Paper No. __
`Filed: June 23, 2023
`
`
`
`
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`
`
`LG ELECTRONICS INC.
`Petitioner,
`v.
`JAWBONE INNOVATIONS, LLC,
`Patent Owner.
`
`
`
`IPR2023-01111
`U.S. Patent No. 8,321,213
`
`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW OF CLAIMS 1-13 OF
`U.S. PATENT NO. 8,321,213
`
`

`

`I.
`
`II.
`
`Petition for Inter Partes Review of Claims 1-13 of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,321,213
`
`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`
`(b)
`
`(c)
`
`(d)
`
`REQUIREMENTS FOR IPR .......................................................................... 1
`A. Grounds for Standing ............................................................................ 1
`B.
`Challenge and Relief Requested ........................................................... 1
`C.
`Priority Date .......................................................................................... 2
`1.
`Dynamic Drinkware Analysis ..................................................... 3
`(a) A method for adaptive processing of a close
`microphone array in a noise suppression system,
`comprising: ....................................................................... 3
`receiving a primary acoustic signal and a
`secondary acoustic signal; ................................................ 3
`performing frequency analysis on the primary and
`secondary acoustic signals to obtain ................................. 4
`generating a forward-facing cardioid pattern and a
`backward-facing cardioid pattern based on the sub-
`band signals; ..................................................................... 4
`generating a forward-facing cardioid pattern and a
`backward-facing cardioid pattern based on the sub-
`band signals; ..................................................................... 4
`outputting a noise suppressed signal. ............................... 4
`(f)
`BACKGROUND ............................................................................................. 4
`A. Overview of the ’213 Patent .................................................................. 4
`B.
`Prosecution History ............................................................................... 6
`C.
`Level of Ordinary Skill ......................................................................... 6
`D.
`Claim Construction ............................................................................... 7
`
`(e)
`
`-i-
`
`

`

`Petition for Inter Partes Review of Claims 1-13 of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,321,213
`III. GROUND 1: Avendano ’880 and Hou (Claims 1-3, 5-9, 12, 13) ................... 7
`A. Avendano ’880 Overview ..................................................................... 7
`B. Hou Overview ..................................................................................... 13
`C.
`Combination of Avendano ’880 and Hou ........................................... 16
`D.
`Claim 1 ................................................................................................ 30
`E.
`Claim 2 ................................................................................................ 46
`F.
`Claim 3 ................................................................................................ 49
`G.
`Claim 5 ................................................................................................ 50
`H.
`Claim 6 ................................................................................................ 57
`I.
`Claim 7 ................................................................................................ 58
`J.
`Claim 8 ................................................................................................ 59
`K.
`Claim 9 ................................................................................................ 61
`L.
`Claims 12 and 13 ................................................................................. 62
`IV. GROUND 2: Avendano ’880, Hou, And Avendano ’252 (Claims 4,
`10, 11) ............................................................................................................ 63
`A. Avendano ’252 Overview ................................................................... 63
`B.
`Combination of Avendano ’880, Hou, and Avendano ’252 ............... 66
`C.
`Claim 4 ................................................................................................ 68
`D.
`Claim 10 .............................................................................................. 73
`E.
`Claim 11 .............................................................................................. 76
`INSTITUTION IS APPROPRIATE HERE .................................................. 79
`Two Petitions Were Necessary to Challenge All Claims of the
`A.
`’213 Patent ........................................................................................... 79
`
`V.
`
`-ii-
`
`

`

`B.
`
`C.
`
`Petition for Inter Partes Review of Claims 1-13 of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,321,213
`Co-Pending Litigation Does Not Warrant Discretionary Denial
`(Fintiv) ................................................................................................. 83
`1.
`Factor 1: Potential Stay ............................................................. 83
`2.
`Factor 2: Proximity of Trial to FWD ........................................ 84
`3.
`Factor 3: Investment in Parallel Proceeding ............................. 85
`4.
`Factor 4: Overlapping Issues .................................................... 86
`5.
`Factor 5: The Parties ................................................................. 87
`6.
`Factor 6: Other Circumstances .................................................. 87
`The Existence of Previously Filed IPR Petitions Does Not
`Warrant Discretionary Denial (General Plastic) ................................ 88
`VI. DISCRETIONARY DENIAL UNDER §325(d) IS NOT
`APPROPRIATE. ........................................................................................... 89
`VII. MANDATORY NOTICES UNDER 37 C.F.R § 42.8(a)(1) ......................... 90
`A.
`Real Party-In-Interest Under 37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(1) .......................... 90
`B.
`Related Matters Under 37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(2) ................................... 90
`C.
`Lead And Back-Up Counsel Under 37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(3) ............... 92
`D.
`Service Information ............................................................................. 92
`E.
`Payment of Fees Pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 42.103 ............................... 93
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`-iii-
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`

