Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 439-4 Filed 07/31/24 Page 1 of 111 PageID #: 39734
`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 439-4 Filed 07/31/24 Page 1 of 111 PagelD #: 39734
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`EXHIBIT 4
`EXHIBIT 4
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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 439-4 Filed 07/31/24 Page 2 of 111 PageID #: 39735
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`
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`_____________________
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`_____________________
`
`
`WIRTGEN AMERICA, INC.
`Petitioner
`v.
`CATERPILLAR PAVING PRODUCTS INC.
`Patent Owner
`
`_____________________
`
`Case IPR2022-01395
`Patent No. 7,523,995
`_____________________
`
`
`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`OF U.S. PATENT NO. 7,523,995
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`
`
`Mail Stop PATENT BOARD
`Patent Trial and Appeal Board
`U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
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`

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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 439-4 Filed 07/31/24 Page 3 of 111 PageID #: 39736
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`Petition for Inter Partes Review of U.S. Patent No. 7,523,995
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`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`
`I.
`II.
`
`C.
`
`PRELIMINARY STATEMENT ..................................................................... 1
`BACKGROUND IN THE ART ...................................................................... 2
`A. Work Machines with retractable wheels/tracks were well-known. ...... 4
`B. Work Machines with vertically adjustable and steerable rear wheels
`were well-known. .................................................................................. 7
`Sensor feedback for coordinating control of actuators was well-
`known. .................................................................................................11
`III. THE ’995 PATENT .......................................................................................12
`A. Alleged Invention of the ’995 Patent ..................................................12
`B.
`Prosecution History .............................................................................14
`IV. LEVEL OF ORDINARY SKILL IN THE ART ...........................................15
`V.
`CLAIM CONSTRUCTION ..........................................................................16
`A.
`Claim 45 ..............................................................................................17
`VI. STATUTORY GROUNDS ...........................................................................17
`A.
`Prior Art Applied .................................................................................18
`B.
`The Board should not deny institution under Section 325(d). ............18
`C.
`The Fintiv factors do not support discretionary denial .......................18
`VII. Ground 1: Claims 18-20, 29-31, and 33 would have been obvious over
`Bitelli in view of Feliz. ..................................................................................20
`A.
`Independent Claim 18 .........................................................................20
`1.
`[18.P] A self-propelled machine, comprising: ...........................20
`2.
`[18.1] a machine frame supportable by a plurality of ground
`engaging units; ..........................................................................22
`[18.2] a support device connected between said machine frame
`and at least one of said ground engaging units, said support
`device including a lifting column having a lifting column axis
`and being adapted to controllably raise and lower said at least
`one ground engaging unit about said axis relative to said
`machine frame; .........................................................................23
`[18.3] a first actuator connected to said support device and
`adapted to move said at least one ground engaging unit
`
`3.
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`4.
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`Petition for Inter Partes Review of U.S. Patent No. 7,523,995
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`5.
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`6.
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`between projecting and retracted positions relative to said
`machine frame; and ..................................................................26
`[18.4] a second actuator connected to said lifting column and
`adapted to cause at least a portion of said lifting column to
`rotate about said lifting column axis relative to said machine
`frame, ........................................................................................28
`[18.5] said second actuator being positioned at a location
`linearly spaced apart from said first actuator along said lifting
`column axis. ..............................................................................34
`7. Motivation to combine Bitelli with Feliz ....................................37
`8.
`Reasonable Expectation of Success ...........................................38
`Claim 19 ..............................................................................................40
`B.
`Claim 20 ..............................................................................................40
`C.
`Claim 29 ..............................................................................................42
`D.
`Claim 30 ..............................................................................................43
`E.
`Claim 31 ..............................................................................................44
`F.
`Claim 33 ..............................................................................................45
`G.
`VIII. Ground 2: Claims 1-9, 11-15, 17, 21-27, 32, 35-40, 42, 44-55, 57-61, and 63
`would have been obvious over Bitelli in view of Feliz, further in view of
`Skotnikov. ......................................................................................................48
`A.
