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`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
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`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
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`ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
`Petitioner
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`v.
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`3SHAPE A/S
`Patent Owner
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`Case No. PGR2018-00103
`Patent 9,962,244
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`PETITION FOR POST-GRANT REVIEW
`OF U.S. PATENT NO. 9,962,244
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`Mail Stop PATENT BOARD
`Patent Trial and Appeal Board
`U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
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`Petition for PGR2018-00103
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`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`Introduction ..................................................................................................... 1
`I.
`Identification of challenge (37 C.F.R. § 42. 204(b)) ...................................... 2
`II.
`Identification of challenge and statement of relief requested ....................... 2
`A.
`B. The Board should institute all of Petitioner’s proceedings filed against the
`’244 Patent to not unjustly prevent Petitioner from challenging the ’244 Patent. . 5
`III. The Board should institute trial notwithstanding 35 U.S.C. § 325(d) because
`all of the factors considered in the § 325(d) analysis weigh in favor of
`institution. ....................................................................................................... 7
`IV. The ’244 Patent ............................................................................................. 11
`A. Overview of the ’244 Patent ........................................................................ 11
`B.
`Prosecution History ..................................................................................... 16
`V.
`POSITA ........................................................................................................ 17
`VI. Claims 19, 25, and 32 lack support in the Provisional Application requiring
`PGR eligibility. ............................................................................................. 17
`A. Claims 19 and 32 ......................................................................................... 18
`B. Claim 25 ...................................................................................................... 19
`VII. Grounds 1 and 2: The combinations of Fisker and Szeliski (Ground 1) and
`Fisker and Matsumoto (Ground 2) render claims 1-5, 7-10, 15, 16, 18, 21,
`22, 24, 26, and 28 obvious. ........................................................................... 21
`A. Claim 1 ........................................................................................................ 21
`1.
`[1.P]: “A focus scanner for recording surface geometry and surface color
`of an object” ...................................................................................................... 21
`2.
`[1.1]: “a multichromatic light source configured for providing a
`multichromatic probe light for illumination of the object” ............................... 22
`3.
`[1.2]: “a color image sensor comprising an array of image sensor pixels
`for capturing one or more 2D images of light received from said object” ....... 23
`4.
`[1.3.a]: “wherein the focus scanner is configured to operate by translating
`a focus plane along an optical axis of the focus scanner”................................. 23
`5.
`[1.3.b]: “wherein the focus scanner is configured to operate
`by…capturing a series of the 2D images, each 2D image of the series is at a
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`different focus plane position such that the series of captured 2D images forms
`a stack of 2D images” ....................................................................................... 24
`6.
`[1.4.a]: “a data processing system configured to derive surface geometry
`information for a block of said image sensor pixels from the 2D images in the
`stack of 2D images captured by said color image sensor”................................ 25
`7.
`[1.4.b]: “the data processing system also configured to derive surface
`color information for the block of said image sensor pixels from at least one of
`the 2D images used to derive the surface geometry information” .................... 26
`8.
`[1.5.a]: “wherein the data processing system further is configured to
`combining [sic] a number of sub-scans to generate a digital 3D representation
`of the object, and” ............................................................................................. 28
`9.
`[1.5.b]: “determining [sic] object color of at least one point of the
`generated digital 3D representation of the object from sub-scan color of the
`sub-scans combined to generate the digital 3D representation” ....................... 29
`10.
`[1.5.c]: “such that the digital 3D representation expresses both geometry
`and color profile of the object” ......................................................................... 30
`11.
