Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 369-25 Filed 04/12/24 Page 1 of 94 PageID #: 34123
`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 369-25 Filed 04/12/24 Page 1 of 94 PagelD #: 34123
`
`EXHIBIT 25
`EXHIBIT 25
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`

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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 369-25 Filed 04/12/24 Page 2 of 94 PageID #: 34124
`Inter Partes Review
`
`U.S. Patent No. 8,308,395
`
`
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`
`
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`
`
`Caterpillar Inc.
`
`Petitioner
`
`v.
`
`Wirtgen America, Inc.
`
`Patent Owner
`
`
`Patent No. 8,308,395
`Issue Date: November 13, 2012
`
`Title: Road Construction Machine, Leveling Device, as Well as Method for
`Controlling the Milling Depth or Milling Slope in a Road Construction Machine
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Case No. IPR2018-01091
`
`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 369-25 Filed 04/12/24 Page 3 of 94 PageID #: 34125
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`
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`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`
`Inter Partes Review
`U.S. Patent No. 8,308,395
`
`
`I.
`
`PRELIMINARY STATEMENT ................................................................... 1
`
`II. THE ’395 PATENT ....................................................................................... 2
`
`A. Overview of the ’395 Patent .................................................................. 2
`
`B.
`
`C.
`
`Prosecution History of the ’395 Patent ................................................. 6
`
`The Challenged Claims ......................................................................... 7
`
`III. LEVEL OF ORDINARY SKILL ................................................................. 7
`
`IV. CLAIM CONSTRUCTION .......................................................................... 8
`
`V. CLAIMS 1, 3, 5-8, 10, 11, 13, 15-17, 19, 20, 22, 24, 26, AND 27 OF
`THE ’395 PATENT ARE UNPATENTABLE OVER THE
`PRIOR ART ................................................................................................... 8
`
`A. Overview of the Prior Art ...................................................................... 8
`
`1.
`
`2.
`
`3.
`
`Davis ........................................................................................... 8
`
`Brabec .......................................................................................13
`
`Krieg ..........................................................................................18
`
`B. Ground 1: Davis in View of Brabec Renders Claims 1, 3, 5-8,
`10, 11, 13, 15-17, 19, 20, 22, 24, 26, and 27 Obvious ........................24
`
`1.
`
`2.
`
`A POSITA Would Have Been Motivated to Combine
`Davis with Brabec. ....................................................................25
`
`A POSITA Would Have Known How to Combine Davis
`and Brabec, and Would Have Had a Reasonable
`Expectation of Success in Doing So. ........................................30
`
`3.
`
`Independent Claim 1 .................................................................31
`
`a.
`
`Element [1a]: “A road construction machine for
`the treatment of road surfaces, comprising:” ..................31
`
` i
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`Inter Partes Review
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`U.S. Patent No. 8,308,395
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`
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`b.
`
`c.
`
`d.
`
`e.
`
`f.
`
`Element [1b]: “a milling drum, the milling drum
`being position adjustable with regard to at least
`one position characteristic selected from the group
`consisting of milling depth of the drum and slope
`of the drum” ....................................................................32
`
`Element [1c] “a leveling system configured to
`control the at least one position characteristic, the
`leveling system including:” ............................................33
`
`Element [1d]: “a plurality of selectable sensors,
`each sensor configured to sense a current actual
`value of an operating parameter corresponding to
`at least one of the milling depth of the drum and
`the slope of the drum” ....................................................33
`
`Element [1e]: “a plurality of indication and setting
`devices, each of the indication and setting devices
`being associable with at least one of the plurality
`of selectable sensors, each indication and setting
`device being operable to indicate the current actual
`value of and to set a set value for each operating
`parameter sensed by its associated sensor or
`sensors” ...........................................................................36
`
`Element [1f]: “a controller and switchover system
`configured to control the at least one position
`characteristic conditioned on set value or values
`and sensed current actual value or values of the
`operating parameter or parameters sensed by a
`selected subset of the plurality of selectable
`sensors by returning at least one adjustment value
`to adjust the at least one position characteristic so
`that the sensed current actual value or values of the
`operating parameter or parameters approach the set
`value or values for the selected subset of the
`plurality of selectable sensors” .......................................38
`
`g.
