`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`LENOVO (UNITED STATES) INC. and
`MOTOROLA MOBILITY LLC,
`Petitioner,
`v.
`THETA IP, LLC,
`Patent Owner.
`
`IPR2023-00694
`Patent 7,010,330 B1
`
`Before JEFFREY S. SMITH, THOMAS L. GIANNETTI, and
`BARBARA A. BENOIT, Administrative Patent Judges.
`GIANNETTI, Administrative Patent Judge.
`
`DECISION
`Denying Request for Rehearing
`37 C.F.R. 42.71
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`INTRODUCTION
`I.
`Lenovo (United States) Inc. and Motorola Mobility LLC (collectively,
`“Petitioner”) filed a Petition requesting institution of inter partes review of
`claims 1, 23, 29, and 30 (“the challenged claims”) of U.S. Patent No.
`7,010,330 B1 (Ex. 1001, “the ’330 patent”). Paper 1 (“Pet.”), 1. Theta IP,
`LLC (“Patent Owner”) filed a Preliminary Response (Paper 9, “Prelim.
`Resp.”).
`On October 23, 2023, we denied the Petition as to all challenged
`claims. Paper 10 (“Decision”). In denying the Petition, we concluded that
`Petitioner had failed to demonstrate that the cited prior art (specifically,
`Rauhala1) taught or suggested a claim limitation calling for “reducing a
`switching current in the signal path by dynamically changing an impedance
`of a component in the signal path based on the first signal strength.”
`Decision 19–20 (emphasis added).
`Petitioner has requested reconsideration of our Decision. Paper 11
`(“Req. Reh’g”). Petitioner’s grounds for seeking rehearing are: (1) the
`Board allegedly “misapprehended Rauhala’s disclosure that the entirety of
`Figure 7 is a mixer within the signal path,” and (2) the Board
`“misapprehended the meaning of ‘signal path’ and overlooked Petitioner’s
`evidence of what constitutes a ‘signal path.’” Req. Reh’g 3, 9 (title
`capitalization and boldface omitted).
`Patent Owner filed an opposition to this request (Paper 12, “Opp.”)
`and Petitioner filed a reply (Paper 13, “Reply”).
` For the reasons that follow, Petitioner’s request for rehearing is
`denied.
`
`1 EP Patent App. Pub. No. 0999649 A2 (Ex. 1004).
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`II. ANALYSIS
`A. Legal Standard
`The applicable standard for a request for rehearing is set forth in
`37 C.F.R. § 42.71(d), which provides in relevant part:
`A party dissatisfied with a decision may file a single request for
`rehearing without prior authorization from the Board. The
`burden of showing a decision should be modified lies with the
`party challenging the decision. The request must specifically
`identify all matters the party believes the Board misapprehended
`or overlooked, and the place where each matter was previously
`addressed in a motion, an opposition, a reply, or a sur-reply.
`When rehearing a decision on a petition to institute, a panel will review the
`decision for an abuse of discretion. 37 C.F.R. § 42.71(c).
`
`A rehearing request is not an opportunity for the requesting party to
`present new arguments or merely to express disagreement with the Decision
`and reargue its case, which is all Petitioner has done in this instance.
`
`
`B. The ’330 Patent
`The ’330 patent is described in our Decision. Id. at 3–6. The patent
`relates to wireless transceivers, e.g., mobile phones, and describes “us[ing]
`bias current reduction, impedance scaling, and gain changes either separately
`or in combination to reduce power dissipation.” Ex. 1001, (57). The ’330
`patent discloses the technique of varying the bias current supplied to various
`components in the signal path (e.g., amplifiers and mixers). Id. at 1:59–64;
`4:15–21; 5:4–16.
`In our Decision (at p. 6), we present independent claim 1, which is
`representative of the challenged claims and recites a method of receiving a
`signal using an integrated circuit, comprising the following step requiring
`“changing an impedance of a component in the signal path”:
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`reducing a switching current in the signal path by dynamically
`changing an impedance of a component in the signal path
`based on the first signal strength.
`Ex. 1001, 12:65–67 (emphasis added). 2
`Neither party requested a special construction of the term “in the
`signal path.” More specifically, Petitioner stated that except for two terms
`(not including “signal path”), “no express constructions are necessary to
`assess whether the prior art reads on the challenged claims.” Pet. 20.
