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`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`ANKER INNOVATIONS LTD.,
`Petitioner
`
`v.
`
`MYPAQ HOLDINGS LTD.,
`Patent Owner
`
`Case IPR2022-01134
`Patent 8,477,514
`
`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW OF
`U.S. PATENT NO. 8,477,514
`
`

`

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`Petition for IPR of USP 8,477,514
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`
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`TABLE OF CONTENTS
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`I.
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`II.
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`MANDATORY NOTICES ............................................................................... 1
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`STANDING AND FEES ................................................................................... 2
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`III.
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`OVERVIEW OF THE ’514 PATENT .............................................................. 2
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`A. Subject Matter ............................................................................................ 2
`
`B. Prosecution History.................................................................................... 4
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`SUMMARY OF PRIOR ART ........................................................................... 5
`
`SUMMARY OF GROUNDS ............................................................................ 7
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`LEVEL OF ORDINARY SKILL ...................................................................... 7
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`IV.
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`V.
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`VI.
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`VII. CLAIM CONSTRUCTION ............................................................................... 7
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`VIII.
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`INSTITUTION IS PROPER ............................................................................. 8
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`A.
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`Institution is Proper Under 35 U.S.C. § 314(a) .......................................... 8
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`B. Discretionary denial under General Plastic is not appropriate ............... 10
`
`C.
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`Institution is Proper Under 35 U.S.C. § 325 (d) ....................................... 11
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`IX. GROUND 1A: Chagny Anticipates Claims 1-12, 14-17, and 19-20 .............. 11
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`A. Claim 1 ..................................................................................................... 11
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`B. Claim 2 ..................................................................................................... 17
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`C. Claim 3 ..................................................................................................... 19
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`Petition for IPR of USP 8,477,514
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`D. Claim 4 ..................................................................................................... 20
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`E. Claim 5 ..................................................................................................... 21
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`F. Claim 6 ..................................................................................................... 21
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`G. Claim 7 ..................................................................................................... 25
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`H. Claim 8 ..................................................................................................... 25
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`I. Claim 9 ..................................................................................................... 25
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`J. Claim 10 ................................................................................................... 25
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`K. Claim 11 ................................................................................................... 26
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`L. Claim 12 ................................................................................................... 32
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`M. Claim 14 ................................................................................................... 33
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`N. Claim 15 ................................................................................................... 33
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`O. Claim 16 ................................................................................................... 33
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`P. Claim 17 ................................................................................................... 34
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`Q. Claim 19 ................................................................................................... 35
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`R. Claim 20 ................................................................................................... 35
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`X.
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` GROUND 1B: Chagny in View of the Knowledge of POSITA Renders
`
`Obvious Claims 1-20 ........................................................................................ 35
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`A. Claims 1-5 ................................................................................................ 35
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`B. Claims 6-12 and 14-15 ............................................................................. 36
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`C. Claims 11-12, 14-17, 19-20 ..................................................................... 37
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`ii
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`Petition for IPR of USP 8,477,514
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`D. Claims 13 and 18 ...................................................................................... 38
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`XI. GROUND 2A: Hwang Anticipates Claims 1-10, 16-17, and 19-20 ............... 40
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`A. Claim 1 ..................................................................................................... 40
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`B. Claim 2 ..................................................................................................... 44
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`C. Claim 3 ..................................................................................................... 47
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`D. Claim 4 ..................................................................................................... 48
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`E. Claim 5 ..................................................................................................... 49
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`F. Claim 6 ..................................................................................................... 50
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`G. Claim 7 ..................................................................................................... 53
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`H. Claim 8 ..................................................................................................... 53
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`I. Claim 9 ..................................................................................................... 54
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`J. Claim 10 ................................................................................................... 54
