`
`
`
`
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`———————
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`———————
`
`TESLA, INC.,
`Petitioner
`
`v.
`
`INTELLECTUAL VENTURES II LLC.,
`Patent Owner
`
`———————
`
`IPR2025-00222
`U.S. Patent No. 9,232,158
`
`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW OF
`U.S. PATENT 9,232,158
`
`
`
`IPR2025-00222 Petition
`U.S. Patent 9,232,158
`
`
`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`
`I.
`
`INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................... 1
`
`II. CERTIFICATION OF GROUNDS FOR STANDING ............................. 1
`
`III. NOTE .............................................................................................................. 1
`
`IV. TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW .................................................................... 1
`
`V.
`
`THE ’158 PATENT ....................................................................................... 2
`
`A. Overview ............................................................................................... 2
`
`B.
`
`C.
`
`Prosecution History ............................................................................... 5
`
`Previous IPRs Involving the ’158 Patent .............................................. 6
`
`1.
`
`2.
`
`IPR2022-00710 (“Toyota IPR”) ................................................. 6
`
`IPR2022-01338 (“Honda IPR”) .................................................. 6
`
`VI. LEVEL OF ORDINARY SKILL IN THE ART ........................................ 6
`
`VII. CLAIM CONSTRUCTION .......................................................................... 7
`
`A.
`
`B.
`
`C.
`
`Terms Construed in Toyota IPR............................................................ 7
`
`Terms Construed in GM Litigation ....................................................... 8
`
`“during a frame” (claim 2) .................................................................... 9
`
`VIII. CHALLENGED CLAIMS ARE UNPATENTABLE .............................. 10
`
`A.
`
`B.
`
`C.
`
`Challenged Claims ..............................................................................10
`
`Prior Art Patents and Printed Publications ..........................................10
`
`Statutory Grounds for Challenges .......................................................10
`
`i
`
`
`
`D. Ground 1: Claims 1-2, 5, 8-9, 11, 13-16, and 19 Would Have Been
`Obvious Over Matsushima. .................................................................11
`
`IPR2025-00222 Petition
`U.S. Patent 9,232,158
`
`
`1.
`
`2.
`
`Overview of Matsushima ..........................................................11
`
`Analysis .....................................................................................12
`
`E.
`
`Ground 2: Claims 1-2, 4-5, 8-11, 13, and 14 Would Have Been
`Obvious Over Yu and Miyazaki..........................................................42
`
`1.
`
`2.
`
`3.
`
`Overview of Yu .........................................................................42
`
`Overview of Miyazaki ..............................................................45
`
`Analysis .....................................................................................46
`
`ii
`
`
`
`IPR2025-00222 Petition
`U.S. Patent 9,232,158
`
`
`IX. DISCRETIONARY DENIAL IS INAPPROPRIATE ............................. 78
`
`A. No Basis For § 325(d) Denial .............................................................78
`
`B.
`
`No Basis for Fintiv Denial ..................................................................79
`
`1.
`
`2.
`
`3.
`
`4.
`
`5.
`
`6.
`
`No evidence regarding a stay ....................................................80
`
`Parallel proceeding trial date ....................................................80
`
`Investment in the parallel proceeding .......................................81
`
`Overlapping issues with the parallel proceeding ......................81
`
`Petitioner is a defendant ............................................................82
`
`Other circumstances ..................................................................82
`
`C.
`
`No Basis for General Plastic Denial Under § 314(a). ........................82
`
`X. CONCLUSION ............................................................................................ 84
`
`XI. MANDATORY NOTICES UNDER 37 C.F.R. § 42.8 .............................. 85
`
`A.
`
`Real Party-in-Interest ..........................................................................85
`
`iii
`
`
`
`IPR2025-00222 Petition
`U.S. Patent 9,232,158
`
`Related Matters ....................................................................................85
`
`Lead and Back-up Counsel and Service Information .........................86
`
`B.
`
`C.