`
`C. Overview of Rauhala
`Rauhala is cited in each of Petitioner’s challenges. Pet. 3–4. As is
`discussed in our Decision (at pp. 12–14), Rauhala discloses “a method and
`an arrangement for linearizing a radio receiver” that can be “applied in the
`reception circuits of mobile stations.” Ex. 1004 ¶ 1. Our Decision refers to
`Figure 1 of Rauhala, shown below. Decision 12–13. Figure 1 is described
`as “a simplified example of a radio receiver without the low-frequency
`components.” Ex. 1004 ¶ 12.
`
`
`
`2 Independent claim 23 similarly calls for “an impedance in the signal path
`is configured to be dynamically adjusted.” Ex. 1001 at 14:26–28 (emphasis
`added). Independent claim 29 also places the dynamically adjusted
`impedance in the signal path. Id. at 16:10–12.
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`Figure 1 depicts a radio receiver that includes an antenna (ANT) coupled to
`a series of filters (F1–F4), amplifiers (A1–A3), and mixers (M1, M2), with
`each mixer connected to an oscillator (O1, O2). Id. Rauhala describes these
`amplifiers and mixers as “linear units.” Id. In this Figure, the signal path
`from the antenna (ANT) to the detector (DET) passes through the filters,
`amplifiers, and mixers to the detector to provide signal Sb.
`
`Figure 2 of Rauhala, shown below, appears in the Rehearing Request
`Req. Reh’g 4. According to Rauhala, Figure 2 “shows a similar signal path
`structure as Figure 1.” Ex. 1004 ¶ 13.
`
`
`
`
`Rauhala Figure 2 shows unit 21 including the same antenna (ANT), linear
`units (amplifiers A1, A2, A3, and mixers M1, M2), and detector (DET),
`resulting in signal Sb as shown in Figure 1. Id. Just as in Figure 1, the signal
`path passes from antenna ANT thorough linear units 21 to detector DET.
`
`Rauhala describes control unit 22 shown in Figure 2 as “additional to
`Fig. 1.” Id. Rauhala describes unit 22 as a control unit for “controlling the
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`supply currents to the linear units,” and shows unit 22 as separate from the
`linear units 21 making up the signal path. Id.
`The Petition cites Figure 7 of Rauhala, depicted below, in support of
`its argument that the limitation “dynamically changing an impedance of a
`component in the signal path” is met. Pet. 39–42.
`
`
`
`Rauhula describes this figure as “an example of mixer supply current
`control.” Ex. 1004 ¶ 11. Figure 7, like Figure 2, shows two separate units,
`identified as 71 and 72. Rauhala identifies separate unit 71 as “an analog
`multiplier used as a mixer.” Id. ¶ 23. Rauhala identifies separate unit 72 as
`a “control circuit . . . for the supply current I of the analog mixer 71.” Id.
`The separation of the mixer 71 from the control circuit 72 containing
`resistors R1 and R2 is emphasized by the separate broken-line rectangles
`around each.
`
`
`The mixer (linear unit 72) shown in Figure 7 has as its inputs a signal
`originating from the antenna, just as is shown in Figures 1 and 2. See Fig. 7.
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`The mixer’s output is also shown, presumably to the next linear unit in line,
`as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Id.
`
`Our Decision refers to Figure 7 and describes the operation of control
`unit 72. Decision 13–14. We describe how control circuit 72 varies the
`supply current I to mixer 71 using resistors R1 and R2. Id. Control circuit
`72 contains transistors Q1 and Q2, resistors R1 through R4, and switch k.
`Ex. 1004 ¶ 23. Resistors R1 and R2 are connected in parallel with one end
`of the connection, “coupled to signal ground and the other end to the bases
`of transistors Q1 and Q2.” Id.
`
`Activating switch k causes the effective resistance of the R1/R2
`resistance combination to change, which in turn causes a change in control
`current IB. When switch k is open, “the control current IB of transistors Q1
`and Q2 is VB/R1,” and when switch k is closed, “the control current IB is
`VB/R1 + VB/R2.” Id. Rauhala indicates that by closing switch k “the
`current IB increases, causing the supply current I to increase as well.” Id.
`As noted, in its analysis of the disputed claim limitation “dynamically
`
`changing an impedance of a component in the signal path based on the first
`signal strength,” the Petition also relies on Figure 7 of Rauhala, and
`specifically, on the switching of the configuration of resistors R1 and R2 to
`vary the effective resistance of the combination, thus varying the bias
`current to mixer 71. See Pet. 39–42.
` As will be discussed further below, the central dispute lies in
`Petitioner’s contention that control circuit 72 in Figure 7, including resistors
`R1 and R2, shown as a separate entity in Rauhala, is part of mixer 71. See,
`e.g., Reh’g Req. 1 (“Control circuit 72 must therefore be part of the mixers
`M1 and/or M2 that are within the ‘signal path.’”). For the reasons that
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`follow, we do not agree that Petitioner’s argument supports granting its
`rehearing request.
