IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Elenga et al.
`In re Patent of:
`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0179IP2
`9,941,830
`U.S. Patent No.:
`
`April 10, 2018
`Issue Date:
`
`Appl. Serial No.: 15/181,249
`
`Filing Date:
`June 13, 2016
`Title:
`LINEAR VIBRATION MODULES AND LINEAR-RESONANT
`VIBRATION MODULES
`
`
`
`Mail Stop Patent Board
`Patent Trial and Appeal Board
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`
`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW OF UNITED STATES PATENT
`NO. 9,941,830 PURSUANT TO 35 U.S.C. §§ 311–319, 37 C.F.R. § 42
`
`
`
`

`

`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0179IP2
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 9,941,830
`
`
`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`
`I.
`
`II.
`
`INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 1
`
`REQUIREMENTS FOR IPR .......................................................................... 1
`A. Standing .................................................................................................... 1
`B. Challenge and Relief Requested ............................................................... 1
`C. Claim Construction ................................................................................... 2
`
`III.
`
`’830 PATENT .................................................................................................. 7
`A. Brief Description ....................................................................................... 7
`B. Prosecution History ................................................................................... 7
`
`IV. APPLICATION OF PRIOR ART ................................................................... 7
`A. GROUND 1A: Wakuda-Ramsay Renders Obvious Claims 1-4, 7, 8, 14,
`15-17, 19, 20 (Plain-and-Ordinary Meaning and Patent Owner’s Means-
`Plus-Function Construction) ..................................................................... 8
`1. Wakuda ............................................................................................ 8
`2.
`Ramsay ..........................................................................................10
`3. Wakuda-Ramsay ...........................................................................11
`4. Analysis .........................................................................................15
`B. GROUND 1B: Wakuda-Ramsay-Amaya Renders Obvious Claims 2-6
`(Plain-and-Ordinary Meaning and Patent Owner’s Means-Plus-Function
`Construction)...........................................................................................39
`1. Amaya............................................................................................39
`2. Wakuda-Ramsay-Amaya ..............................................................41
`3. Analysis .........................................................................................43
`C. GROUND 1C: Wakuda-Ramsay-Tierling Renders Obvious Claims 15,
`16, 20 (Plain-and-Ordinary Meaning and Patent Owner’s Means-Plus-
`Function Construction) ...........................................................................48
`1.
`Tierling ..........................................................................................48
`2. Wakuda-Ramsay-Tierling .............................................................50
`3. Analysis .........................................................................................51
`D. GROUND 2A: Wakuda-Ramsay-Rossi-Aldrich Renders Obvious
`Claims 1-8, 14, 15-17, 19, 20 (Both Parties’ Means-Plus-Function
`Constructions) .........................................................................................55
`1.
`Rossi ..............................................................................................56
`2. Aldrich ...........................................................................................57
`3. Wakuda-Ramsay-Rossi-Aldrich ....................................................58
`4. Analysis .........................................................................................65
`
`i
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`

`

`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0179IP2
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 9,941,830
`
`
`E. GROUND 2B: Wakuda-Ramsay-Rossi-Aldrich-Tierling Renders
`Obvious Claims 15, 16, 20 (Both Parties’ Means-Plus-Function
`Constructions) .........................................................................................76
`
`V. DISCRETIONARY CONSIDERATIONS ...................................................77
`A. The General Plastic Factors Favor Institution .......................................77
`1.
`Factors 1, 2, 4, and 5: Apple Never Petitioned This Patent ..........77
`2.
`Factor 3: The Different Prior Art at Issue Between the Proceedings
`Ensures No Advantage Is Gained .................................................79
`Factors 6 and 7: The Distinct Grounds and Lack of Significant
`Relationship Ensure the Board’s Resources and Ability to Render
`a Decision Within the Statutory Timeframe Are Not Significantly
`Impacted ........................................................................................79
`B. The Advanced Bionics Test Favors Institution .......................................80
`C. The Fintiv Factors Favor Institution .......................................................81
`
`3.
`
`VI. PAYMENT OF FEES ...................................................................................82
`
`VII. CONCLUSION ..............................................................................................82
`
`VIII. MANDATORY NOTICES UNDER 37 C.F.R § 42.8(a)(1) .........................82
`A. Real Party-In-Interest Under 37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(1)..............................83
`B. Related Matters Under 37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(2) .......................................83
`C. Lead And Back-Up Counsel Under 37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(3) ...................84
`D. Service Information ................................................................................84
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ii
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`

