 Patent is currently asserted by Patent Owner
`
`against Samsung in the case styled: MyPAQ Holdings Ltd. v. Samsung Electronics
`
`Co., Ltd., 6:21-CV-00398 (W.D. Tex.) (“Samsung Litigation”), which was
`
`originally filed on April 23, 2021. The ’514 Patent is also currently asserted by
`
`Patent Owner against Dell in the case styled: MyPAQ Holdings Ltd. v. Dell
`
`Technologies Inc., 6:21-CV-00933 (W.D. Tex.) (“Dell Litigation”).
`
`Petitioners are also concurrently filing a Petition for IPR against another
`
`patent held by PO, which is related to the ’514 Patent: IPR2022-00312 against U.S.
`
`Patent No. 7,675,759. The ’514 Patent is a continuation of an intervening
`
`continuation-in-part that claims priority to the ’759 Patent. See EX1001. In
`
`addition, Samsung filed Petitions for IPR against two other patents held by PO,
`
`including: IPR2022-00307 against U.S. Patent No. 7,403,399; and IPR2022-00308
`
`against U.S. Pat. No. 7,978,489.
`
`Lead Counsel and Back-Up Counsel: Petitioners designate lead and back-up
`
`1
`
`

`

`
`
`counsel as noted below. A Power of Attorney is filed concurrently herewith under
`
`Petition for IPR of USP 8,477,514
`
`37 C.F.R. § 42.10(b).
`
`LEAD COUNSEL
`
`Eliot D. Williams, Reg. No. 50,822
`Baker Botts L.L.P.
`1001 Page Mill Road Building One
`Suite 200
`Palo Alto, California 94304-1007
`Phone: 650.739.7511
`Fax: 650.739.7611
`eliot.williams@bakerbotts.com
`
`
`BACK-UP COUNSEL
`(for Samsung)
`
`Neil Sirota, Reg. No. 38,306
`Baker Botts L.L.P.
`30 Rockefeller Plaza, Ste 4340
`New York, NY 10112-4498
`Phone: 212.408.2548
`Fax: 212.259.2548
`neil.sirota@bakerbotts.com
`
`Brett Thompsen, Reg. No. 69,985
`Baker Botts L.L.P.
`98 San Jacinto Blvd., Suite 1500
`Austin, Texas 78701-4078
`Phone: 512.322.5463
`Fax: 512.322.3663
`brett.thompsen@bakerbotts.com
`
`Frank Zhu, Reg. No. 71,214
`Baker Botts L.L.P.
`30 Rockefeller Plaza, Ste 4340
`New York, NY 10112-4498
`Phone: 212.408.2639
`Fax: 212.259.2439
`frank.zhu@bakerbotts.com
`
`(for Dell)
`
`Paula Heyman, Reg. No. 48,363
`Baker Botts L.L.P.
`98 San Jacinto Blvd., Suite 1500
`Austin, Texas 78701-4078
`Phone: 512.322.2555
`Fax: 512.322.3610
`paula.heyman@bakerbotts.com
`
`
`
`2
`
`

`

`Petition for IPR of USP 8,477,514
`
`
`
`
`Service Information: Correspondence to lead and back-up counsel can be
`
`provided at the postal and electronic addresses above. Petitioners also consent to
`
`service by electronic mail at DLSamsung514IPR@BakerBotts.com and
`
`DLDell514IPR@BakerBotts.com.
`
`II.
`
`STANDING AND FEES
`
`Standing: Petitioners certify under 37 C.F.R. § 42.104(a) that the ’514 Patent
`
`is eligible for inter partes review and that Petitioners are not barred or estopped from
`
`requesting inter partes review on the grounds set forth herein.
`
`Fees: The Office is authorized to charge the fee set forth in 37 C.F.R.
`
`§ 42.15(a) to Deposit Account No. 02-4377 and any additional fees that might be
`
`due in connection with this Petition.
`
`III. OVERVIEW OF THE ’514 PATENT
`
`A.
`
`Subject Matter
`
`The ’514 Patent involves power converters, which may convert an input
`
`voltage into an output voltage. EX1001, 2:42-45. Figure 2 illustrates an example
`
`“buck” power converter:
`
`3
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`