`
`D. Alleged Misapprehension of Rauhala’s Disclosure that Entire
`Figure 7 is a Mixer in the Signal Path
`As discussed, the Petition relies on Rauhala as teaching “reducing a
`switching current in the signal path by dynamically changing an impedance
`of a component in the signal path based on the first signal strength.” Pet.
`39–42. More specifically, Petitioner relies on resistors R1 and R2 in control
`circuit 72 in Figure 7 as the varied impedance in “dynamically changing an
`impedance,” as described supra and in our Decision at 13–14.
`In our Decision, we concluded that Petitioner failed to demonstrate
`that Rauhala disclosed changing “an impedance of a component in the signal
`path.” Decision 19–20 (emphasis added). In reaching this conclusion, we
`relied on a version of Figure 7 annotated by Patent Owner’s expert, Dr.
`Larson, and reproduced below, to illustrate the distinction between
`Rauhala’s disclosure and the requirements of the challenged claims.
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`Id. at 20 (citing Prelim. Resp. 38); Ex. 2005, Larson Decl. ¶ 63. We found
`that Figure 7 of Rauhala teaches that current supply circuit 72 (including
`resistors R1 and R2 and switch k) is outside the signal path (highlighted in
`yellow) through linear unit 71. Decision 20 (citing Prelim. Resp. 39–41).
`This is consistent with Figures 1 and 2 of Rauhala, reproduced supra, which
`show that control circuit 22 is separate from the linear signal path 21
`containing mixers M1 and M2.
`
`As noted, Petitioner identified R1, R2, and switch k in control circuit
`72 as the claimed variable impedance. See, e.g., Pet. 39–40. We determined
`that the Petition (and the supporting Baker Declaration) did not explain
`adequately how, under this interpretation by Petitioner and its expert,
`Rauhala meets the “component in the signal path” limitation. See Decision
`20 (citing Prelim. Resp. 39–41).
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`Petitioner challenges this finding. In its Rehearing Request, Petitioner
`asserts that Patent Owner’s annotations of Figure 7 are “misleading.” Req.
`Reh’g 1. Petitioner asserts that the Board “overlook[ed] Rauhala’s
`teachings that control circuit 72 is indeed part of a mixer in the signal path.”
`Id. at 3. Petitioner acknowledges that Figure 2, reproduced supra, shows a
`signal path that includes the antenna ANT, detector DET, and the linear
`units (amplifiers and mixers) between them. Id. at 3. Petitioner concludes
`that “in order for the mixer in FIG. 7 to receive the output of the control unit,
`as described with reference to FIG. 2, control circuit 72 must be part of the
`mixer itself.” Id. at 4.
`This is a new argument that was not presented in the Petition, and
`therefore, could not have been misapprehended or overlooked. In any case,
`we disagree with Petitioner’s argument for several reasons. First, it is
`contrary to Rauhala’s depiction of mixer 72, a linear unit that is part of the
`signal path, as separate from control unit 71 that supplies bias current I. The
`boxes drawn around those units and their descriptions by Rauhala confirm
`that they are separate. See Section II.C, supra. For example, Rauhala’s
`description of linear unit 71 as a mixer and unit 72 as a control circuit and
`the separate boxes drawn around them in Figure 7 confirm that these are
`separate components. Ex. 1004 ¶ 23, Fig. 7.
`We did not overlook or misapprehend Dr. Baker’s testimony or his
`dictionary citation, as Petitioner asserts. Req. Reh’g 5–6 (citing Ex, 1002,
`Baker Decl. ¶¶ 103–105; Ex. 1011, 7). The cited Baker testimony relates to
`the presence of a signal path in Cummins, not Rauhala, and the diagram
`(“Block diagram, 1”) reproduced from the dictionary is a generic signal path
`and does not at all resemble Rauhala’s Figure 7. See Baker Decl. ¶ 104.
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`Neither Dr. Baker’s testimony nor his dictionary reference supports
`Petitioner’s argument.
`Petitioner states that “Dr. Larson cites no extrinsic evidence to support
`his conclusion that linear unit 71 and control circuit 72 are somehow
`separate.” Req. Reh’g 7. Petitioner characterizes his testimony as
`“conclusory and unsupported.” Id. We do not agree and find Dr. Larson’s
`testimony credible supported by the record. Dr. Larson’s testimony is
`supported by Rauhala’s Figures 1 and 2, supra, as well as Figures 6 and 7.