`

`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0179IP2
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 9,941,830
`
`
`
`
`LIST OF EXHIBITS
`
`APPLE-1001
`
`U.S. Patent No. 9,941,830
`
`APPLE-1002
`
`U.S. Patent No. 9,941,830 File History
`
`APPLE-1003
`
`Declaration of Blake Hannaford
`
`APPLE-1004
`
`U.S. Patent No. 7,843,277 to Pedro Gregorio, et al.
`(“Gregorio”)
`
`APPLE-1005
`
`U.S. Patent No. 7,005,811 to Hiroshi Wakuda, et al.
`(“Wakuda”)
`
`APPLE-1006
`
`U.S. Patent Application Publication. No. 2008/0294984 to Erin
`B. Ramsay, et al. (“Ramsay”)
`
`APPLE-1007
`
`U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0109256 to
`Danny A. Grant, et al. (“Grant”)
`
`APPLE-1008
`
`U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0134561 to
`Kollin M. Tierling, et al. (“Tierling”)
`
`APPLE-1009
`
`U.S. Patent Publication No. 2008/0246532 (“Cosper”)
`
`APPLE-1010
`
`U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0198139 to
`Robert Andre Lacroix, et al. (“Lacroix”)
`
`APPLE-1011
`
`U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0134562 to
`Danny Grant, et al.
`
`APPLE-1012
`
`C. McLyman, Transformer and Inductor Design Handbook,
`Marcel Dekker, Third Edition, Revised and Expanded, 2004
`
`APPLE-1013
`
`U.S. Patent No. 6,088,017 to Mark R. Tremblay, et al.
`
`iii
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`

`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0179IP2
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 9,941,830
`
`
`APPLE-1014
`
`U.S. Patent No. 8,686,952 to Bobby Burrough, et al.
`
`APPLE-1015
`
`U.S. Patent No. 8,207,832 to Jue Byung Yun, et al.
`
`APPLE-1016
`
`U.S. Patent No. 8,203,640 to Jong Hwan Kim, et al.
`
`APPLE-1017
`
`U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0285216 to
`Kollin M. Tierling, et al.
`
`APPLE-1018
`
`Thorsten A. Kern, Engineering Haptic Devices: A Beginner's
`Guide for Engineers, Springer, 2009
`
`APPLE-1019
`
`U.S. Patent No. 6,982,696 to Erik J. Shahoian
`
`APPLE-1020
`
`U.S. Patent No. 4,879,641 to Domenico Rossi, et al. (“Rossi”)
`
`APPLE-1021
`
`Jack Aldrich, et al, Controller for Driving a Piezoelectric
`Actuator at Resonance, NASA Tech Briefs, April 2008
`(“Aldrich”)
`
`APPLE-1022
`
`Declaration of June Munford re Aldrich
`
`APPLE-1023
`
`U.S. Patent No. 7,027,032 to Louis B. Rosenberg, et al.
`(“Rosenberg”)
`
`
`APPLE-1024
`
`U.S. Patent No. 5,736,797 to Ryo Motohashi, et al.
`(“Motohashi”)
`
`APPLE-1025
`
`U.S. Patent No. 5,955,799 to Hidetoshi Amaya, et al.
`(“Amaya”)
`
`APPLE-1026
`
`J. Peckol, Embedded Systems, A contemporary Design Tool,
`2008 (“Peckol”)
`
`APPLE-1027
`
`Corrosion - two case studies: aluminium and iron, Primary
`Connections: Linking science with literacy, available at
`https://www.primaryconnections.org.au/themes/custom/connect
`
`iv
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`