`

`Petition for Inter Partes Review of Claims 1-13 of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,321,213
`TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
`
`Page(s):
`
`
`Cases:
`
`Apple Inc. v. Fintiv, Inc.
`IPR2020-00019, Paper 11 (PTAB Mar. 20, 2020) ............................... passim
`
`Cal. Inst. of Tech. v. Broadcom Ltd.
`25 F.4th 976 (Fed. Cir. 2022) ............................................................... 86
`
`Celltrion, Inc. v. Genentech, Inc.
`IPR2018-01019, Paper 11 (PTAB Oct. 30, 2018) ................................ 88
`
`Central Security Group
`IPR2019-01609, Paper 11 ..................................................................... 88
`
`Dolby Lab’ys., Inc., v. Intertrust Techs. Corp.
`IPR2020-01105, Paper 14 (PTAB Jan. 5, 2021) .................................. 81, 82
`
`GAF Materials LLC v. Kirsch Research and Dev., LLC
`IPR2021-00192, Paper 14 (PTAB May 25, 2021) ............................... 84
`
`General Plastic Indus. Co. v. Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
`IPR2016-01357, Paper 19 (PTAB Sept. 6, 2017) ................................ 88
`
`Google LLC v. Jawbone Innovations, LLC
`IPR2022-00630, Paper 13 (P.T.A.B. October 28, 2022) ...................... 86, 87
`
`Huawei Techs. Co. v. WSOU Invs., LLC
`IPR2021-00226, Paper 10 (PTAB June 10, 2021) ............................... 86
`
`Jawbone Innovations, LLC v. LG Electronics Inc.
`No. 2:23-cv-00078-JRG-RSP (E.D. Tex.) ............................................ 83
`
`Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC v. Carucel Invs. L.P.
`IPR2019-01404, Paper 12 (PTAB Jan. 22, 2020) ................................ 88
`
`NetNut Ltd. v. Bright Data Ltd.
`IPR2021-00465, Paper 11 (PTAB Aug. 12, 2021) ............................... 88
`
`Platform Sci., Inc. v. Omnitracs, LLC
`IPR2020-01518, Paper 14 (Apr. 15, 2021) ........................................... 80
`
`-iv-
`
`

`

`Petition for Inter Partes Review of Claims 1-13 of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,321,213
`
`Samsung Elecs. Am. Inc. v. Snik LLC
`IPR2020-01428, Paper 10 (PTAB Mar. 9, 2021) ................................. 86
`
`Samsung Elecs. Am., Inc. v. Snik LLC
`IPR2020-01429, Paper 10 (P.T.A.B. Mar. 9, 2021) ............................. 81
`
`Sand Revolution II, LLC v. Cont’l Intermodal Grp.-Trucking LLC
`IPR2019-01393, Paper 24 (PTAB June 16, 2020) ............................... 86
`
`Skechers U.S.A., Inc. v. Nike, Inc.
`IPR2021-00160, Paper 10 (PTAB May 19, 2021) ............................... 84
`
`Toshiba Am. Info. Sys., Inc. v. Walletex Microelecs. Ltd.
`IPR2018-01538, Paper 11 (PTAB Mar. 5, 2019) ................................. 89
`
`Twitter, Inc. v. Palo Alto Rsch. Ctr., Inc.
`IPR2021-01459, Paper 11 (P.T.A.B. Apr. 6, 2022) ............................. 82
`
`Well-man, Inc. v. Eastman Chem. Co.
`642 F.3d 1355 (Fed. Cir. 2011) ............................................................ 7
`
`
`
`
`-v-
`
`

