PTAB

IPR2019-00504

AU Optronics Corporation v. VISTA PEAK VENTURES, LLC

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1. Case Identification

2. Patent Overview

  • Title: Liquid-crystal display device with thin-film transistors and method of fabricating the same.
  • Brief Description: The ’119 patent is directed to liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and a method for their fabrication. It addresses problems of corrosion and high contact resistance that occur when connecting aluminum (Al) or Al-alloy interconnection lines directly to a transparent conductive layer (e.g., Indium Tin Oxide). The patented solution involves using an intermediate, first conductive material made of plated metal to form a robust electrical connection between the interconnection line and the transparent conductive layer.

3. Grounds for Unpatentability

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

  • Prior Art Relied Upon: Izumi (Application # 2001/0019374).
  • Core Argument for this Ground:
    • Prior Art Mapping: Petitioner argued that Izumi, which discloses an active matrix substrate for LCDs, teaches every element of the challenged claims. The anticipation argument centers on the structure and formation of the electrical connections within the display.
    • For independent device claim 1, Petitioner mapped its limitations to Izumi's disclosure as follows:
      • A first interconnection line comprising a patterned Al or Al alloy layer: Izumi's "drain electrode 7" is taught to be an interconnection line that can be made from aluminum or an aluminum alloy and is patterned from a metal film.
      • A first insulating layer...having a contact hole that exposes a part of the first interconnection line: Izumi discloses an "insulating protection film 8" that covers the drain electrode 7 and has "openings" etched through it to expose portions of the underlying drain electrode. These openings are argued to be the claimed "contact hole."
      • A first conductive material made of a plated metal...in contact with the exposed part of the first interconnection line: Izumi discloses forming a "metal layer 12" using wet plating (electroless or electric) to "cap the openings." This plated metal layer is in contact with the exposed drain electrode 7 within the openings.
      • A first transparent conductive layer...electrically connected to the first interconnection line by way of the first conductive material: Izumi's "pixel electrodes 15," made of transparent ITO, are disclosed as being short-circuited with the drain electrodes 7 through the intermediate plated metal layer 12.
    • For independent method claim 12, Petitioner asserted that Izumi's disclosed fabrication process anticipates each step. The argument mirrors the mapping for device claim 1, contending that Izumi explicitly teaches the method steps of forming the Al alloy layer (drain electrode), patterning it, forming the insulating layer, selectively etching it to create contact holes, depositing a plated metal in the hole, and forming a transparent conductive layer connected via the plated metal.
    • Dependent claims were also argued to be anticipated. For example, claim 2 (conductive material disposed only in the contact hole) is allegedly taught by Izumi’s disclosure that the metal layer can be "selectively provided only on the electrodes at the bottoms of the openings." Claim 6 (plated metal selected from Ni, Ag, Au, and Cr) is met because Izumi discloses that its metal layer can be made of nickel, gold, or may include a silver film, satisfying the Markush group. Claim 17 (using an electrolytic plating method) is met by Izumi's explicit disclosure of using "electric plating" as a fabrication option.

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.