`[1.6]: “wherein determining the object color comprises computing a
`weighted average of sub-scan color values derived for corresponding points in
`overlapping sub-scans at that point of the object surface.” .............................. 31
`a)
`Fisker ..................................................................................................... 31
`b)
`Szeliski (Ground 1) ............................................................................... 32
`c) Matsumoto (Ground 2) .......................................................................... 34
`d) Motivation to Combine: Fisker and Szeliski (Ground 1) and Fisker and
`Matsumoto (Ground 2) .................................................................................. 37
`B. Claim 2: “The focus scanner according to claim 1, wherein the data
`processing system is configured for generating a sub-scan of a part of the object
`surface based on surface geometry information and surface color information
`derived from a plurality of blocks of image sensor pixels.” ................................ 44
`C. Claim 3: “The focus scanner according to claim 1, where the scanner
`system comprises a pattern generating element configured for incorporating a
`spatial pattern in said probe light.” ....................................................................... 44
`D. Claim 4: “The focus scanner according to claim 1, where deriving the
`surface geometry information and surface color information comprises
`calculating for several 2D images a correlation measure between the portion of
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`the 2D image captured by said block of image sensor pixels and a weight
`function, where the weight function is determined based on information of the
`configuration of the spatial pattern.” .................................................................... 45
`E. Claim 5: “The focus scanner according to claim 4, wherein deriving the
`surface geometry information and the surface color information for a block of
`image sensor pixels comprises identifying the position along the optical axis at
`which the corresponding correlation measure has a maximum value.” ............... 47
`F. Claim 7: “The focus scanner according to claim 6, where the maximum
`correlation measure value is the highest calculated correlation measure value for
`the block of image sensor pixels and/or the highest maximum value of the
`correlation measure function for the block of image sensor pixels.” ................... 47
`G. Claim 8: “The focus scanner according to claim 5, wherein the data
`processing system is configured for determining a sub-scan color for a point on a
`generated sub-scan based on the surface color information of the 2D image in the
`series in which the correlation measure has its maximum value for the
`corresponding block of image sensor pixels.” ..................................................... 48
`H. Claim 9: “The focus scanner according to claim 8, wherein the data
`processing system is configured for deriving the sub-scan color for a point on a
`generated sub-scan based on the surface color information of the 2D images in
`the series in which the correlation measure has its maximum value for the
`corresponding block of image sensor pixels and on at least one additional 2D
`image.” .................................................................................................................. 50
`I. Claim 10: “The focus scanner according to claim 9, where the data
`processing system is configured for interpolating surface color information of at
`least two 2D images in a series when determining the sub-scan color.” ............. 51
`J. Claim 15: “The focus scanner according to claim 1, where the color image
`sensor comprises a color filter array comprising at least three types of colors
`filters, each allowing light in a known wavelength range, W1, W2, and W3
`respectively, to propagate through the color filter.” ............................................. 51
`K. Claim 16: “The focus scanner according to claim 15, where the surface
`geometry information is derived from light in a selected wavelength range of the
`spectrum provided by the multichromatic light source.” ..................................... 52
`L. Claim 18: “The focus scanner according to claim 16, wherein the selected
`wavelength range matches the W2 wavelength range.” ....................................... 53
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`M. Claim 21: “The focus scanner according to claim 15, where the surface
`geometry information is derived from light in a selected wavelength range of the
`spectrum provided by the multichromatic light source.” ..................................... 54
`N. Claim 22 ...................................................................................................... 54
`1.
`[22.P]: “A method of recording surface geometry and surface color of an
`object” ............................................................................................................... 54
`2.
`[22.1]: “obtaining a focus scanner according to claim 1” ........................ 55
`3.
`Limitations [22.2]-[22.4] .......................................................................... 55
`O. Claim 24: “The focus scanner according to claim 1, wherein the
`multichromatic light source, the color image sensor, and at least a portion of the
`data processing system are included in a hand held unit.” ................................... 56
`P. Claim 26: “The focus scanner according to claim 9, wherein said at least one
`additional 2D image comprises a neighboring 2D image from the series of
`captured 2D images.” ........................................................................................... 57
`Q. Claim 28: “The focus scanner according to claim 10, where the
`interpolation is of surface color information of neighboring 2D images in a
`series.” .................................................................................................................. 57
`VIII. Grounds 3 and 4: The combinations of Fisker and Yamada (Ground 3) and
`Fisker and Suzuki (Ground 4) render claim 29 obvious. ............................. 58
`A. Claim 29 ...................................................................................................... 58
`1.
