IN TH E UNITED STATES PATENT AND TR ADEM AR K O FFICE
`— — — — — — — — — —
`BEFO R E TH E PATENT TR IALAND APPEALBO AR D
`— — — — — — — — — —
`
`SAM SUNG ELECTRO NICS AM ERICA, INC.
`Petitioner,
`
`v.
`
`TACTILE FEEDBACK TECH NO LO GY, LLC,
`PatentO w ner
`
`— — — — — — — — — —
`Case No. To Be Assigned
`U.S. PatentNo. 7,9 73,773
`— — — — — — — — — —
`
`PETITIO N FO R INTER PARTES R EVIEW O F
`U.S. PATENT NO . 7,9 73,773
`UNDER 35 U.S.C. §§311–319 AND 37 C.F.R . §42.100 et seq.
`
`M ailStop PATENT BO ARD
`PatentTrialand AppealBoard
`U.S. Patentand Tradem ark O ffice
`P.O . Box 1450
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`

`
`Petition for Inter Partes Review of
`U.S. PatentNo. 7,9 73,773
`
`CO NTENTS
`
`I.
`
`II.
`
`INTRO DUCTIO N ...........................................................................................1
`
`M ANDATO RY NO TICES (37 C.F.R. §42.8(a)(1))......................................1
`
`A.
`
`B.
`
`RealParty-In-Interest(37 C.F.R. §42.8(b)(1))....................................1
`
`Related M atters (37 C.F.R. §42.8(b)(2))..............................................1
`
`C. Lead and Back -Up Counsel(37 C.F.R. §42.8(b)(3))...........................2
`
`D.
`
`Service Inform ation (37 C.F.R. §42.8(b)(4)).......................................2
`
`III. PAYM ENT O FFEES (37 C.F.R. §42.103)...................................................2
`
`IV.
`
`REQUIREM ENTS FO R INTER PARTES REVIEW (37 C.F.R. §
`42.104).............................................................................................................3
`
`A.
`
`B.
`
`C.
`
`D.
`
`Grounds for Standing (37 C.F.R. §42.104(a)).....................................3
`
`Identification ofCh allenge and ReliefReq uested (37 C.F.R. §
`42.104(b))..............................................................................................3
`
`1.
`
`2.
`
`Claim s for W h ich Inter Partes Review Is Req uested (37
`C.F.R. §42.104(b)(1))................................................................3
`
`Th e Specific Artand Statutory Ground(s)on W h ich th e
`Ch allenge Is Based (37 C.F.R. §42.104(b)(2))..........................3
`
`H ow th e Ch allenged Claim s Are to Be Construed (37 C.F.R.
`§42.104(b)(3)).......................................................................................6
`
`H ow th e Construed Claim (s)Are Unpatentable (37 C.F.R. §
`42.104(b)(4)).........................................................................................8
`
`V.
`
`FACTUALBACKGRO UND..........................................................................9
`
`A.
`
`B.
`
`C.
`
`Tech nicalBack ground...........................................................................9
`
`O verview ofth e ’773 Patent..................................................................9
`
`Prosecution H istory ofth e ’773 Patent...............................................12
`
`i
`
`

`
`Petition for Inter Partes Review of
`U.S. PatentNo. 7,9 73,773
`
`D.
`
`Scope and Contentofth e Prior Art.....................................................13
`
`1.
`
`2.
`
`3.
`
`4.
`
`Gem m ell....................................................................................13
`
`W ang .........................................................................................15
`
`H oevel.......................................................................................16
`
`Kasday.......................................................................................18
`
`E. LevelofO rdinary Sk illin th e Art.......................................................19
`
`VI. GRO UNDS O FUNPATENTABILITY AND SH O W ING TH AT
`PETITIO NER IS LIKELY TO PREVAIL....................................................19
`
`A.
`
`Ground 1: Claim s 15, 17, 21, 22, 30 and 34 Are O bvious in
`Ligh tofGem m elland Kasday. ...........................................................19
`
`1.
`
`2.
`
`3.
`
`4.
`
`5.
`
`6.
`
`7.
`
`Gem m ell& Kasday Disclose Each Elem entO fClaim 15. ......20
`
`Gem m ell& Kasday Disclose Each Elem entO fClaim 17. ......28
`
`Gem m ell& Kasday Disclose Each Elem entO fClaim 21. ......29
`
`Gem m ell& Kasday Disclose Each Elem entO fClaim 22. ......31
`
`Gem m ell& Kasday Disclose Each Elem entO fClaim 30. ......32
`
`Gem m ell& Kasday Disclose Each Elem entO fClaim 34. ......32
`
`M otivation to Com bine .............................................................33
`
`B.
`
`C.
`
`Ground 2: Claim s 15 and 17 Are O bvious in Ligh tofGem m ell
`and Kasday in Furth er View ofH oevel...............................................37
`
`Ground 3: Claim s 15 and 17 Are O bvious in Ligh tofW ang and
`Kasday in Furth er View ofH oevel. ....................................................41
`
`1.