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`K. Claim 16 ................................................................................................... 54
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`L. Claim 17 ................................................................................................... 60
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`M. Claim 19 ................................................................................................... 62
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`N. Claim 20 ................................................................................................... 62
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`XII. GROUND 2B: Hwang in view of Chagny Renders Obvious Claims 11- 12,
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`14-17, and 19-20 .............................................................................................. 62
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`A. Motivation to Combine ............................................................................ 62
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`B. Claim 11 ................................................................................................... 65
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`iii
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`Petition for IPR of USP 8,477,514
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`C. Claim 12 ................................................................................................... 72
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`D. Claim 14 ................................................................................................... 72
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`E. Claim 15 ................................................................................................... 73
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`F. Claims 16-17 and 19-20 ........................................................................... 73
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`XIII. GROUND 2C: Hwang in view of the knowledge of a POSITA Renders
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`Obvious Claim 18 ............................................................................................ 73
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`A. Claim 18 ................................................................................................... 74
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`XIV. GROUND 2D: Hwang in view of Chagny and the Knowledge of a POSITA
`
`Renders Obvious Claims 13 and 18 ................................................................ 75
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`A. Claims 13 and 18 ...................................................................................... 75
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`XV. CONCLUSION................................................................................................ 76
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`iv
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`1001
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`1002
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`1003
`1004
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`1005
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`1006
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`1007
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`1008
`1009
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`1010
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`1011
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`1012
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`1013
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`1014
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`1015
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`Petition for IPR of USP 8,477,514
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`LIST OF EXHIBITS
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`U.S. Patent No. 8,477,514 by Artusi et al. (“the ’514 Patent”)
`
`Expert Declaration of Dr. Sayfe Kiaei
`
`Excerpts of the ’514 Patent File History
`U.S. Patent No. 6,873,136 to Chagny (“Chagny”)
`
`Reserved
`
`U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0174152 to Hwang et al.
`(“Hwang”)
`
`U.S. Patent No. 6,748,545 to Helms (“Helms”)
`Comparisons of Claims 11-15 to 16-20 of the ’514 Patent
`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)
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`Petition for IPR of USP 8,477,514
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`1016
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`1017
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`1018
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`1019
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`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
`MyPAQ’s Preliminary Infringement Contentions, served in MyPAQ
`Holdings, Ltd. v. Anker Innovations Ltd., 6:22-CV-150-ADA
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`Citations to exhibits including patents and patent applications reference original
`
`page, column, paragraph, or line numbers found in the underlying document.
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`Citations to other exhibits refer to exhibit page numbering.
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`vi
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`Petition for IPR of USP 8,477,514
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`LIST OF CLAIMS
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`Claim 1:
`
`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]
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`Claim 2:
`
`2
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`Claim 3:
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`3
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`Claim 4:
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`4
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`Claim 5:
`
`5
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`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.
`
`vii
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`Claim 6:
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`Petition for IPR of USP 8,477,514
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`6[b]
`6[c]
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`6[pre] A power system, comprising:
`6[a]
`a power system controller configured to provide a signal characterizing
`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.
`
`viii
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`Claim 11:
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`Petition for IPR of USP 8,477,514
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`11[b]
`
`11[c]
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`11[pre] A power system, comprising:
`11[a]
`a power system controller configured to enable operation of
`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:
`
`14
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`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.
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`ix
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`Claim 15:
`
`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
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`The method as recited in claim 16 wherein said signal is provided upon
`startup of said processor system.
`
`Claim 19:
`
`19
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`The method as recited in claim 16 wherein said controlling said internal
`operating characteristic comprises occurs over a period of time.
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`Claim 20:
`
`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.
`
`xi
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`Petition for IPR of USP 8,477,514
`
`I. MANDATORY NOTICES
`
`Real Party in Interest: The real party in interest include Anker Innovations Ltd.
`
`(“Anker”) (“Petitioner”).
`
`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
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`Dell in the case styled: MyPAQ Holdings Ltd. v. Dell Technologies Inc., 6:21-CV-
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`00933 (W.D. Tex.) (“Dell Litigation”). The ’514 Patent is further currently asserted by
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`Patent Owner against Anker in the case styled: MyPAQ Holdings Ltd. v. Anker
`
`Innovations Ltd., 6:22-CV-00150 (W.D. Tex.) (“Anker Litigation”).
`
`Petitioner is also concurrently filing a Petition for IPR against another patent held
`
`by PO, which is related to the ’514 Patent: IPR2022-01131 against U.S. Patent No.