`Limitations [29.P]-[29.4.b]: ..................................................................... 58
`2.
`[29.5]: “where the data processing system further is configured to
`detecting (sic) saturated pixels in the captured 2D images and for mitigating or
`removing the error in the derived surface color information or the sub-scan
`color caused by the pixel saturation.” ............................................................... 59
`a)
`Fisker ..................................................................................................... 59
`b) Yamada (Ground 3) .............................................................................. 60
`c)
`Suzuki (Ground 4) ................................................................................. 61
`d) Motivation to Combine: Fisker and Yamada (Ground 3) and Fisker and
`Suzuki (Ground 4) ......................................................................................... 61
`IX. Grounds 5-8: The combinations of Fisker, Szeliski, and Yamada (Ground 5),
`Fisker, Szeliski, Suzuki (Ground 6), Fisker, Matsumoto, and Yamada
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`(Ground 7), and Fisker, Matsumoto, and Suzuki (Ground 8) render claim 12
`obvious. ......................................................................................................... 66
`A. Claim 12: “The focus scanner according to claim 1, wherein the data
`processing system is configured for detecting saturated pixels in the captured 2D
`images and for mitigating or removing the error in the derived surface color
`information or the sub-scan color caused by the pixel saturation.” ..................... 66
`X. Grounds 9 and 10: The combinations of Thiel425, Thiel576, and Szeliski
`(Ground 9) and Thiel425, Thiel576, and Matsumoto (Ground 10) render
`claims 1, 22, and 24 obvious. ....................................................................... 67
`A. Claim 1 ........................................................................................................ 67
`1.
`[1.P]: “A focus scanner for recording surface geometry and surface color
`of an object” ...................................................................................................... 67
`a) Thiel425 ................................................................................................ 67
`b) Thiel576 ................................................................................................ 68
`c) Motivation to Combine: Thiel425 and Thiel575 .................................. 69
`2.
`[1.1]: “a multichromatic light source configured for providing a
`multichromatic probe light for illumination of the object” ............................... 72
`3.
`[1.2]: “a color image sensor comprising an array of image sensor pixels
`for capturing one or more 2D images of light received from said object” ....... 73
`4.
`[1.3.a]: “wherein the focus scanner is configured to operate by translating
`a focus plane along an optical axis of the focus scanner”................................. 73
`5.
`[1.3.b]: “wherein the focus scanner is configured to operate
`by…capturing a series of the 2D images, each 2D image of the series is at a
`different focus plane position such that the series of captured 2D images forms
`a stack of 2D images” ....................................................................................... 74
`6.
`[1.4.a]: “a data processing system configured to derive surface geometry
`information for a block of said image sensor pixels from the 2D images in the
`stack of 2D images captured by said color image sensor”................................ 75
`7.
`[1.4.b]: “the data processing system also configured to derive surface
`color information for the block of said image sensor pixels from at least one of
`the 2D images used to derive the surface geometry information” .................... 76
`a) Thiel425 ................................................................................................ 76
`b) Thiel576 ................................................................................................ 76
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`c) Motivation to Combine: Thiel425 and Thiel576 .................................. 77
`8.
`[1.5.a]: “wherein the data processing system further is configured to
`combining [sic] a number of sub-scans to generate a digital 3D representation
`of the object” ..................................................................................................... 79
`9.
`[1.5.b]: “wherein the data processing system further is configured to …
`determining [sic] object color of a least one point of the generated digital 3D
`representation of the object from sub-scan color of the sub-scans combined to
`generate the digital 3D representation, such that the digital 3D representation
`expresses both geometry and color profile of the object”................................. 80
`10.
`[1.6]: “wherein determining the object color comprises computing a
`weighted average of sub-scan color values derived for corresponding points in
`overlapping sub-scans at that point of the object surface.” .............................. 81
`a) Thiel425/Thiel576 ................................................................................. 81
`b)
`Szeliski (Ground 9) and Matsumoto (Ground 10) ................................ 81
`c) Motivation to Combine: Thiel425, Thiel576, Szeliski (Ground 9) and
`Thiel425, Thiel576, Matsumoto (Ground 10) ............................................... 82
`B. Claim 22 ...................................................................................................... 86
`1.
