In the Matter of Certain Silicon Microphone Packages and Products Containing the Same; Notice of Commission Determination to Review a Final Initial Determination in Part and Set a Schedule for Filing Written Submissions On the Issues Under Review and On Remedy, the Public Interest, and Bonding; Extension of Target Date, 11748-11750 [E9-5934]
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11748
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 52 / Thursday, March 19, 2009 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation
Central Valley Project Improvement
Act, Water Management Plans.
sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability.
SUMMARY: The following Water
Management Plans are available for
review:
• Banta-Carbona Irrigation District
• Fresno Irrigation District
• Westlands Water District
To meet the requirements of the
Central Valley Project Improvement Act
of 1992 (CVPIA) and the Reclamation
Reform Act of 1982, the Bureau of
Reclamation (Reclamation) developed
and published the Criteria for
Evaluating Water Management Plans
(Criteria). For the purpose of this
announcement, Water Management
Plans (Plans) are considered the same as
Water Conservation Plans. The above
entities have developed a Plan, which
Reclamation has evaluated and
preliminarily determined to meet the
requirements of these Criteria.
Reclamation is publishing this notice in
order to allow the public to review the
plans and comment on the preliminary
determinations. Public comment on
Reclamation’s preliminary (i.e., draft)
determination is invited at this time.
DATES: All public comments must be
received by April 20, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Please mail comments to
Ms. Laurie Sharp, Bureau of
Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way,
Sacramento, California, 95825, or
contact at 916–978–5232 (TDD 978–
5608), or e-mail at lsharp@mp.usbr.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To
be placed on a mailing list for any
subsequent information, please contact
Ms. Laurie Sharp at the e-mail address
or telephone number above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are
inviting the public to comment on our
preliminary (i.e., draft) determination of
Plan adequacy. Section 3405(e) of the
CVPIA (Title 34 Public Law 102–575),
requires the Secretary of the Interior to
establish and administer an office on
Central Valley Project water
conservation best management practices
that shall ‘‘* * * develop criteria for
evaluating the adequacy of all water
conservation plans developed by project
contractors, including those plans
required by section 210 of the
Reclamation Reform Act of 1982.’’ Also,
according to Section 3405(e)(1), these
criteria must be developed ‘‘* * * with
the purpose of promoting the highest
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level of water use efficiency reasonably
achievable by project contractors using
best available cost-effective technology
and best management practices.’’ These
criteria state that all parties
(Contractors) that contract with
Reclamation for water supplies
(municipal and industrial contracts over
2,000 acre-feet and agricultural
contracts over 2,000 irrigable acres)
must prepare Plans that contain the
following information:
1. Description of the District.
2. Inventory of Water Resources.
3. Best Management Practices (BMPs)
for Agricultural Contractors.
4. BMPs for Urban Contractors.
5. Plan Implementation.
6. Exemption Process.
7. Regional Criteria.
8. Five-Year Revisions.
Reclamation will evaluate Plans based
on these criteria. A copy of these Plans
will be available for review at
Reclamation’s Mid-Pacific (MP)
Regional Office located in Sacramento,
California, and the local area office. Our
practice is to make comments, including
names and home addresses of
respondents, available for public
review.
Before including your name, address,
phone number, e-mail address, or other
personal identifying information in your
comment, you should be aware that
your entire comment—including your
personal identifying information—may
be made publicly available at any time.
While you can ask us in your comment
to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
If you wish to review a copy of these
Plans, please contact Ms. Laurie Sharp
to find the office nearest you.
Dated: February 20, 2009.
Richard J. Woodley,
Regional Resources Manager, Mid-Pacific
Region, Bureau of Reclamation.