`
`XII. CERTIFICATE OF WORD COUNT ....................................................... 88
`
`iv
`
`
`
`Ex.1001
`
`Ex.1002
`
`Ex.1003
`
`Ex.1004
`
`Ex.1005
`Ex.1006
`
`Ex.1007
`
`Ex.1008
`
`Ex.1009
`
`Ex.1010
`
`IPR2025-00222 Petition
`U.S. Patent 9,232,158
`
`
`PETITIONER’S EXHIBIT LIST
`
`U.S. Pat. No. 9,232,158 to Olsen et al. (“the ’158 patent”)
`
`Prosecution History of U.S. Application No. 14/063,236 (issued as
`the ’158 patent)
`Declaration of R. Michael Guidash under 37 C.F.R. § 1.68
`
`Curriculum Vitae of R. Michael Guidash
`
`U.S. Pat. No. 6,611,289 to Yu et. al
`U.S. Pat. No. 7,365,780 to Miyazaki
`
`JP Application Publication No. JP2003-319231 to Matsushima
`(Certified English Translation + Declaration + Japanese)
`
`Eastman Kodak Company, Shutter Operations for CCD and CMOS
`Image Sensors, Application Node, MTD/PS-0259, Revision 1
`(October 23, 2001) (retrieved from
`https://web.archive.org/web/20030419002619/http://www.kodak.co
`m/global/plugins/acrobat/en/digital/ccd/applicationNotes/ShutterOp
`erations.pdf)
`Eastman Kodak Company, Kodak CMOS Image Sensors White
`Paper (November 10, 2000) (retrieved from
`https://web.archive.org/web/20010611235410/http://www.kodak.co
`m/US/plugins/acrobat/en/digital/ccd/cmos.pdf)
`Eastman Kodak Company, Kodak Digital Science KAC-0311
`Image Sensor (August 5, 2002) (retrieved from
`https://web.archive.org/web/20030411152500/http://www.kodak.co
`m/global/plugins/acrobat/en/digital/ccd/products/cmos/KAC-
`0311LongSpec.pdf)
`
`Ex.1011
`Ex.1012
`
`U.S. Pat. No. 7,733,414 to Kobayashi
`Dave Litwiller, “CCD vs. CMOS: Facts and Fiction, Photonics
`Spectra,” (January 2001)
`
`v
`
`
`
`Ex.1013
`Ex.1014
`
`Ex.1015
`
`Ex.1016
`
`Ex.1017
`
`Ex.1018
`
`Ex.1019
`Ex.1020
`
`Ex.1021
`
`Ex.1022
`Ex.1023
`
`Ex.1024
`
`Ex.1025
`
`IPR2025-00222 Petition
`U.S. Patent 9,232,158
`
`
`U.S. Application Pub. No. 2004/0239771 to Habe
`EP Application Pub. No. EP0858208 to Weldy et al.
`
`Memorandum in Support of Claim Construction Order, Intellectual
`Ventures I LLC et al. v. General Motors Company et al., 6:21-CV-
`1088 (WDTX), December 1st, 2022
`
`Texas Instruments, TC255P 336- × 244-PIXEL CCD IMAGE
`SENSOR (March 2003)
`IV’s Complaint, Intellectual Ventures II, LLC v. Tesla, Inc., No.
`6:24-cv-188-ADA (WDTX)
`Proposed Scheduling Order, Intellectual Ventures II, LLC v. Tesla,
`Inc., No. 6:24-cv-188-ADA (WDTX)
`Statistics on District Court Timing
`Interim Procedure for Discretionary Denials in AIA Parallel District
`Court Litigation, June 21, 2022
`Eastman Kodak Company, Solid State Image Sensors Terminology,
`Application Note, DS 00-001, Revision 0 (December 8, 1994)
`(retrieved from
`https://web.archive.org/web/20030413064955/http://www.kodak.co
`m/global/plugins/acrobat/en/digital/ccd/applicationNotes/terminolo
`gy.pdf)
`U.S. Pat. No. 7,830,435 to Guidash
`Eastman Kodak Company, Charge Coupled Device (CCD) Image
`Sensors, CCD Primer, MTD/PS-0218, Revision No. 1 (May 29,
`2001) (retrieved from
`https://web.archive.org/web/20030422183725/http://www.kodak.co
`m/global/plugins/acrobat/en/digital/ccd/applicationNotes/chargeCo
`upledDevice.pdf)
`Szeliski, “Image Mosaicing for Tele-Reality Applications,” (May
`1994)
`Mann et al., “On Being ‘Undigital’ with Digital Cameras:
`Extending Dynamic Range By Combining Differently Exposed
`Pictures,” (May 1995)
`
`vi
`
`
`
`Ex.1026
`
`Ex.1027
`Ex.1028
`
`Ex.1029
`
`Ex.1030
`
`Ex.1031
`
`Ex.1032
`
`Ex.1033
`
`Ex.1034
`
`Ex.1035
`Ex.1036
`Ex.1037
`Ex.1038
`Ex.1039
`
`Ex.1040
`
`Ex.1041
`Ex.1042
`
`IPR2025-00222 Petition
`U.S. Patent 9,232,158
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`Debevec et al., “Recovering High Dynamic Range Radiance Maps
`from Photographs,” SIGGRAPH ’97: Proceedings of the 24th
`annual conference on Computer graphics and interactive
`techniques, 369-378 (August 1997)
`PCT Pub. No. WO2001/010110 to Stark
`Yang et al., “A 640 512 CMOS Image Sensor with Ultrawide
`Dynamic Range Floating-Point Pixel-Level ADC,” IEEE Journal of
`Solid-State Circuits, VOL. 34, NO. 12 (December 1999)
`CCD Electronic Shutters, Interactive Java Tutorial, October 22,
`2002 (retrieved from
`https://web.archive.org/web/20021028042044/https://micro.magnet.
