`
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`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-00819-ADA Document 82 Filed 06/12/20 Page 1 of 13
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
`AUSTIN DIVISION
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Case No. 1:19-cv-00819-ADA
`
`Case No. 1:19-cv-00873-ADA
`
`Case No. 1:19-cv-00874-ADA
`
`Case No. 1:19-cv-00898-ADA
`
`NEODRON LTD.,
`
`
`Plaintiff,
`
`
`
`v.
`
`
`DELL TECHNOLOGIES INC.,
`
`
`Defendant.
`
`NEODRON LTD.,
`
`
`v.
`
`
`
`
`HP, INC.,
`
`
`NEODRON LTD.,
`
`
`Plaintiff,
`
`Defendant.
`
`Plaintiff,
`
`
`
`v.
`
`
`MICROSOFT CORPORATION,
`
`
`Defendant.
`
`NEODRON LTD.,
`
`
`
`
`v.
`
`Plaintiff,
`
`
`AMAZON.COM, INC.,
`
`
`Defendant.
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-00819-ADA Document 82 Filed 06/12/20 Page 2 of 13
`
` NEODRON LTD.,
`
`
`
`
`v.
`
`Plaintiff,
`
`
`
`
`Case No. 1:19-cv-00903-ADA
`
`
`SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. and
`SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS AMERICA, INC.,
`
`
`Defendant.
`
`
`
`JOINT CLAIM CONSTRUCTION STATEMENT
`
`Pursuant to the Court’s Order Governing Proceedings - Patent Case (Dkt. 31) the parties
`
`
`
`submit this Joint Claim Construction Statement. The claim terms identified below as agreed
`
`upon or being in-dispute are found in U.S. Patent No. 7,821,502 (the “’502 Patent”), U.S. Patent
`
`No. 8,946,574 (the “’574 Patent”), U.S. Patent No. 10,088,960 ( the “’960 Patent”), U.S. Patent
`
`No. 9,086,770 (the “’770 Patent”), U.S. Patent No. 9,823,784 ( the “’784 Patent”), U.S. Patent
`
`No. 8,451,237 (the “’237 Patent”), U.S. Patent No. 8,502,547 (the “’547 Patent”), U.S. Patent
`
`No. 9,489,072 (the “’072 Patent”), U.S. Patent No. 8,102,286 (the “’286 Patent”) and U.S. Patent
`
`No. 10,365,747 (the “’747 Patent”).
`
`
`I. AGREED CONSTRUCTIONS, POINTS OF AGREEMENT, AND REQUEST FOR
` DETERMINATION AS PART OF MARKMAN PROCESS
`
`
`
`Patent(s)
`Claim(s)
`’770 Patent
`Claim 7
`
`Agreed Constructions1
`
`“product-by-process limitation,
`interpreted with its plain meaning”
`
`
`
`Claim Term
`
`1
`
`2
`
`“wherein the plurality of first
`electrodes are formed from a
`piece of conductive mesh by
`creating a plurality of cuts in the
`piece of conductive mesh”
`“electrically coupled”
`
`
`1 The agreement on the constructions applies only to the parties against whom the patents are asserted.
`
`
`’502 Patent
`Claims 1-2, 5-8,
`
`“connected with an electrical conductor”
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-00819-ADA Document 82 Filed 06/12/20 Page 3 of 13
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`6
`
`7
`
`8
`
`“sensing cells”
`
`“key”
`
`11-14, 16
`’502 Patent
`Claim 1-2, 5-8, 11-
`14, 16
`’286 Patent
`All claims
`
`“biased in favor of”
`
`“control logic”
`
`’286 Patent
`Claims 1, 9, 10, 21
`’286 Patent
`Claims 1, 9
`
`’547 Patent
`Claim 1
`’574 Patent
`Claims 1, 8
`
`“sensing element”
`
`“the substrate, with drive or
`sense electrodes of a touch
`sensor disposed on a first
`surface and a second surface of
`the substrate, the first surface
`being opposite the second
`surface, the drive or sense
`electrodes being made of a
`conductive mesh conductive
`material comprising metal”
`
`9
`
`“one or more of the following
`being true”
`
`’960 Patent
`Claims 1, 9, 17
`
`Plain and ordinary meaning, which is
`“sensing cells”
`
`“a touchable portion of a mechanical to
`electrical transducing device that is non-
`bistable in nature. This term specifically
`excludes conventional mechanical
`switches in which two or more electrical
`conductors are moved into or away from
`contact with each other to make or break
`an electrical connection. A ‘key’ can also
`be a dimensional sensing surface such as
`an XY touch screen or a ‘trackpad’”
`“biased or skewed in favor of, but not
`locked to”
`Should be construed according to 35
`U.S.C. § 112, para. 6
`
`Function: detect a sensor value of an
`inactive key surpassing a sensor value of
`an active key by a select amount and
`assigning the inactive key as the active
`key, wherein the key assignment is
`biased in favor of the currently active
`key by [increasing/decreasing] sensor
`values of the [currently active/inactive]
`keys.