[FR Doc. E9–5992 Filed 3–18–09; 8:45 am]
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INTERNATIONAL TRADE
COMMISSION
[Investigation No. 337–TA–629]
In the Matter of Certain Silicon
Microphone Packages and Products
Containing the Same; Notice of
Commission Determination to Review
a Final Initial Determination in Part and
Set a Schedule for Filing Written
Submissions On the Issues Under
Review and On Remedy, the Public
Interest, and Bonding; Extension of
Target Date
AGENCY: U.S. International Trade
Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that
the U.S. International Trade
Commission has determined to review
in part the final initial determination
(‘‘ID’’) issued by the presiding
administrative law judge (‘‘ALJ’’) on
January 12, 2009, in the abovecaptioned investigation. The
Commission has also determined to
extend the target date by 30 days.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michael Liberman, Esq., Office of the
General Counsel, U.S. International
Trade Commission, 500 E Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20436, telephone (202)
205–3116. Copies of non-confidential
documents filed in connection with this
investigation are or will be available for
inspection during official business
hours (8:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.) in the
Office of the Secretary, U.S.
International Trade Commission, 500 E
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20436,
telephone (202) 205–2000. General
information concerning the Commission
may also be obtained by accessing its
Internet server at https://www.usitc.gov.
The public record for this investigation
may be viewed on the Commission’s
electronic docket (EDIS) at https://
edis.usitc.gov. Hearing-impaired
persons are advised that information on
this matter can be obtained by
contacting the Commission’s TDD
terminal on (202) 205–1810.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Commission instituted this investigation
on January 14, 2008, based on the
complaint of Knowles Electronics, LLC
of Itasca, Illinois (‘‘Knowles’’). 73 FR
2277 (Jan. 14, 2008). The complaint
alleges violations of section 337 of the
Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1337) in
the importation into the United States,
the sale for importation, and the sale
within the United States after
importation of certain silicon
microphone packages or products
containing same by reason of
E:\FR\FM\19MRN1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 52 / Thursday, March 19, 2009 / Notices
infringement of one or more of claims 1
and 2 of U.S. Patent No. 6,781,231 (‘‘the
‘231 patent’’), and claims 1, 2, 9, 10, 15,
17, 20, 28, and 29 of U.S. Patent No.
7,242,089 (‘‘the ‘089 patent’’). The
respondent is MEMS Technology
Berhad of Malaysia (‘‘MemsTech’’).
The evidentiary hearing in this
investigation was held on September
22–25, 2008. On January 12, 2009, the
ALJ issued an Initial Determination on
Violation of Section 337 and
Recommended Determination on
Remedy and Bond, finding a violation of
section 337. All parties to this
investigation, including the Commission
investigative attorney, filed timely
petitions for review of various portions
of the final ID, as well as timely
responses to the petitions.
Having examined the record in this
investigation, including the ALJ’s final
ID, the petitions for review, and the
responses thereto, the Commission has
determined to review:
(1) With respect to the ‘231 patent:
(a) The ALJ’s determination that
MemsTech’s accused products infringe
the ‘231 patent;
(b) The ALJ’s determination that U.S.
Patent No. 4,533,795 to Baumhauer, Jr.
et al. (‘‘Baumhauer’’) does not anticipate
claims 1 and 2 of the ‘231 patent;
(c) The ALJ’s determination that
claims 1 and 2 of the ‘231 patent are not
rendered obvious in view of U.S. Patent
No. 5,459,368 to Onishi et al.
(‘‘Onishi’’);
(d) The ALJ’s determination that U.S.
Patent No. 6,522,762 to Mullenborn et
al. (‘‘Mullenborn’’) taken in combination
with Baumhauer does not render claim
1 obvious;
(e) The ALJ’s determination that the
master’s thesis by David Patrick Arnold
entitled ‘‘A MEMS-Based Directional
Acoustic Array for Aeroacoustic
Measurements’’ (‘‘Arnold’’) taken in
combination with Baumhauer does not
render claims 1 and 2 obvious.
