SyncPoint Imaging, LLC v. Nintendo of America Inc. et al
Filing
230
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER. Signed by Magistrate Judge Roy S. Payne on 1/5/2016. (ch, )
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
MARSHALL DIVISION
SYNCPOINT IMAGING, LLC,
Plaintiff,
v.
Case No. 2:15-cv-00247-JRG-RSP
NINTENDO OF AMERICA INC.;
NINTENDO CO., LTD; GAME X
CHANGE, INC.; GAMES2GO; PIXART
IMAGING, INC.
Defendants
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Before the Court is the opening claim construction brief of SyncPoint Imaging, LLC
(“Plaintiff”) (Dkt. No. 143, filed on September 18, 2015),1 the corrected response of Nintendo of
America Inc., Nintendo Co., Ltd., and PixArt Imaging, Inc. (“Defendants”) (Dkt. No. 156, filed on
October 6, 2015), joined by Game XChange (Dkt. No. 177) and Games2Go (Dkt. No. 178), and the
reply of Plaintiff (Dkt. No. 164, filed on October 9, 2015). The Court held a hearing on the issues of
claim construction and indefiniteness on October 30, 2015. Having considered the arguments and
evidence presented by the parties at the hearing and in their briefing, the Court issues this Order.
1
Citations to the parties’ filings are to the filing’s number in the docket (Dkt. No.) and pin cites
are to the page numbers assigned through ECF.
1
Table of Contents
I.
BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................... 3
II.
LEGAL PRINCIPLES ..................................................................................................... 5
A. Claim Construction ............................................................................................................. 5
B. Departing from the Ordinary Meaning of a Claim Term .................................................... 8
C. Functional Claiming And 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 6 (pre-AIA) / § 112(f) (AIA) ...................... 9
D. Definiteness Under 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 2 (pre-AIA) / § 112(b) (AIA) ............................. 11
III.
CONSTRUCTION OF AGREED TERMS .................................................................. 12
IV.
CONSTRUCTION OF DISPUTED TERMS ............................................................... 13
A. The “Cursor” Terms .......................................................................................................... 13
B. The “Detecting Position” Terms ....................................................................................... 25
C. The “At Least One Property” Terms ................................................................................ 29
D. “a processor . . . for processing . . .” ................................................................................. 35
E. The “Instructions For” Terms ........................................................................................... 43
V.
CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................... 50
2
I.
BACKGROUND
Plaintiff alleges that Defendants have infringed U.S. Patent No. 6,275,214 (the “’214
Patent”). The ’214 Patent is titled “COMPUTER PRESENTATION SYSTEM AND METHOD
WITH OPTICAL TRACKING OF WIRELESS POINTER.” The application that eventually
issued as the ’214 Patent was filed on July 6, 1999 and the ’214 Patent was issued on August 14,
2001.
In general, the ’214 Patent is directed to remotely controlling a computer using a cursor
generated externally to the computer.
The abstract of the ’214 Patent provides:
A method for remotely controlling a computer having an associated screen for
displaying output from the computer and having an internal cursor generated by
the computer includes detecting at least one property of an external cursor relative
to the screen and generating a command for the computer based on the at least
one detected property of the external cursor. In one embodiment, the invention
includes a computer connected to a projector which projects an image of the
computer output onto an external screen. A camera is used to capture an image of
the projected computer output. An optical pointer, such as a laser pointer, is used
to generate and transmit an external cursor having various properties, such as
color, shape, or intensity. The image captured by the camera is used to detect and
process at least one property of the external cursor to generate a corresponding
command or commands to control the computer. Commands may be used to
emulate control of the computer typically provided by a pointing device such as a
mouse or track ball.
The patent describes an exemplary embodiment of the invention with reference to Figure
1 which is reproduced below and annotated by the Court. Figure 1 shows a computer (10) that
directs an image of its output (16) to a screen through a projector (12). A user then uses an
optical pointer such as laser pointer (24) to position an external cursor (22) on the screen. A
camera (14) captures the external cursor (22) and captures references to points of known
locations (fiducials or reticles (28)). This allows the system to determine the position of the
external cursor (22) with respect to the computer output. The computer moves a cursor generated
3
by the computer (the internal cursor) to align with the position of the external cursor relative to
the computer’s output. The properties of the external cursor, such as its shape, color, or pattern of
optical pointer (24)
external cursor (22)
camera (14)
fiducials (28)
projector (12)
’214 Patent Figure 1
internal cursor (26)
computer (10)
movement are determined and interpreted to generate commands. This is analogous to mouse
clicks. The computer is thereby remotely controlled by the external pointer much as it could be
locally controlled by a traditional mouse or a track pad.
Claims 1, 24, and 25, representative method, system, and Beauregard claims
respectively, recite as follows:
4
II.
LEGAL PRINCIPLES
A.
Claim Construction
“It is a ‘bedrock principle’ of patent law that ‘the claims of a patent define the invention
to which the patentee is entitled the right to exclude.’” Phillips v. AWH Corp., 415 F.3d 1303,
1312 (Fed. Cir. 2005) (en banc) (quoting Innova/Pure Water Inc. v. Safari Water Filtration Sys.,
Inc., 381 F.3d 1111, 1115 (Fed. Cir. 2004)). To determine the meaning of the claims, courts start
by considering the intrinsic evidence. Id. at 1313; C.R. Bard, Inc. v. U.S. Surgical Corp., 388
F.3d 858, 861 (Fed. Cir. 2004); Bell Atl. Network Servs., Inc. v. Covad Commc’ns Group, Inc.,
262 F.3d 1258, 1267 (Fed. Cir. 2001). The intrinsic evidence includes the claims themselves, the
specification, and the prosecution history. Phillips, 415 F.3d at 1314; C.R. Bard, Inc., 388 F.3d at
861. The general rule—subject to certain specific exceptions discussed infra—is that each claim
term is construed according to its ordinary and accustomed meaning as understood by one of
5
ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention in the context of the patent. Phillips, 415 F.3d
at 1312–13; Alloc, Inc. v. Int’l Trade Comm’n, 342 F.3d 1361, 1368 (Fed. Cir. 2003); Azure
Networks, LLC v. CSR PLC, 771 F.3d 1336, 1347 (Fed. Cir. 2014) (“There is a heavy
presumption that claim terms carry their accustomed meaning in the relevant community at the
relevant time.”) (vacated on other grounds).
“The claim construction inquiry . . . begins and ends in all cases with the actual words of
the claim.” Renishaw PLC v. Marposs Societa’ per Azioni, 158 F.3d 1243, 1248 (Fed. Cir. 1998).
“[I]n all aspects of claim construction, ‘the name of the game is the claim.’” Apple Inc. v.
Motorola, Inc., 757 F.3d 1286, 1298 (Fed. Cir. 2014) (quoting In re Hiniker Co., 150 F.3d 1362,
1369 (Fed. Cir. 1998)). First, a term’s context in the asserted claim can be instructive. Phillips,
415 F.3d at 1314. Other asserted or unasserted claims can also aid in determining the claim’s
meaning, because claim terms are typically used consistently throughout the patent. Id.
Differences among the claim terms can also assist in understanding a term’s meaning. Id. For
example, when a dependent claim adds a limitation to an independent claim, it is presumed that
the independent claim does not include the limitation. Id. at 1314–15.
“[C]laims ‘must be read in view of the specification, of which they are a part.’” Id.
(quoting Markman v. Westview Instruments, Inc., 52 F.3d 967, 979 (Fed. Cir. 1995) (en banc)).
“[T]he specification ‘is always highly relevant to the claim construction analysis. Usually, it is
dispositive; it is the single best guide to the meaning of a disputed term.’” Id. (quoting Vitronics
Corp. v. Conceptronic, Inc., 90 F.3d 1576, 1582 (Fed. Cir. 1996)); Teleflex, Inc. v. Ficosa N. Am.
Corp., 299 F.3d 1313, 1325 (Fed. Cir. 2002). But, “‘[a]lthough the specification may aid the
court in interpreting the meaning of disputed claim language, particular embodiments and
examples appearing in the specification will not generally be read into the claims.’” Comark
6
Commc’ns, Inc. v. Harris Corp., 156 F.3d 1182, 1187 (Fed. Cir. 1998) (quoting Constant v.
Advanced Micro-Devices, Inc., 848 F.2d 1560, 1571 (Fed. Cir. 1988)); see also Phillips, 415
F.3d at 1323. “[I]t is improper to read limitations from a preferred embodiment described in the
specification—even if it is the only embodiment—into the claims absent a clear indication in the
intrinsic record that the patentee intended the claims to be so limited.” Liebel-Flarsheim Co. v.
Medrad, Inc., 358 F.3d 898, 913 (Fed. Cir. 2004).
The prosecution history is another tool to supply the proper context for claim
construction because, like the specification, the prosecution history provides evidence of how the
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“PTO”) and the inventor understood the patent. Phillips, 415
F.3d at 1317. However, “because the prosecution history represents an ongoing negotiation
between the PTO and the applicant, rather than the final product of that negotiation, it often lacks
the clarity of the specification and thus is less useful for claim construction purposes.” Id. at
1318; see also Athletic Alternatives, Inc. v. Prince Mfg., 73 F.3d 1573, 1580 (Fed. Cir. 1996)
(ambiguous prosecution history may be “unhelpful as an interpretive resource”).
Although extrinsic evidence can also be useful, it is “‘less significant than the intrinsic
record in determining the legally operative meaning of claim language.’” Phillips, 415 F.3d at
1317 (quoting C.R. Bard, Inc., 388 F.3d at 862). Technical dictionaries and treatises may help a
court understand the underlying technology and the manner in which one skilled in the art might
use claim terms, but technical dictionaries and treatises may provide definitions that are too
broad or may not be indicative of how the term is used in the patent. Id. at 1318. Similarly,
expert testimony may aid a court in understanding the underlying technology and determining
the particular meaning of a term in the pertinent field, but an expert’s conclusory, unsupported
assertions as to a term’s definition are entirely unhelpful to a court. Id. Generally, extrinsic
7
evidence is “less reliable than the patent and its prosecution history in determining how to read
claim terms.” Id. The Supreme Court recently explained the role of extrinsic evidence in claim
construction:
In some cases, however, the district court will need to look beyond the patent’s
intrinsic evidence and to consult extrinsic evidence in order to understand, for
example, the background science or the meaning of a term in the relevant art
during the relevant time period. See, e.g., Seymour v. Osborne, 11 Wall. 516, 546
(1871) (a patent may be “so interspersed with technical terms and terms of art that
the testimony of scientific witnesses is indispensable to a correct understanding of
its meaning”). In cases where those subsidiary facts are in dispute, courts will
need to make subsidiary factual findings about that extrinsic evidence. These are
the “evidentiary underpinnings” of claim construction that we discussed in
Markman, and this subsidiary factfinding must be reviewed for clear error on
appeal.