`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0179IP2
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 9,941,830
`
`
`ions/assets/SBR/data/Chem/sub/corrosion/corrosion.htm#:~:tex
`t=When%20it%20starts%20to%20corrode,keep%20attacking%
`20the%20underlying%20iron (retrieved 2/12/2024)
`
`APPLE-1028
`
`How to Protect Aluminum From Corrosion, OneMonroe,
`available at https://monroeengineering.com/blog/how-to-
`protect-aluminum-from-corrosion/ (retrieved 2/12/2024)
`
`APPLE-1029
`
`Electrical Conductivity of Materials, Blue Sea Systems,
`https://www.bluesea.com/resources/108/Electrical_Conductivit
`y_of_Materials (retrieved 2/12/2024)
`
`APPLE-1030
`
`Thermal Conductivity, available at hyperphysics.phy-
`astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Tables/thrcn.html (retrieved 2/12/2024)
`
`APPLE-1031
`
`U.S. Patent No. 8,134,437 to Elliot Brooks
`
`APPLE-1032
`
`Magnetic Materials, Phys 251; archived at Wayback Machine;
`citing a capture dated March 23, 2002
`(https://web.archive.org/web/20020323183824/http://webphysi
`cs.iupui.edu/webscience/physics_archive/magneticmaterials.ht
`ml)
`
`APPLE-1033
`
`Resonant Systems Proposed Claim Constructions, 7-23-cv-
`00077 (WDTX) (Feb. 15, 2024)
`
`APPLE-1034
`
`Apple, Inc. Proposed Claim Constructions, 7-23-cv-00077
`(WDTX) (Feb. 15, 2024)
`
`APPLE-1035
`
`Types of Magnetism, DolTPoMS, Department of Materials
`Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge; archived at
`Wayback Machine; citing a capture dated October 9, 2006
`(https://web.archive.org/web/20061015000000*/https://www.d
`oitpoms.ac.uk/tlplib/ferromagnetic/types.php)
`
`APPLE-1036
`
`Motion to Transfer Venue, 7-23-cv-00077 (WDTX)
`
`v
`
`

`

`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0179IP2
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 9,941,830
`
`
`APPLE-1037
`
`APPLE-1038
`
`Moskowitz, B.M. (1991). Hitchhiker’s Guide to Magnetism. In
`Environmental Magnetism Workshop, pp. 1–38. Minneapolis:
`The Institute for Rock Magnetism and the Global Paleorecords
`Research Training Group
`
`Resistance and Ohm’s Law; archived at Wayback Machine;
`citing a capture dated February 18, 1999
`(https://web.archive.org/web/19990218085938/https://physics.b
`u.edu/~duffy/PY106/Resistance.html)
`
`APPLE-1039
`
`[RESERVED]
`
`APPLE-1040
`
`U.S. Patent Publication No. 2011/0133682 (“Egger”)
`
`APPLE-1041
`
`U.S. Patent Publication No. 2008/0001484 (“Fuller”)
`
`APPLE-1042
`
`U.S. Patent Publication No. 2006/0145547 (“Kraus”)
`
`APPLE-1043
`
`U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005/0275294 (“Izumi”)
`
`APPLE-1044
`
`Resonant Systems Preliminary Infringement Contentions, 7-23-
`cv-00077 (WDTX) (October 5, 2023)
`
`APPLE-1045
`
`Resonant Systems Opening Claim Construction Brief, Resonant
`Systems, Inc. v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al., 2-22-cv-
`00423 (EDTX) (December 21, 2023)
`
`APPLE-1046
`
`Apple, Inc. Opening Claim Construction Brief, 7-23-cv-00077
`(WDTX) (March 21, 2024)
`
`APPLE-1047
`
`Resonant Systems, Inc’s Responsive Claim Construction Brief,
`7-23-cv-00077 (WDTX) (April 11, 2024)
`
`
`
`
`
`vi
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`