(2) With respect to the ‘089 patent:
(a) The ALJ’s construction of the
limitation ‘‘electrically coupled’’ in the
asserted claims of the ‘089 patent;
(b) The ALJ’s construction of the
limitation ‘‘volume’’ in the asserted
claims of the ‘089 patent;
(c) The ALJ’s determination that the
MemsTech’s accused products infringe
the ‘089 patent;
(d) The ALJ’s determination that
Knowles SiSonic products practice
claim 1 of the ‘089 patent;
(e) The ALJ’s determination that
Mullenborn does not anticipate claims
1, 2, 9, 15, 17, 20, 28, and 29 of the ‘089
patent;
(f) The ALJ’s determination that
claims 1, 2, 9, 15, 17, 20, 28, and 29 of
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Jkt 217001
the ‘089 patent are not invalid as
obvious in view of: (i) Baumhauer alone;
(ii) Baumhauer in combination with an
article by Kress et al. entitled
‘‘Integrated Silicon Pressure Sensor for
Automotive Applications with
Electronic Trimming,’’ SAE Document
950533 (1995) (‘‘Kress’’); (iii)
Baumhauer in combination with U.S.
Patent No. 4,277,814 to Giachino et al.
(‘‘Giachino’’); (iv) Onishi;
(g) The ALJ’s determination that
evidence shows that the commercial
success of the SiSonic products is
attributable to the ‘089 patent.
The Commission has determined not
to review the remainder of the final ID.
The Commission also has determined to
extend the target date for completion of
the subject investigation by thirty (30)
days from Tuesday, April 14, 2009, to
Thursday, May 14, 2009.
On review, the Commission requests
briefing on the above-listed issues based
on the evidentiary record. The
Commission is particularly interested in
responses to the following questions:
(1) With respect to the ‘231 patent:
(a) Did the ALJ rely on any exhibits
that were not admitted into evidence in
reaching his determination that the
accused MemsTech products infringe
the ‘231 patent? Please provide the
citations in the ALJ’s final ID. Is there
evidence in the record that sufficiently
supports the ALJ’s infringement
determination without taking into
account exhibits that were not admitted
into evidence and relied on by the ALJ?
(b) Provided the ALJ’s finding that
‘‘[t]he substrate in Baumhauer is not
exclusive to the transducer, and it
extends beyond cover,’’ ID at 65, cannot
be used to support his conclusion that
‘‘Baumhauer does not disclose a
‘microelectromechanical system
package,’ ’’ see id., is there record
evidence to support the ALJ’s above
conclusion that is consistent with (i) the
ALJ’s findings (and the infringement
analysis that led to such findings) that
the accused MemsTech’s products are
microelectromechanical system
packages and that they literally infringe
claims 1 and 2 of the ‘231 patent, see ID
at 178, 183–84; and (ii) the ALJ’s
construction of claims 1 and 2 (and
specifically, the preambles of claims 1
and 2), see ID at 13–16.
(c) Does the record evidence,
particularly including RX–363; RX–045;
RX–046; RX–33, show, clearly and
convincingly, that it would have been
obvious to one skilled in the art to
modify the teachings of Onishi to arrive
at the inventions claimed in claims 1
and 2 of the ‘231 patent? Does the
record evidence show that Onishi
teaches away from the ‘231 patent?
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(d) Does the record evidence show,
clearly and convincingly, that it would
have been obvious to one skilled in the
art to modify Mullenborn in view of
Baumhauer to arrive at the invention
claimed in claim 1 of the ‘231 patent?
(e) Does the record evidence show,
clearly and convincingly, that it would
have been obvious to one skilled in the
art to modify Arnold in view of
Baumhauer to arrive at the inventions
claimed in claims 1 and 2 of the ‘231
patent?
(2) With respect to the ‘089 patent:
(a) (i) What record evidence,
particularly including the prosecution
history, supports a finding that the term
‘‘electrically coupled’’ in claim 1 of the
‘089 patent does not include an indirect
electrical connection?
(ii) In distinguishing Cote during
prosecution, the inventor made the
following assertions: ‘‘Cote does not
teach or suggest that the transducer is
mounted to a surface. As such, Cote
cannot teach the further claimed
electrical connection between the
transducer and the at least one
patterned conductive layer formed on
the surface to which it is attached. In
fact, Cote fails to teach or suggest the
formation of a patterned conductive
layer associated with any part of the
described electret microphone.’’ (RX–
255 at 206–207)
Based on record evidence, how
should the following sentence quoted
above be interpreted: ‘‘As such, Cote
cannot teach the further claimed
electrical connection between the
transducer and the at least one
patterned conductive layer formed on
the surface to which it is attached’’?