`
`2.
`
`W ang, Kasday and H oevelDisclose Each Elem entof
`Claim 15....................................................................................41
`
`W ang, Kasday and H oevelDisclose Each Elem entof
`Claim 17....................................................................................49
`
`ii
`
`

`
`Petition for Inter Partes Review of
`U.S. PatentNo. 7,9 73,773
`
`3.
`
`M otivation to Com bine .............................................................50
`
`D.
`
`Ground 4: Claim s 21, 22, 30 and 34 Are O bvious in Ligh tof
`W ang and Kasday................................................................................55
`
`1.
`
`2.
`
`W ang and Kasday Disclose Each Elem entofClaim s 21
`and 22........................................................................................57
`
`W ang and Kasday Disclose Each Elem entofClaim s 30
`and 34........................................................................................58
`
`VII. CO NCLUSIO N..............................................................................................60
`
`iii
`
`

`
`Exh ibitNo.
`1001
`1002
`1003
`1004
`1005
`1006
`1007
`1008
`1009
`1010
`
`1011
`
`1012
`1013
`1014
`1015
`1016
`1017
`1018
`1019
`1020
`1021
`1022
`1023
`1024
`
`1025
`
`1026
`
`Petition for Inter Partes Review of
`U.S. PatentNo. 7,9 73,773
`
`EXH IBIT LIST
`
`Exh ibit
`
`U.S. PatentNo. 7,9 73,773
`O ffice Action Dated O ctober 18, 2010
`Response Dated Novem ber 24, 2010
`O ffice Action Dated M arch 3, 2011
`Am endm entDated M arch 16, 2011
`Notice O fAllow ance Dated M ay 31, 2011
`Prior ArtPCT Pub. W O 9 2/00559 (Gem m ellet al.)
`Prior ArtEP0 556 9 9 9 A1 (H oevel)
`U.S. PatentNo. 4,484,179 (Kasday)
`Prior ArtU.S. PatNo. 5,461,711 (W ang et al.)
`Prior ArtPublication SK. Lee, W . Buxton, K.C. Sm ith , A
`Multi-Touch Three Dimensional Touch-Sensitive Tablet, CH I
`‘85 Proceedings (April19 85)(Lee)
`U.S. PatentNo. 3,69 6,409
`U.S. PatentNo. 3,775,560
`U.S. PatentNo. 3,9 11,215
`U.S. PatentNo. 4,202,041
`U.S. PatentNo. 4,9 14,624
`U.S. PatentNo. 3,780,225
`U.S. PatentNo. 3,9 61,59 8
`U.S. PatentNo. 3,623,064
`U.S. PatentNo. 7,9 73,773 Continuity Data
`Prelim inary Am endm entDated Septem ber 18, 2009
`FirstO ffice Action Dated June 9 , 2010
`Response Dated June 15, 2010
`Declaration ofRobertD. H ow e (“H ow e Decl.”)
`W . Buxton, R. H ill, and P. Row ley, Issues and techniques in
`touch-sensitive tablet input, ACM SIGGRAPH Com puter
`Graph ics 19 , no. 3(19 85)
`
`B. Sh neiderm an, Future directions for human‐computer
`interaction, InternationalJournalofH um an‐Com puter
`
`Interaction 2, no. 1(19 9 0)
`
`iv
`
`

`
`Petition for Inter Partes Review of
`U.S. PatentNo. 7,9 73,773
`
`1027
`
`1028
`
`Ben Sh neiderm an, Designing the user interface: Strategies for
`effective human-computer interaction, 2nd edition, Reading,
`M A: Addison-W esley (19 9 2)
`DistrictCourt’s Prelim inary Claim Constructions
`
`v
`
`

`
`I.
`
`INTR O DUCTIO N
`
`Petitioner Sam sung Electronics Am erica, Inc. (“Petitioner”)respectfully
`
`req uests inter partes review ofclaim s 15, 17, 21, 22, 30 and 34 (th e “Ch allenged
`
`Claim s”)ofU.S. PatentNo. 7,9 73,773 (“th e ’773 Patent”)(Exh ibit1001)in
`
`accordance w ith 35 U.S.C. §§311–319 and 37 C.F.R. §42.100 et seq. Th e
`
`’773 Patentis directed to touch screen tech nology.
`
`II.
`
`M ANDATO R Y NO TICES (37 C.F.R . §42.8(a)(1))
`
`A.
`
`R ealParty-In-Interest(37 C.F.R . §42.8(b)(1))
`
`Th e realparty-in-interestis Sam sung Electronics Am erica, Inc.
`
`B.