`

`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0179IP2
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 9,941,830
`
`
`LISTING OF CLAIMS
`
`Claim 1
`
`[1pre] A vibration module comprising:
`
`[1a]
`
`a housing;
`
`[1b]
`
`a moveable component;
`
`[1c]
`
`a power supply;
`
`[1d]
`
`user-input features;
`
`[1e]
`
`[1f]
`
`Claim 2
`
`[2]
`
`Claim 3
`
`[3]
`
`a driving component that drives the moveable component to oscillate
`within the housing; and
`
`a control component that controls supply of power from the power
`supply to the driving component to cause the moveable component to
`oscillate at a frequency and an amplitude specified by one or more
`stored values.
`
`The vibration module of claim 1 wherein the control component is one
`of: an variable oscillator circuit with additional control circuitry; and a
`control component that includes a microprocessor, a control program,
`stored in an electronic memory within, or separate from, the
`microprocessor, the control program executed by the microprocessor to
`control supply of power from the power supply to the driving
`component to cause the moveable component to oscillate at a frequency
`and an amplitude specified by the one or more stored values.
`
`The vibration module of claim 1 wherein the control component
`receives output signals from sensors within the vibration module during
`operation of the vibration module and adjusts one or more operational
`control outputs of the control component according to the received
`output signals from the sensors.
`
`vii
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`

`

`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0179IP2
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 9,941,830
`
`
`Claim 4
`
`[4]
`
`Claim 5
`
`[5a]
`
`[5b]
`
`Claim 6
`
`[6a]
`
`The vibration module of claim 1 wherein the control component adjusts
`the one or more operational control outputs of the control component
`according to the received output signals from the sensors in order that
`subsequent operation of the vibration module produces desired outputs
`from the one or more sensors corresponding to one or more operational
`control parameters.
`
`The vibration module of claim 4 wherein the one or more operational
`control parameters is a strength of vibration produced by the oscillation
`of the moveable component; and
`
`wherein the one or more operational control outputs is a frequency at
`which the control component drives the moveable component to
`oscillate, the control component dynamically adjusting the power
`supplied to the driving component to produce oscillation of the movable
`component at a resonant frequency for the vibration module.
`
`The vibration module of claim 4 wherein the one or more operational
`control parameters include both a strength of vibration produced by the
`oscillation of the moveable component and a current operational mode;
`and
`
`[6b]
`
`wherein the one or more operational control outputs is a control output
`that determines a current supplied by the power supply to the driving
`component and a frequency at which the control component drives the
`moveable component to oscillate.
`
`Claim 7
`
`[7]
`
`The vibration module of claim 1 wherein the driving component
`comprises one or more electromagnetic coils that generate magnetic
`fields parallel to the directions in which the moveable component is
`driven by the driving component.
`
`viii
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`

`

`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0179IP2
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 9,941,830
`
`
`Claim 8
`
`[8a]
`
`The vibration module of claim 1 wherein the housing is a tube, capped
`at both ends by movable-component-repelling components selected
`from one of mechanical springs and magnets;
`
`[8b]
`
`wherein the movable component is a magnet shaped to slide within the
`tube; and
`
`[8c]
`
`wherein the driving component is an electromagnetic coil.
`
`Claim 14
`
`[14]
`
`The vibration module of claim 1 further including flux paths
`comprising a paramagnetic material that is shaped and positioned to
`reduce the reluctance of one or more magnetic circuits within the
`vibration module.
`
`Claim 15
`
`[15]
`
`The vibration module of claim 1 wherein the control component drives
`simultaneous oscillation of the moveable component at two or more
`frequencies to generate complex vibration modes.
`
`Claim 16
`
`[16]
`
`The vibration module of claim 15 wherein the complex vibration modes
`include: a primary oscillation frequency modulated by a modulating
`oscillation frequency; a beat frequency; and an aperiodic oscillation
`waveform.
`
`Claim 17
`
`[17]
`
`The vibration module of claim 1 wherein the control component
`controls supply of power from the power supply to the driving
`component to cause the moveable component to oscillate at a frequency
`and an amplitude that are independently specified by user input
`received from the user-input features.
`
`Claim 19
`
`ix
`
`