`
`7,675,759. The ’514 Patent is a continuation of an intervening continuation-in-part that
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`claims priority to the ’759 Patent. See EX1001.
`
`Lead Counsel and Back-Up Counsel: Petitioners designate lead and back-up
`
`counsel as noted below. A Power of Attorney is filed concurrently herewith under 37
`
`C.F.R. § 42.10(b).
`
`Lead Counsel
`
`
`Ping Wang
`Registration No. 48,328
`RIMON PC
`1990 K Street, N.W., Suite 420
`
`
`
`Back-Up Counsel
`
`Jason Xu
`Pro hac vice forthcoming
`RIMON PC
`1990 K Street, N.W., Suite 420
`
`1
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`

`

`
`
`Washington, DC 20006
`202-519-2151 (phone)
`
`Petition for IPR of USP 8,477,514
`
`Washington, DC 20006
`202-470-2141 (phone)
`
`Eric Cohen
`Registration No. 27,429
`RIMON PC
`4208 Six Folks Road, Suite 1000
`Raleigh, NC 27609
`919-825-4877 (phone)
`
`Service Information: Correspondence to lead and back-up counsel can be
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`provided at the postal and electronic addresses above. Petitioners also consent to
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`service by electronic mail at Anker514IPR@rimonlaw.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. 50-5992 and any additional fees that might be due in
`
`connection with this Petition.
`
`
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`
`
`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:
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`2
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`EX1001, Fig. 2. The main power switch Qmain and auxiliary power switch Qaux are
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`turned on and off by drive signal D and complementary drive signal 1-D respectively. Id.,
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`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
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`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
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`controller.” EX1001, Abstract. The ’514 Patent acknowledges that it was “well known”
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`to control output characteristics (e.g., the output voltage) of a converter based on the
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`needs of a microprocessor coupled to the output. Id., 4:63-5:4. But, the ’514 Patent
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`purports to improve upon the prior art by adjusting an internal operating characteristic
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`of the power converter based on a signal from an external source. Id., 6:36-44. For
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`example, when a load such as a microprocessor goes into a low-power system
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`operational state (e.g., a standby mode), the microprocessor may signal the power
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`converter to adjust its internal operating characteristics (e.g., switching frequency) to
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`improve the efficiency of the power converter during such times of low demand from
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`the load.
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`However, as shown herein, power converters capable of adjusting internal
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`operating characteristics (e.g., switching frequency) to improve efficiency based on the
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`state of the load were well known before the ’514 Patent. EX1002,¶¶39-40.
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`
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`B.
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`Prosecution History
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`U.S. Patent Application No. 12/709,795 was filed on February 22, 2010, as a
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`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
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`on anticipation and obviousness grounds. EX1003, 83-90. In response, Applicant
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`distinguished the prior art asserted by the Examiner for failure to disclose a power
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`converter controller “configured to be responsive to an externally generated signal from
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`the power converter.” Id., 76. Thereafter, the Examiner issued a Notice of Allowance.
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`But, as described herein, Examiner failed to consider any of the prior art
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`references cited herein, each disclosing a power converter controller responsive to an
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`external signal.
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`Petition for IPR of USP 8,477,514
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`IV. SUMMARY OF PRIOR ART
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`The ’514 Patent claims priority to December 1, 2006, and thus is subject to the
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`pre-AIA provisions of 35 U.S.C. §§ 102 and 103. Petitioners reserve the right to
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`challenge whether the claims of the ’514 are entitled to the claimed December 1, 2006
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`priority date. However, each prior art reference relied upon in this Petition is prior art
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`to the ’514 Patent regardless of the claimed December 1, 2006 priority date.
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`Neither Chagny nor Hwang described below were considered during
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`examination of the ’514 Patent.
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`A. Chagny (EX1004)
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`Chagny (U.S. Patent 6,873,136) issued on March 29, 2005. EX1004. Chagny is
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`prior art under 35 U.S.C. §§ 102(a) and (b).
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`Chagny discloses a voltage regulator module (VRM) 200 (i.e., a power
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`converter) that provides a “regulated DC voltage output 295” to processor 292.
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`EX1004, 3:52-58.