`Independent Claim 1 ...........................................................................48
`1.
`[1.P] A self-propelled machine, comprising: .............................48
`2.
`[1.1] a machine frame supportable by a plurality of ground
`engaging units; ..........................................................................48
`[1.2] support device connected between said machine frame and
`at least one of said ground engaging units, the support device
`including a lifting column having a lifting column axis oriented
`generally vertically relative to the machine frame, the lifting
`column being configured to controllably raise and lower said at
`least one ground engaging unit relative to the machine frame;
` ...................................................................................................49
`[1.3] a first actuator connected to said support device and
`located at a lower portion of the lifting column, and adapted to
`move said at least one ground engaging unit between projecting
`and retracted positions relative to said machine frame; ..........50
`
`3.
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`4.
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`Petition for Inter Partes Review of U.S. Patent No. 7,523,995
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`5.
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`6.
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`7.
`
`B.
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`[1.4A] a second actuator associated with said at least one
`ground engaging unit, wherein the second actuator is a rotary
`actuator located at an upper portion of the lifting column
`spaced apart from the first actuator along the lifting column
`axis, and adapted to cause at least a portion of the lifting
`column to rotate about the lifting column axis .........................51
`[1.4B] a second actuator … to maintain the same rotational
`direction of said at least one ground engaging unit in each of
`said projecting and retracted positions; and ............................52
`[1.5] a controller associated with and adapted to coordinate the
`actuation of said first and second actuators. ............................54
`8. Motivation to combine Skotnikov with Bitelli and Feliz. ...........55
`9.
`Reasonable Expectation of Success ...........................................57
`Independent Claim 36 .........................................................................58
`1.
`[36.P] A method of controlling a pair of actuators connected to
`a controller, at least one of said actuators being a rotary
`actuator, to selectively position one of a plurality of ground
`engaging units connected to a respective lifting column having
`a lifting column axis and supporting a frame of a self-propelled
`machine, comprising .................................................................58
`[36.1] raising said one ground engaging unit with said lifting
`column until said one ground engaging unit is free from
`engagement with the ground;....................................................59
`[36.2] actuating a first one of said actuator pair to move said
`one ground engaging unit from one to the other of said
`projecting and retracted positions relative to said machine
`frame; ........................................................................................59
`[36.3] actuating a second one of said actuator pair to rotate
`said one ground engaging unit about said lifting column axis in
`a manner coordinated with the actuation of said first actuator
`to maintain the same rotational direction of said ground
`engaging unit in each of said projecting and retracted positions
` ...................................................................................................60
`[36.4] wherein said first one of said actuator pair and said
`second one of said actuator pair are positioned at locations
`spaced apart axially along said lift column axis; and ..............61
`
`2.
`
`3.
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`4.
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`5.
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`Petition for Inter Partes Review of U.S. Patent No. 7,523,995
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`6.
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`3.
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`[36.5] lowering said one ground engaging unit with said lifting
`column until said one ground engaging unit is again in frame
`supporting engagement with the ground. .................................62
`7. Motivation to combine with a reasonable expectation of success
` ...................................................................................................62
`Independent Claim 45 .........................................................................63
`1.
`[45.P] A self-propelled machine, comprising: ...........................63
`2.
`[45.1] a machine frame supportable by a plurality of ground
`engaging units; ..........................................................................63
`[45.2] support means for supporting said machine frame, said
`support means being connected to said machine frame and
`including a generally vertically oriented lifting column having
`a lifting column axis and being connected to at least one of said
`ground engaging units; .............................................................64
`[45.3] first actuatable means for moving said at least one
`ground engaging unit between projecting and retracted
`positions relative to said machine frame; .................................65
`[45.4A] second actuatable means for rotating said at least one
`ground engaging unit… ............................................................65
`[45.4B] second actuatable means … to maintain the same
`rotational direction of said at least one ground engaging unit in
`each of said projecting and retracted positions, ......................65
`[45.5] said second actuatable means being positioned at a
`location spaced apart from said first actuatable means along an
`axis of said lifting column; and .................................................66
`[45.6] controller means for coordinating the actuation of said
`first and second actuatable means. ...........................................67
`9. Motivation to combine and reasonable expectation of success .67
`Claim 46 ..............................................................................................68
`Claim 47 ..............................................................................................68
`Claims 2 and 48 ...................................................................................69
`Claims 3 and 49 ...................................................................................69
`1. Motivation to combine Skotnikov with Bitelli and Feliz. ...........70
`2.