`

`
`
`
`Petition for IPR of USP 8,477,514
`
`
`
`EX1001, Fig. 2. The main power switch Qmain and auxiliary power switch Qaux are
`
`turned on and off by drive signal D and complementary drive signal 1-D respectively.
`
`Id., 10:56-11:6. When Qmain is turned on, Qaux is turned off, and vice versa. As
`
`known in the art, and explained in the ’514 Patent background, the duty cycle of the
`
`switches (i.e., ratio of on-time to the total switching period) in a power converter can
`
`be adjusted to regulate the output voltage Vout of the power converter. Id., 2:57-
`
`3:9, 11:15-18; EX1002,¶38.
`
`The ’514 Patent purports to improve power converters by using an “adaptive
`
`controller.” EX1001, Abstract. The ’514 Patent acknowledges that it was “well
`
`known” to control output characteristics (e.g., the output voltage) of a converter
`
`based on the needs of a microprocessor coupled to the output. Id., 4:63-5:4. But,
`
`the ’514 Patent purports to improve upon the prior art by adjusting an internal
`
`operating characteristic of the power converter based on a signal from an external
`
`4
`
`

`

`
`
`source. Id., 6:36-44. For example, when a load such as a microprocessor goes into
`
`Petition for IPR of USP 8,477,514
`
`a low-power system operational state (e.g., a standby mode), the microprocessor
`
`may signal the power converter to adjust its internal operating characteristics (e.g.,
`
`switching frequency) to improve the efficiency of the power converter during such
`
`times of low demand from the load.
`
`
`
`However, as shown herein, power converters capable of adjusting internal
`
`operating characteristics (e.g., switching frequency) to improve efficiency based on
`
`the state of the load were well known before the ’514 Patent. EX1002,¶¶39-40.
`
`B.
`
`Prosecution History
`
`U.S. Patent Application No. 12/709,795 was filed on February 22, 2010, as a
`
`continuation of application No. 12/051,334 filed on March 19, 2008. See EX1001.
`
`In a March 18, 2011 office action, the Examiner rejected all pending claims
`
`based on anticipation and obviousness grounds. EX1003, 83-90. In response,
`
`Applicant distinguished the prior art asserted by the Examiner for failure to disclose
`
`a power converter controller “configured to be responsive to an externally generated
`
`signal from the power converter.” Id., 76. Thereafter, the Examiner issued a Notice
`
`of Allowance.
`
`But, as described herein, Examiner failed to consider any of the prior art
`
`references cited herein, each disclosing a power converter controller responsive to
`
`an external signal.
`
`5
`
`

`

`
`
`IV. SUMMARY OF PRIOR ART
`
`Petition for IPR of USP 8,477,514
`
`The ’514 Patent claims priority to December 1, 2006, and thus is subject to
`
`the pre-AIA provisions of 35 U.S.C. §§ 102 and 103. Petitioners reserve the right
`
`to challenge whether the claims of the ’514 are entitled to the claimed December 1,
`
`2006 priority date. However, each prior art reference relied upon in this Petition is
`
`prior art to the ’514 Patent regardless of the claimed December 1, 2006 priority date.
`
`Neither Chagny nor Hwang described below were considered during
`
`examination of the ’514 Patent.
`
`A. Chagny (EX1004)
`
`Chagny (U.S. Patent 6,873,136) issued on March 29, 2005. EX1004. Chagny
`
`is prior art under 35 U.S.C. §§ 102(a) and (b).
`
`Chagny discloses a voltage regulator module (VRM) 200 (i.e., a power
`
`converter) that provides a “regulated DC voltage output 295” to processor 292.
`
`EX1004, 3:52-58.
`
`6
`
`

`

`
`
`
`Petition for IPR of USP 8,477,514
`
`EX1004, Fig. 2A. Changny’s controller module 210 receives an activity input 202,
`
`which is generated outside of VRM 200 and indicates the processor’s activity level.
`
`Id., 3:60-65. The switching frequency of VRM 200 changes according to activity
`
`input 202. Id., 5:9-12. By selecting a low switching frequency during periods of
`
`low processor activity, the efficiency of VRM 200 is improved. Id., 5:20-23;
`
`EX1002,¶47.
`
`B. Hwang (EX1006)
`
`Hwang (U.S. Patent Application Publication 2004/0174152) published on
`
`September 9, 2004. EX1006. Hwang is prior art to the ’514 Patent under 35 U.S.C.
`
`§§ 102(a) and (b).
`
`7
`
`