`
`Element [1g]: “the controller and switchover
`system being configured to switch over from
`control based upon a first selected subset of the
`
`ii
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`U.S. Patent No. 8,308,395
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`
`
`plurality of selectable sensors to control based
`upon a second selected subset during milling
`operation without interruption of the milling
`operation and without any erratic alteration of the
`at least one adjustment value, the second selected
`subset exchanging at least one replacement sensor
`not in the first subset for at least one replaced
`sensor that was in the first subset.” ................................40
`
`4.
`
`5.
`
`Claim 3: “The road construction machine of claim 1,
`wherein the controller and switchover system is operable
`to set a set value for an operating parameter for the
`replacement sensor to the current actual value for the
`operating parameter of the replacement sensor.”......................46
`
`Claim 5: “The road construction machine of claim 1,
`wherein: the controller and switchover system includes a
`manually operable switchover device; and the manually
`operable switchover device and the one of the indication
`and setting devices associated with the replacement
`sensor are operable so that a human operator may
`manually pre-select the replacement sensor and manually
`pre-set the operating parameter of the replacement sensor
`prior to effecting the switchover.” ............................................46
`
`6.
`
`Claim 6 ......................................................................................49
`
`a.
`
`b.
`
`c.
`
`Element [6a]: “The road construction machine of
`claim 1, wherein the controller and switchover
`system includes first and second control units
`operably associated with first and second sensors,
`respectively, of the plurality of selectable sensors,” ......49
`
`Element [6b]: “the first and second sensors being
`arranged parallel to a rotational axis of the milling
`drum” ..............................................................................50
`
`Element [6c]: “the first and second control units
`being operable to control milling depth of the
`milling drum independently of one another on left
`
`iii
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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 369-25 Filed 04/12/24 Page 6 of 94 PageID #: 34128
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`U.S. Patent No. 8,308,395
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`7.
`
`8.
`
`9.
`
`and right sides, respectively, of the road
`construction machine” ....................................................51
`
`Claim 7: “The road construction machine of claim 1,
`wherein: the plurality of selectable sensors includes: a
`first sensor being a left side depth sensor; a second sensor
`being a right side depth sensor; and a third sensor being a
`third depth sensor; the first subset of sensors includes
`only two of the first, second and third sensors; and the
`second subset of sensors includes the other one of the
`first, second and third sensors not in the first subset, and
`the second subset of sensors includes only one of the two
`sensors of the first subset of sensors.’ .......................................52
`
`Claim 8: “The road construction machine of claim 1,
`wherein: the plurality of selectable sensors includes a
`first sensor and a second sensor; the first subset of
`sensors includes the first sensor but not the second
`sensor; and the second subset of sensors includes the
`second sensor but not the first sensor.” .....................................53
`
`Claim 10: “The road construction machine of claim 8,
`wherein: the plurality of selectable sensors further
`includes a third sensor.” ............................................................54
`
`10. Claim 11 ....................................................................................55
`
`a.
`
`b.
`
`Element [11a] “A leveling device for a position
`adjustable milling drum of a road construction
`machine, the milling drum being position
`adjustable with regard to at least one position
`characteristic selected from the group consisting of
`milling depth of the drum and slope of the drum” .........55
`
`Element [11b] “the leveling device comprising: a
`plurality of selectable sensors, each sensor
`configured to sense a current actual value of an
`operating parameter corresponding to at least one
`of the milling depth of the drum and the slope of
`the drum” ........................................................................55
`
`iv
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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 369-25 Filed 04/12/24 Page 7 of 94 PageID #: 34129
`Inter Partes Review
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`U.S. Patent No. 8,308,395
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`
`
`c.
`
`d.
`
`e.