`

`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0179IP2
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 9,941,830
`
`
`[19pre] A vibration module comprising:
`
`[19a]
`
`a housing;
`
`[19b]
`
`a moveable component;
`
`[19c]
`
`a power supply;
`
`[19d]
`
`user-input features;
`
`[19e]
`
`[19f]
`
`a driving component that drives the moveable component to oscillate
`within the housing;
`
`a control component that controls supply of power from the power
`supply to the driving component to cause the moveable component to
`oscillate at a frequency and an amplitude specified by one or more
`stored values; and
`
`[19g]
`
`flux paths comprising a paramagnetic material that is shaped and
`positioned to reduce the reluctance of one or more magnetic circuits
`within the vibration module.
`
`Claim 20
`
`[20pre] A vibration module comprising:
`
`[20a]
`
`a housing;
`
`[20b]
`
`a moveable component;
`
`[20c]
`
`a power supply;
`
`[20d]
`
`user-input features;
`
`[20e]
`
`[20f]
`
`a driving component that drives the moveable component to oscillate
`within the housing; and
`
`a control component that controls supply of power from the power
`supply to the driving component to cause the moveable component to
`oscillate at a frequency and an amplitude specified by one or more
`stored values,
`
`x
`
`

`

`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0179IP2
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 9,941,830
`
`
`[20g] wherein the control component drives simultaneous oscillation of the
`moveable component at two or more frequencies to generate complex
`vibration modes.
`
`
`
`xi
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`

`

`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0179IP2
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 9,941,830
`
`
`I.
`
`INTRODUCTION
`
`Apple Inc. (“Apple” or “Petitioner”) petitions for IPR of claims 1-8, 14-17,
`
`19, and 20 (“Challenged Claims”) of U.S. Patent No. 9,941,830 (“the ’830
`
`patent”).
`
`II. REQUIREMENTS FOR IPR
`
`A.
`
`Standing
`
`Apple certifies that the ’830 patent is available for IPR and Petitioner is not
`
`barred or estopped from requesting this review challenging the Challenged Claims
`
`on the below-identified grounds.
`
`B. Challenge and Relief Requested
`
`The Challenged Claims are invalid based on the grounds below. Dr.
`
`Hannaford provides supporting testimony (APPLE-1003).
`
`Ground
`
`Claims
`
`§103
`
`1A
`
`1B
`
`1C
`
`2A
`
`2B
`
`1-4, 7, 8, 14, 15-17, 19, 20
`
`Wakuda, Ramsay
`
`2-6
`
`15, 16, 20
`
`Wakuda, Ramsay, Amaya
`
`Wakuda, Ramsay, Tierling
`
`1-8, 14, 15-17, 19, 20
`
`Wakuda, Ramsay, Rossi, Aldrich
`
`15, 16, 20
`
`Wakuda, Ramsay,
`Rossi, Aldrich, Tierling
`
`Each applied reference pre-dates U.S. provisional application 61/179,109,
`
`filed on May 18, 2009 (“Critical Date”), which is the earliest filed application from
`
`which the ’830 patent claims priority. Petitioner does not concede that the Critical
`
`1
`
`

`

`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0179IP2
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 9,941,830
`
`Date is May 18, 2009, but has applied references that pre-date the Critical Date and
`
`qualify as prior art as shown below.
`
`Reference
`
`Wakuda
`
`Tierling
`
`Ramsay
`
`Rossi
`
`Aldrich
`
`Amaya
`
`Date
`
`2/28/2006
`
`6/23/2005
`
`11/27/2008
`
`11/7/1989
`
`4/2008
`
`9/21/1999
`
`Pre-AIA Section
`
`§102(b)
`
`§102(b)
`
`§102(a)
`
`§102(b)
`
`§102(b)
`
`§102(b)
`
`C. Claim Construction
`
`All claim terms should be construed according to the Phillips standard. The
`
`Board has repeatedly explained that “claim terms need only be construed to the
`
`extent necessary to resolve the controversy.” Wellman, Inc. v. Eastman Chem. Co.,
`
`642 F.3d 1355, 1361 (Fed. Cir. 2011). As the prior art discloses the claims under
`
`each of the constructions offered in the Petition, the Board need not construe the
`
`claims to resolve unpatentability. Id.
`
`1. Means-Plus-Function Terms
`
`Certain claims recite “driving component” and “control component” as
`
`discussed below. These terms do not recite “means for” and thus a presumption
`
`exists that these terms are not subject to 35 U.S.C. §112(¶6). Although Patent
`
`Owner currently agrees in co-pending litigation that the terms “control component”
`
`and “driving component” should be interpreted according to the means-plus-
`
`2
`
`

