`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`____________
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`____________
`
`ALIVECOR, INC.,
`Petitioner
`
`v.
`
`APPLE INC.,
`Patent Owner
`____________
`
`Case No. IPR2023-00948
`U.S. Patent No. 10,866,619 B2
`____________
`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`UNDER 35 U.S.C. §312 AND 37 C.F.R. §42.104
`
`
`Mail Stop PATENT BOARD
`Patent Trial and Appeal Board
`US Patent and Trademark Office
`PO Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`V.
`
`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`LIST OF EXHIBITS .............................................................................................. vi
`I.
`STANDING UNDER 37 C.F.R. §42.104(a) ................................................ 1
`II.
`PAYMENT OF FEES .................................................................................. 1
`III. OVERVIEW OF CHALLENGES AND RELIEF REQUESTED ........... 1
`IV. SUMMARY OF THE ’619 PATENT ......................................................... 1
`A. THE ’619 PATENT’S SPECIFICATION ........................................................ 2
`B.
`PROSECUTION HISTORY ........................................................................... 4
`C. CLAIM CONSTRUCTION ............................................................................ 5
`SUMMARY OF THE PRIOR ART ........................................................... 7
`A. KIM (EX. 1004); KIM-KR (EX. 1022) ...................................................... 7
`B.
`JUNG (EX. 1005) ...................................................................................... 8
`C. MEYERS (EX. 1007) ................................................................................. 9
`D. CHANG (EX. 1015) ................................................................................... 9
`VI. LEVEL OF ORDINARY SKILL IN THE ART ....................................... 9
`VII. THE CHALLENGED CLAIMS ARE UNPATENTABLE ...................... 9
`A. GROUND 1: CLAIMS 1, 5, 9, AND 10 ARE UNPATENTABLE UNDER 35
`U.S.C. §§102 AND/OR 103 OVER KIM ....................................................10
`B. GROUND 2: CLAIMS 1-10 ARE UNPATENTABLE UNDER 35 U.S.C.
`§103 OVER KIM .....................................................................................31
`C. GROUND 3: CLAIMS 1, AND 3-10 ARE UNPATENTABLE UNDER 35
`U.S.C. §103 OVER JUNG IN VIEW OF MEYERS .........................................47
`D. GROUND 4: CLAIMS 1-2, 6, AND 9 ARE UNPATENTABLE UNDER 35
`U.S.C. §§102 AND/OR 103 OVER CHANG ...............................................80
`
`ii
`
`
`
`
`
`VIII. PRIOR ART NOT PREVIOUSLY PRESENTED TO THE
`OFFICE ..................................................................................................... 111
`IX. THE FINTIV FACTORS FAVOR INSTITUTION .............................. 111
`X. CONCLUSION ......................................................................................... 113
`XI. MANDATORY NOTICES UNDER 37 C.F.R. §42.8 ............................ 114
`A. REAL PARTY IN INTEREST UNDER 37 C.F.R. §42.8(B)(1) ....................114
`B. RELATED MATTERS UNDER 37 C.F.R. §42.8(B)(2) .............................114
`C. DESIGNATION OF COUNSEL UNDER 37 C.F.R. §42.8(B)(3) ..................114
`D.
`SERVICE INFORMATION........................................................................116
`
`
`
`
`iii
`
`
`
`
`
`TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
`
`Page(s)
`
`
`CASES
`Adobe, Inc. v. Realtime Adaptive Streaming LLC,
`IPR2019-00712, Paper 9 (PTAB Sept. 12, 2019) ............................................. 114
`Apple Inc. v. AliveCor, Inc.,
`Case 4:22-cv-07608-HSG ................................................................................. 117
`Apple Inc. v. Fintiv, Inc.,
`IPR2020-00019, Paper 11 (PTAB Mar. 20, 2020) ........................................... 114
`Apple Inc., v. Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson,
`IPR2022-00341, Paper 10 (PTAB Sept. 14, 2022)........................................... 7, 8
`Braintree Lab’ys, Inc. v. Novel Lab’ys, Inc.,
`749 F.3d 1349 (Fed. Cir. 2014) ............................................................................ 6
`CommScope Technologies LLC v. Dali Wireless, Inc.,
`IPR2022-01242, Paper 23 (PTAB Feb. 27, 2023) ............................................ 116
`Intercept Pharms., Inc. v. Apotex Inc.,
`No. CV 20-1105, 2022 WL 856859 (D. Del. Mar. 23, 2022) .............................. 5
`Koninklijke Philips N.V. v. Google LLC,
`948 F.3d 1330 (Fed. Cir. 2020) .......................................................................... 21
`Sand Revolution II, LLC v. Cont’l Intermodal Grp. – Trucking LLC,