`[22.P]: “A method of recording surface geometry and surface color of an
`object” ............................................................................................................... 86
`2.
`[22.1]: “obtaining a focus scanner according to claim 1” ........................ 86
`3.
`Limitations [22.2]-[22.4] .......................................................................... 87
`C. Claim 24: “The focus scanner according to claim 1, wherein the
`multichromatic light source, the color image sensor, and at least a portion of the
`data processing system are included in a hand held unit.” ................................... 87
`XI. Grounds 11 and 12: The combinations of Thiel425, Thiel576, and Yamada
`(Ground 11) and Thiel425, Thiel576, and Suzuki (Ground 12) render claim
`29 obvious. .................................................................................................... 88
`A. Claim 29 ...................................................................................................... 88
`1.
`Limitations [29.P]-[29.4.b] ....................................................................... 88
`2.
`[29.5]: “where the data processing system further is configured to
`detecting (sic) saturated pixels in the captured 2D images and for mitigating or
`removing the error in the derived surface color information or the sub-scan
`color caused by the pixel saturation.” ............................................................... 88
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`a) Thiel425/Thiel576 ................................................................................. 88
`b) Yamada (Ground 11) and Suzuki (Ground 12) .................................... 89
`c) Motivation to Combine: Thiel425, Thiel576, and Yamada (Ground 11)
`and Thiel425, Thiel576, and Suzuki (Ground 12) ......................................... 89
`XII. Grounds 13 and 14: The combinations of Thiel425, Thiel576, Szeliski, and
`Fisker (Ground 13) and Thiel425, Thiel576, Matsumoto, and Fisker (Ground
`14) render claims 2-5, 7-10, 15, 16, 18 , 21, 26, and 28 obvious. ................ 92
`A. Claims 2-5, 7-10, 15, 16, 18, 21, 26, and 28 ............................................... 92
`a) Thiel425/Thiel576/Szeliski and Thiel425/Thiel576/Matsumoto ......... 92
`b)
`Fisker ..................................................................................................... 92
`c) Motivation to Combine: Thiel425, Thiel576, Szeliski and Fisker
`(Ground 13) and Thiel425, Thiel576, Matsumoto and Fisker (Ground 14) . 93
`VI. Mandatory Notices (37 C.F.R. §42.8(a)(1)) ................................................. 96
`VII. Conclusion .................................................................................................... 97
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`Petition for PGR2018-00103
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`EXHIBIT LIST
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`Description
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`1001 U.S. Patent No. 9,962,244 to Esbech et al. (“the ’244 patent”)
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`1002
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`Prosecution File History for the ’244 patent (“’244 patent file history”)
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`1003 Declaration of Dr. Chandra Bajaj, Ph.D. (“Bajaj Decl.”)
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`1004 Curriculum vitae of Dr. Chandra Bajaj, Ph.D.
`1005 U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0092461 to Fisker et al.
`(filed June 17, 2009; published: April 19, 2012)
`1006 U.S. Patent No. 6,097,854 to Szeliski et al. (filed August 1, 1997; issued
`August 1, 2000)
`1007 U.S. Patent No. 7,106,348 B2 to Matsumoto et al. (filed November 28,
`2001; issued: September 12, 2006)
`1008 U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0035641 to Yamada et al.
`(filed April 25, 2005; published: February 15, 2007)
`1009 U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0070128 to Suzuki et al.
`(filed September 10, 2012; published March 21, 2013)
`1010 U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0029367 to Tanaka
`(earliest priority date July 29, 2011; published January 29, 2015)
`1011 U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2010/0067789 to Cai (filed
`September 18, 2011; published March 18, 2010)
`1012 U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0075425 to Thiel
`(“Thiel425”) (filed August 19, 2011; published: March 29, 2012)
`1013 U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0080576 to Thiel et al.
`(“Thiel576”) (filed October 1, 2010; published: April 7, 2011)
`1014 Agini, Andreas, et al. Digital Dental Revolution: The Learning Curve.