`

`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0179IP2
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 9,941,830
`
`function construction, Patent Owner initially asserted that these terms are under the
`
`plain-and-ordinary meaning interpretation and, even now, Patent Owner’s
`
`indication of corresponding structures under the means-plus-function construction
`
`does not align with its position in parallel litigation against Samsung Electronics
`
`(2:22-cv-00423). APPLE-1033, 1-4; APPLE-1045, 14-22. In view of Patent
`
`Owner’s inconsistent positions, this Petition demonstrates unpatentability by
`
`applying both the plain-and-ordinary meaning and the means-plus-function
`
`meaning of these terms. Indeed, the Petition’s plain-and-ordinary meaning
`
`interpretation (Grounds 1A-1C) and means-plus-function interpretation (Grounds
`
`2A-2B) cover all of Patent Owner’s various means-plus-function treatments of the
`
`terms.
`
`The corresponding analysis and construction under 35 U.S.C. §112(¶6) for
`
`each term is provided below. Regardless of the interpretation adopted, the instant
`
`record demonstrates that the implicated terms are plainly satisfied in view of the
`
`overlap between the prior art cited herein and the ’830 patent specification.
`
`General Electric Co., IPR2018-00928, Paper 9, 12-16 (“the rule does not prohibit a
`
`petitioner from submitting more than one construction”); Intel Corp., IPR2018-
`
`01340, Paper 8, 11-13; APPLE-1003, [21]-[32].
`
`(a)
`
`“control component”
`
`Claims 1 and 19 recite that the “control component” performs a specified
`
`3
`
`