`
`R elated M atters (37 C.F.R . §42.8(b)(2))
`
`Th e ’773 Patentis presently th e subjectofth e follow ing patentinfringem ent
`
`law suitbrough tby Tactile Feedback Tech nology in th e Eastern DistrictofTexas:
`
`Tactile Feedback Technology, LLC v. Samsung Electronics America, Inc., Case
`
`No. 2:14-cv-009 40-JRG-RSP(th e “Texas Litigation”).1
`
`O n August27, 1015, th e courtin th e Texas Litigation h eld a h earing on
`
`claim construction and rendered a prelim inary claim construction ruling, w h ich
`
`Petitioner subm its h erew ith and addresses below in Section IV.C.
`
`1 Th e patentee h ad also asserted th e ’773 patentin Tactile Feedback Technology,
`LLC v. ZTE (USA) Inc., ZTE Corporation, Case No. 2:14-cv-009 43-JRG-RSP.
`Th atcase h as settled and been dism issed. Prior to th e dism issalofth atcase, th e
`defendantZ TE Corporation and Petitioner togeth er paid th e fees ofDr. RobertD.
`H ow e, w h o subm its experttestim ony in connection w ith th is IPR proceeding. (See
`Exh ibit1024).
`
`

`
`Petition for Inter Partes Review of
`U.S. PatentNo. 7,9 73,773
`
`Th ree oth er related IPR petitions, ch allenging U.S. PatentNos. 8,072,440
`
`(“th e ’440 Patent”), 8,013,843 (“th e ’843 Patent”)and 8,068,100 (“th e ’100
`
`Patent”), are filed concurrently w ith th is Petition. Th e ’440, ’843, and ’100 Patents
`
`are continuations ofth e ’773 Patent. Allfour patents sh are th e sam e specification.
`
`C. Lead and Back -Up Counsel(37 C.F.R . §42.8(b)(3))
`
`Petitioner designates th e follow ing counsel:
`
`Lead Counsel
`Jennifer Sk lenar (Reg. No. 40205)
`Arnold & Porter LLP
`Postaland H and Delivery Address
`777 South Figueroa Street, 44th Floor
`Los Angeles, CA 9 0017-5844
`Teleph one: 213.243.4027
`Facsim ile: 213.243.419 9
`Em ail: Jennifer.Sk lenar@ aporter.com
`
`Back up Counsel:
`Jin-Suk Park (Reg. No. 50678)
`Arnold & Porter LLP
`Postaland H and Delivery Address
`601 M assach usetts Ave., NW
`W ash ington, DC 20001-3743
`Teleph one: 202.9 42.5648
`Facsim ile: 202.9 42.59 9 9
`Em ail: Jin.Park @ aporter.com
`
`D.
`
`Service Inform ation (37 C.F.R . §42.8(b)(4))
`
`Service ofany docum ents via h and-delivery m ay be m ade atth e postal
`
`m ailing addresses ofth e respective lead or back -up counseldesignated above w ith
`
`courtesy copies to th e follow ing em ailaddresses: Jennifer.Sk lenar@ aporter.com ,
`
`Jin.Park @ aporter.com and M arc.Coh n@ aporter.com . Petitioner consents to
`
`electronic service.
`
`III. PAYM ENT O FFEES (37 C.F.R . §42.103)
`
`Th e undersigned auth orizes th e O ffice to ch arge DepositAccountNo. 50-
`
`2387 for th e fee setforth in 37 C.F.R. §42.15(a)for th is Petition for Inter Partes
`
`2
`
`

`
`Petition for Inter Partes Review of
`U.S. PatentNo. 7,9 73,773
`
`Review . Th e undersigned furth er auth orizes paym entfor any additionalfees th at
`
`m igh tbe due in connection w ith th is Petition to be ch arged to th e above-referenced
`
`DepositAccount.
`
`IV.
`
`R EQUIR EM ENTS FO R INTER PARTES R EVIEW (37 C.F.R . §
`42.104)
`
`As setforth below and pursuantto 37 C.F.R. §42.104, each req uirem entfor
`
`inter partes review ofth e ’773 Patentis satisfied.
`
`Grounds for Standing (37 C.F.R . §42.104(a))
`A.
`Petitioner h ereby certifies th atth e ’773 Patentis available for inter partes
`
`review and th atPetitioner is notbarred or estopped from req uesting inter partes
`
`review ch allenging th e claim s ofth e ’773 Patenton th e grounds identified h erein.
`
`B.
`
`Identification ofCh allenge and R eliefR equested (37 C.F.R .
`§42.104(b))
`Claim s for W h ich Inter Partes R eview Is R equested
`(37 C.F.R . §42.104(b)(1))
`
`1.
`
`Petitioner ch allenges claim s 15, 17, 21, 22, 30 and 34 ofth e ’773 Patent, and
`
`req uestth atth e PatentTrialand AppealBoard invalidate th e sam e.
`
`2.
`
`Th e Specific Artand Statutory Ground(s)on W h ich
`th e Ch allenge Is Based (37 C.F.R . §42.104(b)(2))
`
`Th e ’773 Patentclaim s priority to a parentapplication filed on June 29 ,
`
`19 9 5. Th e prior artrelied upon h erein pre-dates th is June 29 , 19 9 5 priority date.