`Larson Decl. ¶¶ 62–63. The fact that Petitioner does not agree with
`Dr. Larson’s opinions is not a ground for granting rehearing.
`Petitioner contends that its argument is supported by the ’330 patent.
`Req. Reh’g 8–9. We disagree. The passage Petitioner quotes from the ’330
`patent refers to amplifiers, mixers, and filters forming the signal path. Id. at
`8 (quoting Ex. 1001, 4:15–17). The dispute is not whether the mixers in
`Rauhala are included in the signal path, but whether resistors R1, R2, and
`the control circuits are part of the mixer and therefore included in the signal
`path. The quoted passage from the ’330 patent does not support this
`argument. In fact, it suggests the opposite. See also Ex. 1001, 2:7–11
`(describing the signal path as having an amplifier, mixer, and low-pass
`filter).
`In summary, Petitioner does not identify any arguments concerning
`Rauhala that were overlooked or misapprehended. Petitioner’s new
`argument that the bias control resistors are part of the mixer in Rauhala is
`not persuasive that rehearing should be granted.
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`E. Alleged Misapprehension of the Meaning of “Signal Path”
`Petitioner did not propose a special construction for the term “signal
`path.” See supra. Nevertheless, Petitioner asserts that “as a threshold
`matter, neither Patent Owner nor Dr. Larson explains what a [person of
`ordinary skill] would understand the term ‘signal path’ to mean.” Req.
`Reh’g 10. We disagree. Patent Owner addresses this question in its
`discussion of Rauhala’s Figure 7. Prelim. Resp. 37–41. Dr. Larson
`addresses it in his declaration. Larson Decl. ¶¶ 63, 66. We cite and rely on
`this analysis in our Decision, at pp. 17–18, 19–20. After discussing the
`parties’ submissions and the evidence of record, we concluded that
`“Petitioner fails to demonstrate sufficiently that Rauhala meets the limitation
`in claim 1 requiring ‘dynamically changing an impedance of a component in
`the signal path’ and the corresponding limitation in claim 23.” Id. at 20.
`In reaching this conclusion, we did not misapprehend or overlook any
`evidence, including that from Dr. Baker. We discuss Dr. Baker’s testimony
`and his dictionary definition infra. We did not misapprehend that evidence,
`which at best shows that Rauhala discloses a signal path, a fact that is not in
`dispute. See discussion in Section II.E, supra.
`Nor do we agree with Petitioner’s argument that “Rauhala’s own use
`of the them signal path . . . directly contradicts Patent Owner’s and
`Dr. Larson’s characterization of Rauhala Fig. 7.” Req. Reh’g 10. As
`discussed supra, we thoroughly considered Rauhala in our Decision and
`found that Rauhala supports Patent Owner’s argument, not Petitioner’s. See
`Decision 12–14, 17–18, 19–20. Petitioner does not challenge our
`understanding of Rauhala, only our finding that Rauhala does not support its
`arguments. Petitioner’s arguments based on Figures 1 and 2 of Rauhala, at
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`best, show that both those figures disclose that signal paths contain
`amplifiers, filters, and mixers, which is not disputed. See Reh’g Req, 10–11.
`Finally, Petitioner’s argument based on “control signal C” could not
`have been misapprehended or overlooked because it was not previously
`presented. See Req. Reh’g 13. In any case, this new argument is unavailing.
`Figure 2 of Rauhala shows control signals CM1 and CM2 coming from control
`unit 22, which lies outside the box identified by Rauhala as signal path
`structure 21. Id. at 11; Ex. 1004 ¶ 13. The fact that these control signals may
`be applied to the mixers in the signal path in Figure 2 of Rauhala does not
`place the control unit generating those signals within that path. This is
`consistent with Patent Owner’s analysis of Figure 7 and with our finding that
`the control circuits and its resistors are not part of the signal path.
`
`F. Petitioner’s Reply
`Petitioner’s Reply presents two arguments. First, Petitioner contends
`Patent Owner “misled the Board, causing the Board to misapprehend the
`prior art and overlook Petitioners’ [sic] evidence and positions.” Reply 1–3.
`Petitioner contends that “[t]he Petition identifies the Rauhala signal path and
`explains that it includes a mixer.” Id. at 2. Petitioner then quotes the
`following sentence from the Petition: “Rauhala teaches a receiver signal
`path comprising at least an amplifier, a mixer, and a filter.” Pet. 50 (quoted
`at Reply 2, emphasis omitted). Petitioner follows this with a quote from
`Dr. Baker’s declaration referring to the “signal paths between functional
`units.” Reply 2 (quoting Baker Decl. ¶ 112).