`

`
`
`
`Hwang discloses a power converter 100 coupled to a smart load 104 (e.g., a
`
`microprocessor). EX1006, [0019], [0021].
`
`Petition for IPR of USP 8,477,514
`
`EX1006, Fig. 1. Hwang discloses that smart load 104 sends a standby signal to the
`
`controller 105 within power converter 100 indicating the level of power drawn by
`
`load 104 and thereby causing “PWM stage 103 to enter pulse-skipping mode” (id.,
`
`
`
`[0021]) in order to “improve efficiency” (id., Abstract). EX1002, ¶49.
`
`V.
`
`SUMMARY OF GROUNDS
`
`Ground
`
`Claims
`
`Statutory Basis
`
`Prior Art
`
`1A
`
`1B
`
`1-12, 14-17, 19-20
`
`1-20
`
`(35 U.S.C. §)
`
`102
`
`103
`
`8
`
`Chagny
`
`Chagny
`
`

`

`Petition for IPR of USP 8,477,514
`
`
`
`
`2A
`
`2B
`
`2C
`
`2D
`
`1-10, 16-17, 19-20
`
`11-12, 14-17, 19-20
`
`18
`
`13, 18
`
`102
`
`103
`
`103
`
`103
`
`Hwang
`
`Hwang, Chagny
`
`Hwang
`
`Hwang, Chagny
`
`EX1002,¶50.
`
`VI. LEVEL OF ORDINARY SKILL
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`A POSITA at the time of the ’514 Patent would have had either (i) a Masters
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`of Science in Electrical Engineering, or an equivalent field, or (ii) a Bachelor of
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`Science in Electrical Engineering or an equivalent field as well as at least two years
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`of experience in the design of power electronics. EX1002,¶35.
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`VII. CLAIM CONSTRUCTION
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`Claim terms are construed according to their ordinary and customary meaning
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`as understood by a POSITA and the prosecution history pertaining to the patent. 37
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`C.F.R. § 42.100(b). For purposes of this Petition, Petitioners interpret all claim
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`terms in accordance with their ordinary and customary meaning.
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`VIII. INSTITUTION IS PROPER
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`A.
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`Institution is Proper Under 35 U.S.C. § 314(a)
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`This is the first petition challenging the ’514 Patent. The General Plastic
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`factors therefore do not provide a basis for denying institution.
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`9
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`Petition for IPR of USP 8,477,514
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`
`
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`Discretionary denial is also not warranted under the Fintiv factors. Apple Inc.
`
`v. Fintiv, Inc., IPR2020-00019, Paper 11 (P.T.A.B. Mar. 20, 2020) (precedential)
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`(Fintiv-I); cf. id., Paper 15 (P.T.A.B. May 13, 2020) (informative) (Fintiv-II).
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`Factor one (stay) is neutral. Samsung and Dell both intend to seek a stay of
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`the respective Samsung and Dell Litigations should the Board institute inter partes
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`review of the Petition. See Fintiv-II, at 12.
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`Factors two (trial date) and three (parallel proceedings) weigh in favor of
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`institution. Under the scheduling order for the respective Samsung and Dell
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`Litigations (EX1014), the Board’s institution decision will likely occur before key
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`deadlines in this case, including final invalidity and infringement contentions (June
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`29, 2022), fact discovery cutoff (Nov. 30, 2022), expert discovery (Jan. 25, 2023),
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`dispositive motions (Feb. 8, 2023), and trial (May 3, 2023). Further, the Board has
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`held “that it is often reasonable for a petitioner to wait to file its petition until it learns
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`which claims are being asserted against it in the parallel proceeding.” Fintiv-I, at 11.
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`Here, PO served infringement contentions on November 3, 2021 in the Samsung
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`Litigation (EX1013), and on November 29, 2021 in the Dell Litigation (EX1016).
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`This Petition is filed shortly thereafter.
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`Unlike in Fintiv-II, this Petition comes almost 5 months before the scheduled
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`May 4, 2022 Markman hearing and prior to serving preliminary invalidity
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`contentions (Jan. 12, 2022). EX1014; Fintiv-II, at 13-14; see also Sand Revolution
`
`10
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`