`Quintessence Publishing, First edition, 2015.
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`Petition for PGR2018-00103
` U.S. Patent No. 9,962,244
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`Exhibit
`Description
`1015 U.S. Patent No. 6,750,873 to Bernardini et al. (“Bernardini”) (filed June
`27, 2000; issued June 15, 2004).
`1016 U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0101176 to Park et al.
`(“Park”) (filed August 24, 2012; published April 25, 2013).
`
`1017
`
`U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0140243 to Colonna de
`Lega (“Colonna de Lega”) (filed December 1, 2011, published June 7,
`2012).
`
`1018
`
`Karatas et al., “Three-dimensional imaging techniques: A literature
`review,” European Journal of Dentistry, Vol. 8, Issue 1, 2014; pp. 132-
`140.
`1019 Broadbent, B.H., “A New X-Ray Technique and Its Application to
`Orthodontia,” The Angle Orthodontist, Vol. 1, No. 2, 1931; pp. 45-66.
`1020 Hajeer et al., Current Products and Practices Applications of 3D
`imaging in orthodontics: Part II, Journal of Orthodontics, vol. 31 (2004).
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`1021
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`1022
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`1023
`
`1024
`
`1025
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`Yamany et al., “Free-Form Surface Registration Using Surface
`Signatures,” The Proceedings of the Seventh IEEE International
`Conference on Computer Vision, September 20-27, 1999; 7 pages.
`
`Ireland et al., “3D surface imaging in dentistry – what we are looking
`at,” British Dental Journal, Vol. 205, No. 7, October 11, 2008; pp. 387-
`392.
`
`Remondino et al., “Image-Based 3D Modelling: A Review,” The
`Photogrammetric Record, Vol. 21, No. 115, September 2006; pp. 269-
`291.
`
`Ting-Shu et al., “Intraoral Digital Impression Technique: A Review,” J.
`Prosthodontics, Vol. 24, No. 4, pp. 313-321.
`
`Zimmerman et al., “Intraoral scanning systems – a current overview,”
`Int. J. Comput. Dent., Vol. 18, No. 2, 2015, pp. 101-129.
`
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`Exhibit
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`1026
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`1027
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`Petition for PGR2018-00103
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`Description
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`Imburgia et al., “Accuracy of four intraoral scanners in oral
`implantology: a comparative in vitro study,” BMC Oral Health, Vol. 17,
`No. 1, 2017, p. 92.
`
`Park et al., “Changes in views on digital intraoral scanners among dental
`hygienists after training in digital impression taking,” BMC Oral Health,
`Vol. 15, No. 1, 2015, p.151 (“Park Article”).
`
`1028
`
`Logozzo et al., “Recent advances in dental optics – Part I: 3D intraoral
`scanners for restorative dentistry,” Optics and Lasers in Engineering,
`Vol. 54, 2014, pp. 203-221.
`1029 U.S. Patent Prov. App. No. 61/764,178 to Esbech et al. (“the Provisional
`Application”)
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`I.
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`Introduction
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`Petition for PGR2018-00103
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`The ’244 Patent (U.S. Patent No. 9,962,244; Ex.1001) admits three-
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`dimensional scanners, such as three-dimensional intraocular dental scanners, were
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`well-known in the art. The ’244 Patent even identifies foreign and domestic prior
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`art references pertinent to the alleged invention (e.g., U.S. Patent No. 7,698,068
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`and J.P. Patent App. Pub. No. 2004/029373). Rather, the ’244 Patent alleges its
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`protecting -- for the first time -- recording geometry and color data of an object as
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`2D images and creating a three-dimensional image of the object based on the data.
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`But the prior art and expert declaration shows this allegation was incorrect.
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`In the end, the Examiner (and 3Shape) agreed color and geometry detection
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`was an unpatentable concept, thus forcing 3Shape to add allowed dependent claims
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`to gain issuance of the ’244 patent. Yet, as shown by the prior art and declaration,
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`even the allowed dependent claim features, directed to weighted averages,
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`saturated pixels, color filter arrays, and averaged sub-scan colors, were in the prior
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`art. And the dependent claim features were actually allowed only because there
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`was not adequate prior art searching and curtailed examination. If the Examiner
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`had more time, prior art would have been discovered for all the allowed claim
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`features.