`

`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0179IP2
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 9,941,830
`
`
`function (“controls supply of power from the power supply to the driving
`
`component to cause the moveable component to oscillate at a frequency and an
`
`amplitude specified by one or more stored values”). This Petition treats “control
`
`component” in these claims as including one of the switches shown in Figures 5A-
`
`6 and described at 5:52-6:5, 6:9-16, and the processor (also referred to as
`
`microprocessor, microcontroller, or CPU) that performs the algorithm shown in
`
`Figures 7A-7C and described at 6:52-8:40. APPLE-1046, 13; APPLE-1034, 6;
`
`APPLE-1003, [24]. The Petition treats this structure and its equivalents as the
`
`corresponding structure for the “control component” in claims 1 and 19.
`
`Claim 20 recites that the “control component” performs a specified function
`
`(“controls supply of power from the power supply to the driving component to
`
`cause the moveable component to oscillate at a frequency and an amplitude
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`specified by one or more stored values” and “drives simultaneous oscillation of the
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`moveable component at two or more frequencies to generate complex vibration
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`modes”). This Petition treats “control component” in claim 20 as including one of
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`the switches shown in Figures 5A-6 and described at 5:52-6:5, 6:9-16, and the
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`processor (also referred to as microprocessor, microcontroller, or CPU) that
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`performs the algorithm shown in Figures 7A-7C and described at 6:52-8:40 and
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`13:20-59. APPLE-1046, 12-13; APPLE-1034, 6; APPLE-1003, [25]. The Petition
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`treats this structure and its equivalents as the corresponding structure for the
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`4
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`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0179IP2
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 9,941,830
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`“control component.”
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`While agreeing on the means-plus-function treatment in co-pending
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`litigation, Patent Owner identifies an alternative means-plus-function construction
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`that only includes some unspecified part of the disclosed algorithm of the ’830
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`patent. APPLE-1046, 12-13; APPLE-1047, 19-23. In related litigation against
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`Samsung Electronics, Patent Owner similarly identified alternative means-plus-
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`function constructions that only employ an oversimplified version of the ’830
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`patent’s algorithm. APPLE-1045, 14-22.
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`Regardless, the claims are unpatentable. Specifically, the claims are
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`demonstrated unpatentable in Grounds 2A-2B that apply the means-plus-function
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`interpretation of the recited control component. As Grounds 2A-2B demonstrate
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`how the prior art addresses the claims according to the narrower means-plus-
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`function interpretation, Grounds 2A-2B likewise address Patent Owner’s broader
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`means-plus-function position as to the “control component.”1 The claims are also
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`1 Patent Owner also argued in the Samsung litigation that the term “control
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`component” in claims 3-5 are means-plus-function limitations. APPLE-1045, 22-
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`28. Notably, Patent Owner’s positions are the same as its position with respect to
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`claim 1 in that litigation, or fall squarely within Petitioner’s means-plus-function
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`5
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`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0179IP2
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 9,941,830
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`demonstrated unpatentable in Grounds 1A-1C under the plain-and-ordinary
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`meaning and Patent Owner’s alternative means-plus-function construction.
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`APPLE-1003, [26]-[30].
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`(b)
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`“driving component”
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`As agreed by Patent Owner in co-pending litigation, the term “driving
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`component that drives the moveable component to oscillate within the housing” is
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`a means-plus-function limitation because it uses a non-structural generic
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`placeholder (“component”) defined only by functional limitations (“driving … the
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`moveable component to oscillate within the housing”). The ’830 patent describes
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`the following structures that perform the recited function when they receive
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`alternating current: “a coil of conductive wire 420” (Figures 4A-4G); “coil 514”
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`(Figures 5A-5B); “coil 626” (Figure 6); “electromagnet” (Figures 10-11);
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`“additional coils 1202 and 1204” (Figure 12); “coils 1302 and 1304” (Figure 13);
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`“driving coils 1412 and 1414” (Figure 14); “coil 1510” (Figures 15-17); “stator
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`coils” (Figures 24A-25). APPLE-1001, 5:7-41, 5:61-66, 6:40-44, 9:22-64, 10:9-
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`34, 14:24-28. 37 CFR §42.104(b)(3); APPLE-1003, [31]-[32]. For the purpose of
`
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`interpretations. Id. Therefore, the Grounds in this Petition also show that claims
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`3-5 are unpatentable under Patent Owner’s means-plus-function positions offered
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`in the Samsung case.
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`6
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`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0179IP2
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 9,941,830
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`analyzing the prior art grounds, the Petition treats these structures and their
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`equivalents as the corresponding structure.
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`Regardless of means-plus-function or plain-and-ordinary meaning
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`construction, all Grounds demonstrate unpatentability of the claims.
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`III.
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`’830 PATENT
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`A. Brief Description
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`The ’830 patent provides “vibration modules that can be incorporated into a
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`wide variety of different types of electromechanical devices and systems to
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`produce vibrations of selected amplitudes and frequencies over a wide range of
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`amplitude/frequency space.” APPLE-1001, 1:16-21; APPLE-1003, [39]-[48].
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`Such vibration modules “can be incorporated in a wide variety of appliances,
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`devices, and systems to provide vibrational forces.” Id., Abstract. For example,
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`“the vibrational forces are produced by a linear oscillation of a weight or
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`component within the LVM [linear vibration module].” Id., 4:21-36.
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`B.
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`Prosecution History
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`The examiner issued one office action with prior art rejections. APPLE-
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`1002, 32-37. Applicant traversed this rejection without amendment. Id., 22-25. A