`IPR2019-01393, Paper 24 (PTAB June 16, 2020) ................................... 114, 116
`STATUTES
`35 U.S.C. §§102 ......................................................................................... 1, 7, 10, 80
`35 U.S.C. §102(a)(1) .................................................................................................. 8
`35 U.S.C. §102(a)(2) .............................................................................................. 7, 9
`35 U.S.C. §103 ............................................................................................... 1, 31, 47
`35 U.S.C. §119 ........................................................................................................... 7
`
`iv
`
`
`
`
`
`35 U.S.C. §§311–319 ................................................................................................. 1
`35 U.S.C. §325(d) .................................................................................................. 114
`OTHER AUTHORITIES
`37 C.F.R. §42 ............................................................................................................. 1
`37 C.F.R. §§42.6(e), 42.105 ....................................................................................... 4
`37 C.F.R. §42.8 ...................................................................................................... 117
`37 C.F.R. §42.8(b)(1) ............................................................................................. 117
`37 C.F.R. §42.8(b)(2) ............................................................................................. 117
`37 C.F.R. §42.8(b)(3) ............................................................................................. 117
`37 C.F.R §42.10(b) ................................................................................................ 118
`37 C.F.R. §42.24 ........................................................................................................ 3
`37 C.F.R. §42.104(a) .................................................................................................. 1
`37 CFR §42.24(a)(i) ................................................................................................... 3
`MPEP §§2151, 2154.01 ............................................................................................. 8
`MPEP §2154.01(b)..................................................................................................... 8
`
`
`
`
`
`v
`
`
`
`
`
`Exhibit
`Ex. 1001
`
`Ex. 1002
`
`Ex. 1003
`
`Ex. 1004
`
`Ex. 1005
`
`Ex. 1006
`
`Ex. 1007
`
`Ex. 1008
`
`Ex. 1009
`
`Ex. 1010
`
`Ex. 1011
`
`Ex. 1012
`
`Ex. 1013
`
`Ex. 1014
`
`Ex. 1015
`
`Ex. 1016
`
`Ex. 1017
`
`Ex. 1018
`
`LIST OF EXHIBITS
`
`Short Name
`’619 Patent
`
`Description
`U.S. Patent No. 10,866,619 B2 (“the ’619
`Patent”)
`
`’619 File History Prosecution History of U.S. Patent No.
`10,866,619 B2
`
`Berger
`Declaration
`
`Declaration of Dr. Ronald D. Berger
`
`Kim
`
`Jung
`
`Dunlap
`
`Meyers
`
`Evans
`
`Pare
`
`U.S. Patent No. 10,620,828
`
`U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2016/0100499
`
`U.S. Patent No. 9,651,513
`
`U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2015/0071509
`
`U.S. Patent No. 8,694,793
`
`U.S. Patent No. 6,131,464
`
`Chaudhri
`
`U.S. Patent No. 9,740,381
`
`Choung
`
`U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2015/0245514
`
`Hwang
`
`Polany
`
`Choi
`
`Chang
`
`U.S. Patent No. 8,750,919
`
`U.S. Patent No. 7,535,799
`
`U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2017/0099742
`
`U.S. Patent No. 10,133,910
`
`Mittleman
`
`U.S. Patent No. 8,367,958
`
`Aapro
`
`Vittu
`
`U.S. Patent No. 7,486,517
`
`U.S. Patent No. 9,973,669
`
`vi
`
`
`
`
`
`Exhibit
`
`Ex. 1019
`
`Ex. 1020
`
`Ex. 1021
`
`Ex. 1022
`
`Ex. 1023
`
`Ex. 1024
`
`Short Name
`
`Description
`
`Wagman
`
`U.S. Patent No. 9,973,840
`
`Dave
`
`U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2013/0108082
`
`Berger CV
`
`Curriculum vitae of Dr. Ronald Berger
`
`Kim-KR
`
`KR 10-2016-0162565 and certified
`translation thereof
`
`Kim-KR-Pub. KR 10-2018-0062654 and certified
`translation thereof
`
`National Judicial
`Caseload Profile
`
`Ex. 1025
`
`Complaint
`
`U.S. District Courts – National Judicial
`Caseload Profile (accessed via
`https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/f
`cms_na_distprofile0331.2022.pdf)
`
`Complaint for Patent Infringement, Apple
`Inc., v. AliveCor, Inc., Case No. 4:22-cv-
`07608-HSG (N.D. Cal. 2022)
`
`vii
`
`
`
`
`
`AliveCor, Inc. (“Petitioner”) seeks IPR under 35 U.S.C. §§311–319 and 37
`
`C.F.R. §42 of Claims 1-10 (“the Challenged Claims”) of Patent No. 10,866,619
`
`(“’619 Patent”). Petitioner requests cancellation of the Challenged Claims.
`
`I.