Teva Pharm. USA, Inc. v. Sandoz, Inc., 135 S. Ct. 831, 841 (2015).
B.
Departing from the Ordinary Meaning of a Claim Term
There are “only two exceptions to [the] general rule” that claim terms are construed
according to their plain and ordinary meaning: “1) when a patentee sets out a definition and acts
as his own lexicographer, or 2) when the patentee disavows the full scope of the claim term
either in the specification or during prosecution.”2 Golden Bridge Tech., Inc. v. Apple Inc., 758
F.3d 1362, 1365 (Fed. Cir. 2014) (quoting Thorner v. Sony Computer Entm’t Am. LLC, 669 F.3d
1362, 1365 (Fed. Cir. 2012)); see also GE Lighting Solutions, LLC v. AgiLight, Inc., 750 F.3d
1304, 1309 (Fed. Cir. 2014) (“[T]he specification and prosecution history only compel departure
from the plain meaning in two instances: lexicography and disavowal.”). The standards for
finding lexicography or disavowal are “exacting.” GE Lighting Solutions, 750 F.3d at 1309..
2
Some cases have characterized other principles of claim construction as “exceptions” to the general rule,
such as the statutory requirement that a means-plus-function term is construed to cover the corresponding
structure disclosed in the specification. See, e.g., CCS Fitness, Inc. v. Brunswick Corp., 288 F.3d
1359, 1367 (Fed. Cir. 2002).
8
To act as his own lexicographer, the patentee must “clearly set forth a definition of the
disputed claim term,” and “clearly express an intent to define the term.” Id. (quoting Thorner,
669 F.3d at 1365); see also Renishaw, 158 F.3d at 1249. The patentee’s lexicography must
appear “with reasonable clarity, deliberateness, and precision.” Renishaw, 158 F.3d at 1249.
To disavow or disclaim the full scope of a claim term, the patentee’s statements in the
specification or prosecution history must amount to a “clear and unmistakable” surrender. Cordis
Corp. v. Boston Sci. Corp., 561 F.3d 1319, 1329 (Fed. Cir. 2009); see also Thorner, 669 F.3d at
1366 (“The patentee may demonstrate intent to deviate from the ordinary and accustomed
meaning of a claim term by including in the specification expressions of manifest exclusion or
restriction, representing a clear disavowal of claim scope.”) “Where an applicant’s statements are
amenable to multiple reasonable interpretations, they cannot be deemed clear and unmistakable.”
3M Innovative Props. Co. v. Tredegar Corp., 725 F.3d 1315, 1326 (Fed. Cir. 2013).
C.
Functional Claiming and 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 6 (pre-AIA) / § 112(f) (AIA) 3
A patent claim may be expressed using functional language. See 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 6;
Williamson v. Citrix Online, LLC, 792 F.3d 1339, 1347–49 & n.3 (Fed. Cir. 2015) (en banc in
relevant portion). Section 112, Paragraph 6, provides that a structure may be claimed as a “means
. . . for performing a specified function” and that an act may be claimed as a “step for performing
a specified function.” Masco Corp. v. United States, 303 F.3d 1316, 1326 (Fed. Cir. 2002).
But § 112, ¶ 6 does not apply to all functional claim language. There is a rebuttable
presumption that § 112, ¶ 6 applies when the claim language includes “means” or “step for”
terms, and that it does not apply in the absence of those terms. Masco Corp., 303 F.3d at 1326;
Williamson, 792 F.3d at 1348. The presumption stands or falls according to whether one of
3
Because the application resulting in the ’214 Patent was filed before September 16, 2012, the
effective date of the America Invents Act (“AIA”), the Court refers to the pre-AIA version of 35
U.S.C. § 112.
9
ordinary skill in the art would understand the claim with the functional language, in the context
of the entire specification, to denote sufficiently definite structure or acts for performing the
function. See Media Rights Techs., Inc. v. Capital One Fin. Corp., No. 2014-1218, 2015 U.S.
App. LEXIS 15767, at *10 (Fed. Cir. Sept. 4, 2015) (§ 112, ¶ 6 does not apply when “the claim
language, read in light of the specification, recites sufficiently definite structure” (quotation
marks omitted) (citing Williamson, 792 F.3d at 1349; Robert Bosch, LLC v. Snap-On Inc., 769
F.3d 1094, 1099 (Fed. Cir. 2014))); Williamson, 792 F.3d at 1349 (§ 112, ¶ 6 does not apply
when “the words of the claim are understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art to have
sufficiently definite meaning as the name for structure”); Masco Corp., 303 F.3d at 1326 (§ 112,
¶ 6 does not apply when the claim includes an “act” corresponding to “how the function is
performed”); Personalized Media Commc’ns, L.L.C. v. International Trade Comm’n, 161 F.3d
696, 704 (Fed. Cir. 1998) (§ 112, ¶ 6 does not apply when the claim includes “sufficient
structure, material, or acts within the claim itself to perform entirely the recited function . . . even
if the claim uses the term ‘means.’” (quotation marks and citation omitted)).
When it applies, § 112, ¶ 6 limits the scope of the functional term “to only the structure,
materials, or acts described in the specification as corresponding to the claimed function and
equivalents thereof.” Williamson, 792 F.3d at 1347. Construing a means-plus-function limitation
involves multiple steps. “The first step . . . is a determination of the function of the means-plusfunction limitation.” Medtronic, Inc. v. Advanced Cardiovascular Sys., Inc., 248 F.3d 1303, 1311
(Fed. Cir. 2001). “[T]he next step is to determine the corresponding structure disclosed in the
specification and equivalents thereof.” Id. A “structure disclosed in the specification is
‘corresponding’ structure only if the specification or prosecution history clearly links or
associates that structure to the function recited in the claim.” Id. The focus of the “corresponding
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structure” inquiry is not merely whether a structure is capable of performing the recited function,
but rather whether the corresponding structure is “clearly linked or associated with the [recited]
function.” Id. The corresponding structure “must include all structure that actually performs the
recited function.” Default Proof Credit Card Sys. v. Home Depot U.S.A., Inc., 412 F.3d 1291,
1298 (Fed. Cir. 2005). However, § 112 does not permit “incorporation of structure from the
written description beyond that necessary to perform the claimed function.” Micro Chem., Inc. v.
Great Plains Chem. Co., 194 F.3d 1250, 1258 (Fed. Cir. 1999).
For § 112, ¶ 6 limitations implemented by a programmed general purpose computer or
microprocessor, the corresponding structure described in the patent specification must include an
algorithm for performing the function. WMS Gaming Inc. v. International Game Tech., 184 F.3d
1339, 1349 (Fed. Cir. 1999). The corresponding structure is not a general purpose computer but
rather the special purpose computer programmed to perform the disclosed algorithm. Aristocrat
Techs. Austl. Pty Ltd. v. International Game Tech., 521 F.3d 1328, 1333 (Fed. Cir. 2008).
D.
Definiteness Under 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 2 (pre-AIA) / § 112(b) (AIA) 4
Patent claims must particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter regarded
as the invention. 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 2. A claim, when viewed in light of the intrinsic evidence,
must “inform those skilled in the art about the scope of the invention with reasonable certainty.”
Nautilus Inc. v. Biosig Instruments, Inc., 134 S. Ct. 2120, 2129 (2014). If it does not, the claim
fails § 112, ¶ 2 and is therefore invalid as indefinite. Id. at 2124. Whether a claim is indefinite is
determined from the perspective of one of ordinary skill in the art as of the time the application
for the patent was filed. Id. at 2130. As it is a challenge to the validity of a patent, the failure of
any claim in suit to comply with § 112 must be shown by clear and convincing evidence. Id. at
4
Because the application resulting in the ’214 Patent was filed before September 16, 2012, the
effective date of the America Invents Act (“AIA”), the Court refers to the pre-AIA version of 35
U.S.C. § 112.
11
2130 n.10. “[I]ndefiniteness is a question of law and in effect part of claim construction.” ePlus,
Inc. v. Lawson Software, Inc., 700 F.3d 509, 517 (Fed. Cir. 2012).
In the context of a claim governed by 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 6, the claim is invalid as
indefinite if the claim fails to disclose adequate corresponding structure to perform the claimed
functions. Williamson, 792 F.3d at 1351–52. The disclosure is inadequate when one of ordinary
skill in the art “would be unable to recognize the structure in the specification and associate it
with the corresponding function in the claim.” Id. at 1352.
III.
CONSTRUCTION OF AGREED TERMS
The parties have agreed to the following constructions set forth in their P.R. 4-5(d) Joint
Claim Construction Chart Pursuant (Dkt. No. 169):
Term5
“at least one property of the external cursor
including position of the external cursor”
Agreed Construction
“at least one property of the external cursor
and a position of the external cursor”
Claim 26
“processing the image”
“reference points”
Claim 20
“capturing an image . . .”
plain and ordinary meaning
Claim 26
“fiducials”
plain and ordinary meaning
Claims 2, 17, 19, 24
“processing an image”
subject to the constructions of “at least
one property” and “external cursor”
plain and ordinary meaning
Claims 2, 17, 19, 24
5
For all term charts in this order, the claims in which the term is found are listed with the term
but: (1) only the highest level claim in each dependency chain is listed, and (2) only asserted
claims identified in the parties’ P.R.4-5(d) Joint Claim Construction Chart (Dkt. No. 169) are
listed.
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IV.
CONSTRUCTION OF DISPUTED TERMS
The parties’ positions and the Court’s analysis as to the disputed terms are presented
below. Plaintiff submits that the person having ordinary skill in the art, from whose perspective
the claims are interpreted, is:
a person with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering,
or computer science, or the equivalent, and two or more years of experience
designing computer systems.
Dkt. No. 143 at 9 (citing Declaration of Dr. Sam Russ In Support of Plaintiff SyncPoint’s Claim
Construction Brief (“Russ Decl.”) ¶ 17 (Plaintiff’s Ex. 5, Dkt. No. 144 at 5)). Defendants do not
oppose Plaintiff’s submission. Dkt. No. 156 at 8. Accordingly, the Court adopts Plaintiff’s
proposal.
A.
The “Cursor” Terms
Disputed Term
“internal cursor”
“internal cursor”
“visual cue to a user on the
screen generated by the
computer”
“a representation of position
that is movable on an imaging
array”
“a visual cue to a user on the
screen generated by some
device other than the
computer”
Claims 19, 25
“external cursor”
Defendants’ Proposed
Construction
“visual cue to a user on the
screen generated by the
computer”
Claims 1, 17, 24, 26
“cursor generated by the
computer”
Plaintiff’s Proposed
Construction
“a representation of position
that is movable on a display”
Claims 1, 17, 25, 26
“optical cursor”
Claims 19, 24
“optical cursor generated by
a handheld pointer”
“external cursor generated by a “a visual cue to a user on the
hand-held pointer”
screen generated by an
optical handheld pointer”
Claims 19, 24
13
Because the parties’ arguments and proposed constructions with respect to these terms
are related, the Court addresses the terms together.