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`notice of allowance was issued without reasons for allowance. Id., 10-16; APPLE-
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`1003, [49]-[59].
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`IV. APPLICATION OF PRIOR ART
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`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0179IP2
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 9,941,830
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`A. GROUND 1A: Wakuda-Ramsay Renders Obvious Claims
`1-4, 7, 8, 14, 15-17, 19, 20 (Plain-and-Ordinary Meaning and
`Patent Owner’s Means-Plus-Function Construction)
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`1. Wakuda
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`Wakuda provides “a vibration generator system, which can generate
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`vibrations at a frequency that can be bodily sensed by humans, while being small
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`in size, and which makes setting of a configuration of vibrations easy.” APPLE-
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`1005, 2:13-17; APPLE-1003, [60]-[61]. Wakuda’s “vibration generator means 1”
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`includes “cylindrical-shaped casing 2,” “covers 3,” “coil 5,” “movable body 6”
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`including weight 7 and magnet M, and “energizing members 9” (e.g., “cone coil
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`springs”) “provided between both ends of the movable body 6 and inner surfaces
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`of the covers 3.” Id., 4:30-5:24.
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`APPLE-1005, Figure 1A
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`
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`Wakuda generates “drive signal S1” for driving the movable body, including
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`“an accumulation signal S1a” that “excites resonant vibrations at the natural
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`8
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`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0179IP2
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`frequency in the movable body 6,” and “a damping signal S1b” thereafter.
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`APPLE-1005, 7:9-17, 8:40-48, Figure 4; APPLE-1003, [62]. Referring to Figure
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`5, “where the accumulation signal S1a and the damping signal S1b are made
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`consecutive and signals composed of a set of the accumulation signal S1a and the
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`damping signal S1b are given at a cycle Te,” “the movable body 6 vibrates at the
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`natural frequency (resonance frequency), its amplitude increasing with time for the
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`accumulation signal S1 a, and damping with time for the damping signal S1b.” Id.,
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`9:12-15. “[A] line connecting peaks of amplitude of the movable body 6 together
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`is shown as an envelope E, the envelope E increasing or decreasing according to
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`the cycle Te of the accumulation signal S1a and the damping signal S1b, and a
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`frequency fe of the envelope E corresponding to 1/Te.” Id., 9:15-20. As such, “[a]
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`frequency of the envelope is in a lower band than a natural frequency. The
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`envelope is varied whereby changes in intensity of vibrations are given to humans.
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`Since changes in intensity of vibrations are easy to be bodily sensed as changes in
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`feeling of pressure and the frequency of the envelope is in a frequency band, which
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`can be bodily sensed effectively, humans can surely detect vibrations.” Id., 2:29-
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`40.
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`9
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`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0179IP2
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 9,941,830
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`APPLE-1005, Figure 5
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`2.
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`Ramsay
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`
`
`Ramsay provides techniques for “enabling a regular user of an end user
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`device, such as a cellular telephone, to customize parameters associated with haptic
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`effects applied to the user by the end user device.” APPLE-1006, Abstract;
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`APPLE-1003, [63]-[65]. “[T]he user may access programmable haptic design
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`software 30 via GUI 24” to modify “parameters or characteristics of a haptic
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`output or haptic track” that are modifiable “include a frequency of vibration and
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`amplitude of vibration. Id., [0030]-[0035], [0046], [0053], Figure 4. Ramsay also
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`can “enable[] the user to enter one or more frequencies for the haptic track or even
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`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0179IP2
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 9,941,830
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`continually changing frequencies to be played along the length of the haptic track.”
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`Id., [0046], [0037]. Users can also “combine or mix different haptic tracks together
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`if desired to provide a fuller haptic experience.” Id., [0015], [0030], [0047].
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`Further, Ramsay’s “ROM 28 may be configured to store a library of preset
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`haptic tracks,” and “also store haptic track files created or modified by the user.”
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`APPLE-1006, [0028], [0034], [0042], [0049], [0058], [0065]; APPLE-1003, [66].
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`3. Wakuda-Ramsay
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`In the predictable combination, Wakuda’s system is implemented to enable
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`users to customize parameters for haptic effects, according to Ramsay. APPLE-
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`1003, [86]-[87]. The resulting system provides Wakuda’s “small-sized terminal
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`devices, such as portable telephones, PDA, portable game equipment[],” that are
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`implemented to store the customized haptic effects to be selected/used in
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`generating desired haptic feedback. Id.; APPLE-1005, 1:11-14. Further, Wakuda-
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`Ramsay’s terminal device includes “input/output devices” as equipped in
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`Ramsay’s “end user device” similar to Wakuda’s terminal device. APPLE-1003,
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`[87]; APPLE-1006, [0019], [0022]-[0024]. Ramsay modifies Wakuda’s system to
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`embed “[s]oftware and systems” “according to the teachings [of Ramsay], to lead a
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`user through the process of entering and/or modify[ing] parameters and
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`characteristics of haptic tracks.” APPLE-1006, [0015]; APPLE-1003, [87].
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`Particularly, the memory device in Wakuda-Ramsay (Ramsay’s memory) would
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`11
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`Attorney Docket No. 50095-0179IP2
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 9,941,830
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`store “software program for enabling an end user to create and/or modify haptic
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`effects, the software program of which can be executed by processor,’ and would
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`“store haptic track files created or modified by the user and [] also store mixed
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`track files, which include multiple haptic tracks combined together.” APPLE-
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`1006, [0025]-[0028]; APPLE