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`Petitioner requests the Board institute post-grant review (PGR) of claims 1-
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`5, 7-10, 12, 15, 16, 18, 21-22, 24, 26, 28, and 29 (“the challenged claims”) of the
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`1
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`’244 Patent in view of the Grounds herein, and issue a final written decision
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`Petition for PGR2018-00103
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`finding all challenged claims unpatentable.
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`II.
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`Identification of challenge (37 C.F.R. § 42. 204(b))
`A.
`Petitioner respectfully submits two post-grant reviews and requests
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`Identification of challenge and statement of relief requested
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`cancellation of the challenged claims based on 20 grounds as follows:
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`2
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`Petition 1 (the current petition):
`Ground
`References
`Fisker1 and Szeliski2
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`1
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`2
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`3
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`Fisker and Matsumoto3
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`Fisker and Yamada4
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`Petition for PGR2018-00103
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`Claims Challenged
`Basis
`§ 103 1-5, 7-10, 15, 16, 18, 21-
`22, 24, 26, and 28
`§ 103 1-5, 7-10, 15, 16, 18, 21-
`22, 24, 26, and 28
`§ 103 29
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`1 U.S. Pub. No. 2012/0092461 to Fisker et al. (“Fisker”), §102(a)(1),
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`(effectively filed June 17, 2009 and published April 19, 2012). The effective filing
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`date of the ’244 Patent is February 14, 2015. (Section VI.)
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`2 U.S. Pat. No. 6,097,854 to Szeliski et al. (“Szeliski”), §102(a)(1) (issued
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`August 1, 2000).
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`3 U.S. Pat. No. 7,106,348 to Matsumoto et al. (“Matsumoto”),§102(a)(1)
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`(issued September 12, 2006).
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`4 U.S. Pub. No. 2007/0035641 to Yamada et al. (“Yamada”), §102(a)(1)
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`(published February 15, 2007).
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`3
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`Petition for PGR2018-00103
` U.S. Patent No. 9,962,244
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`§ 103 1, 22, and 24
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`§ 103 1, 22, and 24
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`Fisker and Suzuki5
`§ 103 29
`§ 103 12
`Fisker, Szeliski, and Yamada
`§ 103 12
`Fisker, Szeliski, and Suzuki
`Fisker, Matsumoto, and Yamada § 103 12
`Fisker, Matsumoto, and Suzuki
`§ 103 12
`Thiel4256, Thiel5767, and
`Szeliski
`Thiel425, Thiel576, and
`Matsumoto
`Thiel425, Thiel576, Szeliski,
`and Fisker
`Thiel425, Thiel576, Matsumoto,
`and Fisker
`Thiel425, Thiel576, and
`Yamada
`Thiel425, Thiel576, and Suzuki § 103 29
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`§ 103 2-5, 7-10, 15, 16, 18, 21,
`26, and 28
`§ 103 2-5, 7-10, 15, 16, 18, 21,
`26, and 28
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`§ 103 29
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`5 U.S. Pub. No. 2013/0070128 to Suzuki et al. (“Suzuki”), §102(a)(2)
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`(effectively filed September 10, 2012).
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`6 U.S. Pub. No. 2010/0067789 to Thiel (“Thiel425”), § 102(a)(1) (published
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`March 29, 2012).
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`7 U.S. Pub. No. 2011/0080576 to Thiel (“Thiel576”), §102(a)(1) (published
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`April 7, 2011).