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`EX1004, Fig. 2A. Changny’s controller module 210 receives an activity input 202,
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`which is generated outside of VRM 200 and indicates the processor’s activity level. Id.,
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`3:60-65. The switching frequency of VRM 200 changes according to activity input 202.
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`Id., 5:9-12. By selecting a low switching frequency during periods of low processor
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`activity, the efficiency of VRM 200 is improved. Id., 5:20-23; EX1002,¶47.
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`B. Hwang (EX1006)
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`Hwang (U.S. Patent Application Publication 2004/0174152) published on
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`September 9, 2004. EX1006. Hwang is prior art to the ’514 Patent under 35 U.S.C.
`
`§§ 102(a) and (b). Hwang discloses a power converter 100 coupled to a smart load 104
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`(e.g., a microprocessor). EX1006, [0019], [0021].
`
`EX1006, Fig. 1. Hwang discloses that smart load 104 sends a standby signal to the
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`controller 105 within power converter 100 indicating the level of power drawn by load
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`104 and thereby causing “PWM stage 103 to enter pulse-skipping mode” (id., [0021])
`6
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`Petition for IPR of USP 8,477,514
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`in order to “improve efficiency” (id., Abstract). EX1002, ¶49.
`
`V.
`
`SUMMARY OF GROUNDS
`
`Ground Claims
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`Statutory Basis
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`Prior Art
`
`(35 U.S.C. §)
`
`1-12, 14-17, 19-20
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`1-20
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`1-10, 16-17, 19-20
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`102
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`103
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`102
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`Chagny
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`Chagny
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`Hwang
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`11-12, 14-17, 19-20 103
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`Hwang, Chagny
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`18
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`13, 18
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`103
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`103
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`Hwang
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`Hwang, Chagny
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`1A
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`1B
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`2A
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`2B
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`2C
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`2D
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`EX1002,¶50.
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`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 of
`
`Science in Electrical Engineering, or an equivalent field, or (ii) a Bachelor of Science
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`in Electrical Engineering or an equivalent field as well as at least two years of
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`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 as
`
`understood by a POSITA and the prosecution history pertaining to the patent. 37 C.F.R.
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`§ 42.100(b). For purposes of this Petition, Petitioners interpret all claim terms in
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`Petition for IPR of USP 8,477,514
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`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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`The six factors considered for § 314 denial strongly favor institution. See Apple
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`Inc. v. Fintiv, Inc., IPR2020-00019, Paper 11 (PTAB Mar. 20, 2020) (precedential).
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`The district court case is at an early stage and no trial date has been set. Petitioner has
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`diligently prepared and filed this petition only about four months after Patent Owner
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`filed its complaint against Anker.
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`1. No evidence regarding a stay. This petition precedes even the entry of any
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`procedural schedule in the co-pending litigation, within which Anker intends to
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`move for a stay after this petition is instituted, or earlier depending upon
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`circumstances in the Western District of Texas. Sand Revolution II LLC v.
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`Continental Intermodal Group – Trucking LLC, IPR2019-01393, Paper 24 at 7
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`(PTAB June 16, 2020) (informative). Thus, Factor 1 does not support
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`discretionary denial.
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`2. Parallel proceeding trial date. No schedule has been entered and no trial date set.
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`Without a trial date, this factor weighs heavily against discretionary denial.
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`3. Investment in the parallel proceeding. Petitioner has filed this Petition at a very
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`early stage of the litigation—a fact that “has weighed against exercising the
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`authority to deny institution.” Apple, Inc. v. Seven Networks, IPR2020-00156,
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`Paper 10 at 11-12 (June 15, 2020). Petitioner has not served its invalidity
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`Petition for IPR of USP 8,477,514
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`contentions. The parties have not exchanged preliminary positions on claim
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`construction or invalidity, and fact and expert discovery has not begun. Further,
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`there is no evidence that the district court will conduct a Markman hearing or
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`issue a Markman ruling before the prospective date for the Board’s institution
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`decision. Anker’s promptness favors institution. Fintiv, Paper 11 at 11 (“If the
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`evidence shows that the petitioner filed the petition expeditiously, such as
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`promptly after becoming aware of the claims being asserted, this fact has
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`weighed against exercising the authority to deny institution under NHK.”).