The Parties’ Positions
Plaintiff asserts that the term “internal cursor” and the word “cursor” have the same
common and widely understood meaning. The applicant added the word “internal” to the word
“cursor,” the Plaintiff submits, to distinguish the “internal cursor” from the “external cursor” and
to explain that the “internal cursor” is a cursor generated by the computer. Dkt. No. 143 at 14–
15. Plaintiff further submits that the terms “internal cursor” and “cursor generated by the
computer” are synonymous in the ’214 Patent. Id. at 13. Plaintiff adds that the significant
characteristics of a cursor, generally and with respect to the “internal cursor,” are that (1) cursors
are representative of a position and (2) cursors are movable. Id. Plaintiff submits that a cursor
may be—but need not be—visible. Id. at 14 (citing Russ Decl. ¶ 25). Plaintiff argues that
Defendants’ proposed limitation which adds the limitation “to a user” is unclear and unsupported
by the intrinsic or extrinsic evidence. Id. at 15.
With respect to “external cursor,” Plaintiff submits that, like an “internal cursor,” an
“external cursor” represents a position and is movable. Id. at 16. Plaintiff further submits that the
“external cursor” is distinct from the “internal cursor” in that (1) the “external cursor” represents
a movable position on an imaging array rather than on a display and (2) the “external cursor” is
generated externally to the computer rather than internally to the computer. Id. Plaintiff contends
that an “optical” cursor is an “external cursor” and that the term “optical” includes visible and
invisible light such that the “external cursor” may be—but need not be—visible. Id. at 17–18
(citing Russ Decl. ¶ 23). Furthermore, Plaintiff asserts that an “external cursor” is not necessarily
“on the screen” and that the ’214 Patent discloses an “external cursor” that denotes a position
14
that is relative to a screen but is not necessarily on the screen. Id. at 18–19. Plaintiff argues that
Defendants’ proposed “to a user” limitation is unclear and unsupported by the intrinsic or
extrinsic evidence. Id. at 19.
With respect to “optical cursor generated by a hand-held pointer,” Plaintiff submits that
“for relevant purposes, an ‘optical cursor’ is an ‘external cursor.’” Id. at 21–22. Thus, Plaintiff
argues, the dispute over the meaning of “optical cursor generated by a hand-held pointer” can be
resolved with the dispute over the meaning of “external cursor.” Id. at 22.
In addition to the claims themselves, Plaintiff cites the following intrinsic and extrinsic
evidence to support its position. Intrinsic evidence: ’214 Patent [54] Title, [57] Abstract, col.1
l.7, col.1 l.9, col.1 ll.41-42, col.1 ll.56–64, col.2 ll.3–7, col.2 l.9, col.2 ll.13–27, col.2 ll.39–42,
col.2 l.53, col.2 l.61, col.2 l.67 – col.3 l.1, col.3 ll.22–23, col.3 l.33, col.3 ll.41–45, col.3 ll.47–
52, col.4 l.2, col.4 ll.27 – col.7 l.27, col.8 ll.12–20, col.8 l.26, col.8 ll.32–33, col.8 ll.40–41, col.8
l.45, col.8 l.50, col.8 l.61, col.8 l.63, col.8 l.67, col.9 ll.16–24, fig.1, fig.2; ’214 Patent File
Wrapper November 9, 2000 Amendment (Plaintiff’s Ex. 2, Dkt. No. 146 at 55–62), May 4, 2001
Notice of Allowability (Plaintiff’s Ex. 2, Dkt. No. 146 at 71–73, 76). Extrinsic evidence: Martin
Weik, Computer Science and Communications Dictionary Vol. II (2000) (“near-visible
spectrum,” “optical,” and “optics”) (Plaintiff’s Ex. 3, Dkt. No. 149 at 1–5); Merriam-Webster’s
Collegiate Dictionary Deluxe Edition (1998) (“cursor”) (Plaintiff’s Ex. 3, Dkt. No. 149 at 13–
19); Brad Hansen, The Dictionary of Multimedia Terms & Acronyms (1999) (“cursor”)
(Plaintiff’s Ex. 4, Dkt. No. 148 at 7–10); IBM Dictionary of Computing (10th ed. 1994)
(“cursor”) (Plaintiff’s Ex. 4, Dkt. No. 148 at 11–16); Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary
(1986) (“optical” and “optics”) (Plaintiff’s Ex. 4, Dkt. No. 148 at 38–47); Russ Decl. (Plaintiff’s
Ex. 5, Dkt. No. 144).
15
Defendants respond that “cursor” is used in the ’214 Patent according to the term’s
ordinary meaning. Dkt. No. 156 at 9. And, Defendants contend, the ordinary meaning of the
term, set forth in the patent and in the extrinsic evidence, is that a “cursor” is part of a user
interface and is a visual cue that “indicate[s] to a user where the user is pointing.” Id. at 9–10, 14
(citing Rebuttal Expert Declaration of Garry E. Kitchen re: Claim Construction of U.S. Patent
No. 6,275,214 ¶¶ 32, 34 (“Kitchen Decl.”) (Dkt. No. 156-11 at 10)).
With respect to “internal cursor,” Defendants respond that “internal cursor” and “cursor
generated by the computer” are used synonymously in the ’214 Patent to denote a cursor
generated by the computer. Id. at 19. Defendants further respond that “internal” and “external”
cursors are different in that they are generated by different devices. Id. at 19–20. Defendants
argue that Plaintiff’s proposed construction fails to capture this difference. In fact, Defendants
assert that Plaintiff’s proposed construction blurs any distinction between “internal cursor” and
“external cursor” in that the “external cursor” of the preferred embodiment would satisfy
Plaintiff’s construction of “internal cursor.” Id. at 20.
With respect to “external cursor,” Defendants respond that the term is explicitly used in
the ’214 Patent to denote a cursor (as that term is ordinarily used) that is generated externally to
the computer (i.e., not generated by the computer), rather than internally to the computer (i.e.,
generated by the computer). Id at 11 (citing ’214 Patent col.3 ll.22–28). That is, the term
“external cursor” refers to a cursor that is generated by some device other than the computer. Id.
Defendants further respond that “cursor” was not specially defined in the patent to include
anything invisible to the user, and therefore, an “external cursor” must be visible to the user (i.e.,
it must be a visual cue). Id. at 12–14. Defendants further respond that the “external cursor” must
be visible on the screen, as per the “explicit requirements in the claims” and as is shown in “each
16
and every description of the external cursor in the specification.” Id. at 14. Defendants argue that
even if extrinsic evidence suggests that “optical” includes both visible and invisible light, such
evidence should be disregarded because it contradicts the ’214 Patent’s specification. Id. at 13.
Furthermore, Defendants contend that Plaintiff’s proposed construction improperly defines
“external cursor” with respect to what detects the cursor rather than what generates it. Id. at 15–
17. Defendants assert there is no mention in the ’214 Patent of the “imaging array” limitation
that Plaintiff proposes. Id. at 15. Defendants argue that requiring the “external cursor” to exist
only on an imaging array would exclude the preferred embodiment in which the “external
cursor” is a light dot on the screen. Id. at 16–17.
With respect to “optical cursor generated by a hand-held pointer,” Defendants respond
that as with “internal cursor” and “external cursor,” the “optical cursor generated by a hand-held
pointer” is a cursor defined by the device that generates it. Id. at 17–18. Defendants contend that
the device that generates the cursor is an optical hand-held pointer. Id. at 18. Defendants argue
that Plaintiff’s proposed construction improperly requires the cursor to be on an imaging array.
Defendants claim that this conflicts with Claim 19’s limitation of “projecting an optical cursor
generated by a hand-held pointer on the remotely located screen.” Id.
In addition to the claims themselves, Defendants cite the following intrinsic and extrinsic
evidence to support their position. Intrinsic evidence: ’214 Patent col.1 ll.55–60, col.2 ll.32–35,
col.3 ll.22–28, col.4 ll.27–28, fig.1, fig.2. Extrinsic evidence: September 27, 2015 Deposition of
Samuel H. Russ, Ph.D. (“Russ Dep.”) (Defendants’ Ex. B, Dkt. No. 156-3); 2002 Prototype
Video (referenced in SyncPoint’s Response to Interrogatory No. 1 (Defendants’ Ex. C, Dkt. No.
156-4)); Pages from of an archived copy of http://brilliantpoints.com, available at https://
web.archive.org/ web/20100412134215/http://brilliantpoints.com (Defendants’ Ex. D, Dkt. No.
17
156-5);
Merriam-Webster’s
Collegiate
Dictionary
Deluxe
Edition
(1998)
(“cursor”)
(Defendants’ Ex. E, Dkt. No. 156-6); IBM Dictionary of Computing (10th ed. 1994) (“cursor”)
(Defendants’ Ex. F, Dkt. No. 156-7); Prentice Hall’s Illustrated Dictionary of Computing (3d ed.
1998) (“cursor”) (Defendants’ Ex. G, Dkt. No. 156-8); Brad Hansen, The Dictionary of
Multimedia Terms & Acronyms (1999) (“cursor”) (Defendants’ Ex. H, Dkt. No. 156-9); Kitchen
Decl. (Dkt. No. 156-11); Patent Owner’s Preliminary Response to Petition for Inter Partes
Review, IPR2015-01347 (excerpt) (Defendants’ Ex. I, Dkt. No. 156-10).
Plaintiff replies that the “external cursor” is not necessarily visible—that given the
meaning of “optical,” the ’214 Patent discloses both invisible cursors and visible cursors. Dkt.
No. 164 at 3–4 (contrasting “optical pointer” and “laser pointer”). Plaintiff cites Nintendo design
documents to support the contention that “optical pointer” may refer to devices that produce
infrared light, and, therefore, an optical pointer may generate an invisible cursor. Id. at 4.
Plaintiff further replies that the “external cursor” is not necessarily on a screen—that the cursor
is detected when the light is captured at the imaging array, whether the cursor light arrives at the
imaging array from the pointer directly or after first being reflected off an object. Id. at 6–7.
Plaintiff cites intrinsic and extrinsic evidence to support its position: Intrinsic evidence:
’214 Patent col.8 ll.11–14. Extrinsic evidence: October 6, 2015 Deposition of Garry Kitchen
(“Kitchen Dep.”) (Plaintiff’s Ex. E, Dkt. No. 165-2 & Dkt. No. 176-1); Nintendo, Request for
OPD (Optical Pointing Device) (Plaintiff’s Ex. A, Dkt. No. 165-1); Russ Dep. (Plaintiff’s Ex. C,
Dkt. No. 164-5); Supplemental Declaration of Dr. Sam Russ In Support of Plaintiff SyncPoint’s
Claim Construction Brief (“Russ Supp. Decl.”) (Dkt. No. 164-1).