Does it (I) indicate that there is no
electrical connection because the
transducer is not mounted on the
surface, (II) simply restate that the
transducer is not mounted to a surface
as mentioned in the previous sentence,
or (III) refer to the fact that there is no
patterned conductive layer as
mentioned in the subsequent sentence?
What are the implications of each
interpretation to the question of whether
the inventor distinguished his invention
based on the absence of a direct
electrical connection in Cote?
(iii) In answering the previous
questions, what is the significance of the
USPTO’s statement that ‘‘the prior art of
record does not teach or suggest the
combination of the surface being formed
with at least one patterned conductive
layer, the patterned conductive layer
being electrically coupled to the
transducer’’? RX–255 at 366.
(b) Is the ALJ’s construction of the
term ‘‘volume’’ supported by the
Federal Circuit precedent, including the
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Federal Circuit decision in C.R. Bard,
Inc. v. U.S. Surgical Corp., 388 F.3d 858,
864 (Fed. Cir. 2004)?
(c) (i) Does the record evidence
support the ALJ’s finding that
Mullenborn discloses ‘‘what can
arguably be described as a package,’’ ID
at 78?
(ii) Does the record evidence support
the ALJ’s finding that Mullenborn does
not meet the limitation ‘‘chamber being
defined by the first member and the
second member,’’ ID at 79?
(d) Provided the ALJ’s finding that
‘‘[Baumhauer] does not disclose first or
second level connections and it fails to
disclose a package substrate,’’ ID at 132,
cannot be used to support his
conclusion that ‘‘Baumhauer fails to
teach or suggest a package,’’ see id., is
there record evidence to support the
ALJ’s above conclusion that is
consistent with (i) the ALJ’s finding
(and the infringement analysis that lead
to such a finding) that the accused
MemsTech’s products are surface
mountable packages and that they
literally infringe claim 1 of the ’089
patent, see ID at 197–98, and (ii) the
ALJ’s construction of claim 1 (and
specifically, the preamble of claim 1),
see ID at 27–29.
In connection with the final
disposition of this investigation, the
Commission may (1) issue an order that
could result in the exclusion of the
subject articles from entry into the
United States, and/or (2) issue one or
more cease and desist orders that could
result in the respondent being required
to cease and desist from engaging in
unfair acts in the importation and sale
of such articles. Accordingly, the
Commission is interested in receiving
written submissions that address the
form of remedy, if any, that should be
ordered. If a party seeks exclusion of an
article from entry into the United States
for purposes other than entry for
consumption, the party should so
indicate and provide information
establishing that activities involving
other types of entry either are adversely
affecting it or are likely to do so. For
background, see In the Matter of Certain
Devices for Connecting Computers via
Telephone Lines, Inv. No. 337–TA–360,
USITC Pub. No. 2843 (Dec. 1994)
(Commission Opinion).
If the Commission contemplates some
form of remedy, it must consider the
effects of that remedy upon the public
interest. The factors the Commission
will consider include the effect that an
exclusion order and/or cease and desist
orders would have on (1) The public
health and welfare, (2) competitive
conditions in the U.S. economy, (3) U.S.
production of articles that are like or
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18:55 Mar 18, 2009
Jkt 217001
directly competitive with those that are
subject to investigation, and (4) U.S.
consumers. The Commission is
therefore interested in receiving written
submissions that address the
aforementioned public interest factors
in the context of this investigation.
If the Commission orders some form
of remedy, the President has 60 days to
approve or disapprove the
Commission’s action. During this
period, the subject articles would be
entitled to enter the United States under
bond, in an amount determined by the
Commission and prescribed by the
Secretary of the Treasury. The
Commission is therefore interested in
receiving submissions concerning the
amount of the bond that should be
imposed.