`
`Art: Petitioner bases its ch allenge on th e follow ing prior art:
`
`3
`
`

`
`Petition for Inter Partes Review of
`U.S. PatentNo. 7,9 73,773
`
`
`
`W O 9 2/00559 (“Gem m ell”)w as publish ed on January 9 , 19 9 2 and is
`
`prior artunder pre-AIA §102(b). (Exh ibit1007)
`
`
`
`EP0 556 9 9 9 A1 (“H oevel”)w as publish ed on August25, 19 9 3 and is
`
`prior artunder pre-AIA §102(b). (Exh ibit1008)
`
`
`
`U.S. 5,461,711 (“W ang”)w as issued on O ctober 24, 19 9 5. Because
`
`its underlying application w as filed on Decem ber 22, 19 9 3, W ang is prior artunder
`
`pre-AIA §102(e). (Exh ibit1010)
`
`
`
`U.S. 4,484,179 (“Kasday”)w as issued on Novem ber 20, 19 84, and is
`
`prior artunder pre-AIA §102(b). (Exh ibit1009 )
`
`None ofth ese references w ere relied upon by th e exam iner during th e
`
`prosecution th atled to th e ’773 Patent. Gem m elland Kasday w ere cited by th e
`
`applicantbutw ere notdiscussed by th e exam iner.
`
`Grounds: Petitioner bases its ch allenge on th e follow ing grounds, w h ich
`
`provide a reasonable lik elih ood th atPetitioner w illprevailon atleastone
`
`ch allenged claim (35 U.S.C. §314(a)):
`
`Ground 1
`
`Ground 2
`
`Ground 3
`
`103(a): Claim s 15, 17, 21, 22, 30 and 34 are obvious in ligh tof
`Gem m elland Kasday.
`103(a): Claim s 15 and 17 are obvious in ligh tofGem m elland
`Kasday in furth er view ofH oevel.
`103(a): Claim s 15 and 17 are obvious in ligh tofW ang and Kasday
`in furth er view ofH oevel.
`
`4
`
`

`
`Petition for Inter Partes Review of
`U.S. PatentNo. 7,9 73,773
`
`Ground 4
`
`103(a): Claim s 21, 22, 30 and 34 are obvious in ligh tofW ang and
`Kasday.
`Th e above grounds are notredundantbecause th e tw o prim ary references
`
`describe th e elem ents ofth e Ch allenged Claim s in differentw ays. Gem m ell
`
`discloses force feedback in response to m ultiple touch es. (Gem m ell, 4:31-35, and
`
`5;H ow e Decl. ¶75.) Gem m ell’s description is provided in th e contextofa general
`
`com puter system involving touch inputand vibratory feedback . (H ow e Decl. ¶
`
`53.) W ang, on th e oth er h and, discloses tw o types offeedback to each touch :
`
`vibrationalfeedback , and furth er, acoustic output. (W ang, 7:65-8:4, 8:32-39 ;
`
`H ow e Decl. ¶104.) W ang’s description is provided in certain contexts th atare
`
`m ore specific th an Gem m ell, including, for exam ple, navigating th rough tim e-
`
`series data (lik e th e recording ofa lecture)based on th e location ofa touch input
`
`on a screen. (W ang, Abstract, 8:43-9 :1;H ow e Decl. ¶58.) In addition, Gem m ell
`
`describes certain oth er elem ents w ith m ore detailth an W ang, e.g., th e use ofpulse
`
`seq uences and varying am plitudes and freq uencies ofth e vibration feedback .
`
`(H ow e Decl. ¶52.)
`
`As for th e secondary references, Kasday describes a touch sensor th at
`
`optically detects th e deform ation, deflection or distortion in th e touch surface.
`
`(Kasday, 2:32-41, Abstract, 4:20-28;H ow e Decl. ¶63.) Italso describes m ultiple,
`
`sim ultaneous touch es and certain applications ofsim ultaneous touch ing. (Kasday,
`
`5
`
`

`
`Petition for Inter Partes Review of
`U.S. PatentNo. 7,9 73,773
`
`6:26-37;H ow e Decl. ¶64.) W ith respectto th e perpendicularity lim itation,
`
`Gem m elldiscloses m ultiple w ays ofactuating a screen, including a stylus th atis in
`
`contactw ith th e frontsurface ofth e screen, and th e perpendicular nature ofth e
`
`actuation is indicated by th e arrangem entofth e force elem ents. (H ow e Decl. ¶¶
`
`72, 73.) H oevel, on th e oth er h and, discloses a specific perpendicular arrangem ent
`
`offorce elem ents in contactw ith th e low er surface ofth e screen and clearly sh ow s
`
`th e perpendicular m ovem entofth e screen surface w ith an arrow labeled “activated
`
`m otion.” (H oevel, 3:3-23, Fig. 5, 3:38-43, Fig. 7.)
`
`C.