18
Analysis
The parties agree that an “internal cursor” is a cursor generated by the computer and that
an “external cursor” is a cursor generated by some device other than the computer. The parties
further agree that a cursor is used to selectively mark a position on a display or screen. The
parties dispute two issues with respect to the cursor terms: (1) whether the “internal cursor” and
“external cursor” must be visible to the user and (2) whether the “external cursor” exists on the
screen or on the imaging array of an imaging device. The Court finds that the “internal cursor”
and the “external cursor” each provide some visual feedback to the user to indicate a position on
a display for the computer’s visual output. The Court does not find that the “external cursor”
must be on a screen.
While the parties have not requested construction of the term “cursor” itself, their dispute
fundamentally revolves around the ordinary meaning of “cursor.” Defendants contend that a
cursor is a “visual cue” that is part of a computer user interface and that the cursor must be
visible to the user. Plaintiff contends that a cursor need not be visible to the user. The Court finds
that a cursor is a visible mark that indicates to a user a position on a display for a computer.
The ’214 Patent uses the term “cursor” as a mark indicating a position on a display for a
computer’s visual output. See, e.g., ’214 Patent col.1 ll.56–60 (“Another object of the present
invention is to provide a system and method for remotely controlling a computer based on
characteristics of an optical pointer used to superimpose a cursor or visual cue onto a projected
image of a computer screen.”), col.1 ll.61–64 (“A further object of the present invention is to
provide a system and method for synchronizing position and/or movement of a cursor on a
computer screen with position and/or movement of an optical pointer.”). The “cursor” may, for
example, mark the position where information is received from the user to initiate an operation
19
on the computer. See, e.g., id. at col.1 ll.52–55 (“it is an object of the present invention to
provide a system and method for remotely controlling a computer in a similar manner as
performed by a conventional pointing device”), col.3 ll.22–62 (describing placing an external
cursor at a position on the visual output of a computer, moving an internal cursor to that same
position, and generating “position-dependent commands which are used to remotely control
computer 10. Such position or context-dependent commands may emulate a ‘left-click’ or ‘rightclick’ command generated by a traditional computer pointing device, such as a mouse, track ball,
touch pad, or the like.”). Furthermore, the ’214 Patent indicates that a user may move the cursor
to various positions on the display. A cursor that indicates a position on a display and permits
movement by the user must be visible to the user.
The Court rejects Plaintiff’s proposed “invisible” cursor. A cursor that the user cannot see
conflicts with the meaning of the term “cursor” as used in the patent and conflicts with the
meaning of the term as used in the relevant extrinsic evidence. See, e.g., Merriam-Webster’s
Collegiate Dictionary Deluxe Edition 445 (1998) (Dkt. No. 149 at 16–17) (defining “cursor” as
“a movable item used to mark a position; as . . . a visual cue (as a flashing rectangle) on a video
display that indicates position (as for data entry)”); Brad Hansen, The Dictionary of Multimedia
Terms & Acronyms 71 (1999) (Dkt. No. 148 at 10) (defining “cursor” as “[a]n image, arrow, or
I-beam on a computer screen that shows where information may be entered or where a mouse or
light pen are located on the screen. It may be represented by any icon”); IBM Dictionary of
Computing 159 (10th ed. 1994) (Dkt. No. 148 at 13) (defining “cursor” as “[a] movable, visible
mark used to indicate a position of interest on a display surface” and “[i]n SAA Common User
Access architecture, a visual cue that shows a user where keyboard input will appear on the
screen”); Prentice Hall’s Illustrated Dictionary of Computing 148 (3d ed. 1998) (Dkt. No. 148 at
20
20) (defining “cursor” as a “marker on the screen of a computer that shows where the
information will next appear when information is entered or retrieved. [ISO A movable, visible
mark used to indicate the position at which the next operation will occur on a display surface.]”
(brackets in original)).
Plaintiff has not identified sufficient reason to deviate from the plain meaning of
“cursor.” A patent’s “specification and prosecution history only compel departure from the plain
meaning [of a claim term] in two instances: lexicography and disavowal. . . . [and] the standards
for finding lexicography and disavowal are exacting.” See GE Lighting Solutions, LLC v.
AgiLight, Inc., 750 F.3d 1304, 1308–09 (Fed. Cir. 2014) (citing Thorner v. Sony Computer
Entm’t Am. LLC, 669 F.3d 1362, 1365 (Fed. Cir. 2012)). “To act as its own lexicographer, a
patentee must ‘clearly set forth a definition of the disputed claim term,’ and ‘clearly express an
intent to define the term.’” Id. (quoting Thorner, 669 F.3d at 1365). “Similarly, disavowal
requires that ‘the specification or prosecution history make clear that the invention does not
include a particular feature.’” Id. at 1309 (quotation modification marks omitted) (quoting
SciMed Life Sys. Inc. v. Advanced Cardiovascular Sys., Inc., 242 F.3d 1337, 1341 (Fed. Cir.
2001)). There is no lexicography or disavowal that supports Plaintiff’s special definition of
“cursor” as an invisible indicator of position. Furthermore, as set forth below, Plaintiff’s
argument that the term “optical” dictates that a “cursor” of the ’214 Patent may be “invisible” is
also unavailing.
Internal Cursor / Cursor Generated by the Computer. The parties agree that an
“internal cursor” is a cursor generated by the computer. Thus, the “internal cursor” is a visible
mark that is generated by the computer and that indicates a position on the display for the visual
output from the computer.
21
The Court, however, rejects Defendants’ proposed “on the screen” limitation. The
limitation does not clarify the scope of the claim, may inject ambiguity into the claims, and may
improperly limit the scope of the claim. For example, Claims 17, 25, and 26 do not recite an “on
the screen” limitation but do recite the plain meaning of cursor which is a visible mark that
indicates a position on the display for the visual output from the computer.
External Cursor. “External cursor” is defined in the ’214 Patent:
As used in this application, an external cursor is one which is generated
externally relative to computer 10, i.e. generated by some other device which
could include another computer, projector, or the like. In one embodiment,
external cursor 22 is generated by a hand-held optical pointer 24 which has the
capability of varying at least one property of external cursor 22. For example,
optical pointer 24 may vary the color, shape, size, intensity, illumination pattern,
motion, and/or position of external cursor 22 to generate one or more commands
to remotely control computer 10 according to the present invention. In one
preferred embodiment, optical pointer 24 is a laser pointer which generates an
external cursor in one of two user-selectable colors. In this embodiment, the
external cursor has a significantly higher intensity than the output of the computer
and is therefore more easily detected.
’214 Patent col.3 ll.22–40 (emphasis added). An “external cursor” is a cursor that is generated by
a device other than the computer. Thus, the “external cursor” is a visible mark that is both
generated by a device other than the computer and that indicates a position on the display for the
visual output from the computer.
The Court rejects Plaintiff’s proposed “imaging array” limitation. The ’214 Patent does
not exclude an “external cursor” that is generated or detected with an imaging array. However,
the ’214 Patent also does not require the “external cursor” to be generated or detected in this
manner. For example, the embodiment described with reference to Figure 1 (reproduced here and
annotated by the Court) includes “an external cursor, indicated generally by reference numeral
22, [that] is superimposed on image 16 which is output from computer 10.” ’214 Patent col.3
ll.21–23. The ’214 Patent describes the “external cursor” as being generated by an “optical
22
pointer 24 [such as] a laser pointer which generates an external cursor in one of two userselectable colors.” Id. at col.3 ll.28–37. The “external cursor” of Figure 1 is detected through an
imaging array in the camera. Id. at col.3 ll.41–61, col.8 ll.11–14. But in this embodiment, the
“external cursor” operates independently from the camera’s imaging array and may not be
“movable on an imaging array.” Thus, Plaintiff’s “imaging array” limitation may exclude the
exemplary embodiment in Figure 1. A “construction that excludes a preferred embodiment is
rarely, if ever, correct.” C.R. Bard, Inc. v. U.S. Surgical Corp., 388 F.3d 858, 865 (Fed. Cir.
2004).
Furthermore, the Court does not find Plaintiff’s argument about the meaning of “optical
cursor” persuasive. Plaintiff claims that an “external cursor” may be invisible to the user because
optical pointer (24)
external cursor (22)
camera (14)
fiducials (28)
projector (12)
’214 Patent Figure 1
internal cursor (26)
computer (10)
an “external cursor” may be an “optical cursor” and the term “optical” encompasses both visible
and invisible light. This ignores the plain meaning of “cursor” which is a visual indicator of
position. The Court also rejects Defendants’ proposed “on the screen” limitations for the reasons
set forth in the Court’s discussion of “internal cursor” above.
Optical Cursor Generated by a Handheld Pointer / Optical Cursor. These terms are
found in Claims 19 and 24. In both claims, the term “optical cursor generated by a handheld
23
pointer” serves as the antecedent basis for the later term “the optical cursor.” These two terms
are therefore equivalent.
An “optical cursor generated by a handheld pointer” is a subcategory of “external
cursor,” because as the claims state, it is a cursor that is generated by a handheld optical means.
See ’214 Patent col.3 ll.28–29 (“In one embodiment, external cursor 22 is generated by a handheld optical pointer 24 which has the capability of varying at least one property of external
cursor 22.”), col.8 ll.32–35 (“Preferably, the external cursor is an optical cursor generated by a
hand-held pointer and includes at least one user selectable (changeable) property.”). This “optical
cursor” differs from an “external cursor” that is generated by other means such as “another
computer, projector, or the like.” Id. at col.3 ll.22–28.
The plain meaning of “optical” encompasses both visible and near-visible light. See, e.g.,
Martin Weik, Computer Science and Communications Dictionary Vol. II 1158 (2000)) (Dkt. No.
149 at 4) (defining “optical” as “[p]ertaining to systems, devices, or components that generate,
process, and detect lightwaves or light energy” and “[p]ertaining to the . . . lightwave region of
the electromagnetic spectrum, i.e., the region in which the techniques and components used in
the visible spectrum also apply to the region extending . . . into the ultraviolet and infrared
regions”); Kitchen Dep. 148:3–21 (Dkt. No. 176-1 at 32) (testifying that “[o]ptics is not limited
to visual light”); Russ Decl. ¶¶ 22–23 (Dkt. No. 144 at 6) (declaring that “‘optics’ deals with
both visible and near-visible light,” and “‘[o]ptical’ refers, therefore, to both visible and invisible
light (including infrared light)”). However, a cursor must be visible to a user. Because an
“optical cursor” is an “external cursor” and all cursors must be visible to the user, an “optical
cursor” cannot be invisible regardless of the type of light (e.g., infrared or ultraviolet light) used
to generate the “optical cursor.”
24
Accordingly, the Court construes the “Cursor” Terms as follows:
“internal cursor” / “cursor generated by the computer” means “movable visible
mark that is generated by the computer and that indicates a position on the display
for the output of the computer”;
“external cursor” means “movable visible mark that is generated by some device
other than the computer and that indicates a position on the display for the output
of the computer”; and
“optical cursor generated by a handheld pointer” / “optical cursor” means
“movable visible mark that is generated by a handheld optical pointer and that
indicates a position on the display for the output of the computer.”