`

`Petition for Inter Partes Review of Claims 1-13 of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,321,213
`
`Statutes and Rules:
`35 U.S.C. §325(d) ................................................................................. 89
`37 C.F.R. § 42.8(a)(1) .......................................................................... 90
`37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(1) .......................................................................... 90
`37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(2) .......................................................................... 90
`37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(3) .......................................................................... 92
`37 C.F.R. § 42.15(a) ............................................................................. 93
`37 C.F.R. § 42.24(a) ............................................................................. 94
`37 C.F.R. § 42.24(d) ............................................................................. 94
`37 C.F.R. § 42.103 ................................................................................ 93
`
`
`
`
`
`
`-vi-
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`

`

`Petition for Inter Partes Review of Claims 1-13 of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,321,213
`
`EXHIBITS
`U.S. Patent No. 8,321,213 to Petit et al. (“the ’213 patent”)
`Excerpts from the Prosecution History of the ’213 patent (“the
`Prosecution History”)
`Declaration of Dr. Thomas Kenny
`Curriculum Vitae of Dr. Thomas Kenny
`U.S. Patent No. 8,194,880 B2 (“Avendano ’880”)
`U.S. Patent No. 8,204,252 B1 (“Avendano ’252”)
`U.S. App. No. 11/699,732 (“Avendano Priority Application”)
`U.S. Patent No. 7,155,019 B2 (“Hou”)
`
`
`
`EX. 1001
`EX. 1002
`
`EX. 1003
`EX. 1004
`EX. 1005
`EX. 1006
`EX. 1007
`EX. 1008
`
`
`
`
`-vii-
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`

`

`Petition for Inter Partes Review of Claims 1-13 of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,321,213
`LISTING OF CHALLENGED CLAIMS
`
`An acoustic voice activity detection system comprising:
`
`a first virtual microphone comprising a first combination of a first
`signal and a second signal, wherein the first signal is received from a
`first physical microphone and the second signal is received from a
`second physical microphone;
`
`a filter, wherein the filter is formed by generating a first quantity by
`applying a calibration to at least one of the first signal and the second
`signal, generating a second quantity by applying a delay to the first
`signal, and forming the filter as a ratio of the first quantity to the
`second quantity; and
`
`a second virtual microphone formed by applying the filter to the first
`signal to generate a first intermediate signal and summing the first
`intermediate signal and the second signal,
`
`wherein acoustic voice activity of a speaker is determined to be
`present when an energy ratio of energies of the first virtual
`microphone and the second virtual microphone is greater than a
`threshold value.
`
`The system of claim 1, wherein the first virtual microphone and the
`second virtual microphone have approximately similar responses to
`noise and approximately, dissimilar responses to speech.
`
`The system of claim 1, wherein a calibration is applied to the second
`signal, wherein the calibration compensates a second response of the
`second physical microphone so that the second response is
`equivalent to a first response of the first physical microphone.
`
`Claim 1
`[1pre]
`
`[1a]
`
`[1b]
`
`[1c]
`
`[1d]
`
`Claim 2
`[2]
`
`Claim 3
`[3]
`
`Claim 4
`
`-viii-
`
`

`

`[4]
`
`Claim 5
`[5]
`
`Claim 6
`[6]
`
`Claim 7
`[7]
`
`Claim 8
`[8]
`
`Claim 9
`[9]
`Claim 10
`[10]
`
`Claim 11
`[11]
`
`Petition for Inter Partes Review of Claims 1-13 of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,321,213
`The system of claim 1, wherein the delay is applied to the first
`intermediate signal, wherein the delay is proportional to a time
`difference between arrival of the speech at the second physical
`microphone and arrival of the speech at the first physical
`microphone.
`
`The system of claim 1, wherein the first virtual microphone is
`formed by applying the filter to the second signal.
`
`The system of claim 5, wherein the first virtual microphone is
`formed by applying the calibration to the second signal.
`
`The system of claim 6, wherein the first virtual microphone is
`formed by applying the delay to the first signal.
`
`The system of claim 7, wherein the first virtual microphone is
`formed by subtracting the second signal from the first signal.
`
`The system of claim 1, wherein the filter is an adaptive filter.
`
`The system of claim 1, wherein the filter is adapted to minimize a
`second virtual microphone output when only speech is being
`received by the first physical microphone and the second physical
`microphone.
`
`The system of claim 1, wherein coefficients of the filter are
`generated during a period when only speech is being received by the
`first physical microphone and the second physical microphone.
`
`-ix-
`
`