`
`H ow th e Ch allenged Claim s Are to Be Construed (37 C.F.R .
`§42.104(b)(3))
`
`Pursuantto 37 C.F.R. §42.104(b)(3), Petitioner subm its th e follow ing claim
`
`constructions. Th ese constructions reflect(i)th e districtcourt’s prelim inary claim
`
`constructions in th e Texas Litigation described in Section II.B above (Exh ibit
`
`1028)or (ii)a construction th ath as been agreed to by th e parties in th atlitigation.
`
`Because th e ’773 Patentis notyetexpired, th e claim s subjectto inter partes
`
`review sh allreceive th e “broadestreasonable construction in ligh tofth e
`
`specification ofth e patentin w h ich [th ey]appear[].” 37 C.F.R. §42.100(b). To
`
`th e extentth atth e O ffice adopts differentclaim constructions th an th e districtcourt
`
`in th e Texas Litigation, th ose constructions sh ould be atleastas broad as th ose in
`
`th e Texas Litigation.
`
`6
`
`

`
`Petition for Inter Partes Review of
`U.S. PatentNo. 7,9 73,773
`
`For each claim term notspecifically addressed below , Petitioner subm its th at
`
`itsh ould h ave its broadestreasonable interpretation in ligh tofth e patent
`
`specification, including its plain and ordinary m eaning to th e extentsuch a
`
`m eaning can be determ ined by an artisan ofordinary sk ill:
`
`Proposed Construction
`
`Disputed
`Term
`“touch screen” “display screen w ith a
`touch surface”
`“touch surface” “surface th atdeflects,
`deform s, or distorts w h en
`touch ed”
`
`Source of
`Construction
`Agreed-to by th e
`parties
`Texas Litigation
`prelim inary
`construction
`
`Claim s
`
`15, 17, 30
`
`Th is term is
`partofth e
`construction of
`“touch screen”
`above.
`21
`
`15, 21, 30
`
`21
`
`15
`
`30
`
`15
`
`15, 21, 30, 34
`
`“sensor circuit”
`/“touch
`sensor”
`“on th e”
`
`“excite”
`
`“actuating”/
`“actuate”
`
`“vibrating”/
`“vibrate”
`
`“vibrate or m ove”
`
`“vibrating or m oving”/
`“vibrate or m ove”
`
`Texas Litigation
`“sensor th atoptically
`prelim inary
`detects deflection,
`construction
`deform ation, or distortion”
`plain and ordinary m eaning Texas Litigation
`prelim inary
`construction
`Texas Litigation
`prelim inary
`construction
`Texas Litigation
`prelim inary
`construction
`plain and ordinary m eaning Texas Litigation
`prelim inary
`construction
`Texas Litigation
`prelim inary
`construction
`Texas Litigation
`prelim inary
`construction
`
`no furth er construction
`req uired
`
`“actuating th e
`touch screen
`frontsurface”
`force feedback “force detectable by a
`user’s sense oftouch ”
`
`7
`
`

`
`Petition for Inter Partes Review of
`U.S. PatentNo. 7,9 73,773
`
`Claim s
`
`15, 21, 30, 34
`
`34
`
`17, 22, 30
`
`15, 17
`
`Proposed Construction
`
`“force detectable by a
`user’s sense oftouch ”
`
`Source of
`Construction
`Texas Litigation
`prelim inary
`construction
`Texas Litigation
`prelim inary
`construction
`“eith er a finger or a th um b” Agreed-to by th e
`parties
`Agreed-to by th e
`parties
`
`Disputed
`Term
`force feedback
`signal
`
`“includes an intensity th at
`can vary”
`
`“includes a
`variable
`intensity”
`“one ofa finger
`and a th um b”
`“force elem ent” “com ponentth atgenerates
`a force feedback signalto a
`user”
`
`D.
`
`H ow th e Construed Claim (s)Are Unpatentable (37 C.F.R . §
`42.104(b)(4))
`
`Pursuantto 37 C.F.R. §42.104(b)(4), Petitioner explains below h ow th e
`
`Ch allenged Claim s ofth e ’773 Patentare unpatentable under th e statutory grounds
`
`identified above, by: describing th e scope and contentofth e prior art(Section
`
`V.D)and th e levelofordinary sk ill(Section V.E), identifying th e broadest
`
`reasonable constructions ofth e claim s (Section IV.C), and identifying w h ere each
`
`elem entofth e claim s is found in th e prior art(Section VI). Pursuantto 37 C.F.R.
`
`§42.104(b)(5), Petitioner provides h erein th e exh ibitnum bers ofth e supporting
`
`evidence relied upon to supportth e ch allenges and th e relevance ofth e evidence to
`
`th e ch allenges raised, including identifying specific portions ofth e evidence th at
`
`supportth e ch allenges.
`
`8
`
`

`
`Petition for Inter Partes Review of
`U.S. PatentNo. 7,9 73,773
`
`V.