B.
The “Detecting Position” Terms
Disputed Term
Plaintiff’s Proposed
Construction
Defendant’s Proposed
Construction
“detecting . . . position of
the external cursor relative
to the output from the
computer”
Claim 1
“detect position of the
optical cursor”
plain and ordinary meaning
Claims 19, 24
“detecting on the associated
screen the presence of the
external cursor and output
from the computer, and the
position of the external cursor
in relation to the output”
“detect . . . position of the
external cursor relative to
the output”
Claim 26
Because the parties’ arguments and proposed constructions with respect to these terms
are related, the Court addresses the terms together.
25
The Parties’ Positions
Plaintiff submits that once the Court construes “external cursor,” the meaning of the
Detecting Position terms should become readily apparent. Dkt. No. 143 at 22. Plaintiff argues
that Defendants’ construction improperly includes two limitations, namely, that the “external
cursor” be “on the associated screen” and that “detecting” includes detecting the “output from
the computer.” Id. at 22–23.
Defendants respond that the claims require that the detected position of the external
cursor be in relation to the output of the computer, and thus the position of the output of the
computer must also be detected. Dkt. No. 156 at 24. Defendants further respond that all the
exemplary embodiments in the ’214 Patent detect both the position of the output and the position
of the external cursor. Id. at 24–25.
In addition to the claims themselves, Defendants cite the following intrinsic and extrinsic
evidence to support their position. Intrinsic evidence: ’214 Patent [57] Abstract, col.1 ll.55–59,
col.1 ll.61–64, col.2 ll.43–45, col.3 ll.22–24, col.3 ll.41–48, col.3 l.63 – col.4 l.8, col.4 ll.42–44,
col.7 ll.21–27, col.7 ll.60–64, col.8 ll.11–12, fig.1, fig.2, fig.3. Extrinsic evidence: Russ Dep.
(Defendants’ Ex. B, Dkt. No. 156-3).
Plaintiff replies that detecting the position of the external cursor in relation to the output
requires knowledge of the position of the output, but this knowledge does not necessarily require
detecting the computer output. Dkt. No. 164 at 9. Plaintiff argues that the preferred embodiment
in the ’214 Patent does not detect the output; rather, it detects the fiducials and uses the
information about the fiducials to determine the position of the external cursor. Id. Plaintiff
further argues that there is a distinction between “capturing” and “detecting,” and that the system
may capture an image yet detect only the fiducials and external cursor in the image to determine
26
the position of the external cursor relative to the output. Id. at 9–10. Finally, Plaintiff replies that
the external cursor is not necessarily detected “on the associated screen,” but need only be
detected “relative to the output.” Id. at 10.
In addition to the claims themselves, Plaintiff cites further intrinsic and extrinsic evidence
to support its position: Intrinsic evidence: ’214 Patent [57] Abstract, col.1 ll.55–59, col.1 ll.61–
64, col.2 ll.16–17, col.2 ll.43–45, col.3 ll.22–24, col.3 ll.41–48, col.4 ll.42–44, col.8 ll.11–12,
col.8 ll.26–27, fig.1. Extrinsic evidence: Russ Dep. (Plaintiff’s Ex. C, Dkt. No. 164-5).
Analysis
The parties raise two disputes on the Detecting Position terms: (1) whether the output
must also be detected to detect the position of the “external cursor” relative to the output, and (2)
whether the “external cursor” / “optical cursor” must be on the screen. For the reasons stated in
the Court’s discussion of the Cursor terms above, the Court rejects Defendants’ proposed
“screen” limitation. As explained below, the Court also rejects Defendants’ proposed “detecting
. . .the . . . output of the computer” limitation.
Defendants’ base their proposed construction on the concept that a computer’s output
must be detected in order to determine the
“external cursor’s” position relative to the
output. But the ’214 Patent’s disclosures
contradict this. The patent describes a
position-detecting scheme that detects the
position of the “external cursor” with
reference to pre-known fiducial positions.
Figure 3 of the ’214 Patent, for
27
example, describes a system in which fiducials are superimposed on the computer output (52),
captured in an image of the output (54), and used to calibrate the system (56). ’214 Patent col.7
l.65–col.8 l.27. The calibration routine includes determining the positions of the fiducials in the
image (56). Id. Once the calibration routine has been completed and the position of the fiducials
is known, the system repeatedly captures and processes images (58, 60, 74). Id. at col.8 ll.28–67.
The system uses the fiducial positions known from the calibration routine (56) to determine the
position of the external cursor (72) relative to the computer output. Id. at col.8 ll.24–27, ll.40–43.
But the system does not again process the fiducials unless another calibration routine is initiated.
Id. at col.8 ll.21–30. That is, the system does not detect the output to determine the position of
the external cursor relative to the output, and the system does not detect the fiducials each time it
detects the position of the external cursor.
The use of fiducial-position information
captured image (40)
known before the capture of the external cursor
to detect the position of the cursor relative to
the output is also explained with reference to
Figure 2, reproduced here and annotated by the
Court. Id. at col.4 l.27 – col.7 l.27. An image
external cursor (22)
(40) of the display for the computer output is
fiducials (28)
image of computer output (42)
captured while fiducials (28) are superimposed ’214 Patent Figure 2
on the computer output (the image of which is denoted 42, in yellow) at known positions (C1′,
C2′, C3′, C4′) relative to the output. Id. at col.4 ll.27–54. The system detects the positions of the
fiducials (28) with respect to the captured image (40). Id. at col.4 ll.54–65. Then the system
determines a set of equations that are used to translate a position relative to the captured image
28
(40) to a position relative to the computer output (42). Id. at col.5 l.1–col.7 l.4 (defining the
position with respect to the image using (X,Y) coordinates and the position with respect to the
output using (T,U) coordinates). Thus, “once Cl′, C2′, C3′, and C4′ are known, and the (X,Y)
coordinates of external cursor 22 are determined, a [] computation yields values for (T,U) which
represent the ‘mouse coordinates’ for internal cursor 26 of the computer output.” Id. at col.7 ll.5–
9.
As shown above, the patent contemplates detecting the position of the “external cursor”
relative to the output by (1) detecting the position of the “external cursor” relative to the captured
image, (X,Y) and (2) translating that (X,Y) position to a position relative to the output, (T,U).
The translation of the cursor’s (X,Y) position to its (T,U) position is accomplished through
application of equations derived from the calibration routine and the known positions of the
fiducials with respect to the output. There is no need to detect the output to detect the position of
the cursor relative to the output.
Defendants’ proposed construction would exclude embodiments in which the position of
the external cursor relative to the output is detected without detecting the position of the output.
A “construction that excludes a preferred embodiment is rarely, if ever, correct.” C.R. Bard, Inc.
v. U.S. Surgical Corp., 388 F.3d 858, 865 (Fed. Cir. 2004).
Accordingly, the Court rejects Defendants’ proposed “associated screen” and “detecting
. . . the . . . output” limitations and determines that each of the “Detecting Position” Terms has its
plain and ordinary meaning.
C.
The “At Least One Property” Terms
Disputed Term
Plaintiff’s Proposed
Construction
29
Defendant’s Proposed
Construction
Disputed Term
Plaintiff’s Proposed
Construction
Defendant’s Proposed
Construction
“at least one property”
Claims 1, 17, 19, 24, 26
“at least one . . . property”
Claims 1, 19, 25
“an optically detected
characteristic that is not the
position”
“a property not based on
position”
“at least one . . . properties”
Claim 25
Because the parties’ arguments and proposed constructions with respect to these terms
are related, the Court addresses the terms together.
The Parties’ Positions
Plaintiff submits that the “property” of these terms is a property of the cursor that, while
not the cursor’s position, may be based on the cursor’s position. Dkt. No. 143 at 10–11. Plaintiff
argues that there is no intrinsic evidence to support Defendants’ proposed exclusion of properties
based on the cursor’s position. Id. at 11. Plaintiff also argues that one of the properties disclosed
and claimed in the patent, a cursor’s “pattern of movement,” is necessarily based on the cursor’s
position. Id.
In addition to the claims themselves, Plaintiff cites the following intrinsic evidence: ’214
Patent [54] Title, [57] Abstract, col.2 l.23, col.3 ll.31–33, col.7 ll.23–24, col.8 ll.36–40, col.9
ll.10–12, fig.3; ’214 Patent File Wrapper November 9, 2000 Amendment (Plaintiff’s Ex. 2, Dkt.
No. 146 at 55–62).
Defendants respond that a “pattern of movement” may or may not be based on the
cursor’s position. Defendants assert that their proposed construction properly excludes any
“property” that is position-based and properly includes any “property” that is not position-based.
Dkt. No. 156 at 21–23. Defendants contend a person of skill in the art in 1999 would know of
30
cursor patterns of movement such as the Windows rotating hourglass or the Apple spinning
wheel that are not based on the cursor’s position. Id. (citing Kitchen Decl. ¶ 35 (Dkt. No. 156-11
at 11)). Defendants also respond that a position-based pattern of movement, such as a path
through which the cursor travels, is not a property of the cursor because the path is not intrinsic
to the cursor itself. Id. at 22. Defendants contend that position-based properties were disclaimed
during prosecution leading to issuance of the ’214 Patent. Id. at 23.
In addition to the claims themselves, Defendants cite the following intrinsic and extrinsic
evidence to support their position. Intrinsic evidence: ’214 Patent File Wrapper (excerpts)
(Defendants Ex. A, Dkt No. 156–2). Extrinsic evidence: Russ Dep. (Defendants’ Ex. B, Dkt.
No. 156-3); Kitchen Decl. (Dkt. No. 156-11).
Plaintiff replies that there is no evidence to support Defendants’ proposed “intrinsic
property” limitation. Dkt. No. 164 at 7–8. Plaintiff further replies that the ’214 Patent uses
“pattern of movement” to include a pattern of changing positions, and that the term, and
therefore the pattern of movement “property,” is not restricted to patterns that are not positionbased. Id. at 8. Plaintiff argues that the applicant’s statements in the prosecution history are not a
disclaimer of position-based properties, but of position itself. Id. (“The Applicant limited the ‘at
least one . . . property’ limitation to properties that are not position.”).
Plaintiff cites further extrinsic evidence to support its position: Russ Supp. Decl. (Dkt.
No. 164-1).
Analysis
The dispute here centers on whether the property of the “external cursor” may be based
on the position. The parties agree that the ’214 Patent describes a cursor’s “pattern of movement”
as a “property.” Plaintiff contends that this “pattern of movement” includes changes in position
31
of the cursor, that is, it includes position-based patterns. Defendants contend that this “pattern of
movement” is limited to movement of the cursor other than change of position (such as changes
in shape or orientation of the cursor)—that the ’214 Patent’s “pattern of movement” property
excludes position-based patterns because position-based characteristics are not intrinsic
properties of the cursor. The Court agrees with Plaintiff that “at least one property” does not
include the position itself, but does include other properties that are based on position.