`
`STANDING UNDER 37 C.F.R. §42.104(a)
`
`Petitioner certifies that the ’619 Patent is available for IPR and that Petitioner
`
`is not barred or estopped from requesting IPR.
`
`II.
`
`PAYMENT OF FEES
`
`Petitioner authorizes Account No. 16-0605 to be charged.
`
`III. OVERVIEW OF CHALLENGES AND RELIEF REQUESTED
`
`Pursuant to 42.22(a)(1) and 42.104(b)(1)-(2), Petitioner requests cancellation
`
`of the Challenged Claims pursuant to the grounds below. Additional support is
`
`provided in the Declaration of Dr. Berger (Ex-1003).
`
`Ground 1: Claims 1, 5, 9, and 10 are unpatentable under 35 U.S.C. §§102
`
`and/or 103 over Kim.
`
`Ground 2: Claims 1-10 are unpatentable under 35 U.S.C. §103 over Kim.
`
`Ground 3: Claims 1, and 3-10 are unpatentable under 35 U.S.C. §103 over
`
`Jung in view of Meyers.
`
`Ground 4: Claims 1-2, 6, and 9 are unpatentable under 35 U.S.C. §§ 102
`
`and/or 103 over Chang.
`
`IV. SUMMARY OF THE ’619 PATENT
`
`- 1 -
`
`
`
`
`
`A. The ’619 Patent’s Specification
`
` The ’619 Patent relates generally to an electronic device with a biometric
`
`button assembly (see Ex. 1001, Abstract). According to the specification’s
`
`“Background” section, many traditional buttons were (1) unable to sense biometric
`
`characteristics, and (2) were difficult to seal against liquid and other contaminants
`
`(id., 1:14-22). The ’619 Patent purported to solve these problems by describing “a
`
`button with a biometric sensor” having a “flexible conduit” that “cooperates with a
`
`seal to restrict ingress of contaminants into the electronic device” (id., 4:18-28).
`
`Figure 2A (below) is a cross-sectional view of “biometric button assembly 210” (id.,
`
`8:14-23):
`
`- 2 -
`
`
`
`
`
`Ex. 1001, Fig. 2A
`
`
`
`
`
`Figure 2A further discloses that the “biometric button assembly 210 is
`
`disposed in an opening of an enclosure 120” (yellow). In addition, “[t]he biometric
`
`button assembly 210 is configured to move or displace in response to an input to the
`
`input surface 212, e.g., a user touch to the input surface” (purple) (id., 8:24-34).
`
`- 3 -
`
`
`
`
`
`Behind the “input surface 212” is a “biometric sensor 230” (red), for example a
`
`fingerprint sensor that “produces an output signal in response to a user input ... such
`
`as a user touch” (id., 3:63-4:17). Figure 2A also discloses the “flexible conduit 240”
`
`(teal) (id., 9:11-16). This component “receives the output signal of the biometric
`
`sensor 230 and provides the output signal to the processor of the electronic device
`
`100” (id., 9:11-16).
`
`The purported invention of the ’619 Patent involves using the “flexible
`
`conduit” to “form part of a seal that blocks or inhibits the ingress of foreign debris
`
`or contaminants into the enclosure” (id., 5:53-60). Specifically, Figure 2A discloses
`
`that “[t]he flexible conduit 240 portion stacked on top of the seal 262” (green) is
`
`“disposed below a sealing surface 225” (blue) “of the button assembly 210” (id.,
`
`11:16-31). But “[o]ther configurations of the seal region 209 are possible. For
`
`example, a portion of the flexible conduit 240 may be positioned below the seal 262,
`
`such that a stack is formed of seal 262 then flexible conduit 240” (id., 9:45-57). In
`
`this configuration, the “flexible conduit 240” “may form part of a seal that blocks or
`
`inhibits the ingress of foreign debris or contaminants into the enclosure” (id., 5:53-
`
`60; Ex. 1003, ¶¶56-59).
`
`B.
`
`Prosecution History
`
`The Examiner initially rejected all pending claims under §§ 102 and 103 in
`
`view of U.S. Patent No. 9,972,459 (“Hill”) and U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2016/0098016
`
`- 4 -
`
`
`
`
`
`(“Ely”) (Ex. 1002, 144-153). Subsequently, the Applicant and Examiner conducted
`
`an interview (Ex. 1002, 162-164). In the summary of that interview, the Examiner
`
`stated that “[p]ossible amendments further defining the relationship between the
`
`sealing surface, the flexible conduit and the portion of flexible conduit were
`
`discussed” (Ex. 1002, 163). In response, Applicant amended pending claims 1, 11,
`
`and 16 to state that a portion of the flexible conduit was “sandwiched” between either
`
`(1) the seal and the sealing surface or (2) the seal and the enclosure (Ex. 1002, 165-
`
`178). Applicant also amended pending claim 16 to incorporate the following
`
`limitations from then-pending claims 17 and 18:
`
` a flexible conduit electrically coupled to the fingerprint sensor and configured
`
`to transmit the output signal to the processor; and
`
` a seal positioned between the button housing and a surface of the opening.