`fsu.edu/primer/java/digitalimaging/ccd/shutter/index.html)
`Prosecution History of U.S. Application No. 11/212,803
`(abandoned)
`Prosecution History of U.S. Application No. 11/788,122 (issued as
`U.S. Pat. No. 7,564,019)
`Prosecution History of U.S. Application No. 12/496,854 (issued as
`U.S. Pat. No. 8,198,574)
`Prosecution History of U.S. Application No. 13/465,229 (issued as
`U.S. Pat. No. 8,334,494)
`Prosecution History of U.S. Application No. 13/681,603 (issued as
`U.S. Pat. No. 8,598,504)
`Holst, CCD arrays, Cameras, and Displays, 2nd edition (1998)
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,831,403 to Ishida et al.
`U.S. Pat. No. 7443,427 to Takayanagi
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,642,679 to Nagano
`e2v Technologies, CCD Sensors Technical Note: Glossary of
`Terms (2003)
`Ralph E. Jacobson et al., The Manual of Photography: photographic
`and digital imaging, 9th Edition (2000)
`U.S. Pat. No. 6,215,597 to Duncan et al.
`O’Donnell, The Practical Use of the Exposure Triangle (retrieved
`
`vii
`
`
`
`IPR2025-00222 Petition
`U.S. Patent 9,232,158
`
`
`from https://creativeraw.com/practical-use-exposure-triangle-
`explained/)
`U.S. Pat. No. 2,953,983 to Larson
`
`Ex.1043
`
`viii
`
`
`
`I.
`
`INTRODUCTION
`
`IPR2025-00222 Petition
`U.S. Patent 9,232,158
`
`
`U.S. Patent No. 9,232,158 (the “’158 patent,” Ex.1001) is directed to a digital
`
`camera with basic components well-known in digital imaging—a plurality of
`
`sensors, optics components for passing light to those sensors in a one-to-one
`
`arrangement, and a processing unit for controlling an integration time of each sensor.
`
`Claims 1-2, 4-5, 8-11, 13-16, and 19 (“Challenged Claims”) recite well-known
`
`configurations of these components.
`
`Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §§ 311, 314(a), and 37 C.F.R. § 42.100, Tesla, Inc.
`
`(“Petitioner”) respectfully requests that the Board institute review and find
`
`unpatentable the Challenged Claims.
`
`II. CERTIFICATION OF GROUNDS FOR STANDING
`
`Petitioner certifies that the ’158 patent is available for inter partes review
`
`(IPR) and that Petitioner is not barred or estopped from requesting IPR of the
`
`patent’s claims.
`
`III. NOTE
`
`Petitioner cites to exhibits’ original page numbers, unless noted otherwise.
`
`Emphasis in quoted material has been added. Claim terms are presented in italics.
`
`IV. TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW
`
`In its background, the ’158 patent discusses various well-known components
`
`and techniques in digital imaging, including image sensors, controlling integration
`
`
`
`1
`
`
`
`IPR2025-00222 Petition
`U.S. Patent 9,232,158
`
`times for image sensors, and expanding dynamic range for image sensors. Ex.1001,
`
`1:32-2:42.
`
`Mr. Guidash confirms that these techniques were well-known and widely
`
`available in commercial products, such as those offered by Eastman Kodak
`
`Company (“Kodak”). See e.g., Ex.1009, 9 (Kodak Image Sensors White Paper
`
`describing Kodak’s leading technology in image sensors); Ex.1008, 2 (Kodak
`
`Shutter Operations Application Note describing shutters in digital cameras to control
`
`integration times); Ex.1003, ¶¶23-53 (technology overview) (citing Ex.1021, 17, 24;
`
`Ex.1009, 2, 4, 9; Ex.1023, 5-6, 10, FIGS. 7-8; Ex.1024, 3, 11; Ex.1024, 3; Ex.1025,
`
`7, FIG. 8; Ex.1026, 1; Ex.1014, FIGS.1a-1c, 3, 5:14-20; Ex.1001, 1:26-87, 2:31-34,
`
`2:40-43, 5:33-54; Ex.1040, 310, FIG. 19.1; Ex.1042, 1; Ex.1043, FIGS. 2-4;
`
`Ex.1013, [0022], [0024]; Ex.1028, 1821n.1; Ex.1022, 1:22-24; Ex.1027, 3:10-12;
`
`Ex.1029, 1; Ex.1012, 2, 4).
