Puradigm LLC v. DBG Group Investments LLC

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS

DALLAS DIVISION

PURADIGM, LLC, §

§

Plaintiff, §

§

v. §

§

DBG GROUP INVESTMENTS, LLC, §

ACTIVEPURE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC §

(f/k/a AERUS HOLDINGS), §

ACTIVEPURE MEDICAL, LLC, AERUS § CIVIL ACTION NO. 3:23-cv-0216

LLC; AERUS FRANCHISING, LLC, ARS §

HOME SOLUTIONS, LLC, AERUS §

ENTERPRISE, LLC, VOLLARA, LLC, §

and VOLLARA CONCEPTS, LLC, §

§

§

Defendants. §

MEMORADUM OPINION AND ORDER

Before the Court is Defendants DBG Group Investments, LLC, ActivePure Technologies,

LLC (f/k/a Aerus Holdings), ActivePure Medical, LLC, Aerus LLC, Aerus Franchising, LLC, ARS

Home Solutions, LLC, Aerus Enterprise, LLC, Vollara, LLC, and Vollara Concepts, LLC,

(collectively “DBG”)’s Renewed Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. 77). For the reasons that

follow, DBG’s Motion is GRANTED, and this case is DISMISSED.

I.

OVERVIEW OF THE PATENT

At issue is U.S. Patent No. 8,585,979 (“Patent ’979”), which embodies an air purification

system. Doc. 43, Defs.’ App’x, 6. In particular, the parties ask the Court to determine the meaning

of “specular UV reflector” as used in Patent ’979. The air purifier chamber works by employing

photo-catalytic cells that create bacteria-killing molecules. Id. The bactericidal molecules kill bacteria

and other pathogens as they intermingle in the air. Id. The patented purification chamber is shown

in Figure 3 below, Id. at 4.

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The chamber directs UV light from a centralized light source (i.e. 24) onto a reflector (e.g. 22-1, 22-

2, 22-3), which reflects the UV light onto a honeycomb target (20) containing the photo-catalytic

cells. Id.

The provisional application for Patent ’979 was filed on September 7, 2010, and the patent

was published on November 19, 2013. Id. at 2. The patent applicant and inventor David Tupman

(“Applicant”) assigned the patent to Plaintiff Puradigm, LLC (“Puradigm”), Id.

Patent 979 states it responds to the “need for a system in which a higher proportion of UV

energy” from the UV light source can be reflected onto the coated honeycomb target. Id. at 6. The

UV energy is reflected off of reflectors that are “specular.” Id. at 7. “Specular reflection” is defined

in the specification of Patent ’979 (the “Specification”) | as “being a ‘mirror-like reflection’ of light—

' The Specification consists of three sections: Background, Summary, and Detailed Description. Doc. 43,

Defs.’ App’x, at 6-7. For simplicity’s sake, the Court will use the terms “specifies” or the “Specification” to

refer to any of these sections.

2.

in which a single incoming ray of light is reflected into a single outgoing direction.” Id. Such a one-

to-one angle of incidence is illustrated by the angle that vectors 28-1 and 28-2 form in Figure 3 above.

Id. at 4. To achieve this invention’s level of specular reflection, “it may be necessary to ‘micro-polish’

or ‘buff’ a selected materials [(sic)] reflective surface.” Id. at 7. Patent ’979 specifies that despite their

small size, the specular reflectors “may be effective because they may reflect virtually all of the (normally

lost) UV energy” if the reflector were not present. Id. at 4, 6. The path of the UV light without a

reflector present—i.e., the “normally lost” UV light—is depicted in Figure 3 as “26.” Id. Finally,

“suitable” specular reflectors are specified to be made of a material that has a “UV reflectivity of

about 90% or higher.” Id. at 7. The Specification notes that “[l]ower reflectivity produces lower

effectiveness.” Id. The Specification expressly “relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention”

and permits modifications as long as they do not “depart[] from the spirit and scope of the

invention.” Id.

Puradigm accuses DBG of infringing Patent ’979 through DBG’s V-Groove air purifiers. See

generally Doc. 71., Am. Compl. DBG moved for leave to file an early motion for summary judgment

on Puradigm’s sole claim for patent infringement. See Doc. 35, Mot. During the motion hearing on

June 21, 2023, DBG presented samples of its V-Groove air purification chamber as well as the

chamber in Puradigm’s purifier from Patent ’979. Doc. 46, Hearing Tr., 9. The Court observed

Puradigm’s chamber to contain mirror-like reflectors congruent to the “mirror-like” description in

the Specification. Id. at 13, 16. The Court observed the V-Groove’s unpolished aluminum reflectors

to exhibit reflectivity that is plainly dissimilar to that of a mirror. Id. at 6. In particular, the Court

found that the unpolished aluminum reflectors do not reflect visible light like a mirror. Id. at 16. In

comparison, the “specular” reflectors in Patent ’979 reflected visible light like a mirror. Id. at 15–16.

Neither party, however, presented evidence of how each sample’s purification chamber reflects UV

light as opposed to visible light.

