PTAB

IPR2019-00575

Huawei Technologies Co Ltd v. Maxell Ltd

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Petition
petition

1. Case Identification

2. Patent Overview

  • Title: Information Processing Unit and Information Processing Related Units
  • Brief Description: The ’503 patent discloses a portable information processing unit, such as a laptop computer, configured to detachably connect to external units like a file base station or port replicator. The connection is made via a docking connector that facilitates the transfer of both data signals and electrical power between the portable unit and the external unit.

3. Grounds for Unpatentability

Ground 1: Anticipation over Ninomiya-074 - Claims 1-2, 10-11, 19-20, and 25 are anticipated under 35 U.S.C. §102 by Ninomiya-074.

  • Prior Art Relied Upon: Ninomiya-074 (Patent 5,948,074).
  • Core Argument for this Ground:
    • Prior Art Mapping: Petitioner argued that Ninomiya-074, which describes a portable notebook computer with a docking connector for connecting to a docking station or port replicator, discloses every element of the challenged claims. Ninomiya-074’s system includes a display, CPU, memory, a first electricity terminal (an AC adapter port), and a docking connector. This docking connector was shown to have terminals for both sending and receiving power and for sending and receiving signals, meeting the limitations of independent claims 1, 10, and 19. Further, Petitioner asserted that Ninomiya-074’s disclosed power controller manages power from these sources to supply the computer's core components as claimed.

Ground 2: Obviousness over Ninomiya-074 and Ninomiya-039 - Claims 1-3, 6, 10-12, 15, 19-21, and 25-26 are obvious over Ninomiya-074 in view of Ninomiya-039.

  • Prior Art Relied Upon: Ninomiya-074 (Patent 5,948,074) and Ninomiya-039 (Patent 5,325,039).
  • Core Argument for this Ground:
    • Prior Art Mapping: Petitioner asserted that Ninomiya-074 provides the base system for a portable computer that docks with external peripherals. To the extent certain claim limitations are interpreted narrowly and not explicitly met by Ninomiya-074 (e.g., a rechargeable battery or specific power controller functions), Ninomiya-039 supplied these elements. Ninomiya-039 explicitly discloses a power supply control method for laptops, including a detachable AC adapter, a rechargeable battery, and a power supply circuit that sets specific, predetermined voltage levels for individual internal components. It also taught charging the battery from the external AC adapter.
    • Motivation to Combine: A POSITA would combine Ninomiya-039’s specific power management teachings with Ninomiya-074’s portable computer system for several predictable reasons. These included improving system reliability by ensuring each component receives the necessary voltage, adding the common and commercially desirable feature of battery rechargeability, improving portability via a detachable AC adapter, and simplifying replacement of a non-functioning power adapter.
    • Expectation of Success: The combination involved applying known and conventional power management techniques to a standard portable computer architecture, which would have yielded predictable and successful results.

Ground 6: Anticipation over Ito - Claims 1-3, 6, 10-12, 15, 19-21, and 25-26 are anticipated under 35 U.S.C. §102 by Ito.

  • Prior Art Relied Upon: Ito (JP Unexamined Pat. App. Pub. No. JP H7-169538 A).

  • Core Argument for this Ground:

    • Prior Art Mapping: Petitioner argued that Ito, which describes an information processing device with a peripheral interface connector for a docking station, independently anticipates the challenged claims. Ito discloses a device with a CPU, memory, LCD, a detachable AC adapter providing a first electricity terminal, and a digital signal connector. This connector was shown to include a VCC pin to supply power to peripherals and separate charging pins to receive power from peripherals, thereby disclosing the claimed second electricity terminal capable of sending and receiving power. Ito's "power source unit" supplies specific, distinct voltages to internal components from either the AC adapter or its battery, anticipating the claimed power controller limitations. The battery is also disclosed as being rechargeable via the connector.

  • Additional Grounds: Petitioner asserted numerous additional obviousness challenges based on combinations of Ninomiya-074, Ninomiya-039, Amoni (Patent 5,884,086), and Kikinis (Patent 5,457,785) to address narrow interpretations of power supply functionality and bidirectional power pins. Further grounds were based on Ito in view of Sakai (Patent 5,613,135), Kikinis, and Amoni to address similar specific power control and connector functionalities should Ito be found not to anticipate.

4. Relief Requested

  • Petitioner requests institution of an inter partes review and cancellation of claims 1-3, 6, 10-12, 15, 19-21, and 24-26 of the ’503 patent as unpatentable.