`
`V. THE ’158 PATENT
`A. Overview
`
`The ’158 patent is directed to “expanding the dynamic exposure range in
`
`digital cameras.” Ex.1001, 1:26-28; Ex.1003, ¶¶54-59. The ’158 patent
`
`acknowledges it was known that the “[intra-scene] dynamic range of an image sensor
`
`can be increased by using multiple…integration times.” Ex.1001, 1:57-58.
`
`“Integration time” refers to “the time the image sensor collects and integrates [the]
`
`
`
`2
`
`
`
`IPR2025-00222 Petition
`U.S. Patent 9,232,158
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`signal from the scene.” Ex.1001, 4:3-6. Integration time refers to the charge
`
`accumulation time of the sensor, and “upon completion of the integration
`
`period…the accumulated charge [is transferred] as a photo-signal to a processing
`
`component.” Ex.1001, 4:50-56. Integration time affects the exposure of a scene,
`
`e.g., darker objects are better captured with a longer integration time, and brighter
`
`objects are better captured with a shorter integration time. Ex.1001, 5:40-54;
`
`Ex.1003, ¶54. The ’158 patent asserts that known techniques of increasing the intra-
`
`scene dynamic range by using multiple integration times may “exhibit undesirable
`
`temporal aliasing” e.g., causing artifacts like ghosting or blurring due to inconsistent
`
`capturing of a fast-moving object, because the images are “captured using the same
`
`image sensor and thus are not captured concurrently.” Ex.1001, 1:57-2:5; Ex.1003,
`
`¶¶54, 59 (citing Ex.1009, 9; Ex.1013, [0024]; Ex. 1001, 5:46-49, 5:50-54).
`
`The ’158 patent attempts to solve this issue by using a digital camera system
`
`including “two or more camera channels,” where “[e]ach channel includes an optics
`
`component and an image sensor.” Ex.1001, 3:41-45. By having “two or more camera
`
`channels,” “[t]he images obtained in each channel under the different integration
`
`times are obtained simultaneously or nearly simultaneously, so undesirable temporal
`
`aliasing from moving scenes or camera motion is minimized.” Ex.1001, 3:53-57;
`
`Ex.1003, ¶55.
`
`FIG. 3 below illustrates an embodiment of a digital camera subsystem 210
`3
`
`
`
`
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`IPR2025-00222 Petition
`U.S. Patent 9,232,158
`
`having “four camera channels 260A-260D,” each respectively including an optics
`
`component (290A-290D) and a corresponding sensor component (292A-292D),
`
`such that there is a one-to-one relationship between the optics component (e.g.,
`
`optics component 290A) and the sensor (e.g., sensor 292A) that form a channel (e.g.,
`
`channel 260A). Ex.1001, 7:17-39. In this embodiment, “each camera channel may
`
`be used to detect a different color (or band of colors) and/or band of light than that
`
`detected by the other camera channels.” Ex.1001, 8:49-52; Ex.1003, ¶¶56-57.
`
`channel
`
`sensor
`
`optics
`component
`
`Ex.1001, FIG. 3, annotated; Ex.1003, ¶56.
`
`FIG. 5 below illustrates another embodiment with two camera channels 260A
`
`and 260B, each “configured for RGB [red, green and blue] light.” Ex.1001, 10:37-
`
`40; Ex.1003, ¶58.
`
`
`
`
`
`4
`
`
`
`IPR2025-00222 Petition
`U.S. Patent 9,232,158
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`
`channel
`
`sensor
`
`optics
`component
`
`
`
`Ex.1001, FIG. 5, annotated; Ex.1003, ¶58.
`
`B.
`
`Prosecution History
`
`The ’158 patent claims priority to five parent applications and three
`
`provisional applications. Ex.1002, 168-169; Exs.1030-1034 (prosecution histories
`
`of five parent applications); Ex.1003, ¶¶60-61.