`

`Petition for Inter Partes Review of Claims 1-13 of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,321,213
`
`The system of claim 1, wherein the energy ratio comprises an energy
`ratio for a frequency band.
`
`The system of claim 1, wherein the energy ratio comprises an energy
`ratio for a frequency subband.
`
`Claim 12
`[12]
`
`Claim 13
`[13]
`
`
`
`-x-
`
`

`

`Petition for Inter Partes Review of Claims 1-13 of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,321,213
`Petitioner LG Electronics Inc. (“LGE” or “Petitioner”) petitions for inter
`
`partes review (“IPR”) of claims 1-13 (“Challenged Claims”) of U.S. Patent No.
`
`8,321,213 (“the ’213 patent”).
`
`I.
`
`REQUIREMENTS FOR IPR1
`A. Grounds for Standing
`Petitioner certifies that the ’213 patent is available for IPR. This petition is
`
`being filed within one year of service of the original complaint against Petitioner in
`
`the district court litigation. Petitioner is not barred or estopped from requesting this
`
`review.
`
`B. Challenge and Relief Requested
`Petitioner requests IPR on the following grounds.
`
`Ground
`
`Claims
`
`1
`
`2
`
`1-3, 5-9, 12, 13
`
`4, 10, 11
`
`§103 Basis
`Avendano ’880, Hou
`
`Avendano ’880, Avendano ’252,
`
`Hou
`
`
`1 Sections I-IV and V(A) of this petition are substantively identical to the
`
`corresponding sections of the petition in Amazon.com, Inc. v. Jawbone
`
`Innovations, LLC, IPR2023-00279, Paper 1 (PTAB Nov. 28, 2022), which
`
`Petitioner seeks to join pursuant to the motion for joinder and consolidation filed
`
`concurrently herewith.
`
`1
`
`

`

`Petition for Inter Partes Review of Claims 1-13 of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,321,213
`
`
`
`C.
`Priority Date
`The ’213 patent was filed 10/26/2009 as a continuation-in-part of applications
`
`filed 05/25/2007 and 06/13/2008, and claims priority to a provisional application
`
`filed 10/24/2008.
`
`The Challenged Claims are not entitled to the 05/25/2007 and 06/13/2008
`
`dates because neither application discloses: (i) “a filter, wherein the filter is formed
`
`by generating a first quantity by applying a calibration to at least one of the first
`
`signal and the second signal, generating a second quantity by applying a delay to the
`
`first signal, and forming the filter as a ratio of the first quantity to the second
`
`quantity,” and (ii) “wherein acoustic voice activity of a speaker is determined to be
`
`present when an energy ratio of energies of the first virtual microphone and the
`
`second virtual microphone is greater than a threshold value.” Thus, the earliest
`
`possible priority date is 10/24/2008 (“Critical Date”).
`
`Each reference qualifies as prior art:
`
`Reference
`
`Date
`
`Avendano ’880
`
`01/29/2007 (filed)
`
`Avendano ’252
`
`03/31/2008 (filed)
`
`Section
`
`§102(e)
`
`§102(e)
`
`01/29/2007 (filed, priority
`
`application)
`
`-2-
`
`

`

`Petition for Inter Partes Review of Claims 1-13 of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,321,213
`§102(e)
`
`03/14/2001 (filed)
`
`Hou
`
`
`Avendano ’252 qualifies as prior art because its filing date (03/31/2008) and
`
`the filing date of U.S. App. No. 11/699,732 (“Avendano Priority Application”)
`
`(01/29/2007), from which Avendano ’252 claims priority, predate the Critical Date.2
`
`1.
`Dynamic Drinkware Analysis
`Avendano ’252 claims priority to the Avendano Priority Application. EX.
`
`1006, 1:8-23. The Avendano Priority Application is incorporated in its entirety in
`
`Avendano ’252. Id. Avendano ’252 is entitled to the 01/29/2007 filing date because
`
`the Avendano Priority Application includes the relevant prior art disclosure and
`
`supports at least one of Avendano ’252’s claims (claim 1), as shown below.
`
`(a) A method for adaptive processing of a close
`microphone array in a noise suppression system,
`comprising:
`EX. 1007, [0008], [0021], [0062]-[0070], FIGS. 7-8; EX. 1003, ¶85.
`
`(b) receiving a primary acoustic signal and a
`secondary acoustic signal;
`EX. 1007, [0009], [0022]-[0024], [0027], [0029], [0062], FIGS. 1a-1b, 2-5, 7;
`
`EX. 1003, ¶85.
`
`
`2 The Avendano Priority Application issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,194,880 (i.e.,
`
`Avendano ‘880).
`
`-3-
`
`

