Au Optronics Corp v. Vista Peak Ventures LLC

1. Case Identification

• Case #: IPR2019-00504
• Patent #: 7,499,119
• Filed: December 24, 2018
• Petitioner(s): AU Optronics Corporation and AU Optronics Corporation America
• Patent Owner(s): Vista Peak Ventures, LLC
• Challenged Claims: 1-2, 4-7, 12-13, 15-17, and 21

2. Patent Overview

• Title: Liquid-crystal display device with thin-film transistors and method of fabricating the same.
• Brief Description: The ’119 patent discloses liquid crystal displays (LCDs) that address corrosion and high-resistance issues arising from the direct connection of aluminum (Al) interconnection lines to a transparent conductive layer, such as Indium Tin Oxide (ITO). The patent’s solution involves using an intermediate conductive layer made of plated metal to electrically connect the interconnection lines and the transparent conductive layer, thereby preventing their direct contact.

3. Grounds for Unpatentability

Ground 1: Anticipation by Izumi - Claims 1-2, 4-7, 12-13, 15-17, and 21 are anticipated by Izumi under 35 U.S.C. §102(b).

• Prior Art Relied Upon: Izumi (Application # 2001/0019374).
• Core Argument for this Ground:
  • Prior Art Mapping: Petitioner argued that Izumi, which seeks to reduce electrode wire resistance in active matrix substrates, discloses every limitation of the challenged claims. The petition provided a detailed, element-by-element mapping for both the independent apparatus claim (claim 1) and the independent method claim (claim 12), along with the asserted dependent claims.
    • Independent Claim 1 (Apparatus): Petitioner asserted that Izumi's disclosure of an active matrix substrate for an LCD meets all limitations of claim 1. Izumi's "drain electrode 7," made from a patterned aluminum (Al) or Al alloy layer, was identified as the claimed "first interconnection line." Izumi's "insulating protection film 8" with "openings 11b" formed over the drain electrode was mapped to the "first insulating layer having a contact hole." The "metal layer 12," formed by electroless or electric plating to "cap the openings," was argued to be the claimed "first conductive material made of a plated metal" that covers the exposed interconnection line. Finally, Izumi’s "pixel electrodes 15," made of ITO, were identified as the "first transparent conductive layer," which is electrically connected to the drain electrode via the plated metal layer 12.
    • Independent Claim 12 (Method): Petitioner contended that Izumi’s disclosed manufacturing process anticipates the method steps of claim 12. The argument paralleled the mapping for claim 1, asserting Izumi teaches forming and patterning an Al drain electrode layer, forming an insulating film over it, selectively etching the film to create openings (contact holes), depositing a plated metal layer within those holes to contact the drain electrode, and subsequently forming a transparent ITO pixel electrode layer that connects to the plated metal.
    • Dependent Claims: Petitioner argued Izumi also explicitly discloses the limitations of the dependent claims. For claim 2, Petitioner pointed to Izumi's teaching that metal layer 12 can be "selectively provided only on the electrodes... at the bottoms of the openings." For claims 4 and 15, Izumi’s disclosure that the openings (and thus the plated metal within them) do not exceed the dimensions of the underlying drain electrode was argued to meet the "less in width" limitation. For claims 6 and 16, Petitioner noted Izumi's disclosure that the plated metal layer can be made of nickel (Ni), gold (Au), or may include a silver (Ag) film, satisfying the Markush group. For claims 7 and 21, Izumi's teaching of forming the drain electrodes from a single metal film in one step was mapped to the "single-layer structure" limitation.

4. Relief Requested

• Petitioner requests institution of an inter partes review (IPR) and cancellation of claims 1-2, 4-7, 12-13, 15-17, and 21 of the ’119 patent as unpatentable.