`
`During prosecution of the earliest parent application (abandoned), the
`
`Examiner rejected claims substantively different from the Challenged Claims based
`
`on combinations including Yu (Ex.1005).1 Ex.1030, 1-2, 18, 21, 527. In the
`
`following four parent applications, Yu was cited along with many other references,
`
`
`1 The different claims of the earliest parent application are summarized in Section
`
`IX.A n.4.
`
`
`
`5
`
`
`
`but was never relied upon by the Office. Ex.1031, 1032, 1033, and 1034.
`
`IPR2025-00222 Petition
`U.S. Patent 9,232,158
`
`
`During prosecution of the ’158 patent, all claims were allowed on a first
`
`action. Ex.1002, 89-96. In the Notice of Allowance, the Examiner identified all the
`
`limitations of application (issued) claim 1 as the allowable features. Ex.1002, 95. Yu
`
`was cited along with many other references, but was never relied upon by the Office.
`
`Ex.1002, 130.
`
`C.
`
`Previous IPRs Involving the ’158 Patent
`
`1. IPR2022-00710 (“Toyota IPR”)
`
`The Board denied institution after excluding from the scope of the claims
`
`“devices that rely on a common optics component to pass light to multiple camera
`
`channels.” IPR2022-00710, Paper 13, 11-16 (Oct. 26, 2022); see also Ex.1002, 14-
`
`18. None of the prior art cited in Toyota’s IPR petition is relied on in this Petition.
`
`This Petition asserts grounds based on prior art that discloses the one-to-one
`
`configuration the Board found was missing from Toyota’s petition.
`
`2. IPR2022-01338 (“Honda IPR”)
`
`In IPR2022-01338, the parties settled prior to institution of trial. None of the
`
`prior art cited in Honda’s IPR petition is relied on in this Petition.
`
`VI. LEVEL OF ORDINARY SKILL IN THE ART
`
`A person of ordinary skill in the art at, and before, the earliest claimed priority
`
`date of the ’158 patent (August 25, 2004) (“POSITA”) would have had a bachelor’s
`
`
`
`6
`
`
`
`IPR2025-00222 Petition
`U.S. Patent 9,232,158
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`degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, or a
`
`related field and 2-3 years of experience in digital imaging systems. Less experience
`
`may be sufficient with additional education, and likewise, less education may be
`
`sufficient with additional work experience. Ex.1003, ¶¶16-18.
`
`VII. CLAIM CONSTRUCTION
`
`Terms in the Challenged Claims were construed by the Board in the Toyota
`
`IPR and by the Court in Intellectual Ventures I LLC et al. v. General Motors
`
`Company et al., WDTX 6:21-CV-1088 (“GM Litigation”). Ex.1002, 14-18;
`
`Ex.1015, 46-54. Petitioner has summarized these constructions for completeness and
`
`applies the prior art in this Petition in accordance with those constructions. However,
`
`neither the prior constructions nor the Board’s previous exclusions from the scope
`
`thereof are necessary in view of this Petition’s grounds. No claim term other than
`
`the terms identified below requires construction. Ex.1003, ¶¶62-71.
`
`A. Terms Construed in Toyota IPR
`
`The Board preliminarily construed the following terms in the Toyota IPR. See
`
`Ex.1002, 19-20.
`
`Term
`“wherein each optics
`component of the plurality of
`optics components is
`configured to pass light to a
`sensor of the plurality of
`sensors” (claim 1)
`
`
`
`Board’s Construction
`“each of the plurality of optics components is
`configured to pass light separately to a distinct
`sensor of the plurality of sensors.” Ex.1002, 19.
`
`“this claim element excludes from the scope of
`claim 1 devices that rely on a common optics
`7
`
`
`
`Term
`
`“plurality of channels”
`(claims 9, 15)
`
`IPR2025-00222 Petition
`U.S. Patent 9,232,158
`
`
`Board’s Construction
`component to pass light to multiple camera
`channels.” Ex.1002, 19.
`“multiple independent structures that separately
`pass light to a different respective sensor”
`Ex.1002, 20.
`
`“the plain meaning of this claim element excludes
`from the scope of claims 9 and 15 devices that rely
`on a common optics component to pass light to
`multiple camera channels.” Ex.1002, 20.
`
`
`The Petition’s Grounds do not rely on a common optics component to pass
`
`light to multiple camera channels, which the Board excluded from the scope of the
`
`corresponding claims in the Toyota IPR. Ex.1003, ¶¶63-65.
`
`B.
`
`Terms Construed in GM Litigation
`
`The Court construed the following terms in the GM Litigation.
`
`Term
`“integration time” (claims 1-
`3, 8-9, 11, 13-16)
`“an image capture device”
`(claim 1)
`
`Court’s Construction
`“the time the image sensor collects and integrates
`signal from the scene” Ex.1015, 49.