`
`Element [11c] “a plurality of indication and setting
`devices, each indication and setting device being
`operable to indicate the current actual value of and
`to set a set value for the operating parameter
`sensed by at least one sensor of the plurality of
`selectable sensors” ..........................................................55
`
`Element [11d] “a controller and switchover system
`configured to control the at least one position
`characteristic conditioned on set value or values
`and sensed current actual value or values of the
`operating parameter or parameters sensed by a
`selected subset of the plurality of selectable
`sensors by returning at least one adjustment value
`to adjust the at least one position characteristic so
`that the sensed current actual value or values of the
`operating parameter or parameters approach the set
`value or values for the selected subset of the
`plurality of selectable sensors; and” ...............................56
`
`Element [11e] “the controller and switchover
`system being configured to switch over from
`control based upon a first selected subset of the
`plurality of selectable sensors to control based
`upon a second selected subset during milling
`operation without interruption of the milling
`operation and without any erratic alteration of the
`at least one adjustment value, the second selected
`subset exchanging at least one replacement sensor
`not in the first subset for at least one replaced
`sensor that was in the first subset.” ................................56
`
`11. Claim 13: “The leveling device of claim 11, wherein: the
`controller and switchover system is operable to set a set
`value for an operating parameter for the replacement
`sensor to the current actual value for the operating
`parameter of the replacement sensor.” ......................................57
`
`12. Claim 15: The leveling device of claim 11, wherein: the
`controller and switchover system includes a manually
`operable switchover device; and the manually operable
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`v
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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 369-25 Filed 04/12/24 Page 8 of 94 PageID #: 34130
`Inter Partes Review
`
`U.S. Patent No. 8,308,395
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`
`
`switchover device and the one of the indication and
`setting devices associated with the replacement sensor
`are operable so that a human operator may manually pre-
`select the replacement sensor and manually pre-set the
`operating parameter of the replacement sensor prior to
`effecting the switchover. ...........................................................57
`
`13. Claim 16: “The leveling device of claim 11, wherein: the
`plurality of selectable sensors includes a first sensor; a
`second sensor; and a third sensor; the first subset of
`sensors includes only two of the first, second and third
`sensors; and the second subset of sensors includes the
`other one of the first, second and third sensors not in the
`first subset, and the second subset of sensors includes
`only one of the two sensors of the first subset of sensors.” ......57
`
`14. Claim 17: “The leveling device of claim 11, wherein: the
`plurality of selectable sensors includes a first sensor and
`a second sensor; the first subset of sensors includes the
`first sensor but not the second sensor; and the second
`subset of sensors includes the second sensor but not the
`first sensor.” ..............................................................................58
`
`15. Claim 19: “The leveling device of claim 17, wherein: the
`plurality of selectable sensors further includes a third
`sensor.” ......................................................................................58
`
`16. Claim 20 ....................................................................................58
`
`a.
`
`b.
`
`Element [20.0] “A method of controlling at least
`one position characteristic of a milling drum of a
`road construction machine, the at least one position
`characteristic being from the group consisting of
`the milling depth of the drum and the slope of the
`drum, the method comprising:” ......................................58
`
`Element [20a] “(a) setting a set value for an
`operational parameter of at least one sensor, the
`operational parameter corresponding to at least one
`of the milling depth of the drum and the slope of
`the drum” ........................................................................59
`
`vi
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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 369-25 Filed 04/12/24 Page 9 of 94 PageID #: 34131
`Inter Partes Review
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`U.S. Patent No. 8,308,395
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`
`
`c.
`
`d.
`
`e.
`
`f.
`
`g.