`
`Corresponding Structure: microprocessor
`or microcontroller 18 programmed to
`execute the logical operations of figure
`5A as described at 3:2-4, 5:49-55, 7:23-
`8:23, and 8:36-48, and equivalents
`thereof.
`“physical electrical sensing element
`made of conductive substances”
`Plain and ordinary meaning, which is
`“the substrate, having a first surface and
`a second surface opposite the first
`surface, with drive electrodes of a touch
`sensor disposed on one of the first or
`second surfaces and sense electrodes of
`the touch sensor disposed on the other
`surface opposite the drive electrodes, the
`drive or sense electrodes being made of a
`conductive mesh conductive material
`comprising metal.”
`For claim 1: either the claim elements at
`lines 37-45 or the claim elements at lines
`46-60 must be true.
`
`
`

`

`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-00819-ADA Document 82 Filed 06/12/20 Page 4 of 13
`
`For claim 9: either the claim elements at
`lines 26-35 or the claim elements at lines
`36-50 must be true.
`
`For claim 17: either the claim elements
`at lines 30-37 or the claim elements at
`lines 38-52 must be true.
`Plain and ordinary meaning, which is
`“distance from the center of one
`electrode to the center of an adjacent
`electrode”
`Plain and ordinary meaning, which is
`“entering a particular detect mode
`depending on whether the received
`signals are determined to be
`representative of a finger touch or a
`stylus touch.”
`
`Plain and ordinary meaning, which is “a
`signal indicating the completion of the
`sensor acquisition duty cycle”
`“entering a particular detect mode
`depending on whether the received
`signals are determined to be
`representative of a finger touch or a
`stylus touch”
`Plain and ordinary meaning, which is
`“first electrode in which the resistance of
`the material varies in relation to applied
`force”
`“conductive mesh of conductive material
`excluding transparent conductive
`materials such as indium tin oxide
`(ITO)”
`“conductive mesh of conductive material
`excluding transparent conductive
`materials such as indium tin oxide
`(ITO)”
`“interconnecting lines of conductive
`electrode material forming a mesh
`pattern, instead of a continuous layer of
`conductive electrode material”
`
`“entering a detect mode as a
`function of whether the received
`signals are determined to be
`representative of a finger touch
`or a stylus touch,” / “entering a
`detect mode as a function of
`whether the touch is interpreted
`as a finger touch or a stylus
`touch” / “enter a detect mode as
`a function of the type of touch
`determined”
`“acquisition complete signal” /
`“sense acquisition complete
`signal”
`“enter/entering a detect
`mode…”
`
`’784 Patent
`Claims 1, 2, 3
`
`’237 Patent
`Claims 1, 10, 16
`
`’072 Patent
`Claims 1, 2, 3, 7,
`9, 10, 11, 13
`’237 Patent
`Claims 1, 9, 10
`
`“first variable resistance
`electrode”
`
`’747 Patent
`Claims 10, 15, 16
`
`“conductive mesh [of]
`conductive material”
`
`’574 Patent
`Claims 1, 8, 15
`
`“conductive mesh of conductive
`material”
`
`’960 Patent
`Claims 1, 9, 17
`
`“interconnecting mesh
`segments”
`
`’960 Patent
`Claims 1, 9, 17
`
`10
`
`“pitch”
`
`11
`
`12
`
`13
`
`14
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:19-cv-00819-ADA Document 82 Filed 06/12/20 Page 5 of 13
`
`
`
`II. LIST OF DISPUTED CLAIM TERMS
`
`
`
`
`1
`
`2
`
`Claim Term
`
`“wherein the plurality of drive
`electrodes are substantially area
`filling within the sensing region
`relative to the plurality of sense
`electrodes”
`
`Patent(s)
`Claim(s)
`’784 Patent
`Claims 1-3
`
`“together, the plurality of sense
`electrodes and the plurality of
`isolated conductive elements are
`substantially area filling within
`the sensing region relative to the
`plurality of sense electrodes”
`
`’784 Patent
`Claims 1-3
`
`3
`
`“a substrate having a surface
`with an arrangement of
`electrodes mounted thereon”
`
`’502 Patent
`Claims 1-2, 5-8,
`11-14, 16
`
`Plaintiff’s
`Proposal
`Plain and ordinary
`meaning; no
`construction
`necessary:
`“wherein the
`plurality of drive
`electrodes are
`substantially area
`filling within the
`sensing region
`relative to the
`plurality of sense
`electrodes.”