`
`(Ex. 1002, 172-173; Ex. 1003, ¶¶60-63).
`C. Claim Construction
`
`In the context of the intrinsic record of the ’619 Patent, the phrase “biometric
`
`characteristic” should be construed to mean “a human characteristic that is so
`
`distinctive and measureable that a particular human individual may be identified”
`
`(Ex. 1003, ¶64).
`
`The phrase “as used herein” is “definitional syntax” that “has been recognized
`
`as definitional in a wide host of Federal Circuit and district court cases.” Intercept
`
`- 5 -
`
`
`
`
`
`Pharms., Inc. v. Apotex Inc., No. CV 20-1105, 2022 WL 856859, at *3 (D. Del. Mar.
`
`23, 2022); see also Braintree Lab’ys, Inc. v. Novel Lab’ys, Inc., 749 F.3d 1349, 1355-
`
`56 (Fed. Cir. 2014). Here, the ’619 Patent’s specification states:
`
`A “biometric characteristic” or a “biometric identifier,” as
`used herein, may refer to a human characteristic that is so
`distinctive and measureable that a particular human
`individual may be identified. Fingerprints and DNA are
`example biometric characteristics.
`
`(Ex. 1001, 5:9-14).1 A POSITA would have understood the phrase “as used herein”
`
`to be definitional syntax for the phrase “biometric characteristic” (Ex. 1003, ¶¶65-
`
`66). Moreover, the explicit definition (“a human characteristic that is so distinctive
`
`and measureable that a particular human individual may be identified”) is consistent
`
`with the provided examples (“Fingerprints and DNA”), stated purpose (to identify
`
`users for security purposes) (Ex. 1001, 5:1-8, 10:15-20; Ex. 1003, ¶¶65-66).
`
`Regardless, “biometric characteristic” is disclosed by the prior art (Ex. 1003,
`
`¶67). The ’619 Patent explains “fingerprints” are an example of a “biometric
`
`characteristic” (Ex. 1001, 5:9-14, 1:63-64, 5:25-26, 4:22-25). And, the prior art
`
`
`
` All emphasis is added unless otherwise noted.
`
` 1
`
`- 6 -
`
`
`
`
`
`discloses “fingerprints” as “biometric characteristics” (Ex. 1003, ¶67). See Section
`
`VII.
`
`V.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE PRIOR ART
`A. Kim (Ex. 1004); Kim-KR (Ex. 1022)
`
`Patent No. 10,620,828 (“Kim”) is titled “Electronic Device Having Combined
`
`Button.” Kim is prior art under at least 35 U.S.C. §102(a)(2) (AIA).
`
`First, Kim meets the “ministerial requirements” of 35 U.S.C. §119. Apple Inc.,
`
`v. Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, IPR2022-00341, Paper 10 at 14-21 (PTAB
`
`Sept. 14, 2022). For example, Kim claims priority to Korean patent application
`
`number 10-2016-0162565 (Ex. 1022) (“Kim-KR”), filed on December 1, 2016 (Ex.
`
`1022, Cover). A certified translation of Kim-KR is also included in Exhibit 1022.2
`
`Kim properly claimed benefit to Kim-KR (Ex. 1001, (30)), was filed co-pending with
`
`Kim-KR (Ex. 1001, (22); Ex. 1022; Ex. 1023), and shared common inventors with
`
`Kim-KR (Ex. 1001, (72); Ex. 1022, 2-4). Thus, Kim, was effectively filed on
`
`December 1, 2016, and qualifies as prior art under AIA §102.
`
`
`
` Kim-KR was published without substantive edits on June 11, 2018. A copy of the
`
` 2
`
`publication (KR 10-2018-0062654), as well as a certified translation thereof is
`
`included as Ex. 1023 (“Kim-KR-Pub.”). Citations to Kim-KR likewise encompass
`
`the identical material present in Kim-KR-Pub.
`
`- 7 -
`
`
`
`
`
`Second, Kim-KR describes the subject matter relied upon in Kim. See MPEP
`
`§2154.01(b) (“If the subject matter relied upon is described in the application to
`
`which there is a priority or benefit claim, the U.S. patent document is effective as
`
`prior art as of the filing date of the earliest such application, regardless of where
`
`filed.”); see also Apple Inc., v. Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, IPR2022-00341,
`
`Paper 10 at 14-21 (PTAB Sept. 14, 2022). In the limitation-by-limitation analysis
`
`presented in Section VII below, this Petition provides citations to Ex. 1004 and Ex.