`“a device including a plurality of sensors, where
`two or more of the plurality of sensors each capture
`an overlapping portion of the same scene”
`Ex.1015, 52.
`
`
`The prior art identified in the Grounds below render the Challenged Claims
`
`obvious in accordance with the prior constructions. Ex.1003, ¶¶66-68.
`
`
`
`8
`
`
`
`C.
`
`“during a frame”2 (claim 2)
`
`IPR2025-00222 Petition
`U.S. Patent 9,232,158
`
`
`A POSITA would have understood that “during a frame” means “during a
`
`period of time in which data for a single frame of an image is captured” by a sensor.
`
`This period of time includes a period that the sensor is exposed to light and integrates
`
`the electronic charges to create that single frame of an image. Ex.1003, ¶69.
`
`This construction is supported by the specification. The ’158 patent states that
`
`“[i]mage capture by the camera is performed using the multiple camera channels,
`
`and each camera channel is controlled during a frame under an independent
`
`integration time.” Ex.1001, 3:47-50; see also id., 11:28-29 (“The photo-signal from
`
`each camera channel is integrated…within a single frame of data”); Ex.1003, ¶70.
`
`This construction is supported by the surrounding claim language. Claim 2
`
`recites “the processing component is further configured to control the integration
`
`time of each sensor during a frame.” A POSITA would have understood that for
`
`each particular sensor, the processing component controls the integration time of that
`
`sensor such that the particular sensor captures data for a single frame of an image.
`
`
`2 The ’158 patent also provides a definition of “frame” related to a physical
`
`component of a camera. Ex.1001, 23:44-45. A POSITA would have understood
`
`that this definition does not apply to the term “during a frame,” because a physical
`
`component is not a time period. Ex.1003, n.2.
`
`
`
`9
`
`
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`IPR2025-00222 Petition
`U.S. Patent 9,232,158
`
`Accordingly, the integration time of the particular sensor is controlled during a
`
`period of time in which data for a single frame of an image is captured by that sensor.
`
`Ex.1003, ¶71.
`
`VIII. CHALLENGED CLAIMS ARE UNPATENTABLE
`A. Challenged Claims
`
`Petitioner challenges claims 1-2, 4-5, 8-11, 13-16, and 19.3 Each reference
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`below predates August 25, 2004, the earliest priority date of the ’158 patent.
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`B. Prior Art Patents and Printed Publications
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`1.
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`JP2003-319231 to Matsushima (“Matsushima”) (Ex.1007 including
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`certified English translation, translator’s certification, and original
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`Japanese publication); published November 7, 2003; prior art under
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`§102(a).
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`2. U.S. 6,611,289 (“Yu”) (Ex.1005); filed January 15, 1999; issued August
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`26, 2003; prior art under §§102(a), 102(e).
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`3. U.S. 7,365,780 (“Miyazaki”) (Ex.1006); filed September 7, 2000; issued
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`April 29, 2008; prior art under §§102(a), 102(e).
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`C. Statutory Grounds for Challenges
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`This Petition, supported by the declaration of Mr. Guidash (Ex.1003),
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`3 The pre-AIA statutory framework applies to the Challenged Claims.
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`
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`10
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`
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`demonstrates unpatentability of the Challenged Claims on the following Grounds:
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`IPR2025-00222 Petition
`U.S. Patent 9,232,158
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`Ground
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`Claim
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`Basis (Pre-AIA)
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`#1
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`#2
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`
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`1-2, 5, 8-9, 11,
`13-16, and 19
`1-2, 4-5, 8-11,
`13-14
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`§ 103 over Matsushima
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`§ 103 over Yu in view of Miyazaki
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`D. Ground 1: Claims 1-2, 5, 8-9, 11, 13-16, and 19 Would Have
`Been Obvious Over Matsushima.
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`1. Overview of Matsushima
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`Matsushima “relates to a digital camera and, more specifically, to a digital
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`camera equipped with multiple imaging systems.” Ex.1007, [0001]. As shown in
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`FIG. 1 below, Matsushima describes a “digital camera 10 [that] has two
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`independent imaging systems (a first imaging system 12A and a second imaging
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`system 12B).” Ex.1007, [0017]. “[I]mages are formed on the light-receiving surfaces
`
`of CCD 18A and 18B via imaging optics 14A and 14B, respectively.” Id.; Ex.1003,
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`¶76.
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`11
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`IPR2025-00222 Petition
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`Ex.1007, FIG. 1.