Written Submissions: The parties to
the investigation are requested to file
written submissions on the issues under
review. The submissions should be
concise and thoroughly referenced to
the record in this investigation. Parties
to the investigation, interested
government agencies, and any other
interested parties are encouraged to file
written submissions on the issues of
remedy, the public interest, and
bonding. Such submissions should
address the recommended
determination by the ALJ on remedy
and bonding. Complainant and the
Commission investigative attorney are
also requested to submit proposed
remedial orders for the Commission’s
consideration. Complainant is further
requested to provide the expiration
dates of the asserted patents at issue in
this investigation and state the HTSUS
number under which the accused
articles are imported. The written
submissions and proposed remedial
orders must be filed no later than the
close of business on March 27, 2009.
Reply submissions must be filed no later
than the close of business on April 3,
2009. No further submissions on these
issues will be permitted unless
otherwise ordered by the Commission.
Persons filing written submissions
must file the original document and 12
true copies thereof on or before the
deadlines stated above with the Office
of the Secretary. Any person desiring to
submit a document (or portion thereof)
to the Commission in confidence must
request confidential treatment unless
the information has already been
granted such treatment during the
proceedings. All such requests should
be directed to the Secretary of the
Commission and must include a full
statement of the reasons why the
Commission should grant such
treatment. See section 201.6 of the
Commission’s Rules of Practice and
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Procedure, 19 CFR 201.6. Documents for
which confidential treatment by the
Commission is sought will be treated
accordingly. All nonconfidential written
submissions will be available for public
inspection at the Office of the Secretary.
The authority for the Commission’s
determination is contained in section
337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as
amended (19 U.S.C. 1337), and in
sections 210.42–.46 of the Commission’s
Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR
210.42–.46).
By order of the Commission.
Issued: March 13, 2009.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. E9–5934 Filed 3–19–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020–02–P
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
COMMISSION
[USITC SE–09–008]
Government in the Sunshine Act
Meeting Notice
United
States International Trade Commission.
AGENCY HOLDING THE MEETING:
TIME AND DATE:
March 24, 2009 at 11
a.m.
PLACE: Room 101, 500 E Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20436. Telephone:
(202) 205–2000.
STATUS:
Open to the public.
MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED:
1. Agenda for future meetings: None.
2. Minutes.
3. Ratification list.
4. Inv. No. 731–TA–1021 (Review)
(Malleable Cast Iron Pipe Fittings From
China)—briefing and vote. (The
Commission is currently scheduled to
transmit its determination and
Commissioners’ opinions to the
Secretary of Commerce on or before
April 1, 2009.)
5. Outstanding action jackets: None.
In accordance with Commission
policy, subject matter listed above, not
disposed of at the scheduled meeting,
may be carried over to the agenda of the
following meeting.
Issued: March 17, 2009.
By order of the Commission.
William R. Bishop,
Hearings and Meetings Coordinator.
[FR Doc. E9–6088 Filed 3–17–09; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 7020–02–P
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 52 (Thursday, March 19, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11748-11750]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-5934]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
[Investigation No. 337-TA-629]
In the Matter of Certain Silicon Microphone Packages and Products
Containing the Same; Notice of Commission Determination to Review a
Final Initial Determination in Part and Set a Schedule for Filing
Written Submissions On the Issues Under Review and On Remedy, the
Public Interest, and Bonding; Extension of Target Date
AGENCY: U.S. International Trade Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade
Commission has determined to review in part the final initial
determination (``ID'') issued by the presiding administrative law judge
(``ALJ'') on January 12, 2009, in the above-captioned investigation.
The Commission has also determined to extend the target date by 30
days.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Liberman, Esq., Office of the
General Counsel, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street,
SW., Washington, DC 20436, telephone (202) 205-3116. Copies of non-
confidential documents filed in connection with this investigation are
or will be available for inspection during official business hours
(8:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.) in the Office of the Secretary, U.S.