`
`1022, showing that every disclosure relied on in Kim was described in Kim-KR. See
`
`MPEP §§2151, 2154.01. Additionally, for efficient comparison of the subject matter
`
`described in Kim and Kim-KR, Petitioner provides a chart that compares the
`
`applicable excerpts/figures in Kim with the corresponding excerpts/figures in Kim-
`
`KR (Ex. 1003, ¶¶68-77, Appendix A). Indeed, Kim’s disclosure and claims are
`
`materially similar to the disclosure and claims in Kim-KR.
`
`Thus, Kim-KR fully supports the Kim disclosure and claims, so Kim is entitled
`
`to an effective filing date of December 1, 2016.
`
`B.
`
`Jung (Ex. 1005)
`
`Patent Pub. No. 2016/0100499 (“Jung”) is titled “Electronic Device Adopting
`
`Key-Waterproof Structure and Method for Waterproofing Key Thereof” and
`
`published on April 7, 2016. Jung is prior art under at least 35 U.S.C. §102(a)(1)
`
`(AIA) (Ex. 1003, ¶¶78-84).
`
`- 8 -
`
`
`
`
`
`C. Meyers (Ex. 1007)
`
`Patent Pub. No. 2015/0071509 (“Meyers”) is titled “Biometric sensor stack
`
`structure” and published on March 12, 2015. Meyers is prior art under at least 35
`
`U.S.C. §102(a)(1) (AIA) (Ex. 1003, ¶¶85-91).
`
`D. Chang (Ex. 1015)
`
`Patent No. 10,133,910 (“Chang”) is titled “Electronic device with key module
`
`and method of manufacturing the same” and was filed in the U.S. on January 20,
`
`2017. Chang is prior art under at least 35 U.S.C. §102(a)(2) (AIA) (Ex. 1003, ¶¶92-
`
`97).
`
`VI. LEVEL OF ORDINARY SKILL IN THE ART
`
`A person of ordinary skill in the art (“POSITA”) at the time of the alleged
`
`invention of the ’619 Patent would have been a person with a working knowledge
`
`of physiological monitoring technologies, a Bachelor of Science degree in an
`
`academic discipline emphasizing the design of electrical, computer, or software
`
`technologies, and training or at least one to two years of related work experience
`
`with capture and processing of data or information, including but not limited to
`
`physiological monitoring technologies (Ex. 1003, ¶¶37-38). More education can
`
`supplement practical experience and vice versa (id.).
`
`VII. THE CHALLENGED CLAIMS ARE UNPATENTABLE
`
`- 9 -
`
`
`
`
`
`A. Ground 1: Claims 1, 5, 9, and 10 are Unpatentable Under 35 U.S.C.
`§§102 and/or 103 over Kim
`
`Kim discloses and/or renders obvious claims 1, 5, 9, and 10 of the ’619 Patent.
`
`1.
`
`Overview of Ground 1 (Kim)
`
`Kim discloses an electronic device with a housing, a mechanical button
`
`located in an opening of the housing, and a processor located within the housing and
`
`connected to the mechanical button (Ex. 1004, Abstract; Ex. 1022, Abstract).
`
`Annotated Figure 10(b), below, shows the flexible printed circuit board
`
`(“PCB”) sandwiched between the sealing rubber and the housing (Ex. 1004, Fig.
`
`10(b); Ex. 1022, Fig. 10(b); Ex. 1003, ¶¶68-77).
`
`Ex. 1004, Fig. 10(b); Ex. 1022, Fig. 10(b)
`
`
`
`
`- 10 -
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`2.
`
`Claim 1
`
`i.
`Claim 1: [1.pre] An electronic device comprising:
`Kim discloses element [1.pre]. Kim teaches that “[a]n electronic device may
`
`include a housing, … a mechanical button, … a processor located in side the housing,
`
`… and a memory located inside the housing” (Ex. 1004, Abstract; Ex. 1022,
`
`Abstract). Figure 4 (below) “shows a front view of an electronic device according to
`
`an embodiment” (Ex. 1004, 2:49-50; see also 4:20-31, Figs. 4-5, 6A, 6B; Ex. 1022,
`
`¶¶8, 12-13, Figs. 4-5, 6A, 6B; Ex. 1003, ¶¶99-102).
`
`Ex. 1004, Fig. 4; Ex. 1022, Fig. 4
`
`
`
`
`
`- 11 -
`
`
`
`
`
`ii.
`
`Claim 1: [1.a] an enclosure having an enclosed volume
`and an opening formed in a sidewall;
`Kim discloses element [1.a] (see Fig. 18 (annotated below)).
`
`Ex. 1004, Fig. 18; Ex. 1022, Fig. 18
`
`
`
`
`
`First, Kim discloses an enclosure having an enclosed volume, teaching a
`
`“housing 720” and “cover glass 725” (Ex. 1004, 22:4-27; Ex. 1022, ¶¶175-178; Ex.