`
`FACTUALBACKGR O UND
`Tech nicalBack ground 2
`Th e ’773 Patentdescribes a data entry device based prim arily on th e optical
`
`A.
`
`detection ofsurface distortion. (’773 Patent, 1:30-39 .) O n th e oth er h and, th e ’773
`
`Patentclaim s are directed to devices and m eth ods involving touch screens w ith
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`tactile force feedback . Each ofth ese tech nologies w ere w ellk now n before th e
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`priority date ofth e ’773 Patent(June 19 9 5). (H ow e Decl. ¶¶27-30 (citing art).)
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`Exam ples ofdevices em bodying such tech nologies included touch inputdevices,
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`m ulti-touch inputdevices, related touch sensing tech nologies, and tactile force
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`feedback devices and m eth ods. (Id.) Com binations oftouch inputdevices w ith
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`force feedback , including tactile force feedback , w ere also k now n w ellbefore th e
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`priority date ofth e ’773 Patent. (Id.)
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`B.
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`O verview ofth e ’773 Patent
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`Th e specification states th atth e invention disclosed in th e ’773 Patent“is a
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`new type ofdata entry device.” (’773 Patent, 1:30-31.) Th e specification also
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`states th atth e invention is lik e “no k now n prior art[th at]exists in th e area ofdata
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`entry devices”because itis based “on opticalsurface distortion m easurem ent.”
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`(’773 Patent, 2:58-60.) Th e touch sensing is based prim arily on th e optical
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`2 Th e tech nicalback ground is supported by th e Declaration ofRobertD. H ow e
`(“H ow e Decl.”)(Exh ibit1024)and by th e ’773 Patent.
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`m easurem entoftem porary surface distortion caused by a ph ysicalforce creating
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`th e distortion, e.g., a finger th attouch es a flexible screen. Figure 2 ofth e ’773
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`Patentdescribes such a system , and is reproduced below :
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`Th e ’773 Patentdescribes a preferred m eans ofdetecting surface distortion,
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`w h ich itcalls “D-SIGH T.” (’773 Patent, 1:40-50.) Th is system describes th e
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`illum ination ofa surface (Fig. 2, item 102)and subseq uentretro-reflective re-
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`illum ination ofth e surface (Fig. 2, item 102)from w h ich an enh anced im age ofth e
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`distortion in such surface (e.g., from a finger touch )is created. (’773 Patent, 1:40-
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`50.) As sh ow n in oth er em bodim ents ofth e ’773 Patent, opticaltech niq ues such as
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`triangulation, in w h ich a zone ofligh t, be ita spot, line or grid projected onto th e
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`surface ofth e screen itself, and th en im aged by th e cam era system , can be used to
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`provide surface distortion data. (’773 Patent, 26:8-13.) Video cam eras scanning
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`th e im age ofth e surface are described as th e preferred opticalm easuring device.
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`(’773 Patent, 1:51-56.)
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`Th e ’773 Patentalso describes a “digitizer”pad em bodim entused for
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`autom otive dash board or for touch pad-k eyboard-type com puter entry. Th is
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`em bodim entdescribes m ultiple inputs and tactile feedback cues, e.g., piezo
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`vibrators, air blasts, sound w aves, or th e lik e. (’773 Patent, 6:42-45.) Figure 7 of
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`th e ’773 Patent, reproduced below , depicts such an em bodim ent:
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`Th e pad 700 on a dash board (notsh ow n)is used to inputcom m ands to th e car’s
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`controlsystem , such as h eating or ligh ting. (’773 Patent, 16:36-39 .) Th e user’s
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`th um b or index finger (such as 710, 712)m ay be pressed dow n to selecta function,
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`and th e nextfinger (such as 712, 710)used as a slider to selectth e degree of
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`function desired. (’773 Patent, 16:36-41.) Th e user can also give com m ands via
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`seq uentialtouch es as w ellas by th e degree ofpressure applied in th e touch . (’773
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`Patent, 16:36-43.)
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`In addition, m ore th an one finger can be operative atth e sam e tim e;tw o
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`force inputs, 720 and 722, corresponding to th e action offingers 710 and 712, can
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`be detected. (’773 Patent, 16:44-46.) For feedback , th e touch m em brane m ay be
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`ph ysically vibrated w ith a piezo crystal(such as 705)under controlofan action
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`generator 730 to provide a feedback signalto th e user. (’773 Patent, 16:58-60.)
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`O th er form s offeedback m ay be provided by th e use ofdifferentforce elem ents.
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`(’773 Patent, 16:44-17:9 .)
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`C.
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`Prosecution H istory ofth e ’773 Patent
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`Th e application th atm atured into th e ’773 Patentw as filed on O ctober 31,
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`2007, butclaim ed priority via m ultiple continuations to an application filed on
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`June 29 , 19 9 5. A prelim inary am endm entw as filed on Septem ber 18, 2009
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`(Exh ibit1021), w h ich canceled th e th ree originalclaim s and added 52 new claim s.