At issue in this suit is the meaning of “specular” as relevant to Claims 1, 5, and 6 of Patent

’979. Doc. 77, Defs.’ Br., 27; Doc 33, Puradigm App’x, 67–87 (Miscellaneous Order No. 62 Initial

Disclosures); 2 Doc. 79, Pl.’s Resp., 29–36. The term “specular” is only contained within the term

“specular UV reflector,” used in Claim 1. Doc. 43, Defs.’ App’x, 7. Claim 1 describes the entire

purification apparatus. Id. The definitions of the remaining six claims of Patent ’979 all depend on

the apparatus as defined by Claim 1. Id. Therefore, Claim 1, by defining the apparatus and describing

the term “specular,” addresses one aspect of all the remaining claims.

The language of Claim 1 is partially reproduced below with the disputed claim term bolded:

1. An apparatus for ionizing air, the apparatus comprising: a chamber

including . . .

a first reflector arranged on the top portion of the chamber and

configured to:

reflect UV energy emitted along a dimension towards the first

target from a UV emitter located within the chamber directly

to the photo-catalytic coating of the first target, wherein the

first reflector is a specular UV reflector, and reflect UV

energy emitted along a dimension towards the second target

from the UV emitter directly to the photo-catalytic coating of

the second target;

a second reflector arranged on the bottom portion of the chamber

and configured to:

reflect UV energy emitted along a dimension towards the first

target from the UV emitter located within the chamber

directly to the photo-catalytic coating of the first target,

wherein the second reflector is a specular UV reflector.

Id. (emphasis added).

2 Rule 3-1 of the Northern District of Texas’s Miscellaneous Order No. 62 requires the alleging party to

identify the exact patent claims the alleged infringer is violating and the instrumentalities asserted to be

infringing.

II.

PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Puradigm initiated this patent suit on January 27, 2023, alleging that certain DBG air

purification products infringe Patent ’979. See Doc. 1, Compl. Soon after, DBG sought leave to file

an “early” summary judgment motion based on the meaning of “specular.” Doc. 31, Mot. Leave to

File. After holding a hearing to address the parties’ positions, the Court permitted DBG to file an

early summary judgment motion. Doc. 40, Mem. Op. and Order. After the parties’ summary

judgment briefing was complete, Puradigm sought and was granted leave to file the Amended

Complaint. Doc. 71, Am. Compl.; Doc. 70, Order. In its Amended Complaint, Puradigm maintains

the same claims but modifies the list of DBG products that Puradigm accuses of infringing

Patent ’979. See Doc. 71-2, Redline, 6. In light of the Amended Complaint, the Court denied

without prejudice DBG’s motion for summary judgment as moot. Doc. 72, Order. Thereafter, DBG

filed a Renewed Motion for Summary Judgment, which is ripe for review. See Doc. 76.

III.

LEGAL STANDARD

“It is a bedrock principle of patent law that the claims of a patent define the invention to

which the patentee is entitled the right to exclude.” Innova/Pure Water, Inc. v. Safari Water Filtration

Sys., Inc., 381 F.3d 1111, 1115 (Fed. Cir. 2004). “A determination of infringement generally requires

a two-step analysis—the court first determines the scope and meaning of the claims asserted, and

then the properly construed claims are compared to the allegedly infringing device.” Niazi Licensing

Corp. v. St. Jude Med. S.C., Inc., 30 F.4th 1339, 1350 (Fed. Cir. 2022). To exclude another from her

patent, a patentee must establish infringement by showing that every claim limitation or its

equivalent in her patent can be found in the accused product. See In re Gabapentin Pat. Litig., 503

F.3d 1254, 1259 (Fed. Cir. 2007).

Courts must review intrinsic evidence of the record—the “most significant source of the

legally operative meaning” of the patent’s claims—before turning to extrinsic evidence. Vitronics Corp.

v. Conceptronic, Inc., 90 F.3d 1576, 1582 (Fed. Cir. 1996); see also Phillips v. AWH Corp., 415 F.3d

1303, 1317–18 (Fed. Cir. 2005). First, courts look to the “words of the claims themselves.” Bell

Commc’ns Rsch., Inc. v. Vitalink Commc’ns Corp., 55 F.3d 615, 620 (Fed. Cir. 1995). “The ordinary

and customary meaning of a claim term is the meaning that the term would have to a person of

ordinary skill in the art [(“POSITA”)] in question at the time of the invention, i.e., as of the effective

filing date of the patent application.” Phillips, 415 F.3d at 1313. The Court may also understand the

POSITA’s meaning from reading a patent’s specification and prosecution history, i.e. the “same

resources” that would be used by a POSITA. Id. at 1312 (citation omitted).

Summary judgment is appropriate “if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as

to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” FED. R. CIV. P. 56(a).

A dispute “is ‘genuine’ if the evidence is sufficient for a reasonable jury to return a verdict for the

non-moving party.” Burrell v. Dr. Pepper/Seven Up Bottling Grp., 482 F.3d 408, 411 (5th Cir. 2007).

In determining whether a genuine issue exists, the Court views the evidence in the light most

favorable to the non-movant. Munoz v. Orr, 200 F.3d 291, 302 (5th Cir. 2000).