`Reasonable Expectation of Success ...........................................70
`
`4.
`
`5.
`
`6.
`
`7.
`
`8.
`
`C.
`
`D.
`E.
`F.
`G.
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`Petition for Inter Partes Review of U.S. Patent No. 7,523,995
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`2.
`
`H.
`
`I.
`J.
`
`Claim 21 ..............................................................................................71
`1.
`a controller associated with and adapted to coordinate the
`actuation of said first and second actuators .............................71
`said machine including at least a rotation sensor adapted to
`produce an alignment signal indicative of the rotational
`position of said at least one ground engaging unit relative to
`said machine frame, said rotation sensor being connected to
`deliver said alignment signal to said controller .......................72
`Claims 4, 22, and 50 ............................................................................72
`Claims 5, 17, 23, 51, and 63 ................................................................73
`1. Motivation to combine Skotnikov with Bitelli and Feliz. ...........75
`2.
`Reasonable Expectation of Success ...........................................75
`Claims 6, 24, and 52 ............................................................................76
`K.
`Claims 7, 25, and 53 ............................................................................78
`L.
`M. Claims 8, 26, 39, and 54 ......................................................................79
`1.
`a steering command element connected to said controller ........79
`2. wherein said controller [] is adapted to controllably actuate
`said second actuat[or] to rotate said at least one ground
`engaging unit about said lifting column axis in response to said
`pivot sensor position signal and said steering command element
` ...................................................................................................81
`3. Motivation to combine Skotnikov with Bitelli and Feliz. ...........82
`4.
`Reasonable Expectation of Success ...........................................82
`Claims 9, 27, 40, and 55 ......................................................................82
`Claims 11 and 57 .................................................................................85
`Claims 12 and 58 .................................................................................86
`Claims 13 and 59 .................................................................................86
`Claims 14, 32, and 60 ..........................................................................87
`Claims 15, 42, and 61 ..........................................................................88
`Claim 35 ..............................................................................................89
`1.
`a controller associated with and adapted to coordinate the
`actuation of said first and second actuators, ............................89
`
`N.
`O.
`P.
`Q.
`R.
`S.
`T.
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`Petition for Inter Partes Review of U.S. Patent No. 7,523,995
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`2.
`
`2.
`
`2.
`
`U.
`
`V.
`
`a pivot sensor adapted to produce a position signal indicative of
`the position of said at least one ground engaging unit relative
`to said machine frame between said projecting and retracted
`positions, said pivot sensor being connected to deliver said
`position signal to said controller ..............................................90
`Claim 37 ..............................................................................................90
`1. …wherein said machine includes at least a rotation sensor
`connected to said controller and associated with said one
`ground engaging unit and adapted to produce an alignment
`signal indicative of the rotational position of said one ground
`engaging unit about said lifting column axis relative to said
`machine frame, including: ........................................................90
`receiving said alignment signal and responsively controllably
`actuating said second actuator. ................................................91
`Claims 38 and 44 .................................................................................91
`1. …wherein said machine includes a pivot sensor connected to
`said controller and associated with said one ground engaging
`unit and adapted to produce a position signal indicative of the
`position of said one ground engaging unit relative to said
`machine frame between said projecting and retracted positions,
`including: ..................................................................................91
`receiving said alignment signal from said [rotation/pivot] sensor
`[and said position signal from said pivot sensor] and
`responsively coordinating the actuation of said first and second
`actuators in a predetermined manner. ......................................92
`IX. Ground 3: Claims 10, 28, 41, and 56 would have been obvious over Bitelli
`in view of Feliz and Skotnikov, further in view of McColl. .........................92
`A. Motivation to Combine McColl with Bitelli, Feliz, and Skotnikov ...94
`B.