`
`Element [20b] “(b) conducting a milling
`operation” .......................................................................59
`
`Element [20c] “(c) during the milling operation,
`sensing a current actual value of the operational
`parameter of the at least one sensor” ..............................59
`
`Element [20d] “(d) generating an adjustment value
`with a controller, the adjustment value correlating
`to a difference between the set value and the
`current actual value of the operational parameter of
`the at least one sensor” ...................................................60
`
`Element [20e] “(e) controlling the at least one
`position characteristic based on the adjustment
`value; and” ......................................................................60
`
`Element [20f] “(f) without interrupting the milling
`operation, switching over the control of the at least
`one position characteristic from control based at
`least in part on the at least one sensor to control
`based at least in part on a replacement sensor not
`included in the at least one sensor, without altering
`the adjustment value at the time of switching
`over.”...............................................................................61
`
`17. Claim 22: “The method of claim 20, wherein: step (f)
`further comprises setting a set value for the operational
`parameter of the replacement sensor to a current
`measured actual value of the operational parameter of the
`replacement sensor.” .................................................................61
`
`18. Claim 24: “The method of claim 20, wherein: in step (a)
`the at least one sensor includes two sensors; and in step
`(f) the replacement sensor replaces only one of the two
`sensors of step (a).” ...................................................................61
`
`19. Claim 26 ....................................................................................62
`
`a.
`
`Element [26a]: “A method of controlling milling
`depth of a milling drum of a road construction
`machine during a milling operation to create a
`
`vii
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`

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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 369-25 Filed 04/12/24 Page 10 of 94 PageID #: 34132
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`U.S. Patent No. 8,308,395
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`
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`milled surface, the method comprising: controlling
`the milling depth based at least in part on a
`measurement made with a first sensor; and” ..................62
`
`a.
`
`Element [26b]: “without interrupting the milling
`operation, switching over the control of the milling
`depth to control based at least in part on a
`measurement made with a second sensor, without
`disrupting the milled surface at the time of
`switching over.” ..............................................................62
`
`20. Claim 27 ....................................................................................63
`
`a.
`
`b.
`
`Element [27a]: “A method of controlling slope of a
`milling drum of a road construction machine
`during a milling operation to create a milled
`surface, the method comprising: controlling the
`slope of the drum based at least in part on a
`measurement made with a first sensor; and” ..................63
`
`Element [27b]: “without interrupting the milling
`operation, switching over the control of the slope
`of the drum to control based at least in part on a
`measurement made with a second sensor, without
`disrupting the milled surface at the time of
`switching over.” ..............................................................64
`
`C. Ground 2: Davis in View of Krieg Renders Claims 1, 6, 8, 10,
`11, 16, 17, 19, 20, 24, 26, and 27 Obvious .........................................64
`
`1.
`
`2.
`
`A POSITA Would Have Been Motivated to Combine
`Davis with Krieg. ......................................................................65
`
`A POSITA Would Have Known How to Combine Davis
`and Krieg, and Would Have Had a Reasonable
`Expectation of Success in Doing So. ........................................69
`
`3.
`
`Independent Claim 1 .................................................................70
`
`a.
`
`b.
`
`Elements [1a]-[1f] ...........................................................70
`
`Element [1g] ...................................................................70
`
`viii
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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 369-25 Filed 04/12/24 Page 11 of 94 PageID #: 34133
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`U.S. Patent No. 8,308,395
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`4.
`
`5.
`
`6.
`
`7.
`
`8.
`
`9.
`
`Claim 6 ......................................................................................75
`
`Claim 8 ......................................................................................75
`
`Claim 10 ....................................................................................75
`
`Claim 11 ....................................................................................75
`
`a.
`
`b.
`
`Elements [11a]-11[d] ......................................................75
`
`Element [11e] ..................................................................75
`
`Claim 16 ....................................................................................75
`
`Claim 17 ....................................................................................76
`
`10. Claim 19 ....................................................................................76
`
`11. Claim 20 ....................................................................................76
`
`a.
`
`b.
`
`Elements [20.0]-[20e] .....................................................76
`
`Element [20f] ..................................................................76
`
`12. Claim 24 ....................................................................................76
`
`13. Claim 26 ....................................................................................76
`
`a.
`
`b.
`
`Element [26a] ..................................................................76
`
`Element [26b] .................................................................77
`
`14. Claim 27 ....................................................................................77
`
`a.
`
`b.
`
`Element [27a] ..................................................................77
`
`Element [27b] .................................................................77
`
`VI. MANDATORY NOTICES .........................................................................77
`
`A.
`
`Real Party-in-Interest ..........................................................................77
`
`B.