`

`Petition for Inter Partes Review of Claims 1-13 of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,321,213
`(c) performing frequency analysis on the primary
`and secondary acoustic signals to obtain
`EX. 1007, [0010]-[0011], [0029]-[0037], [0053]-[0060], [0063]-[0064],
`
`FIGS. 3-5, 7; EX. 1003, ¶85.
`
`(d) generating a forward-facing cardioid pattern and
`a backward-facing cardioid pattern based on the
`sub-band signals;
`EX. 1007, [0010]-[0011], [0029]-[0037], [0053]-[0061], [0063]-[0064],
`
`FIGS. 3-7; EX. 1003, ¶85.
`
`(e) generating a forward-facing cardioid pattern and
`a backward-facing cardioid pattern based on the
`sub-band signals;
`EX. 1007, [0010]-[0011], [0029]-[0037], [0053]-[0061], [0063]-[0064],
`
`FIGS. 3-7; EX. 1003, ¶85.
`
`(f) outputting a noise suppressed signal.
`EX. 1007, [0011], [0038]-[0052], [0065]-[0071], FIGS. 3-5, 7, 8; EX. 1003,
`
`¶85.
`
`II. BACKGROUND
`A. Overview of the ’213 Patent
`The ’213 patent “relates to noise suppression systems, devices, and methods
`
`for use in acoustic applications.” EX. 1001, 1:16-18; EX. 1003, ¶¶42-49. A first
`
`virtual microphone (V1) is generated by (i) applying a delay filter (z-γ) to a signal
`
`from a first physical microphone (O1), (ii) applying a calibration filter (α(z)) and an
`
`-4-
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`

`

`Petition for Inter Partes Review of Claims 1-13 of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,321,213
`adaptive filter (β(z)) to a signal from a second physical microphone (O2), and (iii)
`
`combining the filtered signals. EX. 1001, 5:20-6:19, FIG. 4.
`
`
`
`
`
`EX. 1001, FIG. 43
`A second virtual microphone (V2) is generated by (i) applying an adaptive
`
`filter (β(z)) and a delay filter (z-γ) to the signal from a first physical microphone (O1),
`
`(ii) applying a calibration filter (α(z)) to the signal from a second physical
`
`microphone (O2), and (iii) combining the filtered signals. Id., 5:20-6:19, FIG. 3.
`
`
`3 Red annotations added throughout.
`
`-5-
`
`

`

`Petition for Inter Partes Review of Claims 1-13 of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,321,213
`
`
`
`EX. 1001, FIG. 3
`The ratio of energies of the first and second virtual microphones is used “to
`
`determine when speech is occurring.” Id., 6:20-10:8, FIGS. 5-11. A ratio that is
`
`greater than a threshold is indicative of voice activity, whereas a ratio that is less
`
`than the threshold is indicative of an absence of voice activity. Id., 6:47-51, 7:5-7,
`
`FIGS. 5-11; EX. 1003, ¶¶42-49.
`
`B.
`Prosecution History
`The claims were allowed after the filing of a terminal disclaimer over U.S.
`
`App. No. 12/606,140. EX. 1002, 195-196, 218-219, 227-234. None of Avendano
`
`’880, the Avendano Priority Application, Hou, or Avendano ’252 was cited during
`
`prosecution of the ’213 patent. EX. 1003, ¶50.
`
`C. Level of Ordinary Skill
`A person of ordinary skill in the art (“POSITA”) would have at least a
`
`bachelor of science in electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer
`
`-6-
`
`