`
`Plain and ordinary
`meaning; no
`construction
`necessary;
`“together, the
`plurality of sense
`electrodes and the
`plurality of
`isolated
`conductive
`elements are
`substantially area
`filling within the
`sensing region
`relative to the
`plurality of sense
`electrodes.”
`
`Plain and ordinary
`meaning; no
`construction
`necessary: “a
`substrate having a
`surface with an
`arrangement of
`electrodes mounted
`thereon”
`
`Defendants’
`Proposal
`Indefinite.
`
`
`Indefinite.
`
`
`Plain and ordinary
`meaning, which is
`“a substrate
`having a side with
`an arrangement of
`electrodes
`mounted thereon”
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:19-cv-00819-ADA Document 82 Filed 06/12/20 Page 6 of 13
`
`
`
`
`
`4
`
`5*
`
`Claim Term
`
`“sensing area”
`
`“wherein row sensing electrodes
`of sensing cells at opposing ends
`of at least one of the rows are
`electrically coupled to one
`another by respective row wrap-
`around connections made
`outside of the sensing area”
`
`Patent(s)
`Claim(s)
`’502 Patent
`Claims 1-2, 5-8,
`11-14, 16
`
`’502 Patent
`Claims 1-2, 5-8,
`11-14, 16
`
`Plaintiff’s
`Proposal
`“an area defined by
`the sensing cells”
`
`Plain and ordinary
`meaning, which is
`“wherein row
`sensing electrodes
`of sensing cells at
`opposing ends of
`at least one of the
`rows are
`electrically
`coupled to one
`another by
`respective row
`wrap-around
`connections made
`outside of the
`sensing area”
`Plain and ordinary
`meaning, which is
`“sensor signal
`value”
`
`Defendants’
`Proposal
`“an area defined
`by the sensing
`electrodes”
`
`Plain and ordinary
`meaning, which is
`“wherein row
`sensing electrodes
`of sensing cells at
`opposing ends of
`at least one of the
`rows are
`electrically
`coupled to one
`another by
`respective row
`wrap-around
`connections made
`outside of the
`sensing area”
`Plain and ordinary
`meaning: “value
`indicating the
`strength of the
`sensor
`signal”
`
`6
`
`“sensor value”
`
`’286 Patent
`Clams 1, 3-5, 8-10,
`12-13, 15-17, 20-
`21, 23-24
`
` *
`
` Defendants’ statement: Although Neodron has indicated that it “no longer believes there is any meaningful
`dispute between the parties” and has agreed to adopt the claim language as its construction, Neodron has also
`represented that it has not changed its position on this term. Defendants therefore believe that the meaning of this
`term is still in dispute.
`
` *
`
` Neodron’s statement: Based on Defendants’ claim construction briefing, Neodron no longer believes there is
`any meaningful dispute between the parties on the plain meaning of this term. See, e.g., Defs.’ Resp. Br. at 25 (“a
`row wrap-around connection is a connection that wraps around a row….”); Defs.’ Reply Br. at 20 (“the claim
`recites ‘row wrap-around connections,’ which requires a connection that wraps around the other electrodes in the
`row (i.e., the electrodes other than the two electrodes connected via the wrap-around connection.”); Defs.’ Resp.
`Br. at 25 (“the row-wrap-around connection must be made ‘outside of the sensing area….’”). Neodron therefore
`has agreed to Defendants’ proposed claim language, which is the original, verbatim claim language as shown in
`Row 5 above.