International Trade Commission, 500 E Street, SW., Washington, DC
20436, telephone (202) 205-2000. General information concerning the
Commission may also be obtained by accessing its Internet server at
https://www.usitc.gov. The public record for this investigation may be
viewed on the Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) at https://
edis.usitc.gov. Hearing-impaired persons are advised that information
on this matter can be obtained by contacting the Commission's TDD
terminal on (202) 205-1810.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission instituted this investigation
on January 14, 2008, based on the complaint of Knowles Electronics, LLC
of Itasca, Illinois (``Knowles''). 73 FR 2277 (Jan. 14, 2008). The
complaint alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930
(19 U.S.C. 1337) in the importation into the United States, the sale
for importation, and the sale within the United States after
importation of certain silicon microphone packages or products
containing same by reason of
[[Page 11749]]
infringement of one or more of claims 1 and 2 of U.S. Patent No.
6,781,231 (``the `231 patent''), and claims 1, 2, 9, 10, 15, 17, 20,
28, and 29 of U.S. Patent No. 7,242,089 (``the `089 patent''). The
respondent is MEMS Technology Berhad of Malaysia (``MemsTech'').
The evidentiary hearing in this investigation was held on September
22-25, 2008. On January 12, 2009, the ALJ issued an Initial
Determination on Violation of Section 337 and Recommended Determination
on Remedy and Bond, finding a violation of section 337. All parties to
this investigation, including the Commission investigative attorney,
filed timely petitions for review of various portions of the final ID,
as well as timely responses to the petitions.
Having examined the record in this investigation, including the
ALJ's final ID, the petitions for review, and the responses thereto,
the Commission has determined to review:
(1) With respect to the `231 patent:
(a) The ALJ's determination that MemsTech's accused products
infringe the `231 patent;
(b) The ALJ's determination that U.S. Patent No. 4,533,795 to
Baumhauer, Jr. et al. (``Baumhauer'') does not anticipate claims 1 and
2 of the `231 patent;
(c) The ALJ's determination that claims 1 and 2 of the `231 patent
are not rendered obvious in view of U.S. Patent No. 5,459,368 to Onishi
et al. (``Onishi'');
(d) The ALJ's determination that U.S. Patent No. 6,522,762 to
Mullenborn et al. (``Mullenborn'') taken in combination with Baumhauer
does not render claim 1 obvious;
(e) The ALJ's determination that the master's thesis by David
Patrick Arnold entitled ``A MEMS-Based Directional Acoustic Array for
Aeroacoustic Measurements'' (``Arnold'') taken in combination with
Baumhauer does not render claims 1 and 2 obvious.
(2) With respect to the `089 patent:
(a) The ALJ's construction of the limitation ``electrically
coupled'' in the asserted claims of the `089 patent;
(b) The ALJ's construction of the limitation ``volume'' in the
asserted claims of the `089 patent;
(c) The ALJ's determination that the MemsTech's accused products
infringe the `089 patent;
(d) The ALJ's determination that Knowles SiSonic products practice
claim 1 of the `089 patent;
(e) The ALJ's determination that Mullenborn does not anticipate
claims 1, 2, 9, 15, 17, 20, 28, and 29 of the `089 patent;
(f) The ALJ's determination that claims 1, 2, 9, 15, 17, 20, 28,
and 29 of the `089 patent are not invalid as obvious in view of: (i)
Baumhauer alone; (ii) Baumhauer in combination with an article by Kress
et al. entitled ``Integrated Silicon Pressure Sensor for Automotive
Applications with Electronic Trimming,'' SAE Document 950533 (1995)
(``Kress''); (iii) Baumhauer in combination with U.S. Patent No.
4,277,814 to Giachino et al. (``Giachino''); (iv) Onishi;
(g) The ALJ's determination that evidence shows that the commercial
success of the SiSonic products is attributable to the `089 patent.
The Commission has determined not to review the remainder of the
final ID. The Commission also has determined to extend the target date
for completion of the subject investigation by thirty (30) days from
Tuesday, April 14, 2009, to Thursday, May 14, 2009.