`Reasonable Expectation of Success ....................................................94
`X. Objective indicia do not support patentability. ..............................................95
`XI. MANDATORY NOTICES ...........................................................................95
`A.
`Real Parties-in-Interest ........................................................................95
`B.
`Related Matters ....................................................................................96
`C.
`Lead and Back-Up Counsel and Service Information ........................96
`XII. GROUNDS FOR STANDING ......................................................................97
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`Petition for Inter Partes Review of U.S. Patent No. 7,523,995
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`XIII. STATEMENT OF PRECISE RELIEF REQUESTED FOR EACH CLAIM
`CHALLENGED ............................................................................................98
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`Petition for Inter Partes Review of U.S. Patent No. 7,523,995
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`EXHIBIT LIST
`
`Description
`
`U.S. Patent No. 7,523,995
`U.S. Patent No. 7,523,995 file history
`Declaration of Cameron Orr, P.E.
`Curriculum Vitae of Cameron Orr, P.E.
`Volpe SF 100 T4 Operating Instruction Book (“Volpe Manual”)
`U.S. Patent App. Pub. No. 2003/0180092 to Piccoli (“Piccoli”)
`WO 02/103117 to Dubay (“Dubay”)
`U.S. Patent No. 6,311,795 to Skotnikov et al. (“Skotnikov”)
`U.S. Patent No. 6,435,766 to Titford (“Titford”)
`U.S. Patent No. 4,237,994 to McColl (“McColl”)
`EP 1001088A2 to Bitelli (“Bitelli”)
`U.S. Patent No. 4,167,826 to Feliz (“Feliz”)
`U.S. Patent No. 4,566,553 to McCutcheon (“McCutcheon”)
`EP 1039037A2 to Bitelli (“Bitelli ’037”)
`U.S. Patent No. 6,106,073 to Simons et al.
`Declaration of Ray Hogan previously submitted in IPR2018-01201
`Declaration of Charles Randall Henderson previously submitted in
`IPR2018-01201
`Declaration of William Zehender previously submitted in IPR2018-
`01201
`Sutter County Records for the Volpe SF 100 T4 Milling Machine
`previously submitted in IPR2018-01201
`Declaration of John W. Arnold, P.E. previously submitted in
`IPR2018-01201
`U.S. Patent No. 3,843,274 to Gutman et al. (“Gutman”)
`U.S. Patent No. 4,498,554 to Young et al. (“Young”)
`Wirtgen America, Inc. v. Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.,
`IPR2018-01201, Final Written Decision, Paper 32 (P.T.A.B., Dec.
`13, 2019)
`U.S. Patent No. 4,966,418 to Wirtgen (“Wirtgen”)
`U.S. Patent No. 3,572,458 to Tax (“Tax”)
`
`Exhibit No.
`1001
`1002
`1003
`1004
`1005
`1006
`1007
`1008
`1009
`1010
`1011
`1012
`1013
`1014
`1015
`1016
`1017
`
`1018
`
`1019
`
`1020
`1021
`1022
`
`1023
`
`1024
`1025
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`- viii -
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`Petition for Inter Partes Review of U.S. Patent No. 7,523,995
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`Exhibit No.
`1026
`1027
`
`1028
`
`1029
`
`1030
`
`1031
`
`1032
`
`1033
`
`1034
`
`1035
`1036
`1037
`
`
`
`Description
`WIPO Pub. No. WO 97/42377 to Busley (“Busley”)
`U.S. Patent No. 7,140,693 (“the ’693 patent”)
`Wirtgen America, Inc. v. Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.,
`IPR2018-01202, Final Written Decision, Paper 28 (P.T.A.B., Dec.