`
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:19-cv-00819-ADA Document 82 Filed 06/12/20 Page 7 of 13
`
`
`
`7
`
`Claim Term
`
`“to measure a parameter of the
`first variable resistance
`electrode”
`
`Patent(s)
`Claim(s)
`’747 Patent
`Claims 10, 16
`
`Plaintiff’s
`Proposal
`Plain and ordinary
`meaning; no
`construction
`necessary: “to
`measure a
`parameter of the
`first variable
`resistance
`electrode”
`
`Samsung’s
`Proposal
`Plain and ordinary
`meaning: “to
`measure a value
`determined by the
`resistance of the
`first variable
`resistance
`electrode”
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:19-cv-00819-ADA Document 82 Filed 06/12/20 Page 8 of 13
`
`Dated: June 12, 2020
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Respectfully submitted by:
`
`
`
`
`
`
` /s/ Reza Mirzaie
`Reza Mirzaie (CA SBN 246953)
`Email: rmirzaie@raklaw.com
`Marc A. Fenster (CA SBN 181067)
`Email: mfenster@raklaw.com
`Brian D. Ledahl (CA SBN 186579)
`Email: bledahl@raklaw.com
`Paul A. Kroeger (CA SBN 229074)
`Email: pkroeger@raklaw.com
`Philip X. Wang (CA SBN 262239)
`pwang@raklaw.com
`Neil A. Rubin (CA SBN 250761)
`Email: nrubin@raklaw.com
`Amy E. Hayden (CA SBN 287026)
`Email: ahayden@raklaw.com
`Shani Williams (SBN 274509)
`Email: swilliams@raklaw.com
`Kristopher R. Davis (IL SBN 6296190)
`Email: kdavis@raklaw.com
`Christian W. Conkle (CA SBN 306374)
`Email: cconkle@raklaw.com
`Kent N. Shum (CA SBN 259189)
`Email: kshum@raklaw.com
`Jonathan Ma (CA SBN 312773)
`Email: jma@raklaw.com
`RUSS AUGUST & KABAT
`12424 Wilshire Blvd. 12th Floor
`Los Angeles, CA 90025
`Phone: (310) 826-7474
`Fax: (310) 826-6991
`Matthew D. Aichele (VA SBN 77821)
`Email: maichele@raklaw.com
`RUSS AUGUST & KABAT
`800 Maine Avenue, SW, Suite 200
`Washington, DC 20024
`Phone: (310) 826-7474
`Fax: (310) 826-6991
`
`Attorneys for Plaintiff Neodron Ltd.
`
`/s/ John M. Guaragna
`John M. Guaragna
`Brian Erickson
`DLA PIPER LLP (US)
`401 Congress Avenue, Suite 2500
`Austin, TX 78701-3799
`Telephone: (512) 457-7000
`Facsimile: (512) 457-7001
`
`Sean C. Cunningham (pro hac vice)
`Erin P. Gibson (pro hac vice)
`Robert Williams (pro hac vice)
`David R. Knudson (pro hac vice)
`DLA PIPER LLP (US)
`401 B Street, Suite
`1700 San Diego, CA
`92101-4297
`Telephone: (619) 699-2700
`Facsimile: (619) 699-2701
`
`Erik Fuehrer (pro hac vice)
`DLA PIPER LLP US)
`2000 University Avenue
`East Palo Alto, CA 94303-2214
`Telephone: (650) 833-2000
`Facsimile: (650) 833-2001
`
`Barry K. Shelton
`Texas State Bar No.
`24055029 SHELTON
`COBURN LLP 311 RR
`620, Suite 205
`Austin, TX 78734-4775
`bshelton@sheltoncoburn.com
`(512) 263-2165 (Telephone)
`(512) 263-2166 (Facsimile)
`
`Counsel for Defendants
`Microsoft Corporation and HP Inc.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`
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`

`

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`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-00819-ADA Document 82 Filed 06/12/20 Page 9 of 13
`
`
`
`/s/ Nicholas J. Whilt
`Ryan K. Yagura (Tex. Bar No. 24075933)
`ryagura@omm.com
`Nicholas J. Whilt (Cal. Bar No. 247738)
`nwhilt@omm.com
`O’MELVENY & MYERS LLP
`400 S. Hope Street
`Los Angeles, CA 90071
`Telephone: 213-430-6000
`Facsimile: 213-430-6407
`
`Marc J. Pensabene (N.Y. Bar No.
`2656361)
`mpensabene@omm.com
`O’MELVENY & MYERS LLP
`Times Square Tower, 7 Times Square
`New York, NY 10036
`Telephone: 212-326-2000
`Facsimile: 212-326-2061
`
`John C. Kappos
`jkappos@omm.com
`O’MELVENY & MYERS LLP
`610 Newport Center Drive, 17th Floor
`Newport Beach, California 92660
`Telephone: 949-823-6900
`Facsimile: 949-823-6994
`
`Darin Snyder
`dsnyder@omm.com
`O’MELVENY & MYERS LLP
`Two Embarcadero Center, 28th Floor
`San Francisco, CA 94111
`Telephone: 415-984-8700
`Facsimile: 415-984-8701
`
`Attorneys for Defendants Samsung
`Electronics,
`Co., Ltd. and Samsung Electronics
`America,
`Inc.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`
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`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-00819-ADA Document 82 Filed 06/12/20 Page 10 of 13
`
`By: /s/ Michael J. Newton
`Michael J. Newton (TX Bar No.