`
`1003, ¶¶103-104). Kim discloses “a processor located inside the housing and … a
`
`memory located inside the housing” (Ex. 1004, 2:7-11; see also Ex. 1004, Abstract;
`
`Ex. 1022, ¶6, Abstract). Kim also discloses that there are components inside of the
`
`“cover glass,” such as the “display panel” (Ex. 1004, 15:1-13; Ex. 1022, ¶102). A
`
`- 12 -
`
`
`
`
`
`POSITA would have known that a “processor,” “memory,” and “display panel” are
`
`physical components located “inside” the housing that occupy space, and therefore
`
`have understood that Kim’s housing and cover glass would have an enclosed volume
`
`(Ex. 1003, ¶104).
`
`Kim’s Figure 18 (above) shows an enclosure having an enclosed volume (Ex.
`
`1004, 3:22-24; Ex. 1022, ¶8; Ex. 1003, ¶105):
`
`Indeed, Kim discloses element [1.a] the same way as the ’619 Patent, which
`
`discloses that the “enclosure” is a “structure” that may be “constructed from multiple
`
`materials” including metals, polymers, and glass “operably connected together” in
`
`order to “define[] an internal volume of the electronic device” (Ex. 1001, 6:3-17; Ex.
`
`1003, ¶106). Likewise Kim discloses a “housing 720” and “cover glass 725”
`
`operably connected together to form a structure that defines an internal volume of
`
`the electronic device (Ex. 1003, ¶107).
`
`Second, Kim discloses the enclosure has an “opening 711” formed in a
`
`sidewall wherein “a part of the home button 760-1 which is the combined button
`
`may be positioned” (Ex. 1004, 18:19-24; Ex. 1022, ¶132; Ex. 1003, ¶108). Element
`
`[1.a] is disclosed in Figure 18 (annotated below):
`
`- 13 -
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`
`
`
`
`Ex. 1004, Fig. 18; Ex. 1022, Fig. 18
`
`
`
`
`
`Kim further contemplates the “combined button” is a button assembly within
`
`an opening formed in a sidewall. For example, Kim discloses “a power button ...
`
`located on the lateral [i.e., side] surface of the electronic device 600 may also be
`
`the combined button,” and “the combined button is not limited to the home button”
`
`(Ex. 1004, 13:46-53, 17:10-12; Ex. 1022, ¶¶89, 166; Ex. 1003, ¶109).
`
`Furthermore, element [1.a] would have been well known to a POSITA, who
`
`would have been familiar with electronic devices with sealed and/or insulated button
`
`assemblies, and would have understood that those assemblies were not limited to the
`
`front face of a device (Ex. 1003, ¶110). Instead, a POSITA would have understood
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`- 14 -
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`
`
`
`
`that a sealed and/or insulated button assembly from one location on a device would
`
`be constructed equally on a rear or sidewall of the device (Ex. 1003, ¶¶110-111).
`
`iii.
`
`Claim 1: [1.b] a processor positioned in the enclosed
`volume;
`Kim discloses element [1.b].
`
`Ex. 1004, Fig. 1; Ex. 1022, Fig. 1
`
`
`
`
`
`Kim discloses “a processor located inside the housing” (Ex. 1004, 2:7-11; see
`
`also Ex. 1004, Abstract, Figs. 1-3, 1:38-2:38, 5:1-28; Ex. 1022, ¶¶5-7, 17-19;
`
`element [1.a]) (Ex. 1003, ¶¶112-113). Furthermore, a POSITA would have
`
`understood that Kim’s processor would be in the enclosed volume because the
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`- 15 -
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`
`
`
`
`enclosed volume exists to protect it from potentially damaging external stimuli (Ex.
`
`1003, ¶¶114-115).
`
`iv.
`
`Claim 1: [1.c] a button assembly within the opening, the
`button assembly comprising: an input member having
`an input surface; and a biometric sensor positioned
`below the input member and configured to produce an
`output signal in response to a touch on the input
`surface, the output signal corresponding to a biometric
`characteristic;
`Kim discloses element [1.c] (see Figure 10(b) (annotated below); Ex. 1003,
`
`¶¶116-117).
`
`Ex. 1004, Fig. 10(b); Ex. 1022, Fig. 10(b)
`
`
`
`Element [1.c] includes two sub-elements:
`
`- 16 -
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`(a) Claim 1: [1.c.i] a button assembly within the
`opening, the button assembly comprising: an
`input member having an input surface;
`Kim discloses element [1.c.i] (i.e., Kim’s “combined button”). Figure 18
`
`shows “a combined button” (Ex. 1004, 3:22-24; Ex. 1022, ¶8; Ex. 1003, ¶118).