Defendants have not established that “pattern of movement,” and therefore “property,”
does not include position-based movement. “The patentee is free to choose a broad term and
expect to obtain the full scope of its plain and ordinary meaning unless the patentee explicitly
redefines the term or disavows its full scope.” Thorner v. Sony Computer Entm’t Am. LLC, 669
F.3d 1362, 1367 (Fed. Cir. 2012); see also GE Lighting Solutions, LLC v. AgiLight, Inc., 750
F.3d 1304, 1308–09 (Fed. Cir. 2014) (“the specification and prosecution history only compel
departure from the plain meaning in two instances: lexicography and disavowal” (citing Thorner,
669 F.3d at 1365)). And “the standards for finding lexicography and disavowal are exacting.”
GE Lighting, 750 F.3d at 1309. The parties cannot seriously dispute that the term “patterns of
movement,” broadly interpreted, includes position-based movement. Defendants have not
identified anything in the intrinsic evidence that establishes either lexicography or disavowal that
justifies narrowing “patterns of movement”—and thus “property”—as they suggest.
For example, with respect to the prosecution history, Defendants’ have not shown that the
applicant disclaimed all position-based movements. The evidence of disclaimer that Defendants
point to in the prosecution history is better interpreted as disclaimers of commands based solely
on the position of the cursor. The claims were amended to reflect this. For example, in
distinguishing a first reference, Hauck, the applicant stated:
32
In contrast, Applicant’s invention as disclosed and claimed uses an external
cursor having a plurality of properties (such as shape, movement pattern, color,
etc.) to remotely control the computer, and does not rely solely on cursor position
(i.e. presence or absence of a cursor within a button) to control the computer.
Applicant respectfully submits that the detection of the various user selectable
properties of the external cursor is patentably distinct from detecting the mere
presence of a cursor at a particular position on the screen.
’214 Patent File Wrapper November 9, 2000 Amendment 6 (Dkt. No. 146 at 60) (emphasis
added). The applicant similarly argued to distinguish a second reference, Arita:
Similar to Hauck, Arita requires display of a particular structure or function on the
screen which is then selected by the presence or absence of a particular cursor. To
track multiple cursors, each associated with a particular operator or user, Arita
teaches the use of a cursor property or characteristic, such as shape. However,
unlike Applicant's invention, the cursor property is used to associate the cursor
with an operator and the operator's display terminal. There is no disclosure or
suggestion in Arita to utilize a pointer with multiple user selectable properties to
control the computer. To the extent any control to the computer is provided, the
control is based on the position of the cursor and not the characteristic or property
of the cursor.
Applicant's invention as disclosed and claimed includes a number of features
which are patentably distinguishable over Arita. In particular, Applicant's
invention as defined in the independent claims controls the computer based on
at least one user selectable property of the external cursor in addition to the
position of the external cursor.
Id. at 7 (Dkt. No. 146 at 61) (emphasis added). Thus, the applicant characterized his invention as
controlling the computer based on cursor properties in addition to the position of the cursor—the
invention does not rely solely on cursor position. The claims were amended to reflect this aspect
of the invention. See, e.g., id. at 2 (Dkt. No. 146 at 56) (amending pending claim 1, issued Claim
1, to recite “detecting at least one property of an external cursor and position of the external
cursor” (added language underlined)), 3 (Dkt. No. 146 at 57) (amending pending claim 19,
issued Claim 17, to recite “processing the image to determine position and at least one property
of the external cursor” (added language underlined)).
33
The prosecution history statements do not satisfy the exacting standards required for
disclaimer of position-based motion from “patterns of movement” or “movement pattern” to
narrowly define “property” as Defendants suggest. See Omega Eng’g, Inc. v. Raytek Corp., 334
F.3d 1314, 1324–26 (Fed. Cir. 2003) (to qualify as a disclaimer, a statement must be “so
unmistakable as to be unambiguous evidence of disclaimer”).
Accordingly, the Court rejects Defendants’ “not based on position” limitation and
construes the “At Least One Property” Terms as follows:
“at least one property” means “at least one property that is not position”;
“at least one . . . property” means “at least one . . . property that is not position”;
and
“at least one . . . properties” means “at least one . . . properties that is not
position.”
34
D.
“a processor . . . for processing . . .”
Disputed Term
“a processor . . . for
processing . . .”
Plain and ordinary meaning. Not
governed by 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 6.
Defendant’s Proposed
Construction
Indefinite. Governed by 35
U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 6.
If § 112, ¶ 6 applies:
Function:
Function:
Claim 24
Plaintiff’s Proposed Construction
“processing the image to detect
position of the optical cursor and at
least one property of the optical
cursor and for converting the
position and at least one property to
corresponding commands.”
Structure:
a processor
“processing the image to
detect position of the
optical cursor and at least
one property of the
optical cursor and for
converting the position
and at least one property
to corresponding
commands to control the
computer and move an
internal cursor to a
position corresponding to
the optical cursor while
the optical cursor remains
within the output
displayed on the screen”
Structure:
indefinite
The Parties’ Positions
Plaintiff submits that the term does not invoke 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 6 because “processor”
denotes sufficient structure—a “computer”—for performing the recited function of “processing.”
Dkt. No. 143 at 27–28. Plaintiff argues that the meaning of “processor” as a structure for
processing is well-understood as shown by dictionary definitions and judicial constructions of
the term “processor.” Id. Plaintiff further submits that the ’214 Patent discloses specific
examples of image processing and an exemplary algorithm for detecting the position of the
optical cursor. Id. at 28–29 (citing ’214 Patent cols.4–7). Plaintiff notes that the patent references
“known imaging processing techniques” disclosed in the Machine Vision reference. Id. at 29
35
(citing ’214 Patent col.4 ll.49–62). Thus, Plaintiff argues, even if the term invoked § 112, ¶ 6, the
patent discloses sufficient structure and the term does not render the claim indefinite. Id.
In addition to the claims themselves, Plaintiff cites the following intrinsic and extrinsic
evidence to support its position. Intrinsic evidence: ’214 Patent col.3 ll.46–47, 52–55, cols.4–7,
col.7 ll.28–60. Extrinsic evidence: IBM Dictionary of Computing (10th ed. 1994) (“processor”)
(Plaintiff’s Ex. 4, Dkt. No. 148 at 11–16); Webster’s New World Dictionary of Computer Terms
(5th ed. 1994) (“processor”) (Plaintiff’s Ex. 4, Dkt. No. 148 at 32–37); Webster’s Ninth New
Collegiate Dictionary (1986) (“processor”) (Plaintiff’s Ex. 4, Dkt. No. 148 at 38–47).
Defendants respond that the term invokes 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 6 because “processor” does
not connote sufficient structure to perform the recited functions of (1) “processing the image to
detect position of the optical cursor and at least one property of the optical cursor” and (2)
“converting the position and at least one property to corresponding commands to control the
computer and move an internal cursor to a position corresponding to the optical cursor while the
optical cursor remains within the output displayed on the screen.” Dkt. No. 156 at 26 (emphasis
in original). Defendants further respond that courts, including this Court and the Federal Circuit,
have recognized that “processor” alone does not connote sufficient structure to perform such
specialized functions and therefore, the term must be analyzed under § 112, ¶ 6. Id. at 26–27.
Defendants also claim that both Plaintiff’s and Defendants’ experts testified that a generalpurpose processor cannot perform the recited functions without being specially programmed. Id.
at 28.
According to Defendants, the term fails the requirement of § 112, ¶ 6 and therefore Claim
24 is invalid as indefinite. Id. at 29–31. Defendants first argue that the function of the claim
requires both the “processing” and “converting” functions recited in the claim, not the
36
abbreviated function that Plaintiff proposes in the alternative. Id. at 29. Defendants next argue
that because a processor must be specially programmed to perform the recited functions, the ’214
Patent must disclose an algorithm that the processor preforms to accomplish the function. Id. at
29–30. Defendants contend that the ’214 Patent’s citation to the Machine Vision reference is not
sufficient disclosure of an algorithm to perform the function of “processing the image to detect
. . . at least one property of the optical cursor” and that the patent does not otherwise disclose any
such algorithm. Id. at 30. Defendants further contend that the ’214 Patent does not disclose an
algorithm to perform the “converting” function. Id. at 31. Defendants conclude that because the
patent does not disclose an algorithm adequate to perform the recited functions, Claim 24 fails
the requirement of § 112, ¶ 6. Id. at 30–31.
In addition to the claims themselves, Defendants cite the following intrinsic and extrinsic
evidence to support their position. Intrinsic evidence: ’214 Patent col.4 ll.57–65. Extrinsic
evidence: Russ Dep. (Defendants’ Ex. B, Dkt. No. 156-3); Kitchen Decl. (Dkt. No. 156-11).
Plaintiff replies that Defendants have failed to rebut the presumption that § 112, ¶ 6 does
not apply to a claim term that lacks “means” or “step for” language. Dkt. No. 164 at 10–11.
Plaintiff argues that the claim recites a “processor in communication with the camera” and that
the addition of “in communication with the camera” results in a special-purpose computer with
sufficient structure to avoid invoking § 112, ¶ 6. Plaintiff contends that even if § 112, ¶ 6 applies
there is no need for a detailed description of an algorithm to perform the recited functions as “it
would have been within the ordinary skill in the art to generate [such] algorithms.” Id. at 11.
Plaintiff cites further intrinsic and extrinsic evidence to support its position: Intrinsic
evidence: ’214 Patent col.4 ll.39–41, col.4 ll.52 – col.7 l.27, col.8 ll.21 – col.9 l.25, fig.3.
37
Extrinsic evidence: Kitchen Dep. (Plaintiff’s Ex. E, Dkt. No. 165-2 & Dkt. No. 176-1); Russ
Supp. Decl. (Dkt. No. 164-1).
Analysis
The dispute centers on whether this term is governed by § 112, ¶ 6. Because the Court
finds that the “processor . . . for . . .” language connotes sufficiently definite structure to one of
ordinary skill in the art, the Court concludes that § 112, ¶ 6 does not apply. And because
Defendants’ indefiniteness argument is premised on the application of § 112, ¶ 6, Defendants
have failed to establish by clear and convincing evidence that this term is indefinite and renders
any claim invalid.
The Court has previously considered whether “processor”—without the term “means”—
invokes § 112, ¶ 6. For example, in Personal Audio, the Court held that § 112, ¶ 6 was invoked
based in part on Aristocrat Techs. Australia Pty Ltd. v. Int’l Game Tech., 521 F.3d 1328 (Fed.
Cir. 2008). See Personal Audio, LLC v. Apple Inc., No. 9:09-cv-00111, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS
157778, at *60–*63, *68–*72, n.13 (E.D. Tex. Jan. 30, 2011). The Court in Personal Audio read
Aristocrat to hold that when a claim discloses a “processor” alone it does not connote sufficient
structure to avoid invoking § 112, ¶ 6. Personal Audio, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 157778, at *68–
*70 (citing Aristocrat, 521 F.3d at 1333, 1336).