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`2. Analysis
` Claim 1
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`[1.0] An image capture device comprising:
`
`
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`To the extent the preamble is limiting, Matsushima discloses or at least
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`renders it obvious. Ex.1003, ¶¶77-80.
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`Matsushima discloses “a digital camera equipped with multiple imaging
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`systems.” Ex.1007, [0001]; FIG. 1, [0017] (“This digital camera 10 [in FIG. 1] has
`
`two independent imaging systems (a first imaging system 12A and a second imaging
`
`system 12B), and subject images are formed on the light-receiving surfaces of CCD
`
`18A and 18B via imaging optics 14A and 14B, respectively.”); Ex.1003, ¶78.
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`12
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`IPR2025-00222 Petition
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`digital camera 10
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`
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`Ex.1007, FIG. 1, annotated; Ex.1003, ¶78.
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`Matsushima teaches an imaging capture device under the construction in the
`
`GM Litigation (VII.B), because Matsushima’s digital camera 10 is a device
`
`including a plurality of sensors (CCD 18A and 18B), where two or more of the
`
`sensors each capture an overlapping portion of the same scene. Ex.1007, [0048] (“a
`
`captured image 62A taken with the first imaging system 12A [using sensor 18A]”
`
`and “a captured image 62B taken with the second imaging system 12B [using sensor
`
`18B]”); FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 6 illustrating captured images 62A and 62B with an
`
`overlapping portion of the same scene; Ex.1003, ¶79.
`
`
`
`Thus, Matsushima discloses or at least renders obvious an imaging capture
`
`device (a digital camera). Ex.1003, ¶80.
`
`
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`13
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`
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`[1.1] a plurality of sensors;
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`IPR2025-00222 Petition
`U.S. Patent 9,232,158
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`Matsushima discloses or at least renders obvious [1.1]. Ex.1003, ¶¶81-84.
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`As shown in FIG. 1 below, Matsushima discloses a plurality of sensors (CCD
`
`18A and 18B). Ex.1007, [0017]; Ex.1003, ¶82. CCD image sensors were a well-
`
`known type of image sensor. Ex.1009, 2 (describing “CCD (Charge Coupled
`
`Device) image sensors”); Ex.1003, ¶82.
`
`a plurality of sensors
`
`
`
`Ex.1007, FIG. 1, annotated; Ex.1003, ¶82.
`
`Matsushima discloses “[a] digital camera comprising: a first imaging system
`
`including a first image sensor…; a second imaging system including a second image
`
`sensor.” Ex.1007, [Claim 1]; [0022] (“CCD 18A corresponds to the first image
`
`sensor[, and] CCD 18B corresponds to the second image sensor.”); id., [0017]
`
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`14
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`(“subject images are formed on the light-receiving surfaces of CCD 18A and 18B
`
`via imaging optics 14A and 14B, respectively.”); [0021] (“CCD 18A and CCD 18B
`
`can be…CCDs of the same size, that is, the same number of pixels”); Ex.1003, ¶83.
`
`Thus, Matsushima discloses [1.1]. Ex.1003, ¶84.
`
`[1.2] a plurality of optics components, wherein each optics component of the
`plurality of optics components is configured to pass light to a sensor of the
`plurality of sensors; and
`
`Matsushima discloses or at least renders obvious [1.2]. Ex.1003, ¶¶85-89.
`
`As shown in FIG. 1 below, Matsushima discloses a plurality of optics
`
`components (imaging optics 14A (and/or each optics component thereof including a
`
`first lens group 19A with an imaging lens 15A and a focus lens 16A, and an aperture
`
`17A)) and imaging optics 14B (and/or each optics component thereof including a
`
`second lens group 19B with an imaging lens 15B and a focus lens 16B, and an
`
`aperture 17B)). Ex.1007, [0017], [0019]; Ex.1003, ¶86. In Matsushima, each optics
`
`component of the plurality of optics components is configured to pass light to a
`
`sensor (imaging optics 14A configured to separately pass light to a distinct image
`
`sensor 18A, imaging optics 14B configured to separately pass light to a distinct
`
`image sensor 18B) of the plurality of sensors (image sensors 18A, 18B). Ex.1007,
`
`[0017], [0019]; Ex.1003, ¶86.
`
`
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`15
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`each optics component
`… configured to [separately]
`pass light to a [distinct] sensor
`
`
`
`Ex.1007, FIG. 1, annotated; Ex.1003, ¶86.