`
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`II at 10-11 (finding an issued Markman order and exchanged contentions “weighs
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`Petition for IPR of USP 8,477,514
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`only marginally, if at all, in favor of exercising discretion” where “much work
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`remains” related to invalidity). Moreover, although trial is scheduled to begin on
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`May 3, 2023—just one to two months before a likely final written decision—this
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`factor nevertheless weighs in favor of institution. For example, in SMIC, Americas
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`v. Innovative Foundry Technologies, the Board explained that discretionary denial
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`was not proper even through trial was scheduled “three months before the deadline
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`for final written decision” because the Petition was filed expeditiously “two months
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`after receiving Patent Owner’s Preliminary Infringement Contentions.” IPR2020-
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`01003, Paper 10 (Dec. 15, 2020).
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`Factor four (overlap) weighs in favor of institution. Unlike Fintiv-II, this
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`Petition challenges claims not asserted by the PO in district court. Compare EX1013
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`(asserting 14 claims against Samsung) and EX1016 (asserting 16 claims against
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`Dell) with Section V (challenging all 20 claims). Thus, “[i]nstituting trial here serves
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`overall system efficiency and integrity goals … by resolving materially different
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`patentability issues.” Apple, Inc. v. SEVEN Networks, LLC, IPR2020-00156, Paper
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`10 at 19 (P.T.A.B. June 15, 2020) (finding the fourth factor “strongly” favored
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`institution even though there was no stipulation).
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`Nevertheless, to eliminate any doubt regarding overlap between the
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`proceedings, Petitioners hereby stipulate that, if the Board institutes inter partes
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`11
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`
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`review of this Petition, then Petitioners, and the Real Parties in Interest listed herein,
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`Petition for IPR of USP 8,477,514
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`will not assert in the respective Samsung Litigation and Dell Litigation that any of
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`claims 1-20 of the ’514 Patent is invalid on any ground involving the prior art relied
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`upon in the grounds of invalidity herein.
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`Factor five (parties): Petitioners and PO are the same parties as in district
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`court. However, because it is “far from an unusual circumstance that a petitioner in
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`inter partes review and a defendant in a parallel district court proceeding are the
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`same,” panels routinely grant institution when the parties are the same as in a district
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`court proceeding. See Sand Revolution II at 12-13.
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`Factor six (other circumstances) weighs in favor of institution given the
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`similarity between Petitioners’ references and the ’514 Patent. Indeed, multiple
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`prior art references anticipate the challenged claims. Moreover, this Petition shows
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`the claims involve a combination of familiar elements, according to known methods,
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`yielding predictable results, and provides good reasons for combining the routine
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`teachings of the references. See Apple, Inc. at 20.
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`B.
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`Institution is Proper Under 35 U.S.C. § 325 (d)
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`None of the Becton, Dickinson factors weigh in favor of discretionary denial
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`under 35 U.S.C. § 325(d). Becton, Dickinson & Co. v. B. Braun Melsungen AG,
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`IPR2017-01586, Paper 8 (Dec. 15, 2017) (precedential). None of the references
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`relied upon by this Petition were before the Examiner, much less included in a
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`12
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`
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`rejection, during prosecution. Thus “the same or substantially the same prior art or
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`Petition for IPR of USP 8,477,514
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`arguments” were not previously presented to the Office.
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`IX. GROUND 1A: Chagny Anticipates Claims 1-12, 14-17, and 19-20
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`A. Claim 1
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`i.
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`1[pre]: “A power converter coupled to a load, comprising:”
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`Chagny discloses a voltage regulator module (“VRM”) (i.e., a power
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`converter). “The VRM 200,” shown in Figure 2A, “is operable to receive a direct
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`current (DC) voltage input 205 and generate a regulated DC voltage output 295.”
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`EX1004, 3:54-56.
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`software program
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`processor
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`power
`converter
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`EX1004, Fig. 2A (annotated); EX1002,¶52. As shown in Figure 2A, the output of
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`VRM 200 is coupled to provide power to a load including processor 292 and
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`
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`13
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`
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`software program 296. EX1004, 3:56-60 (“[T]he regulated DC voltage output 295
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`Petition for IPR of USP 8,477,514
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`provides power to a processor 292 included in an information handling system
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`device 290. The output 295 may also be used to power other components (not
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`shown) included in the device 290.”); see also id., 4:35-37 (referring to software
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`program 296 being “included in the operating system (not shown) of the device
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`290”), 7:36-41 (describing processor “operable to execute instructions and/or
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`operations” including a “software program” stored in memory).
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`Thus, Chagny discloses claim 1[pre]. EX1002,¶¶52-53.
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`ii.
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`1[a]: “a power