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`4
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`5
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`Petition 2 (the co-pending petition):
`Claims Challenged
`Basis
`Ground
`References
`§ 103 31-32
`1
`Fisker and Tanaka
`§ 103 34
`2
`Fisker and Suzuki
`§ 103 34
`3
`Fisker and Cai
`4
`Thiel425, Thiel576, and Tanaka § 103 31-32
`Thiel425, Thiel576, Fisker, and
`Suzuki
`Thiel425, Thiel576, Fisker, and
`Cai
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`Petition for PGR2018-00103
` U.S. Patent No. 9,962,244
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`§ 103 34
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`§ 103 34
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`There are meaningful distinctions between the two petitions. Even though
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`there is overlapping prior art between the petitions, the petitions challenge the
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`patentability of different claims. Therefore, both petitions should be instituted.
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`B.
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`The Board should institute all of Petitioner’s proceedings filed
`against the ’244 Patent to not unjustly prevent Petitioner from
`challenging the ’244 Patent.
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`Following the filing of the post-grant reviews, Petitioner will be filling two
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`inter partes reviews against the ’244 Patent.
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`Accordingly, if the Board agrees with the prior art Grounds, Petitioner
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`requests institution and consolidation of the four related post-grant review and
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`inter partes review petitions filed against the ’244 patent. Granting institution for
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`all four petitions will allow for the most efficient use of judicial resources without
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`unjustly depriving petitioner of the ability to challenge the ’244 patent for at least
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`two reasons. First, if the Board cannot determine until the final written decision
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`whether the ’244 patent claims are PGR eligible, but has already denied institution
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`Petition for PGR2018-00103
` U.S. Patent No. 9,962,244
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`for the IPRs, Petitioner will unjustly be forbidden from challenging the ’244 patent
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`at the PTAB. Second, the two PGR petitions include nearly identical arguments as
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`compared to the two IPR petitions.
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`Petitioner believes that the provisional application has no written description
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`support for at least claims 19, 25, and 32. Thus, the earliest effective priority date
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`for at least these claims is post-March 2013, requiring Petitioner to file a PGR.
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`However, Petitioner cannot foresee all evidence 3Shape may be able to provide
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`during trial that might dissuade the Board from holding the ’244 patent is PGR
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`eligible. So until the Board can make a final determination regarding PGR
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`eligibility, both the PGRs and IPRs should remain active.
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`With regards to judicial efficiency, Petitioner has purposely filed nearly
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`identical prior art Grounds against the claims in the PGRs and IPRs knowing that
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`one of the two types of proceedings must fail under the law. In this way, as there
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`are identical issues except which proceeding type is proper, neither the Board nor
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`the 3Shape is prejudiced by instituting and consolidating the proceedings. And this
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`avoids petitioner from being unjustly deprived of challenging the ’244 patent at the
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`PTAB. Thus, Petitioner respectfully requests that both PGRs and IPRs filed against
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`the ’244 Patent be instituted.
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`III. The Board should institute trial notwithstanding 35 U.S.C. § 325(d)
`because all of the factors considered in the § 325(d) analysis weigh in
`favor of institution.
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`Petition for PGR2018-00103
` U.S. Patent No. 9,962,244
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`Section 325(d) provides the Director discretion to deny a petition for PGR if
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`“the same or substantially the same prior art or arguments previously were
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`presented to the Office.” Here, however, all of the factors the Board considers in
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`applying § 325(d) point in favor of institution. Indeed, the Board has previously
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`instituted trial notwithstanding § 325(d) on nearly identical facts to those presented
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`here.
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`During prosecution, the Examiner rejected independent claims 1, 33, 35, 36,
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`and 38 as obvious over Fisker, but he allowed dependent claims 12, 14, 15, 20, and
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`22 based on his finding that neither Fisker nor the other prior art before him taught
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`the additional limitations of those claims. The patentee then incorporated the
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`limitations from the dependent claims into the independent claims in order to
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`obtain allowance. Yet, the Examiner performed only two prior-art searches: one in
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`July 2017 (before the only issued Office Action) and one in December 2017
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`(before the Notice of Allowance). (Ex.1002, 882-888, 924-925.) And the Examiner
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`limited his search for the limitations of the dependent claims to a search within
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`three references identified in IDSs for terms closely resembling some claimed
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`terms – for example, the terms “weight$3” and “average$3.” ( Id.)