`This argument misses the point. As noted previously, the issue is not
`whether the signal path in Rauhala includes the mixers and amplifiers; that is
`not disputed. The issue is whether Petitioner is correct that the control unit
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`containing resistors R1 and R2 is part of the mixer or is separate. See
`discussion in Section II.E, supra. Conspicuously absent from Petitioner’s
`quotation from the Petition is any mention of the control unit or the resistors
`as part of the mixer or the signal path. Likewise, Dr. Baker refers to Figure
`2 of Rauhala as showing “a signal path comprising functional units (as
`blocks) and control signal paths (as lines and arrows between the blocks).”
`Baker Decl. ¶ 112. He makes no mention of the control unit or resistors as
`part of the signal path. For the reasons given, we are not persuaded that we
`were “misled” in deciding that that they are separate from the signal path.
`See Decision 19–20.
`Second is the new argument that denying institution here would
`conflict with our decisions instituting inter partes review in IPR2023-00697
`and IPR2023-00698. Id. at 4–5. We disagree. In each of those other
`proceedings, unlike here, some challenged claims did not require “changing
`an impedance of a component in the signal path” or the equivalent. For
`example, in IPR2023-00697, challenged claim 1 recites “causing the bias
`current of the one or more of the plurality of circuits in the receiver signal
`path of the wireless transceiver to be decreased.” See IPR2023–00697,
`Paper 10, 6–7 (quoting claim 1; see also claim 3). Similarly, in IPR2023-
`00698, challenged claim 11 recites “causing a bias current of one or more of
`the plurality of circuits in the receiver signal path of the wireless transceiver
`to be dynamically decreased.” See IPR2023-00698, Paper 10, 7–8 (quoting
`claim 11; see also claim 13). In both institution decisions, we determined
`that for those claims reciting causing a bias current to be decreased,
`Petitioner had established a reasonable likelihood of prevailing based on
`Rauhala. IPR2023-00697, Paper 10, 32–33 (claims 1, 3); IPR2023-00698,
`Paper 10, 20–21, 27 (claims 11, 13). On the other hand, for those claims
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`that, like the claims before us here, require changing an impedance of
`circuits in the signal path (see claim 8 in IPR2023-00697 and claims 7 and
`19 in IPR2023-00698), we concluded, as here and in our Decision, that
`Petitioner’s challenge based on Rauhala fails to meet the test for institution.
`IPR2023-00697, Paper 10, 35–36; IPR2023-00698, Paper 10, 25–26.
`Because we determined in each of those cases that some claims met the
`standard for institution, instituting review of all challenges was mandated by
`37 C.F.R. § 42.108(a); see SAS Inst. v. Iancu, 138 S. Ct. 1348, 1359–60
`(2018).
`There is, therefore, no “inconsistency” between our decision not to
`institute inter partes review here and those cases. Here, all challenged
`claims include the limitation requiring “dynamically changing an impedance
`of a component in the signal path,” or the equivalent, that we found is not
`taught by Rauhala in those other cases. Petitioner’s suggestion that “[o]n
`full records, the Board may well reach conclusions that contradict the
`conclusion reached in the institution decision here” is speculation. Reply 5.
`In any event, we are bound by 35 U.S.C. § 314, which requires for
`instituting inter partes review a demonstration of a reasonable likelihood
`that Petitioner would prevail with respect to at least one challenged claim in
`this proceeding. This statutory obligation is not affected by whether or not
`we have instituted review in related cases. For the reasons given in our
`Decision, Petitioner’s challenge does not meet this standard for institution.
`In summary, neither of these reply arguments persuades us that we
`have overlooked or misapprehended Petitioner’s arguments or evidence.
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` CONCLUSION
`III.
`Petitioner has not carried its burden of demonstrating that our decision
`denying inter partes review of claims 1, 23, 29, and 30 of the ’330 patent
`misapprehended or overlooked any matters, or that the Board abused its
`discretion. 37 C.F.R. § 42.71(c), (d).
`
`IV. ORDER
`For the foregoing reasons, Petitioner’s Request for Rehearing is
`denied.
`
`FOR PETITIONER:
`Dinesh Melwani
`Jameson Ma
`BOOKOFF McANDREWS, PLLC
`dmelwani@bomcip.com
`jma@bomcip.com
`
`FOR PATENT OWNER:
`Aaron Hand
`BUNSOW DE MORY LLP
`ahand@bdiplaw.com
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