PTAB

IPR2024-00715

Vicor Corp v. Delta Electronics Inc

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Key Events
Petition
petition

1. Case Identification

2. Patent Overview

  • Title: POWER SUPPLY APPARATUS
  • Brief Description: The ’534 patent discloses a power supply apparatus, such as a power converter module, that includes a central bearing plate (e.g., a PCB), insulation material formed on its top and bottom surfaces, and a plurality of pins that provide external electrical connections.

3. Grounds for Unpatentability

Ground 1: Obviousness over Vinciarelli-218 and Zeng-014 - Claims 13-19 are obvious over Vinciarelli-218 in view of Zeng-014.

  • Prior Art Relied Upon: Vinciarelli-218 (Application # 2014/0355218) and Zeng-014 (Application # 2009/0175014).
  • Core Argument for this Ground:
    • Prior Art Mapping: Petitioner argued that Vinciarelli-218 discloses a panel-molded power converter with a central PCB (the "bearing plate") encapsulated by insulation layers on its top and bottom surfaces. While Vinciarelli-218 teaches interconnects at the perimeter of the PCB for external connection, it lacks the claimed pin structure that wraps around the module. Zeng-014 was argued to supply this missing element by teaching connecting and pin conductors that wrap around an electronic component to cover its top, bottom, and side surfaces. The resulting combination allegedly meets all limitations of independent claims 13 and 17, including the pin covering at least part of a lower surface, an upper surface, and two lateral sides of the bearing plate or resulting cuboid body.
    • Motivation to Combine (for §103 grounds): A POSITA would combine Zeng-014's wrap-around conductors with Vinciarelli-218's power module for several reasons: to save board space by enabling component stacking, to increase power density, to achieve a flush surface mount without a separate adapter (a goal stated in Vinciarelli-218), and to apply a known connector solution to a similar cuboid-shaped electronic component. Both references share the common goal of improving power converter density.
    • Expectation of Success (for §103 grounds): A POSITA would have reasonably expected success because the combination involves applying a known type of connector (Zeng-014) to a known type of power module (Vinciarelli-218) to achieve predictable results in the same field of endeavor.

Ground 2: Anticipation by Park - Claims 13-15, 17, and 19 are anticipated by Park.

  • Prior Art Relied Upon: Park (Application # 2015/0116891).
  • Core Argument for this Ground:
    • Prior Art Mapping: Petitioner asserted that Park discloses every element of the challenged claims in a single reference. Park describes a composite power supply component (a PMIC) comprising an inductor module (the "bearing plate") supporting a capacitor module. Petitioner argued that Park's non-conductive ferrite magnet (122), which fills the interior of the inductor module on its top and bottom surfaces, constitutes the claimed "insulation material." Crucially, Park's input and output electrodes (151, 152a) are shown as wrap-around pins that cover portions of the top surface, bottom surface, and two lateral sides of the inductor module, directly mapping to the limitations of claims 13 and 17. Park further discloses that these electrodes connect to an internal coil unit via pads on the lateral sides of the bearing plate, meeting the limitations of dependent claims 14 and 19.

Ground 3: Anticipation by Vinciarelli-664 - Claims 13-19 are anticipated by Vinciarelli-664.

  • Prior Art Relied Upon: Vinciarelli-664 (Patent 10,264,664).

  • Core Argument for this Ground:

    • Prior Art Mapping: This ground is predicated on the argument that the ’534 patent is not entitled to its claimed priority date of 2015, but instead only to its filing date of April 12, 2018. Petitioner contended the priority application lacks written description support for a pin covering two lateral sides. Vinciarelli-664, which qualifies as prior art against the 2018 date, was argued to anticipate the claims. Vinciarelli-664 discloses a power converter module with a central PCB ("bearing plate") between top and bottom encapsulant layers ("insulation material"). The module features common contacts (222-1) and a conductive shield (222-2) that together form a "pin" electrically connected to the PCB. This pin structure was shown to wrap around and cover the top surface, bottom surface, and two lateral sides of the module, allegedly anticipating claims 13 and 17. The reference also discloses that these contacts connect to buried interconnect features ("pads") on the PCB's lateral edges, meeting limitations of the dependent claims.

  • Additional Grounds: Petitioner asserted additional obviousness challenges, including that claims 13-19 are obvious over Vinciarelli-664 alone; claims 13-15, 17, and 19 are obvious over Park alone or in combination with Jun (Application # 2005/0098874); and claims 13-15, 17, and 19 are obvious over Vinciarelli-218 in view of Park. These grounds relied on similar teachings and motivations as those detailed above.

4. Arguments Regarding Discretionary Denial

  • §325(d) - Advanced Bionics: Petitioner argued against discretionary denial because the prior art and grounds presented are new and non-cumulative. The Patent Owner did not cite any of the asserted references during prosecution, and the Examiner did not consider them, meaning the first prong of the Advanced Bionics framework is met.
  • §314(a) - Fintiv: Petitioner contended that the Fintiv factors weigh against denial. The parallel district court litigation is in a very early stage, as an amended complaint adding the ’534 patent was filed just two months prior to the petition, no trial date has been set, and minimal investment has occurred. Petitioner also stipulated that it will not pursue the same invalidity grounds in the litigation if an IPR is instituted.

5. Relief Requested

  • Petitioner requests institution of an inter partes review and cancellation of claims 13-19 of the ’534 patent as unpatentable.