`
`C.
`
`Related Matters ....................................................................................77
`
`Lead and Back-Up Counsel and Service Information ........................78
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`ix
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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 369-25 Filed 04/12/24 Page 12 of 94 PageID #: 34134
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`U.S. Patent No. 8,308,395
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`VII. CERTIFICATION UNDER 37 C.F.R. § 42.24(d) ....................................79
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`VIII. GROUNDS FOR STANDING ....................................................................79
`
`IX. STATEMENT OF PRECISE RELIEF REQUESTED FOR
`EACH CLAIM CHALLENGED ...............................................................79
`
`X. CONCLUSION ............................................................................................80
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`
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`x
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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 369-25 Filed 04/12/24 Page 13 of 94 PageID #: 34135
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`U.S. Patent No. 8,308,395
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`
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`LIST OF EXHIBITS
`
`Exhibit
`
`Description
`
`Ex. 1001 U.S. Patent No. 8,308,395 to Jurasz et al. (“the ’395 patent”)
`
`Ex. 1002 Declaration of David M. Bevly, Ph.D.
`
`Ex. 1003 Curriculum Vitae of David M. Bevly, Ph.D.
`
`Ex. 1004 U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2002/0047301 to Davis (“Davis”)
`
`Ex. 1005 U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2002/0154948 to Brabec et al. (“Brabec”)
`
`Ex. 1006 U.S. Patent No. 6,286,606 to Krieg et al. (“Krieg”)
`
`Ex. 1007 U.S. Patent No. 4,325,580 to Swisher, Jr. et al. (“Swisher”)
`
`Ex. 1008 File History for the ’395 patent
`
`Ex. 1009 European Patent No. EP1154075A2
`
`Ex. 1010 European Patent No. EP2010714B1
`
`Ex. 1011 Excerpts from the prosecution history of EP2010714B1 before the
`European Patent Office with certified English language translations.
`
`Ex. 1012 Moba Mechanical Grade & Slope Control System Manual,
`December 12, 2005, obtained from
`http://stephensonequipment.com/wp-
`content/uploads/2015/02/MOBA-Mechanical-Grade-and-Slope-
`Control-System-Manual-24580.pdf (last visited on May 1, 2018)
`
`Ex. 1013 U.S. Patent No. 6,916,070
`
`Ex. 1014 U.S. Patent No. 7,594,562
`
`Ex. 1015 U.S. Patent No. 6,065,799
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`xi
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`
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`Petitioner Caterpillar Inc. requests inter partes review and cancelation of
`
`Inter Partes Review
`U.S. Patent No. 8,308,395
`
`
`claims 1, 3, 5-8, 10, 11, 13, 15-17, 19, 20, 22, 24, 26, and 27 of the ’395 patent
`
`(Ex. 1001), purportedly assigned to Wirtgen America, Inc.
`
`I.
`
`PRELIMINARY STATEMENT
`
`The ’395 patent claims an earliest effective priority date of April 27, 2006.
`
`Ex. 1001. The ’395 patent discloses a road construction machine, a leveling device,
`
`and a method that allow for changing the sensors used to control the milling drum
`
`depth and slope without halting machine operations. Id., 1:55-58. The claimed
`
`subject matter, however, was not new at the time of the ’395 patent. As the ’395
`
`patent acknowledged, road milling machines were already known to a person of
`
`ordinary skill in the art (“POSITA”) before 2006. Id., 1:11. Controlling the depth
`
`and slope of a milling drum using at least two sensors was also well known before
`
`the ’395 patent. See, e.g., Ex. 1004; Ex. 1007. Furthermore, devices and methods,
`
`for switching control of the orientation of a work implement to an alternate sensor
`
`without halting machine operations, were also well known before the ’395 patent.
`
`See, e.g., Ex. 1005; Ex. 1006. The challenged claims of the ’395 patent merely
`
`recite a straightforward and obvious combination of these well-known
`
`technologies, and, therefore, these claims should be canceled as unpatentable.
`
`Ex. 1002, ¶¶ 36-38.