`13, 2019)
`Wirtgen Am., Inc. et al. v. Caterpillar Paving Prod., Inc., 2020-
`1527, Order at 1 (C.A.F.C.) (Fed. Cir. dismissed June 22, 2020.)
`Director Vidal Memorandum, “Interim Procedure for Discretionary
`Denials in AIA Post-Grant Proceedings with Parallel District Court
`Litigation,” June 21, 2022
`Dkt. 33, Amended Complaint, C.A. No. 17-770-RGA (Sept. 2,
`2021)
`Dkt. 43, Answer to Amended Complaint and Counterclaims, C.A.
`No. 17-770-RGA-MPT (Oct. 14, 2021)
`Caterpillar Inc. v. Wirtgen Am., Inc., IPR2022-01264, Petition
`(P.T.A.B., July 22, 2022).
`Wirtgen Am., Inc. v. Caterpillar Inc., C.A. No. 17-770-RGA,
`Court’s Order Setting Claim Construction Hearing
`Dkt. 88, Stipulation Extending Fact Discovery Cutoff (Apr. 4,
`2022)
`Federal Court Management Statistics (Mar. 31, 2022)
`U.S. Patent No. 6,450,048 to Samuelson et al. (“Samuelson”)
`
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`Petition for Inter Partes Review of U.S. Patent No. 7,523,995
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`Wirtgen America, Inc. (“Wirtgen”) petitions for inter partes review of
`
`claims 1-15, 17-33, 35-42, 44-61, and 63 of U.S. Patent No. 7,523,995 (“the ’995
`
`patent”), purportedly assigned to Caterpillar Paving Products Inc. (“Caterpillar”).
`
`I. PRELIMINARY STATEMENT
`The ’995 patent describes well-known features: a self-propelled machine
`
`having a frame supported by wheels/tracks, a lifting column, an actuator to move a
`
`wheel/track relative to the frame, and an actuator to rotate the wheel/track. The
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`background of the ’995 patent acknowledges these features as well-known. Indeed,
`
`“re-entering wheels” were well-known and had long been used on milling
`
`machines—including those patented by Caterpillar before the filing of the ’995
`
`patent.
`
`Caterpillar obtained the ’995 patent by arguing that positioning a rotary
`
`actuator at an upper portion of the lifting column to rotate the ground engaging
`
`unit was novel. But connecting a rotary actuator to an upper portion of a work
`
`machine’s lifting column to steer a wheel/track was known. Indeed, Feliz—a prior
`
`art reference not considered—discloses such a rotary actuator . Feliz’s rotary
`
`actuator would have been obvious to implement on milling machines, such as
`
`Bitelli’s, which already included a first actuator connected to a lifting column’s
`
`lower portion for moving its wheel relative to its frame. Accordingly, independent
`
`claims 1, 18, 36, and 45 of the ’995 patent should be canceled.
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`Petition for Inter Partes Review of U.S. Patent No. 7,523,995
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`The challenged dependent claims simply add trivial elements that were well-
`
`known in the prior art. Wirtgen requests that the Board institute trial and cancel
`
`claims 1-15, 17-33, 35-42, 44-61, and 63 of the ’995 patent. EX1003, ¶¶1-18.
`
`Wirtgen also submitted the Declaration of Cameron Orr, P.E., a technical expert
`
`with 14 years of experience in mobile construction equipment. EX1003, ¶¶19-25.
`
`II. BACKGROUND IN THE ART
`Roadway work machines were well-known. EX1003, ¶¶29-30. A POSITA
`
`would have understood “work machines” to include various construction
`
`equipment. Id. As shown below, examples included milling machines, excavators,
`
`and tractors. Id. These heavy work machines traversed uneven ground surfaces,
`
`necessitating special design considerations. Id. For example, work machines
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`included lifting columns having an outer tube connected to the frame and a
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`telescopic inner tube connected to the wheel/track to adjust frame height. Id.
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`Petition for Inter Partes Review of U.S. Patent No. 7,523,995
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`EX1011, FIG. 1 (annotated) (Road Milling Machine).