Since Personal Audio, however, the Federal Circuit has clarified Aristocrat. The Federal
Circuit held in Apple that the Aristocrat rule applies only after § 112, ¶ 6 has been invoked. The
Aristocrat rule should not apply when determining whether § 112, ¶ 6 should be invoked. See
Apple Inc. v. Motorola, Inc., 757 F.3d 1286, 1298 (Fed. Cir. 2014). In Apple, the Federal Circuit
stated:
The district court misapplied our precedent by requiring the claim limitations of
the ’949 patent themselves to disclose a step-by-step algorithm as required by
38
Aristocrat Technologies. Aristocrat and related cases hold that, if a patentee has
invoked
computer-implemented
means-plus-function
claiming,
the
corresponding structure in the specification for the computer implemented
function must be an algorithm unless a general purpose computer is sufficient for
performing the function. . . .
In all these cases, the claims recited the term “means,” thereby expressly invoking
means-plus-function claiming. In addition, the parties in these cases did not
dispute on appeal that these claims were drafted in means-plus-function format.
Hence, where a claim is not drafted in means-plus-function format, the
reasoning in the Aristocrat line of cases does not automatically apply, and an
algorithm is therefore not necessarily required. The correct inquiry, when
‘means’ is absent from a limitation, is whether the limitation, read in light of the
remaining claim language, specification, prosecution history, and relevant
extrinsic evidence, has sufficiently definite structure to a person of ordinary skill
in the art.
Id. (quotation marks omitted, first emphasis in original, second emphasis added). The Federal
Circuit has later held that the presumption against application of § 112, ¶ 6 is not “strong.” See
Williamson v. Citrix Online, LLC, 792 F.3d 1339, 1349 & n.3 (Fed. Cir. 2015) (en banc in
relevant portion). However, it has not altered its holding that the Aristocrat rule does not apply
when determining if § 112, ¶ 6 should be invoked.
The Court considered whether the term “processor” without “means” invoked § 112, ¶ 6
after Apple. See Smartflash LLC v. Apple Inc., 77 F. Supp. 3d 535 (E.D. Tex. Dec. 4, 2014). In
Smartflash, the Court held that an alleged infringer did not show that § 112, ¶ 6 should be
invoked. Id. at 543. The Court noted that like “detector” and “circuit,” “processor,” while it “may
not define a specific structure, [] describes a class of structures.” Id. (citing Personalized Media
Commc’ns, L.L.C. v. International Trade Comm’n, 161 F.3d 696, 705 (Fed. Cir. 1998)
(detector); Linear Tech. Corp. v. Impala Linear Corp., 379 F.3d 1311, 1320 (Fed. Cir. 2004)
(circuit)). The Court therefore found that “processor” was not a nonce word like “means,”
“element,” or “device.” Id. The Court reaffirmed this holding in later rulings. See Smartflash
39
LLC v. Apple Inc., No. 6:13-cv-447-JRG-JNM, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 91669, at *7–*10 (E.D.
Tex. July 7, 2015) (finding processor not a nonce word after Williamson).
Personalized Media and Linear Technology are instructive. In Personalized Media, the
Federal Circuit reversed the International Trade Commission’s holding that the term “digital
detector for [performing a function]” was governed by § 112, ¶ 6 and that the claim was
indefinite for lack of structure. Personalized Media Commc’ns, 161 F.3d at 700–01, 703–707.
The Federal Circuit held that “‘detector’ had a well-known meaning to those of skill in the
electrical arts connotative of structure.” Id. at 704–05 & n.12 (citing dictionary definitions of
detector). The Federal Circuit went on to explain that,
neither the fact that a ‘detector’ is defined in terms of its function, nor the fact that
the term ‘detector’ does not connote a precise physical structure in the minds of
those of skill in the art detracts from the definiteness of structure. . . . Even though
the term ‘detector’ does not specifically evoke a particular structure, it does
convey to one knowledgeable in the art a variety of structures known as
‘detectors.’ We therefore conclude that the term ‘detector’ is a sufficiently
definite structural term to preclude the application of § 112, P 6.
Id.
Similarly, in Linear Technology, the Federal Circuit reversed a district court’s holding
that “circuit for [performing a function]” terms were governed by § 112, ¶ 6. Linear Tech., 379
F.3d at 1319–21. The court determined that:
Technical dictionaries, which are evidence of the understandings of persons of
skill in the technical arts, plainly indicate that the term ‘circuit’ connotes
structure. . . . For example, The Dictionary of Computing 75 (4th ed. 1996)
defines “circuit” as “the combination of a number of electrical devices and
conductors that, when interconnected to form a conducting path, fulfill some
desired function.” . . . Thus, when the structure-connoting term “circuit” is
coupled with a description of the circuit’s operation, sufficient structural meaning
generally will be conveyed to persons of ordinary skill in the art, and § 112 P 6
presumptively will not apply.
Id. at 1320. Because the claims themselves included the “objectives or operations” of the circuit
and because “persons of ordinary skill in the art would understand the structural arrangements of
40
circuit components from the term ‘circuit’ coupled with the qualifying language of [the]
claim[s],” the court held that § 112, ¶ 6 did not apply. Id. at 1320–21.
Here, the Court finds that § 112, ¶ 6 does not apply for three reasons. First, “processor”
connotes structure. See, e.g., IBM Dictionary of Computing (10th ed. 1994) (Plaintiff’s Ex. 4,
Dkt. No. 148 at 15) (defining “processor” as “(l) In a computer, a functional unit that interprets
and executes instructions. A processor consists of at least an instruction control unit and an
arithmetic and logic unit. (T) (2) One or more integrated circuits that process coded instructions
and perform a task”); Webster’s New World Dictionary of Computer Terms 464 (5th ed. 1994)
(Plaintiff’s Ex. 4, Dkt. No. 148 at 32–37) (defining “processor” as “(1) The CENTRAL
PROCESSING UNIT of a computer”). These definitions are analogous to the dictionary
definitions relied on by the Linear Technology court. See Linear Tech., 379 F.3d at 1320
(defining “circuit” as “the combination of a number of electrical devices and conductors that,
when interconnected to form a conducting path, fulfill some desired function.”); see also
Personalized Media Commc’ns, 161 F.3d at 704–05 (finding that “detector” connotes a class of
structures”).
Second, Claim 24 itself recites the objectives and operations of the processor in the
“processor . . . for” limitation:
processing the image to detect position of the optical cursor and at least one
property of the optical cursor and for converting the position and at least one
property to corresponding commands to control the computer and move an
internal cursor to a position corresponding to the optical cursor while the optical
cursor remains within the output displayed on the screen.
’214 Patent, col.11 l.34 – col.12 l.6; see also Linear Tech., 379 F.3d at 1320 (holding that the
objectives and outputs of the “circuit for monitoring a signal from the output terminal to generate
a first feedback signal” limitation are “monitoring a signal from the output terminal” and
“generating a first feedback signal”).
41
Third, one of ordinary skill in the art would understand the structural arrangements of the
processor from the recited objectives and operations of the processor. See, e.g., Russ Decl. ¶¶
26–28 (stating that the one of skill in the art would know “how to determine the position and
other properties of an external cursor” and “how to use the position and other external cursor
properties to generate commands for a computer, including to generate commands to move an
internal cursor to a position corresponding to the position of the external cursor”); Kitchen Dep.
31:7 – 33:21 (testifying that one skilled in the art could create an image-processing algorithm to
detect the shape and position of a cursor and to convert the data to commands to control a
computer), 37:14 – 38:25 (testifying that one skilled in the art could create an image-processing
algorithm to generate a command based on a change in intensity or color of the cursor); see also
Linear Tech., 379 F.3d at 1320 (relying on the patentee’s expert’s statement “that a person of
ordinary skill in the art reading the claims would have an understanding of, and would be able to
draw, structural arrangements of the circuit elements defined by the claims” (quotation marks
omitted)).
Defendants’ attempt to overcome the presumption that § 112, ¶ 6 does not apply to the
“processor . . . for [performing a function]” term fails because it is premised on requiring an
Aristocrat-level disclosure in the claims themselves. Dkt. No. 156 at 28. Federal Circuit
precedent does not require this level of disclosure in the claims. See Apple, 757 F.3d at 1298.
Accordingly, the Court finds that § 112, ¶ 6 does not apply to the “a processor . . . for
processing . . .” terms, and that Defendants have not established by clear and convincing
evidence that the term renders any claim indefinite. The term has its plain and ordinary meaning
and needs no further construction.
42
E.
The “Instructions For” Terms
Disputed
Term
“instructions
for detecting .
. .”
Plaintiff’s Proposed Construction
Plain and ordinary meaning. Not governed by
35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 6.
Defendant’s Proposed
Construction
Indefinite. Governed by 35
U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 6.
If § 112, ¶ 6 applies:
Claim 25
Function:
“detecting at least one
Function:
of the user selectable
“detecting at least one of the user
properties of the
selectable properties of the external cursor”
external cursor”
Structure:
Computer readable storage medium that
includes processor instructions to convert
optical data to digital data representing
instructions executable by a computer for
“detecting at least one of the user
selectable properties of the external
cursor.”
“instructions
for generating
. . .”
Structure:
indefinite
Plain and ordinary meaning. Not governed by
35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 6.
Indefinite. Governed by 35
U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 6.
If § 112, ¶ 6 applies:
Claim 25
Function:
“generating a command for the computer
based on the at least one detected property
of the eternal cursor”
Structure:
Computer readable storage medium that
includes data representing instructions
executable by a computer to convert the
digital data into a command, or otherwise
“generating a command for the computer
based on the at least one detected property
of the eternal cursor.”
43
Function:
“generating a command
for the computer based
on the at least one
detected property of the
external cursor”
Structure:
indefinite
Disputed
Term
“instructions
for processing
. . .”
Plaintiff’s Proposed Construction
Plain and ordinary meaning. Not governed by
35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 6.
Defendant’s Proposed
Construction
Indefinite. Governed by 35
U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 6.
If § 112, ¶ 6 applies:
Claim 26
Function:
“processing an image of the output to
detect at least one property of the external
cursor and position of the external cursor
relative to the output”
Structure:
Computer readable storage medium that
includes processor instructions to convert
optical data to digital data representing
instructions executable by a computer for
“processing an image of the output to
detect at least one property of the external
cursor including [and] position of the
external cursor relative to the output.”
“instructions
for converting
. . .”
Plain and ordinary meaning. Not governed by
35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 6.
Function:
“processing an image of
the output to detect at
least one property of
the external cursor
including position of
the external cursor
relative to the output”
Structure:
indefinite
Indefinite. Governed by 35
U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 6.