`
`
`
`1
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`

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`U.S. Patent No. 8,308,395
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`
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`II. THE ’395 PATENT
`
`A. Overview of the ’395 Patent
`
`The ’395 patent discloses a leveling device and method for controlling the
`
`depth and slope of a milling drum of a road milling machine. Ex. 1001, Abstract,
`
`1:10. Such machines typically include sensors for measuring the milling drum
`
`depth and slope. Id., 1:14-27. According to the ’395 patent, during operation, it is
`
`common to switch control of the drum orientation from one set of sensors to
`
`another. Id., 1:34-36.
`
`The ’395 patent states that switching sensors on prior art machines required
`
`the operator to stop milling operations (id., 1:34-53), and purportedly solves this
`
`problem by disclosing a leveling device and method that allows switching sensors
`
`without halting milling operations (id., 1:54-2:4). In particular, the ’395 patent
`
`discloses a leveling device 4, including two controllers 6a and 6c, three sensors (A,
`
`B, and C), and three “indication and setting units” (2a, 2b, 2c). Id., 3:63-4:6, 4:44-
`
`47, Fig. 2.
`
`2
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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 369-25 Filed 04/12/24 Page 16 of 94 PageID #: 34138
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`U.S. Patent No. 8,308,395
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`
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`Controllers 6a and 6c independently control the milling-drum depth on the
`
`
`
`left-hand side and the right-hand side, respectively. Ex. 1001, 3:1-6, 4:6-11,
`
`4:35-37. Sensors A, B, and C measure the “current actual value of the milling
`
`depth and/or the slope of the milling drum 3 relative to a reference surface.”
`
`Id., 3:66-4:5. The ’395 patent discloses that based on operating conditions, the
`
`3
`
`
`

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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 369-25 Filed 04/12/24 Page 17 of 94 PageID #: 34139
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`U.S. Patent No. 8,308,395
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`
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`machine operator may select one or more sensors for use with a controller.
`
`Id., 3:65-66, 4:60-67, 1:62-2:4.
`
`The ’395 patent also discloses that each of the controllers 6a and 6c
`
`compares the “actual value[]” measured by a selected sensor with a predetermined
`
`“set value,” which results in an “adjustment value” for “achieving or maintaining
`
`the set value in the milling operation.” Id., 4:6-11, 4:23-25. The ’395 patent
`
`suggests holding the adjustment value constant when switching between sensors,
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`thereby avoiding interruption of the milling operation. Id., 1:67-2:14.
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`Indication and setting units 2a, 2b, and 2c allow an operator to choose the
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`sensors used by controllers 6a and 6c for controlling the depth and slope of milling
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`drum 3. Ex. 1001, 4:12-21, 4:60-64. Each indication and setting unit includes two
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`pairs of “setting buttons” 16 and 18 of which the first pair 16 adjusts the set values
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`used by controllers 6a and 6c, while the second pair 18 adjusts the measured values
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`reported by sensors A, B, and C. Id., 4:48-52, Fig. 3.
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`The indication and setting unit 2a displays the set and measured values for
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`controller 6a on the left-hand side of the machine, whereas indication and setting
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`unit 2c displays the set and measured values for controller 6c on the right-hand
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`side. See Ex. 1001, 4:19-22. The central unit 2b allows the operator to select a
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`sensor and adjust its set and measured values. Id., 4:29-31.
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`According to the ’395 patent, pressing “switchover button” 10a exchanges
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`the sensor selection, set values, and measured values in indication and setting
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`unit 2b with those in unit 2a, changing the sensor and parameters used by
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`controller 6a to adjust the left-hand side of the milling drum. Id., 4:28-34, 6:52-56.
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`Switchover button 10b likewise causes indication and setting units 2b and 2c to
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`exchange sensor selection, set values, and measured values. Id., 4:28-34, 5:36-42.
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`See also Ex. 1002, ¶¶77-84.
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`B.