`
`Ex. 1004, Fig. 18; Ex. 1022, Fig. 18
`
`
`
`Furthermore, Figure 10(b) shows a “cross-sectional view of [the] combined
`
`button” (Ex. 1004, 21:20-22; Ex. 1022, ¶166), which includes a surface that may be
`
`pressed downward (Ex. 1003, ¶119).
`
`
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`- 17 -
`
`
`
`
`
`Ex. 1004, Fig. 10(b); Ex. 1022, Fig. 10(b)
`
`
`
`
`
`Kim discloses this limitation in the same way as the ’619 Patent, which states
`
`“[t]he button assembly 110 includes an input member 112 that may be touched,
`
`pressed, or otherwise interacted with by a user” (Ex. 1001, 6:49-59; Ex. 1003, ¶¶120-
`
`121). Likewise, Kim discloses a “combined button” with a surface that similarly may
`
`pressed by a user (see also Ex. 1004, 13:42-67, 16:48-17:12; Ex. 1022, ¶¶89-92,
`
`¶¶118-120; Ex. 1003, ¶¶121-122).
`
`(b) Claim 1: [1.c.ii] a button assembly within the
`opening, the button assembly comprising: ... a
`biometric sensor positioned below the input
`member and configured to produce an output
`signal in response to a touch on the input
`
`- 18 -
`
`
`
`
`
`surface, the output signal corresponding to a
`biometric characteristic;
`Kim discloses element [1.c.ii]. Kim discloses a “combined button” with an
`
`input member. See element [1.c.i]. Furthermore, Kim discloses that the “combined
`
`button” includes a fingerprint sensor below the input member (pictured below) (Ex.
`
`1003, ¶123).
`
`Ex. 1004, Fig. 10(b); Ex. 1022, Fig. 10(b)
`
`
`
`First, Kim discloses “a biometric sensor … configured to produce an output
`
`signal in response to a touch on the input surface, the output signal corresponding to
`
`a biometric characteristic.” Kim discloses a “capacitive fingerprint sensor 240p2
`
`
`
`- 19 -
`
`
`
`
`
`embedded in the physical button 760a” (Ex. 1004, 20:57-59, 22:11-12; see also Ex.
`
`1004, 21:27-41; Ex. 1022, ¶161, 167-170, 176). Kim also teaches “[t]he electronic
`
`device 701 may compose fingerprint images” (Ex. 1004, 21:58-22:3; Ex. 1022,
`
`¶¶173-174; Ex. 1003, ¶124).
`
`Indeed, Kim discloses a “biometric sensor” the same way as the ’619 Patent,
`
`which teaches the “biometric sensor” includes a “fingerprint” sensor such as
`
`“capacitive fingerprint sensor 240p2,” and “[f]ingerprints and DNA are example
`
`biometric characteristics” (Ex. 1001, 4:51-5:14; Ex. 1003, ¶¶125-126).
`
`Second, Kim discloses “capacitive fingerprint sensor 240p2” is “located
`
`under the physical button 760a” (Ex. 1004, 23:7-8; see also Ex. 1004, 17:3-5, 18:8-
`
`13, 18:28-32, 18:47-53, 19:1-2, 19:26-30, 19:47-51, 23:6-10; Ex. 1022, ¶¶120, 130,
`
`134, 139, 143, 146, 150, 187; Ex. 1003, ¶127).
`
`Furthermore, a POSITA would have been familiar with biometric sensors
`
`(e.g., fingerprint sensors), and would have understood that the “output signal” from
`
`a fingerprint sensor would correspond to a biometric characteristic (e.g., a
`
`fingerprint) (Ex. 1003, ¶¶128-129). Likewise, a POSITA would have understood a
`
`capacitive fingerprint sensor functions in response to a user’s touch. If argued that
`
`this limitation was not disclosed by Kim, it would have been obvious in light of the
`
`general knowledge of the POSITA and well within the skill of a POSITA, which
`
`likewise would have provided a reasonable expectation of success (Koninklijke
`
`- 20 -
`
`
`
`
`
`Philips N.V. v. Google LLC, 948 F.3d 1330, 1337–38 (Fed. Cir. 2020); Ex. 1003,
`
`¶¶128-129).
`
`v.
`
`Claim 1: [1.d] a seal positioned between a sealing
`surface of the button assembly and the enclosure;
`Kim discloses element [1.d] (see Figure 10(b) (annotated below)).
`
`Ex. 1004, Fig. 10(b); Ex. 1004, Fig. 10(b)
`
`
`
`
`
`First, Kim discloses a seal. For example, Kim discloses use of “sealing rubber
`
`722” (Ex. 1004, 22:35-40; see also Ex. 1004, 20:27-50, 22:28-42; Ex. 1022, ¶¶156-
`
`159, 179-181), which creates the claimed “seal.” As Kim explains, the “sealing
`
`rubber 722 may have a sealing and waterproof function” (Ex. 1004, 20:47-48; Ex.