`

`Petition for Inter Partes Review of Claims 1-13 of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,321,213
`science, mechanical engineering, or a related discipline, with at least two years of
`
`relevant experience in a field related to acoustics, speech recognition, speech
`
`detection, or signal processing. EX. 1003, ¶¶22-23. Additional education or industry
`
`experience may compensate for a deficit in the other. Id.
`
`D. Claim Construction
`No formal claim constructions are necessary because “claim terms need only
`
`be construed to the extent necessary to resolve the controversy.” Well-man, Inc. v.
`
`Eastman Chem. Co., 642 F.3d 1355, 1361 (Fed. Cir. 2011).4
`
`III. GROUND 1: Avendano ’880 and Hou (Claims 1-3, 5-9, 12, 13)
`A. Avendano ’880 Overview
`Avendano ’880 determines “inter-microphone level differences (ILD) ...
`
`based on energy level differences of a pair of omni-directional microphones,” and
`
`uses ILD “to attenuate noise and enhance speech.” EX. 1005, 2:5-9; EX. 1003, ¶¶51-
`
`67.
`
`Avendano ’880 discloses “audio device 104” having “primary microphone
`
`106” and “secondary microphone 108,” which may be “omni-directional
`
`microphone[s].” EX. 1005, 3:27-35; FIGS. 1a-1b; EX. 1003, ¶52.
`
`
`4 Petitioner is neither conceding that each claim satisfies all statutory
`
`requirements, such as §§101 and 112, nor waiving any arguments concerning claim
`
`scope or grounds that can only be raised in district court.
`
`-7-
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`

`

`Petition for Inter Partes Review of Claims 1-13 of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,321,213
`
`EX. 1005, FIG. 1a
`
`
`
`
`
`EX. 1005, FIG. 1b
`
`Avendano ’880’s “primary microphone 106 is much closer to [an] audio
`
`source 102 than the secondary microphone 108,” and thus “the intensity level is
`
`higher for the primary microphone 106 resulting in a larger energy level during a
`
`speech/voice segment.” EX. 1005, 3:45-55, FIGS. 1a-1b; EX. 1003, ¶53.
`
`Avendano ’880 uses this “level difference … to discriminate speech and noise
`
`in the time-frequency domain.” EX. 1005, 3:55-57; EX. 1003, ¶¶54-55. For
`
`example, Avendano ’880 receives signals from the two microphones (signals x1 and
`
`-8-
`
`

`

`Petition for Inter Partes Review of Claims 1-13 of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,321,213
`x2), and processes the signals using “differential microphone array (DMA) module
`
`302” to “create two different directional patterns around the audio device 104.” EX.
`
`1005, 4:20-41. As Avendano ’880 explains, “[e]ach directional pattern is a region
`
`about the audio device 104 in which sounds generated by an audio source 102 within
`
`the region may be received by the microphones 106 and 108 with little attenuation,”
`
`and “[s]ounds generated by audio sources 102 outside of the directional pattern may
`
`be attenuated.” Id., 4:41-46.
`
`Avendano ’880’s DMA module 302 generates (i) a first processed signal
`
`having a directional pattern for receiving sounds “within a front cardioid region
`
`around the audio device 104” (i.e., “cardioid primary signal (Cf)”), and (ii) a second
`
`processed signal having a directional pattern for receiving sounds “within a back
`
`cardioid region around the audio device 104” (i.e., “cardioid secondary signal (Cb)”).
`
`Id., 4:47-52, 5:25-35, 9:29-42, FIG. 6 (below); EX. 1003, ¶¶56-59.
`
`-9-
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`