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`EX1012, FIG. 1 (annotated) (Earth Excavating Vehicle).
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`Petition for Inter Partes Review of U.S. Patent No. 7,523,995
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`EX1008, FIG. 7 (annotated) (Work Vehicle).
`
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`To improve stability of work machines, the prior art recognized the need to
`
`widen the machine’s stance by locating the machine’s ground engaging unit—
`
`wheel/track—further away from the machine’s frame, as shown below in Figure 1
`
`of Bitelli. EX1003, ¶¶31-34.
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`Petition for Inter Partes Review of U.S. Patent No. 7,523,995
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`EX1011, FIG. 1 (annotated).
`
`
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`However, the prior art also recognized the need to mill “up against …
`
`obstacles.” EX1005, 0051; EX1006, ¶4, EX1011, ¶8; EX1003, ¶¶35-36. The prior
`
`art satisfied this by moving the wheel within the machine’s frame. EX1003, ¶¶37-
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`38. The desire to both improve stability and treat road surfaces in confined spaces
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`led to the use of swinging legs well before 2004. EX1005, 0051; EX1006, ¶7;
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`EX1007, 3:12-21; EX1011, ¶¶7-8; EX1003, ¶¶37-43. Swinging legs allowed the
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`machine’s wheel/track to move between (1) a projected position to widen the
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`machine’s stance and (2) a retracted position to treat road surfaces closer to an
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`obstacle, as shown below. EX1003, ¶¶37-43.
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`Petition for Inter Partes Review of U.S. Patent No. 7,523,995
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`EX1011, FIGS. 3, 5 (annotated).
`
`One design choice for achieving these goals was powering wheel/track
`
`movement. The prior art taught moving the wheel/track “in an automatized way.”
`
`EX1011, ¶¶10-11; EX1003, ¶¶39-43. One common way to automatize movement
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`was using an actuator to “shift … the back wheels from the projecting position to
`
`the re-entering position.” EX1011, ¶11; EX1003, ¶¶39-43. For example, Bitelli
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`Petition for Inter Partes Review of U.S. Patent No. 7,523,995
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`taught to connect a hydraulic cylinder to the machine’s frame/arm to move the
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`wheel between the projecting and retracted positions. EX1011, ¶11, FIGS. 3, 5;
`
`EX1003, ¶39.
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`
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`Artisans appreciated that the machine’s rear wheels needed steering
`
`capability to avoid wheel/track skidding. EX1003, ¶¶44-49; EX1012, 2:30-43,
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`9:44-46; EX1014, ¶¶12-13. Rear-wheel steering capability increased the machine’s
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`“freedom of movement to maneuver in confined spaces.” EX1012, 1:46-55, 2:30-
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`42..
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`Solutions for steering the rear track/wheel were well-known, even for wheels
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`connected to a lifting column. EX1003, ¶46. The prior art taught to connect a
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`steering actuator to the lifting column’s inner tube to make its wheel “steerable.”
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`Id., 2:30-42, 9:2-46; EX1014, ¶34; EX1009, 5:1-35. For example, as shown below,
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`Feliz taught to connect a rotary actuator (red) to the upper portion of the lifting
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`column’s outer tube (blue) such that the rotary actuator engages the upper section
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`of the lifting column’s inner tube (green). EX1012, 9:1-46; EX1003, ¶46.
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`Petition for Inter Partes Review of U.S. Patent No. 7,523,995
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`EX1012, FIG. 4 (annotated) (elements removed)
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`To rotate the lifting column’s inner tube, Feliz’s rotary actuator included: (1)
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`a rotatably driven steering shaft 59 extending through the wall of the lifting
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`column’s outer tube, and (2) a worm gear arrangement—worm 58, worm gear 57,
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`and splined tubular shaft 56—disposed in the upper portion of the lifting column’s
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`outer tube, where the worm gear transmits rotary motion from shaft 59 to the
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`lifting column’s retractable inner tube. EX1003, ¶47.