`
`In Matsushima, each imaging optics 14A (and the optics components thereof
`
`including a first lens group 19A with an imaging lens 15A and a focus lens 16A, and
`
`an aperture 17A) and imaging optics 14B (and the optics components thereof
`
`including a second lens group 19B with an imaging lens 15B and a focus lens 16B,
`
`and an aperture 17B) teaches an optics component. Ex.1007, [0019]; Ex.1003, ¶87.
`
`In Matsushima, each optics component of the plurality of optics components
`
`(imaging optics 14A and the optics components thereof, and imaging optics14B and
`
`the optics components thereof) is configured to pass light separately to a distinct
`
`sensor of the plurality of sensors, because “subject images are formed on the light-
`
`receiving surfaces of CCD 18A and 18B via imaging optics 14A and 14B,
`16
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`respectively.” Ex.1007, [0017]; [0023]; Ex.1003, ¶88. Imaging optics 14A and
`
`imaging optics 14B are in “two independent imaging systems…12A and 12B,” and
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`are configured to separately pass light to respective and distinct image sensors 18A
`
`and 18B of their corresponding independent imaging systems 12A and 12B.
`
`Ex.1007, [0017]; Ex.1003, ¶88.
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`Thus, Matsushima discloses or at least renders obvious [1.2]. Ex.1003, ¶89.
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`[1.3] a processing component configured to control an integration time of each
`sensor.
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`Matsushima discloses or at least renders obvious [1.3]. Ex.1003, ¶¶90-100.
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`The ’158 patent makes clear that integration time is charge accumulation time.
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`Ex.1001, 4:46-50 (“[i]ntegration time control…controls the time the electrical signal
`
`is integrated or accumulated”), 4:50-56 (“the charge integration switch is placed in
`
`a state to allow charge to accumulate within the sensor for a period of time… upon
`
`completion of the integration period…the accumulated charge [is transferred] as a
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`photo-signal to a processing component”); Ex.1003, ¶91.
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`This is consistent with the construction in the GM litigation. VII.B; Ex.1003,
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`¶92. The ’158 patent also acknowledges that “integration time” is controlled with an
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`“electronic shutter,” as is described in Matsushima. Ex.1001, 2:31-34; Ex.1003, ¶92.
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`This description of integration time as synonymous with charge accumulation
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`time is consistent with a POSITA’s understanding. Ex.1003, ¶93 (citing Ex.1036,
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`
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`17
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`using “charge accumulation period” and “integration time” interchangeably), 14:1-
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`3 (“the charge accumulation (light integration) time period for accumulation of
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`charges by the photosensor array”), 25:41-42 (“the charge accumulation (integration
`
`time) period”); Ex.1037, 3:35 (“a charge accumulation (integration) period”), 52 (“a
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`charge accumulation (integration) period”), 4:16 (“integration (accumulation)
`
`time”)).
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`As shown in FIG. 1 below, Matsushima discloses a processing component
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`(CPU 30 together with integration circuits 60A and 60B, Timing Generator (TG) 28
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`and CCD drive circuits 20A and 20B) configured to control an integration time
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`(charge “accumulation time (shutter speed)”) of each sensor (sensors 18A, 18B)
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`using an electronic shutter. Ex.1007, [0027], [0034]; Ex.1003, ¶94.
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`18
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`a processing component configured to
`control an integration time of each sensor
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`Ex.1007, FIG. 1, annotated; Ex.1003, ¶94.
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`Matsushima explains that the CPU 30 controls charge accumulation time (i.e.,
`
`integration time) with an electronic shutter on each sensor:
`
`
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`CCD 18A and CCD 18B each have a shutter drain via a shutter
`gate, and the accumulated signal charges can be swept to the
`shutter drain by driving the shutter gates with shutter gate pulses.
`In other words, the CCDs 18 have a so-called electronic shutter
`function that controls the accumulation time (shutter speed)
`of the charge accumulated by each sensor via shutter gate
`pulses.
`
`Ex.1007, [0024]; id., [0034] (“The apertures 17A and 17B are driven via the drive
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`circuits 52A and 52B, and the CCD 18A and CCD 18B charge accumulation time
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`
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`19
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`is controlled using an electronic shutter to reach the determined shutter speed.”);
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`[0035], [0027] (describing the CPU 30 controlling the “timing signal generating
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`circuit (TG) 28 [that] provides appropriate timing signals to the CCD drive circuits
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`20A and 20B”). Matsushima’s description of the sensors collecting and
`
`accumulating charge is consistent with the construction of “integration time” in the
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`GM Litigation. Ex.1015, 49 (“the time the image sensor collects and integrates
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`signal from the scene”); Ex
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