On review, the Commission requests briefing on the above-listed
issues based on the evidentiary record. The Commission is particularly
interested in responses to the following questions:
(1) With respect to the `231 patent:
(a) Did the ALJ rely on any exhibits that were not admitted into
evidence in reaching his determination that the accused MemsTech
products infringe the `231 patent? Please provide the citations in the
ALJ's final ID. Is there evidence in the record that sufficiently
supports the ALJ's infringement determination without taking into
account exhibits that were not admitted into evidence and relied on by
the ALJ?
(b) Provided the ALJ's finding that ``[t]he substrate in Baumhauer
is not exclusive to the transducer, and it extends beyond cover,'' ID
at 65, cannot be used to support his conclusion that ``Baumhauer does
not disclose a `microelectromechanical system package,' '' see id., is
there record evidence to support the ALJ's above conclusion that is
consistent with (i) the ALJ's findings (and the infringement analysis
that led to such findings) that the accused MemsTech's products are
microelectromechanical system packages and that they literally infringe
claims 1 and 2 of the `231 patent, see ID at 178, 183-84; and (ii) the
ALJ's construction of claims 1 and 2 (and specifically, the preambles
of claims 1 and 2), see ID at 13-16.
(c) Does the record evidence, particularly including RX-363; RX-
045; RX-046; RX-33, show, clearly and convincingly, that it would have
been obvious to one skilled in the art to modify the teachings of
Onishi to arrive at the inventions claimed in claims 1 and 2 of the
`231 patent? Does the record evidence show that Onishi teaches away
from the `231 patent?
(d) Does the record evidence show, clearly and convincingly, that
it would have been obvious to one skilled in the art to modify
Mullenborn in view of Baumhauer to arrive at the invention claimed in
claim 1 of the `231 patent?
(e) Does the record evidence show, clearly and convincingly, that
it would have been obvious to one skilled in the art to modify Arnold
in view of Baumhauer to arrive at the inventions claimed in claims 1
and 2 of the `231 patent?
(2) With respect to the `089 patent:
(a) (i) What record evidence, particularly including the
prosecution history, supports a finding that the term ``electrically
coupled'' in claim 1 of the `089 patent does not include an indirect
electrical connection?
(ii) In distinguishing Cote during prosecution, the inventor made
the following assertions: ``Cote does not teach or suggest that the
transducer is mounted to a surface. As such, Cote cannot teach the
further claimed electrical connection between the transducer and the at
least one patterned conductive layer formed on the surface to which it
is attached. In fact, Cote fails to teach or suggest the formation of a
patterned conductive layer associated with any part of the described
electret microphone.'' (RX-255 at 206-207)
Based on record evidence, how should the following sentence quoted
above be interpreted: ``As such, Cote cannot teach the further claimed
electrical connection between the transducer and the at least one
patterned conductive layer formed on the surface to which it is
attached''? Does it (I) indicate that there is no electrical connection
because the transducer is not mounted on the surface, (II) simply
restate that the transducer is not mounted to a surface as mentioned in
the previous sentence, or (III) refer to the fact that there is no
patterned conductive layer as mentioned in the subsequent sentence?
What are the implications of each interpretation to the question of
whether the inventor distinguished his invention based on the absence
of a direct electrical connection in Cote?
(iii) In answering the previous questions, what is the significance
of the USPTO's statement that ``the prior art of record does not teach
or suggest the combination of the surface being formed with at least
one patterned conductive layer, the patterned conductive layer being
electrically coupled to the transducer''? RX-255 at 366.
(b) Is the ALJ's construction of the term ``volume'' supported by
the Federal Circuit precedent, including the
[[Page 11750]]
Federal Circuit decision in C.R. Bard, Inc. v. U.S. Surgical Corp., 388
F.3d 858, 864 (Fed. Cir. 2004)?
(c) (i) Does the record evidence support the ALJ's finding that
Mullenborn discloses ``what can arguably be described as a package,''
ID at 78?