`

`Petition for Inter Partes Review of Claims 1-13 of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,321,213
`
`
`
`EX. 1005, FIG. 6
`Avendano ’880’s “cardioid primary signal (Cf)” is generated by combining (i)
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`signal x1 from primary microphone 106, and (ii) signal x2 from secondary
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`microphone 108 (signal x2 having been delayed by “delay node 404” and filtered by
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`“gain module 406”). EX. 1005, 5:15-35, FIG. 4a; EX. 1003, ¶60. Avendano ’880’s
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`“cardioid secondary signal (Cb)” is generated by combining (i) signal x2 from
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`secondary microphone 108, and (ii) signal x1 from primary microphone 106 (signal
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`x1 having been delayed by “delay node 402”). EX. 1005, 5:15-35, FIG. 4a; EX. 1003,
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`¶60. The “delay nodes” are implemented using filters (“allpass filters”). EX. 1005,
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`8:47-51; EX. 1003, ¶60.
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`Petition for Inter Partes Review of Claims 1-13 of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,321,213
`
`
`
`EX. 1005, FIG. 4a
`Further, Avendano ’880 detects speech based on the ratio between (i) the
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`energy of “cardioid primary signal (Cf)” and (ii) the energy of “cardioid secondary
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`signal (Cb).” EX. 1005, 5:49-6:34; EX. 1003, ¶¶61-66. Specifically, an “energy
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`level” (Ef) associated with “cardioid primary signal (Cf)” is calculated:
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`Petition for Inter Partes Review of Claims 1-13 of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,321,213
`
`EX. 1005, 5:60
`Further, an “energy level” (Eb) associated with “cardioid secondary signal
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`(Cb)” is calculated:
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`EX. 1005, 6:5
`The ratio between these two energy levels (ILD) is determined:
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`
`
`EX. 1005, 6:16
`Avendano ’880 compares the ratio (ILD) to a “threshold” to determine the
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`
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`presence or absence of speech:
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`
`
`EX. 1005, 6:61
`If the ratio (ILD) is “smaller than a threshold value (e.g., threshold=0.5) above
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`which speech is expected to be,” a value λ1 is set to zero (e.g., indicating an absence
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`of speech). EX. 1005, 6:58-7:3. However, if the ratio (ILD) “starts to rise (e.g.,
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`because speech is present within the large ILD region), λ1 increases” (e.g., is set to
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`one, indicating a presence of speech). Id.
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`

`Petition for Inter Partes Review of Claims 1-13 of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,321,213
`Avendano ’880’s ratio is used to process audio signals “through a noise
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`reduction system 310” to “enhance the speech of the primary acoustic signal.” Id.,
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`Abstract, 6:35-8:23, 10:18-50, FIGS. 7-8; EX. 1003, ¶67.
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`B. Hou Overview
`Hou describes “[i]mproved approaches
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`to matching sensitivities of
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`microphones in multi-microphone directional processing systems ... so that
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`directional noise suppression is robust.” EX. 1008, Abstract; EX. 1003, ¶¶68-78.
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`Specifically, Hou’s “two-microphone directional processing system 500”
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`“compensate[s] (or correct[s]) for the relative difference in sensitivity between ...
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`mismatched first and second microphones” and produces an “output signal ...
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`hav[ing] robust directionality despite a mismatch between the first and second
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`microphones.” EX. 1008, 5:25-56, FIG. 5.
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`As Hou explains, a system generates directional signals by suppressing sounds
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`(e.g., “interference”) coming from particular directions relative to a system. Id.,
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`1:22-2:2; EX. 1003, ¶70. In particular, an “output signal” that is directional “is
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`dependent on which directions the input signals come from.” EX. 1008, 1:22-2-2.
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`Further, “[t]he sensitivity of the microphones of the sound pick up system must be
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`matched in order to achieve good directionality.” Id.
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`Hou describes various techniques for producing directional signals. EX. 1003,
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`¶¶71-77. In one example, Hou’s system receives “a first electronic sound signal”
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`Petition for Inter Partes Review of Claims 1-13 of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,321,213
`from “microphone 502,” and “estimates the minimum for the first electronic sound
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`signal” using “first minimum estimate unit 508” (e.g., by measuring the minimum
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`for the first electronic sound signal “over a time constant duration”). EX. 1008, 5:27-
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`41, FIG. 5.
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`Further, Hou’s system receives “a second electronic sound signal” from
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`“microphone 504,” delays the “second electronic sound signal” using “delay unit
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`506,” and “estimates the minimum for the second electronic sound signal” using
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`“second minimum estimate unit 510” (e.g., by measuring the minimum for the
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`second electronic sound signal “over a time constant duration”). Id.
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`Further, “divide unit 512 produces a quotient by dividing the first minimum
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`estimate by the second minimum estimate,” where “[t]he quotient represents a
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`scaling amount that is sent to a multiplication unit 514.” Id., 5:42-45.
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`Further, “[t]he second electronic sound signal is then multiplied with the
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`scaling amount to produce a compensated sound signal.” Id., 5:45-47. “The
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`compensated sound signal is thus compensated (or corrected) for the relative
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`difference in sensitivity between the mismatched first and second microphones 502
`
`and 504.” Id., 5:47-50.
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`