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`Prosecution History of the ’395 Patent
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`During prosecution, the PTO applied EP1154075A2 (“EP ’075,” Ex. 1009),
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`as an anticipatory reference. See Ex. 1008, 113-114. EP ’075 is the European
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`counterpart to U.S. Patent Publication No. 2002/0047301 (“Davis”), which is
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`relied upon in this petition. Wirtgen did not dispute that EP ’075 taught a milling
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`machine with a controller and selectable sensors. See id., 103-104. Instead,
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`Wirtgen argued that EP ’075 did not anticipate because it “does not change its
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`basis of control during the milling operation.” Id., 104.
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`Wirtgen also conceded that only two of the three sensors of EP ’075 (i.e.
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`Davis) are necessary to control the milling drum depth and slope. See id. (stating:
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`“The only thing that the EP reference teaches is that before starting the milling
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`operation, the operator can choose to control right and left side milling depth and
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`slope by selecting to control based on sensors for any two of those three
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`parameters.”) Wirtgen similarly admitted during prosecution of EP2010714B1
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`(Ex. 1010), a European counterpart to the ’395 patent that “[t]wo sensors have to
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`be selected prior to the milling operation” out of the three sensors disclosed by
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`EP ’075. See Ex. 1011, 20.
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`Although the PTO withdrew the claim rejections over EP ’075, the PTO
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`applied a combination of U.S. Patent Nos. 7,510,347 and 5,556,226 as rendering
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`certain claims obvious. Ex. 1008, 70-71. In response, Wirtgen asserted that the
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`cited combination did not allow “switch[ing] over control from one sensor to
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`another without disrupting the milled surface at the time of the switching over.”
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`Id., 64 (emphasis omitted).
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`The PTO subsequently allowed the application without providing any
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`reasons for allowance. Id., 55-59. See also Ex. 1002, ¶¶85-94.
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`C. The Challenged Claims
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`This Petition challenges claims 1, 3, 5-8, 10, 11, 13, 15-17, 19, 20, 22, 24,
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`26, and 27 of the ’395 patent. Claims 1, 11, 20, 26, and 27 are independent.
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`Ex. 1002, ¶95.
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`III. LEVEL OF ORDINARY SKILL
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`Petitioner submits that a person having ordinary skill in the art regarding
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`the ’395 patent as of its claimed earliest effective date would have been someone
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`having either: 1) a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or an equivalent
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`degree and two to five years of experience with machine control systems using
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`sensors, or 2) seven to ten years of experience with machine control systems using
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`sensors. Ex. 1002, ¶¶21-23.
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`U.S. Patent No. 8,308,395
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`IV. CLAIM CONSTRUCTION
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`Petitioner submits that for the purposes of this petition, consistent with
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`current Board rules and precedent, the Board should apply a broadest reasonable
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`construction to all claim terms in the ’395 patent.1 See also Ex. 1002, ¶24.
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`V. CLAIMS 1, 3, 5-8, 10, 11, 13, 15-17, 19, 20, 22, 24, 26, AND 27 OF THE
`’395 PATENT ARE UNPATENTABLE OVER THE PRIOR ART
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`Although the ’395 patent purports to claim a novel method of controlling a
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`construction machine by switching sensors without halting machine operations, the
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`claims of the ’395 patent merely recite a combination of well-known prior art
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`elements that perform their known functions to produce predictable results.
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`Therefore, claims 1, 3, 5-8, 10, 11, 13, 15-17, 19, 20, 22, 24, 26, and 27 are
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`unpatentable under 35 U.S.C. § 103. Ex. 1002, ¶96.
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`A. Overview of the Prior Art
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`1.
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`Davis
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`U.S. Patent Publication No. 2002/0047301 to Davis (“Davis”) published on
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`April 25, 2002. Ex. 1004. Davis is prior art to the ’395 patent under 35 U.S.C.
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`§ 102(b).
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`1 While Petitioner submits that the Board should accord all claim terms their
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`broadest reasonable interpretation (“BRI”) here, Petitioner reserves the right to set
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`forth alternative constructions in other litigated proceedings in other forums,
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`including those that apply a standard other than BRI.
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`Case 1:17-cv