`24003844)
`Brady Cox (TX Bar No. 24074084)
`ALSTON & BIRD LLP
`2200 Ross Avenue, Suite 2300
`Dallas, Texas 75201
`Phone: (214) 922-3400
`Fax: (214) 922-3899
`mike.newton@alston.com
`brady.cox@alston.com
`
`Charles A. Naggar (pro hac vice)
`NY Bar No. 5356449
`ALSTON & BIRD LLP
`90 Park Avenue, 15th Floor
`New York, NY 11230
`Phone: (212) 210-9400
`Fax: (212) 210-9444
`charles.naggar@alston.com
`
`John M. Guaragna (TX Bar No.
`24043308)
`Brian K. Erickson (TX Bar No.
`24012594)
`DLA Piper LLP (US)
`401 Congress Avenue, Suite 2500
`Austin, TX 78701-3799
`Phone: 512.457.7000
`Fax: 512.457.7001
`john.guaragna@dlapiper.com
`brian.erickson@dlapiper.com
`
`Sean C. Cunningham (pro hac vice)
`CA Bar No. 98895
`Erin Gibson (pro hac vice)
`CA Bar No. 229305
`Robert Williams (pro hac vice)
`CA Bar No. 246990
`DLA Piper LLP (US)
`401 B Street, Suite 1700
`San Diego, CA 92101-4297
`Phone: 619.699.2700
`Fax: 619.699.2701
`sean.cunningham@dlapiper.com
`erin.gibson@dlapiper.com
`robert.williams@dlapiper.com
`
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-00819-ADA Document 82 Filed 06/12/20 Page 11 of 13
`
`Jeffrey T. Lindgren (pro hac vice)
`CA Bar No. 176400
`Vasquez Benisek & Lindgren LLP
`1550 Parkside Drive, Suite 130
`Walnut Creek, CA 94596
`925-627-4250
`Fax: 925-403-0900
`jlindgren@vbllaw.com
`
`Richard C. Vasquez (pro hac vice)
`CA Bar No. 127228
`Vasquez Benisek & Lindgren LLP
`1550 Parkside Drive, Suite 130
`Walnut Creek, CA 94596
`Phone: 925-627-4250
`Fax: 925-403-0900
`rvasquez@vbllaw.com
`
`M. Craig Tyler
`Perkins Coie LLP
`500 W. 2nd Street
`Suite 1900
`Austin, TX 78701
`Phone: 737.256.6100
`Fax: 737.256.6300
`CTyler@perkinscoie.com
`
`Chao (Wendy) Wang (pro hac vice)
`CA Bar No. 289325
`NY Bar No. 5002704
`Perkins Coie LLP
`3150 Porter Drive
`Palo Alto, CA 94304-1212
`Phone: 650-838-4500
`Fax: 650-838-4350
`wwang@perkinscoie.com
`
`Tariq Javed (pro hac vice)
`DC Bar No. 1618071
`Perkins Coie LLP
`700 Thirteenth Street N.W., Suite 800
`Washington, DC 20005
`Phone: 202-654-6200
`Fax: 202-654-6211
`TJaved@perkinscoie.com
`
`Attorneys for Defendant Dell
`Technologies Inc.
`
`

`

`Case 1:19-cv-00819-ADA Document 82 Filed 06/12/20 Page 12 of 13
`
`
`
`
`/s/ Nathan Sabri
`Stefani E. Shanberg (Texas Bar No.
`24009955)
`sshanberg@mofo.com
`Nathan B. Sabri (pro hac vice)
`nsabri@mofo.com
`Robin Brewer (pro hac vice)
`rbrewer@mofo.com
`MORRISON & FOERSTER LLP
`425 Market Street
`San Francisco, CA 94105
`Tel: (415) 268-7000
`
`Attorneys for Defendant Amazon.com,
`Inc.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

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`
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`Case 1:19-cv-00819-ADA Document 82 Filed 06/12/20 Page 13 of 13
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`CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
`
`I certify that the foregoing document was electronically filed on June 12, 2020, pursuant
`
`to Local Rule CV-5(a) and has been served on all counsel whom have consented to electronic
`
`service. Any other counsel of record will be served by first class U.S. mail on this same date.
`
`
`
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`
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`/s/ Reza Mirzaie
`Reza Mirzaie
`
`
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`
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`
`
`
`
`35
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`