If § 112, ¶ 6 applies:
Claim 26
Function:
“converting position and the at least one
property to a command to control the
computer to move an internal cursor to a
position corresponding to the external
cursor”
Structure:
Computer readable storage medium that
includes data representing instructions
executable by a computer to convert the
digital data into a command, or otherwise
for “converting position and the at least
one property to a command to control the
computer to move an internal cursor to a
position corresponding to the external
cursor.”
44
Function:
“converting the position
and the at least one
property to a command
to control the computer
to move an internal
cursor to a position
corresponding to the
external cursor”
Structure:
indefinite
Because the parties’ arguments and proposed constructions with respect to these terms
are related, the Court addresses the terms together.
The Parties’ Positions
Plaintiff submits that Claims 25 and 26 are Beauregard6 claims and that, the
“instructions” of the terms refers to computer program instructions for performing the recited
processes. Dkt. No. 143 at 31–32. Plaintiff further submits that the instructions should not be
severed from the structure recited in the preamble, the “computer readable medium.” Id. at 32.
Plaintiff finally submits, the structure is sufficiently definite to avoid application of 35 U.S.C. §
112, ¶ 6. Id.
Plaintiff contends that if the terms are construed according to § 112, ¶ 6, then the
structure for the “instructions for detecting . . .” and the “instructions for processing . . .”
limitations are found in the claims in conjunction with the disclosures at “Fig. 3 box 60 (boxes
62, 64, 66, 68, 70, and 72); 3:41-61; 4:54-65; 4:65 – 7:4; 7:5-43; 8:12-35.” Id. at 33.
Furthermore, the structure for the “instructions for generating . . .” and the “instructions for
converting . . .” limitations are found in the claims in conjunction with the disclosure at: “Fig. 3
(box 74) and 3:41-61; 7:44-60; 8:33-67.”
In addition to the claims themselves, Plaintiff cites the following intrinsic and extrinsic
evidence to support its position. Intrinsic evidence: ’214 Patent col.3 ll.41–61, col.4 ll.54 – col.7
l.60, col.8 ll.12–67, fig.3. Extrinsic evidence: Russ Decl. (Plaintiff’s Ex. 5, Dkt. No. 144).
6
Named after In re Beauregard, 53 F.3d 1583 (Fed. Cir. 1995), “[c]laims in Beauregard format
formally recite a tangible article of manufacture—a computer-readable medium, such as a
computer disk or other data storage device—but such claims also require the device to contain a
computer program for directing a computer to carry out a specified process.” CLS Bank Int’l v.
Alice Corp. Pty, 717 F.3d 1269, 1287 (Fed. Cir. 2013)
45
Defendants respond that the word “instructions” is a generic placeholder that does not
connote sufficient structure to perform the recited functions, and therefore, the term must be
analyzed under § 112, ¶ 6. Dkt. No. 156 at 31. Defendants argue that because the “instruction”
limitations are software for a specially programmed computer, the ’214 Patent must disclose
algorithms for performing the functions. Id. at 33–35. Defendants also respond that the patent’s
references to “known image-processing techniques” and the Machine Vision reference do not
qualify as a disclosure of adequate structure. Id. Therefore, Defendants contend, as the patent
does not disclose the requisite algorithms, the claims fail. Id.
In addition to the claims themselves, Defendants cite the following intrinsic and extrinsic
evidence to support their position. Intrinsic evidence: ’214 Patent col.3 ll.45–46, col.3 ll.52–55,
col.4 ll.57–67, col. 7 ll.16–27, col.7 ll.35–37, col.8 ll.21–22, fig.3. Extrinsic evidence: Kitchen
Decl. (Dkt. No. 156-11); .
Plaintiff replies that applying § 112, ¶ 6 is inappropriate for a Beauregard claim, and
such application is unsupported by any legal authority. Dkt. No. 164 at 12.
Analysis
The dispute here largely parallels the dispute over the “processor . . . for . . .” terms.
Defendants argue that: (1) 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 6 applies to each of the “instructions for” terms, (2)
the ’214 Patent does not adequately disclose structure and therefore fails the requirements of the
statute, and (3) Claims 25 and 26 are invalid as indefinite. For similar reasons to those expressed
in the analysis of the “processor . . . for . . .” term, the Court determines that Defendants
argument fails on its first point—§ 112, ¶ 6 does not apply. The “instructions for . . .” language
connotes sufficiently definite structure to one of ordinary skill in the art, therefore the statute
does not apply.
46
Here, the term “instructions,” like “detector” in Personalized Media and “circuit” in
Linear Technology, connotes sufficiently definite structure to avoid invoking §112, ¶ 6. First,
“instruction” connotes structure. See, e.g., ’214 Patent col.12 ll.7–9 (“A computer readable
storage medium having stored data representing instructions executable by a computer to
generate commands to control a cursor.”); Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary 627
(1986) (Dkt. No. 148 at 43) (defining “instruction” as “a code that tells a computer to perform a
particular operation”); Kitchen Decl. ¶ 63 (“instructions” refers to “executable processor
instructions” or “program code to be converted to processor instructions”) (Dkt. No. 156-11 at
20); Affymetrix, Inc. v. Hyseq, Inc., 132 F. Supp. 2d 1212, 1231–33 (N.D. Cal. 2001) (finding
that “code” connotes structure); Trading Techs. Int'l v. eSpeed, Inc., No. 04-c-5312, 2006 U.S.
Dist. LEXIS 80153, at *38–*40 (N.D. Ill. Oct. 31, 2006) (finding that “code” connotes
structure); Affinity Labs of Texas, LLC v. Samsung Elecs. Co., No. 1:12-cv-557, 2014 U.S. Dist.
LEXIS 184075, at *12–*13 (E.D. Tex. June 4, 2014) (Clark, J.) (finding that “software”
connotes structure).
Second, Claims 25 and 26 themselves recite the objectives and operations of the
instructions in the “Instructions For” limitations:
detecting at least one of the user selectable properties of the external cursor (Claim 25),
generating a command for the computer based on the at least one detected property of the
external cursor (Claim 25),
processing an image of the output to detect at least one property of the external cursor
including position of the external cursor relative to the output (Claim 26),
converting the position and the at least one property to a command to control the
computer to move an internal cursor to a position corresponding to the external cursor
(Claim 26).
’214 Patent, col.12 ll.14–18, ll.26–33; see also Linear Tech., 379 F.3d at 1320 (holding that the
objectives and outputs of the “circuit for monitoring a signal from the output terminal to generate
47
a first feedback signal” limitation are “monitoring a signal from the output terminal” and
“generating a first feedback signal”).
Third, one of ordinary skill in the art would understand the structural arrangements of the
instructions from the recited objectives and operations of the instructions. See, e.g., Russ Decl.
¶¶ 26–28 (stating that the one of skill in the art would know “how to determine the position and
other properties of an external cursor” and “how to use the position and other external cursor
properties to generate commands for a computer, including to generate commands to move an
internal cursor to a position corresponding to the position of the external cursor”); Kitchen Dep.
31:7 – 33:21 (testifying that one skilled in the art could create an image-processing algorithm to
detect the shape and position of a cursor and to convert the data to commands to control a
computer), 37:14 – 38:25 (testifying that one skilled in the art could create an image-processing
algorithm to generate a command based on a change in intensity or color of the cursor); see also
Linear Tech., 379 F.3d at 1320 (relying on the patentee’s expert’s statement “that a person of
ordinary skill in the art reading the claims would have an understanding of, and would be able to
draw, structural arrangements of the circuit elements defined by the claims” (quotation marks
omitted)).
Numerous district courts have come to the same conclusion on similar terms. See, e.g.,
Affymetrix, Inc. v. Hyseq, Inc., 132 F. Supp. 2d 1212, 1231–33 (N.D. Cal. 2001) (holding that §
112, ¶ 6 does not apply to the claim term “computer code that [performs a function]”); Trading
Techs. Int'l v. eSpeed, Inc., No. 04-c-5312, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 80153, at *34–*44 (N.D. Ill.
Oct. 31, 2006) (holding that § 112, ¶ 6 does not apply to the claim term “program code for
[performing a function]”); Versata Software, Inc. v. Sun Microsystems, Inc., No. 2:06-cv-358,
2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 63645, at *36–*37 (E.D. Tex. Aug. 19, 2008) (holding that § 112, ¶ 6
48
does not apply to the claim term “computer readable program code configured to cause a
computer to [perform a function]”); Aloft Media, LLC v. Adobe Sys., 570 F. Supp. 2d 887, 897–
98 (E.D. Tex. 2008) (holding that § 112, ¶ 6 does not apply to the claim term “computer code for
[performing a function]”); Eolas Techs., Inc. v. Adobe Sys., Inc., 810 F. Supp. 2d 795, 810 (E.D.
Tex. 2011) (holding that § 112, ¶ 6 does not apply to the claim term “computer readable program
code for [performing a function]”); RLIS, Inc. v. Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc., No. 3:12cv-208, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 98840, at *41–*48 (S.D. Tex. July 16, 2013) (holding that § 112,
¶ 6 does not apply to the claim terms “executable software [for performing a function]” and
“computer software for [performing a function]”); Affinity Labs of Texas, LLC v. Samsung Elecs.
Co., No. 1:12-cv-557, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 184075, at *11–*18 (E.D. Tex. June 4, 2014)
(Clark, J.) (holding that § 112, ¶ 6 does not apply to the claim term “software . . . configured to
[perform a function]”); SuperSpeed, LLC v. Google, Inc., No. H-12-1688, 2014 U.S. Dist.
LEXIS 4479, at *72–*79 (S.D. Tex. Jan. 14, 2014) (holding that § 112, ¶ 6 does not apply to the
claim term “executable . . . code for [performing a function]”).
Defendants’ attempt to overcome the presumption that § 112, ¶ 6 does not apply to the
“Instructions For” terms fails because it is premised on requiring an Aristocrat-level disclosure
in the claims themselves. Dkt. No. 156 at 33–35. But that premise is contrary to law. Apple, 757
F.3d at 1298. Because the statute does not apply, Defendants’ argument that Claims 25 and 26
are indefinite because they fail to comply with the statute is moot.
The Court finds that § 112, ¶ 6 does not apply to the “Instructions For” terms, that
Defendants have not established by clear and convincing evidence that the terms render any
claim indefinite, and that the terms have their plain and ordinary meaning and need no further
construction.
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.
V.
CONCLUSION
The Court adopts the above constructions set forth in this opinion for the disputed and
agreed terms of the ’214 Patent. The parties are ordered that they may not refer, directly or
indirectly, to each other’s claim construction positions in the presence of the jury. Likewise, the
parties are ordered to refrain from mentioning any portion of this opinion, other than the actual
definitions adopted by the Court, in the presence of the jury. Any reference to claim construction
proceedings is limited to informing the jury of the definitions adopted by the Court.
SIGNED this 3rd day of January, 2012.
SIGNED this 5th day of January, 2016.
____________________________________
ROY S. PAYNE
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
50
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