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`4. Overlapping issues with the parallel proceeding. The co-pending litigation is in
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`its infancy. Petition challenges claims not asserted by the PO in district court.
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`Compare EX1019 (asserting 16 claims against Anker) with Section V
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`(challenging all 20 claims). Thus, “[i]nstituting trial here serves overall system
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`efficiency and integrity goals … by resolving materially different patentability
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`issues.” Apple, Inc. v. SEVEN Networks, LLC, IPR2020-00156, Paper 10 at 19
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`(P.T.A.B. June 15, 2020) (finding the fourth factor “strongly” favored institution
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`even though there was no stipulation). Nevertheless, to eliminate any doubt
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`regarding overlap between the proceedings, Petitioner hereby stipulates that, if
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`the Board institutes inter partes review of this Petition, then Petitioner, and the
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`Real Parties in Interest listed herein, will not assert in the Anker Litigation that
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`any of claims 1-20 of the ’514 Patent is invalid on any ground involving the prior
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`art relied upon in the grounds of invalidity herein. A lack of such overlap “has
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`tended to weigh against exercising discretion to deny institution.” Fintiv,
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`IPR2020-00019, Paper 11, 12-14.
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`5. Petitioner is a defendant. Anker is a defendant in the litigation. Because it is “far
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`from an unusual circumstance that a petitioner in inter partes review and a
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`defendant in a parallel district court proceeding are the same,” panels routinely
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`grant institution when the parties are the same as in a district court proceeding.
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`See Sand Revolution II at 12-13. Due to the exceedingly early stage of this
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`litigation, Factor 5 is neutral and should not be a basis for denying institution.
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`6. Other circumstances. The prior art presented in this Petition renders the
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`Challenged Claims unpatentable as obvious. The merits of Petitioner’s
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`arguments are strong, especially given that the Board has already instituted
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`IPR2022-00311 filed by Samsung/Dell against the same patent using the same
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`grounds. Thus, this factor weighs against discretionary denial.
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`As such, because the Fintiv factors are either neutral or weigh against
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`discretionary denial, and because this Petition was filed more than eight months before
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`the statutory bar date, institution should not be denied on discretionary factors.
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`B. Discretionary denial under General Plastic is not appropriate
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`The ’514 patent is being challenged in case no. IPR2021-00311, but here, Anker
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`is seeking to join that earlier case by filing this substantively identical Petition along
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`with a motion for joinder. The present petition is permissible under 35 U.S.C. § 315(c),
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`and is not a “follow-on” petition seeking to raise new issues. Celltrion, Inc. v.
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`Petition for IPR of USP 8,477,514
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`Genentech, Inc., IPR2018-01019, Paper 11 at 9-11 (PTAB Oct. 30, 2018). As explained
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`by the Board in Celltrion, the General Plastic factors do not weigh in favor of
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`discretionary denial where, as here, “a different petitioner files a ‘me-too’ or ‘copycat’
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`petition in conjunction with a timely motion to join.” Id. (the motion to join “obviates
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`any concerns of serial harassment”).
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`C.
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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 relied
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`upon by this Petition were before the Examiner, much less included in a rejection,
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`during prosecution. Thus “the same or substantially the same prior art or arguments”
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`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 converter).
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`“The VRM 200,” shown in Figure 2A, “is operable to receive a direct current (DC)
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`voltage input 205 and generate a regulated DC voltage output 295.” 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 VRM
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`200 is coupled to provide power to a load including processor 292 and software
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`program 296. EX1004, 3:56-60 (“[T]he regulated DC voltage output 295 provides
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`power to a processor 292 included in an information handling system device 290. The
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`output 295 may also be used to power other components (not shown) included in the
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`device 290.”); see also id., 4:35-37 (referring to software program 296 being “included
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`in the operating system (not shown) of the device 290”), 7:36-41 (describing processor
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`“operable to execute instructions and/or operations” including a “software program”
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`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 switch configured to conduct for a duty cycle to
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`provide an output characteristic at an outp