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`In a non-finalO ffice Action m ailed on O ctober 18, 2010 (Ex.1002), pending
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`claim s 15-24 and 34-36 w ere rejected under 35 U.S.C. §102(b)as anticipated by
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`U.S. PatentNo. 5,412,189 to Cragun. Claim s 4-14 and 37-55 w ere allow ed.
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`Claim s 25-33 w ere found to be allow able subjectm atter butw ere objected to as
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`depending from rejected claim s.
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`In a Response filed on Novem ber 24, 2010 (Exh ibit1003), th e Applicant
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`am ended claim s 4, 12-13, 37, 43-44 to replace th e term “transducer”w ith “force
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`elem ent.” Th e Applicantalso am ended independentclaim 4 to add th e term “rear
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`surface”and independentclaim 15 to specify th atth e force elem entactuates th e
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`touch screen perpendicularly to th e touch screen face. Th e Applicantalso added
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`five new claim s. Th e Applicantargued th atCragun describes raised Braille dots
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`th atprovided tactile feedback and did notdescribe a force elem entto actuate th e
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`touch screen or to actuate th e touch screen perpendicularly to th e frontsurface.
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`In th e nextO ffice Action, m ailed on M arch 3, 2011 (Exh ibit1004), pending
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`claim s 15-24 and 34-46 w ere rejected under 35 U.S.C. §102(b)as anticipated by
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`U.S. PatentNo. 5,162,618 to Know les. Pending claim s 4-14 and 37-61 w ere
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`allow ed, and pending claim s 25-33 w ere objected to as depending from rejected
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`claim s.
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`Th e Applicants filed an am endm enton M arch 16, 2011 (Exh ibit1005),
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`canceling claim s 15-24 and 34-36 and am ending claim s 25-28 to be in independent
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`form .
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`Via a Notice ofAllow ance on M ay 31, 2011, th e Exam iner allow ed claim s
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`4-14, 28-33 and 37-61 (w h ich subseq uently issued as claim s 1-42)(Exh ibit1006.)
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`Th e Exam iner also issued an Exam iner’s am endm entcanceling claim s 25-27 as
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`auth orized during a teleph one interview conducted on M ay 23, 2011.
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`D.
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`Scope and Contentofth e Prior Art
`
`1.
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`Gem m ell
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`Gem m elldiscloses a com puter system th atallow s a user to provide inputby
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`touch ing th e screen. (Gem m ell, 3:7-8;H ow e Decl. ¶51.) Th e screen also
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`provides a tactile feedback to th e user according to th e location ofth e touch .
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`(Gem m ell, 1:31-2:2, 3:6-7, 3:28-30, 6:1-12;H ow e Decl. ¶51.)
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`Gem m ell’s screen provides tactile feedback th atvaries according to w h ich
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`partofth e screen is touch ed and h ow th e user h as touch ed th e screen, e.g., w h eth er
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`th e user’s finger or stylus is stillor m oving across th e screen surface. (Gem m ell,
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`6:5-6;H ow e Decl. ¶52.) O ne exam ple ofth e tactile feedback is vibration.
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`(Gem m ell, 2:14-16;H ow e Decl. ¶52.) Th e vibration feedback m ay vary
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`depending on th e factors relating to th e touch , e.g., th e vibration generated w h en an
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`icon is selected m ay be different(in term s ofam plitude or freq uency)from th e
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`vibration generated w h en a docum entor button is selected. (Gem m ell, 6:1-12;
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`H ow e Decl. ¶52.) Th e am plitude ofth e vibration can be varied from th atw h ich is
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`barely discernible to th atw h ich is audible. (Gem m ell, 6:14-
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`22;H ow e Decl. ¶52.)
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`Figure 1 ofGem m ell, reproduced h ere, sh ow s a
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`touch -sensitive transparentplate 14 and a vibrating
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`m ech anism (a speak er coil22)w h ich receives signals from a
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`D/A converter board (18)located ata w ork station 12.
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`(Gem m ell, Fig. 1;H ow e Decl. ¶72.)
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`To provide vibration feedback , Gem m elldiscloses a m ech anism such as a
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`solenoid, speak er coil, piezo-electric device, or vibration m ech anism th atis built
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`into th e w ork station casing. (Gem m ell, 9 :23-27, 7:6-9 ;H ow e Decl. ¶53.)
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`Gem m ellalso discloses inputby a stylus th atprovides tactile feedback to a user via
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`a vibrating m ech anism in th e stylus. (Gem m ell, 8:6-24;H ow e Decl. ¶53.)
`
`2.