(ii) Does the record evidence support the ALJ's finding that
Mullenborn does not meet the limitation ``chamber being defined by the
first member and the second member,'' ID at 79?
(d) Provided the ALJ's finding that ``[Baumhauer] does not disclose
first or second level connections and it fails to disclose a package
substrate,'' ID at 132, cannot be used to support his conclusion that
``Baumhauer fails to teach or suggest a package,'' see id., is there
record evidence to support the ALJ's above conclusion that is
consistent with (i) the ALJ's finding (and the infringement analysis
that lead to such a finding) that the accused MemsTech's products are
surface mountable packages and that they literally infringe claim 1 of
the '089 patent, see ID at 197-98, and (ii) the ALJ's construction of
claim 1 (and specifically, the preamble of claim 1), see ID at 27-29.
In connection with the final disposition of this investigation, the
Commission may (1) issue an order that could result in the exclusion of
the subject articles from entry into the United States, and/or (2)
issue one or more cease and desist orders that could result in the
respondent being required to cease and desist from engaging in unfair
acts in the importation and sale of such articles. Accordingly, the
Commission is interested in receiving written submissions that address
the form of remedy, if any, that should be ordered. If a party seeks
exclusion of an article from entry into the United States for purposes
other than entry for consumption, the party should so indicate and
provide information establishing that activities involving other types
of entry either are adversely affecting it or are likely to do so. For
background, see In the Matter of Certain Devices for Connecting
Computers via Telephone Lines, Inv. No. 337-TA-360, USITC Pub. No. 2843
(Dec. 1994) (Commission Opinion).
If the Commission contemplates some form of remedy, it must
consider the effects of that remedy upon the public interest. The
factors the Commission will consider include the effect that an
exclusion order and/or cease and desist orders would have on (1) The
public health and welfare, (2) competitive conditions in the U.S.
economy, (3) U.S. production of articles that are like or directly
competitive with those that are subject to investigation, and (4) U.S.
consumers. The Commission is therefore interested in receiving written
submissions that address the aforementioned public interest factors in
the context of this investigation.
If the Commission orders some form of remedy, the President has 60
days to approve or disapprove the Commission's action. During this
period, the subject articles would be entitled to enter the United
States under bond, in an amount determined by the Commission and
prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury. The Commission is
therefore interested in receiving submissions concerning the amount of
the bond that should be imposed.
Written Submissions: The parties to the investigation are requested
to file written submissions on the issues under review. The submissions
should be concise and thoroughly referenced to the record in this
investigation. Parties to the investigation, interested government
agencies, and any other interested parties are encouraged to file
written submissions on the issues of remedy, the public interest, and
bonding. Such submissions should address the recommended determination
by the ALJ on remedy and bonding. Complainant and the Commission
investigative attorney are also requested to submit proposed remedial
orders for the Commission's consideration. Complainant is further
requested to provide the expiration dates of the asserted patents at
issue in this investigation and state the HTSUS number under which the
accused articles are imported. The written submissions and proposed
remedial orders must be filed no later than the close of business on
March 27, 2009. Reply submissions must be filed no later than the close
of business on April 3, 2009. No further submissions on these issues
will be permitted unless otherwise ordered by the Commission.
Persons filing written submissions must file the original document
and 12 true copies thereof on or before the deadlines stated above with
the Office of the Secretary. Any person desiring to submit a document
(or portion thereof) to the Commission in confidence must request
confidential treatment unless the information has already been granted
such treatment during the proceedings. All such requests should be
directed to the Secretary of the Commission and must include a full
statement of the reasons why the Commission should grant such
treatment. See section 201.6 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and
Procedure, 19 CFR 201.6. Documents for which confidential treatment by
the Commission is sought will be treated accordingly. All
nonconfidential written submissions will be available for public
inspection at the Office of the Secretary.
The authority for the Commission's determination is contained in
section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1337), and
in sections 210.42-.46 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and
Procedure (19 CFR 210.42-.46).
By order of the Commission.
Issued: March 13, 2009.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. E9-5934 Filed 3-19-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P