`Petition for Inter Partes Review of Claims 1-13 of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,321,213
`
`
`
`EX. 1008, FIG. 5
`Further, “subtraction unit 516 then subtracts the compensated electronic
`
`sound signal from the first electronic sound signal to produce an output signal ...
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`hav[ing] robust directionality despite a mismatch between the first and second
`
`microphones 502 and 504.” Id., 5:50-56.
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`As Hou describes, generating a compensated sound signal ensures that
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`“directional noise suppression is not affected by microphone mismatch, ... the drift
`
`of microphone sensitivity over time, ... [or] the non-uniform distribution of sound
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`pressure in real-life application.” Id., 9:28-41; EX. 1003, ¶78.
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`

`Petition for Inter Partes Review of Claims 1-13 of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,321,213
`C. Combination of Avendano ’880 and Hou
`A POSITA would have found it obvious to combine Avendano ’880 with Hou.
`
`EX. 1003, ¶¶86-126.
`
`Motivations for Combining Avendano ’880 and Hou
`A POSITA would have been motivated to combine Avendano ’880 with Hou
`
`for several reasons. EX. 1003, ¶¶87-100.
`
`First, both Avendano ’880 and Hou come from the same field of endeavor of
`
`enhancing speech and attenuating noise. EX. 1005, Abstract, 1:24-26, 3:13-26, 3:42-
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`60; EX. 1008, Abstract, 2:44-52, 4:40-49; EX. 1003, ¶88.
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`Second, both Avendano ’880 and Hou describe enhancing speech and
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`attenuating noise using similar techniques, including (i) capturing signals from at
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`least two physical microphones, and (ii) processing these signals in various ways,
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`including equalizing the signal levels of two signals and generating directional
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`signals based on the equalized signals. EX. 1003, ¶¶89-94.
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`For example, Avendano ’880’s “primary microphone 106 is much closer to
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`[an] audio source 102 than the secondary microphone 108,” and thus “the intensity
`
`level is higher for the primary microphone 106 resulting in a larger energy level
`
`during a speech/voice segment.” EX. 1005, 3:27-55; Section III(A); EX. 1003, ¶90.
`
`To account for the differences in intensity levels, Avendano ’880’s “DMA module
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`302” applies “gain factor, g” to a second signal “to equalize the signal levels” of the
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`Petition for Inter Partes Review of Claims 1-13 of
`U.S. Patent No. 8,321,213
`first and second signals. EX. 1005, 5:36-39, 9:54-59, FIGS. 4a-4b; EX. 1003, ¶91.
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`Such equalization is beneficial, as “systems can suffer loss of performance when the
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`microphone signals have different levels.” EX. 1005, 5:37-39; EX. 1003, ¶91.
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`Further, Avendano ’880’s “DMA module 302” uses the equalized signal to generate
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`directional signals, such as “cardioid primary signal (Cf)” (front) and “cardioid
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`secondary signal (Cb)” (back). EX. 1005, 4:41-52, 5:25-35, FIGS. 4a-4b, 6; EX.
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`1003, ¶92.
`
`Hou’s “system 500” serves a similar function as Avendano ’880’s “DMA
`
`module 302,” namely “compensat[ing] (or correct[ing]) for the relative difference in
`
`sensitivity between ... mismatched first and second microphones.” EX. 1008, 5:47-
`
`50; EX. 1003, ¶¶93-94. Similarly, Hou explains that compensation or correction is
`
`beneficial, as “[t]he sensitivity of the microphones of the sound pick up system must
`
`be matched in order to achieve good directionality.” EX. 1008, 1:48-2:2; EX. 1003,
`
`¶93. Further, like Avendano ’880, Hou processes the compensated or corrected
`
`signal to generate a directional signal (e.g., “an output signal ... hav[ing] robust
`
`directionality”) to aid in “dire