`
`W ang
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`W ang discloses a touch sensitive screen th atallow s a user to input
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`coordinates in a tw o-dim ensionalspace on th e surface ofth e screen. (W ang, 7:40-
`
`42;H ow e Decl. ¶55.) Figures 6 and 7 ofW ang, reproduced below , are exem plary:
`
`(W ang Figs. 6 & 7;H ow e Decl. ¶55.) An inputspatialcoordinate is determ ined
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`based upon a ph ysicalinputfrom th e user by sensing th e position, velocity,
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`acceleration and/or orientation ofone or m ore portions ofth e user’s body. (W ang,
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`5:5-11;H ow e Decl. ¶56.) Exam ples include sensing m ultiple finger positions on a
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`position-digitizer pad th atconverts th e finger positions on th e pad into a setof
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`spatialcoordinates. (W ang, 5:6-16;H ow e Decl. ¶56.) Th ese coordinates are th en
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`transferred from th e interface device to a transform ation device to determ ine th e
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`audio inform ation th atcorresponds to th ese tw o-dim ensionalcoordinates. (W ang,
`
`7:57-61;H ow e Decl. ¶57.) Th e audio inform ation, in turn, is transferred back to
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`th e interface device, w h ich provides a vibration feedback to th e finger, as w ellas
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`supplem entary audio and visualcues. (W ang, 6:26-31 (“Exam ples ofsuch sensory
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`outputinclude vibration and oth er tactile outputas w ellas supplem entary audio
`
`and visualcues w h ich do notem ulate th e tim e-based inform ation”);H ow e Decl. ¶
`
`57.) Th is vibration feedback is im plem ented by m eans ofan activator or speak er
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`attach ed to th e interface device. (W ang, 7:55-66;H ow e Decl. ¶57.) Th e vibration
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`outputis in proportion to an audio signalcreated from th e accessed audio
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`inform ation. (W ang, 7:66-8:1;H ow e Decl. ¶57.)
`
`3.
`
`H oevel
`
`H oevelis directed atcom bining touch inputand tactile feedback . (H oevel,
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`Abstract;H ow e Decl. ¶60.) H oeveldescribes a data processing apparatus th at
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`gives feedback to indicate w h en a data inputinstrum enttouch es or com es w ith in a
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`predeterm ined distance ofa data capture surface. (H oevel, Abstract;H ow e Decl. ¶
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`60.) Th e data capture surface m ay include a transparentdigitizer over a liq uid
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`crystaldisplay, over a h ard surface bearing printed indicia, or over a cath ode ray
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`tube or a digitizer w ith an overlying form bearing printed indicia. (H oevel,
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`Abstract;H ow e Decl. ¶60.) Th e digitizer responds to pressure from a finger or
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`w riting instrum ent(e.g., a stylus)by generating a signalth atis processed to
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`determ ine th e position ofth e pressure source on th e digitizer. A feedback actuator
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`provides tactile, auraland/or visualfeedback . (H oevel, Abstract, 1:7-13;H ow e
`
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`Decl. ¶60.)
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`In Figure 7, reproduced below , em bodim ent70 supports data capture surface
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`12 w ith a supporting fram e 72. (H oevel, 3:39 -42;H ow e Decl. ¶61.)
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`Springs 74 or som e oth er type ofresilientm eans bias th e data capture surface 12
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`aw ay from supporting fram e 72 in an upw ard perpendicular direction. (H oevel,
`
`3:42-45;H ow e Decl. ¶61.) Tactile actuator 26 includes a T-sh aped arm ature 76,
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`w h ich m oves upw ard perpendicularly to im pactdata capture surface 12 w h en
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`electrom agnet50 is energized by contactfrom data capture instrum ent52 w ith data
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`capture surface 12. (H oevel, 3:39 -49 ;H ow e Decl. ¶61.)
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`Tactile feedback m ay be accom panied by an audible or visualindication.
`
`(H oevel, 3:15-23;H ow e Decl. ¶62.) Th e m agnitude and duration oftactile, aural
`
`and/or visualsensations are establish ed by th e signalinputto electrom agnet50 and
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`th e type ofm aterialfrom w h ich th e im pacting surfaces are m ade. (H oevel, 3:39 -
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`57;H ow e Decl. ¶62.)
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`4.
`
`Kasday
`
`Kasday discloses a device, including a touch surface, for determ ining th e
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`position ofa surface contact. Th is system detects th e position w ith th e use ofa
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`deflectable m em brane and a ligh tsource. (Kasday, Abstract, 2:33-41, 4:20-28;
`
`H ow e Decl. ¶63.) As sh ow n below , w h en a finger depresses th e m em brane, ligh t
`
`is reflected inside th e device due to th e deform ation ofth e m em brane. (Id.) Using
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`sensors to detectth is ligh t, th e Kasday device and m eth od determ ines th e position
`
`ofth e finger touch based on an analysis ofth e reflected ligh t. (Id.)
`
`Kasday also describes th e detection and analysis ofm ultiple, sim ultaneous
`
`touch es for severalexem plary purposes, e.g., sh iftk ey function and sh ape rotation:
`
`Using m y invention in graph ics and tak ing advantage ofth e factth at
`m ultiple positions can be detected, a user could rotate a sh ape by
`touch ing tw o points and rotating th em around each oth er. A user
`could position a line by sim ultaneously positioning its endpoints;or
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