`
`1022, ¶159; Ex. 1003, ¶¶130-131).
`
`- 21 -
`
`
`
`
`
`Second, Kim discloses the seal is positioned between a sealing surface of the
`
`button assembly and the enclosure. For example, Kim discloses “support fixture
`
`721a” (Ex. 1004, 22:28-34; Ex. 1022, ¶179), which includes the claimed “sealing
`
`surface of the button assembly” of element [1.d] (Ex. 1003, ¶132). Figure 10(b)
`
`(above) discloses that “sealing rubber 722” (green) is positioned between a sealing
`
`surface of the button assembly (blue) and the enclosure (yellow) (Ex. 1003, ¶132).
`
`Furthermore, a POSITA would have known button assemblies in mobile
`
`electronic devices should be sealed in order to prevent ingress of potentially
`
`damaging moisture and dust, and that common techniques to add a seal were to use
`
`a rubber gasket or a pressure sensitive adhesive (“PSA”) layer, rendering this
`
`limitation obvious in view of the general knowledge of a POSITA and well within
`
`their skill (Ex. 1003, ¶¶133-134).
`
`vi.
`
`Claim 1: [1.e] a flexible conduit coupled to the
`biometric sensor and configured to transmit the output
`signal to the processor; wherein:
`Kim discloses element [1.e] (see Figure 10(b) (annotated below); Ex. 1003,
`
`¶135).
`
`- 22 -
`
`
`
`
`
`Ex. 1004, Fig. 10(b); Ex. 1022, Fig. 10(b)
`
`
`
`
`
`First, Kim discloses “flexible PCB 706,” which corresponds to the claimed
`
`“flexible conduit” of element [1.e] (Ex. 1004, 22:9-27; see also Ex. 1004, 19:63-
`
`20:26, 23:6-21; Ex. 1022, ¶¶153-155, 176-178, 187-189; Ex. 1003, ¶136).
`
`Second, Kim further discloses that “flexible PCB 706 may be electrically
`
`connected to the capacitive fingerprint sensor 240p2 embedded in the physical
`
`button 760a.” (Ex. 1004, 22:9-17; Ex. 1022, ¶¶176-177; see also Ex. 1004, 20:59-
`
`60; Ex. 1022, ¶¶161, 176). Figure 10(b) shows “flexible PCB 706” (teal) coupled to
`
`the biometric sensor (red) (Ex. 1003, ¶137).
`
`- 23 -
`
`
`
`
`
`This electrical connection is further illustrated in Figure 2, which shows
`
`arrows between the “application processor” and the “sensor module 240,” which
`
`includes “biometric sensor 240I” (Ex. 1004, Fig. 2, 7:33-38, 9:13; Ex. 1022, Fig. 2,
`
`¶¶33, 43; Ex. 1003, ¶137). A POSITA would have understood that Figure 2 depicts
`
`an electrical connection, such that the biometric sensor will transmit an output signal
`
`to the application processor, and that this connection is enabled by flexible PCB 706
`
`(Ex. 1003, ¶137).
`
`Ex. 1004, Fig. 2; Ex. 1022, Fig. 2
`
`
`
`
`
`A POSITA would have understood the purpose of the electrical connection
`
`between “flexible conduit 706” and “fingerprint sensor 240p2” was to transmit an
`
`output signal from “fingerprint sensor 240p2” to the “application processor” (Ex.
`
`- 24 -
`
`
`
`
`
`1003, ¶138). Furthermore, a POSITA would have known to electrically connect a
`
`fingerprint sensor and a processor with a flexible PCB, such that the flexible conduit
`
`would transmit the sensor’s output signal to the processor, so that the electronic
`
`device may do something with the output signal (e.g., use the output or “fingerprint”
`
`for biometric authentication) (Ex. 1003, ¶139). A POSITA would have also known
`
`flexible PCBs should be used in mobile devices, which have relatively smaller
`
`volume and profile. Consequently, this limitation would have been obvious in view
`
`of this general knowledge and well within the skill of a POSITA (Ex. 1003, ¶¶139-
`
`140).
`
`vii.
`
`Claim 1: [1.f] a portion of the flexible conduit is
`sandwiched between the seal and the sealing surface or
`between the seal and the enclosure.
`Kim discloses element [1.f] (see Figure 10(b) (annotated below); Ex. 1003,
`
`¶141).
`
`- 25 -
`
`
`
`
`
`Ex. 1004, Fig. 10(b); Ex. 1022, Fig. 10(b)
`
`
`
`
`
`Kim discloses the claimed “flexible conduit,” “
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