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`Petition for Inter Partes Review of U.S. Patent No. 7,523,995
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`EX1012, FIG. 4 (annotated) (partial view).
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`Artisans also recognized that power sources (motor) for rotary actuators of
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`swinging leg assemblies are mounted in close proximity to the lifting column to
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`move the lifting column relative to the frame without obstruction. EX1009, 5:1-35;
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`EX1014, ¶34; EX1006, ¶¶39-40. For example, Titford taught to connect a steering
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`motor directly to a lifting column of a swinging wheel support. EX1009, 5:1-10;
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`EX1003, ¶48.
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`Petition for Inter Partes Review of U.S. Patent No. 7,523,995
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`EX1009, FIG. 3 (annotated).
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`
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`EX1009, FIG. 10 (annotated).
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`
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`Thus, rotary actuators to steer rear wheels about a lifting column axis were
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`well-known before 2004. EX1003, ¶¶44-49.
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`Petition for Inter Partes Review of U.S. Patent No. 7,523,995
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`
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`Artisans also implemented control systems to control the actuators based on
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`sensor feedback. EX1007, 10:1-22; EX1008, 4:32-67; EX1014, ¶¶40-49; EX1037,
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`1:19-49; EX1003, ¶¶50-55. A rotation sensor, such as Skotnikov’s sensor 155, was
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`commonly used to monitor the wheel’s angular direction. EX1007, 8:23-27;
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`EX1008, 4:4-12, 5:1-20. A pivot sensor, such as Skotnikov’s sensor 154, was also
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`commonly used to monitor the wheel/track position. EX1008, 3:67-4:4, 5:1-20.
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`EX1008, FIG. 6 (annotated).
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`Thus, using sensor feedback to coordinate machine actuator control was
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`well-known before 2004. EX1003, ¶¶50-55.
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`Petition for Inter Partes Review of U.S. Patent No. 7,523,995
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`III. THE ’995 PATENT
`The ’995 patent issued on April 28, 2009, from U.S. Application No.
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`11/180,688, claiming priority to Italian Application No. TO2004A0499 filed July
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`15, 2004. EX1001, (30).
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`The challenged claims of the ’995 patent are directed to a “self-propelled
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`machine.” EX1001, 1:5-7, 11:34, 14:31.
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`EX1001, FIG. 1.
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`
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`The work machine includes a machine frame 12 supportable by ground
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`engaging units 14-20. EX1001, 3:34-48. The ’995 patent’s machine “includes a
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`support device 40 connected between the machine frame 12 and the one ground
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`engaging unit 20” and “a lifting column 46 adapted to controllably raise and lower
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`the … ground engaging unit 20.” Id., 4:38-53.
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`Petition for Inter Partes Review of U.S. Patent No. 7,523,995
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`EX1001, FIG. 2 (annotated).
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`
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`The machine 10 includes a “first actuator 42 … adapted to move the one
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`ground engaging unit 20 between the projecting position … and the retracted
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`position.” EX1001, 4:40-44. The machine 10 also includes a “second actuator 44
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`… adapted to maintain the same rotational direction of the one ground engaging
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`unit 20.” Id., 4:44-48. The ’995 patent admits that these elements are well-known.
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`Id., 2:8-29.
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`Petition for Inter Partes Review of U.S. Patent No. 7,523,995
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`EX1001, FIG. 3 (annotated).
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`
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`Despite these well-known characteristics prior to July 15, 2004, the ’995
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`patent claims to have invented a machine having a rotary actuator, as the second
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`actuator, connected to the lifting column’s upper portion. EX1001, 10:12-18. But
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`well before the ’995 patent’s earliest priority date, rotary actuators connected to the
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`lifting column’s upper portion were implemented in analogous machines. EX1003,
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`¶¶29-55, 56-69. Thus, the claim elements that purportedly capture the ’995 patent’s
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`alleged inventive concept were well-known. Id., ¶¶29-55, 56-69.
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`During prosecution, the Office issued two actions before allowing the
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`claims. See generally EX1002. The filed application included 64 claims, of which
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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-J