IV.

ANALYSIS

DBG contends its V-Groove air purification products do not contain “specular UV

reflectors” as encompassed by Patent ’979. Rather than seeking a complete construction of

Puradigm’s claims, DBG asks the Court to determine whether Claim 1 encapsulates its UV

reflectors. Doc. 77, Defs.’ Br., 16. Particularly, DBG contends its unpolished aluminum reflectors

are not “specular UV reflectors” under Patent ’979. Id. at 16‒18. DBG presents two arguments in

favor of its position. First, DBG argues that “specular,” as described within Patent ’979, excludes

anything that does not “at least” have a “mirror-like” reflection. Id. 16‒18, 23‒25. In response,

Puradigm contends that “specular” as used in Patent ’979 means “generally” or “predominantly”

specular to a POSITA. See Doc. 80, Resp., 11–19. According to Puradigm and its expert, the

unpolished aluminum reflectors in DBG’s V-Groove are “specular reflector[s]” consist with Patent

’979 because they create “generally specular” UV reflections, as opposed to generally diffuse UV

reflections. Id. at 40.

In the alternative, DBG contends it is entitled to summary judgment because the Applicant

clearly disclaimed unpolished aluminum from the scope of Patent ’979. During the prosecution of

Patent ’979, DBG argues, the Applicant expressly rejected, or disclaimed, polished aluminum as not

reflective enough to be a specular UV reflector under Patent ’979. Doc. 77, Defs.’ Br., 18‒22. By

logical consequence the Applicant made a clear disclaimer that unpolished aluminum, a material

even less reflective than polished aluminum, was also not suitable for his patent. Id. In response to

DBG’s alternative argument, Puradigm contends the Applicant never made a clear disclaimer

because when the Patent Examiner disagreed with the Applicant’s purported disclaiming statement,

the Applicant never protested. Doc. 80, Resp., 25–29. Puradigm asks the Court to find that because

the Applicant did not protest, he “acquiesced” to the Examiner’s perspective. Id. at 28–29. By

acquiescing to the Examiner’s perspective, the Applicant did not make a clear disclaimer. Id. DBG

replies that the Applicant could not have acquiesced because Puradigm has not identified a

statement following the Applicant’s disclaimer in which he then agreed with the Examiner’s view.

Doc. 83, Reply, 10–11.

The Court addresses each argument in turn.

A. Ordinary meaning of “specular”

Instead of defining the full limits of the term “specular” and the rest of Claim 1, the Court

will first try to determine whether an unpolished aluminum reflector is plainly outside the scope of

a “specular UV reflector” as the term is used in Patent ’979. The Court does so by turning to the

plain text of the Claims and then the Specification. Claim interpretation is a question of law that

courts may review at the summary judgment stage. See Gentex Corp. v. Donnelly Corp., 69 F.3d 527,

530 (Fed. Cir. 1995). A patent’s claim terms must be given “their ordinary meaning in the absence

of indication in the patent to the contrary.” Id. A claim term also “can be defined only in a way that

comports with the instrument as a whole.” Markmon v. Westview Instruments, Inc., 517 U.S. 370, 389

(1996).

1. The words of the claims themselves

The Court observes that each reflector in Claim 1 is defined as a “specular UV reflector.”

Doc. 43, Defs.’ App’x, 7. While there is no definition provided for the word “specular” in the

Claims, id., the ordinary meaning of “specular” is having the characteristics of a mirror. See, e.g.,

Specular, MERRIAM-WEBSTER.COM DICTIONARY, https://www.merriam-

webster.com/dictionary/specular (defining “specular” as “of, relating to, or having the qualities of a

mirror”). Claim 1 describes the form and function of each UV reflector as “configured to . . . reflect

UV energy . . . directly to the photo-catalytic coating” of the first and second targets. Doc. 43, Defs.’

App’x, 7 (emphasis added). Using the word “directly” to modify “reflect” illustrates an intention to

obtain a specular reflectance, or the reflection of a mirror. This intention of a direct reflection is

also apparent in Figure 3, which contains an angle of incidence, of UV energy hitting a first UV

specular reflector, that matches the angle of reflection of the UV energy reflected onto the

honeycomb target. Id. at 4 (illustrating 28-1 and 28-2). There, the line of reflection from the specular

UV reflector to the honeycomb target (28-2) is singular and “direct” as opposed to depicting a diffuse

reflection with multiple rays going in multiple directions from the reflector. Id.

The foregoing language as applied to Figure 3 strongly suggests that the “specular UV

reflector” has a mirror-like reflection of UV light, as opposed to visible light. Such a conclusion

would impede Puradigm’s infringement claim because it means that “every claim limitation” in

Patent ‘979 cannot “be found in the accused product.” Gabapentin Pat. Litig., 503 F.3d at 1259.

But, viewing the language in the light most favorable to Puradigm, the Court cannot make

such a conclusion as a matter of law from the Claims’ language alone. See Munoz, 200 F.3d at 302.

The Claims do not define a range of reflectivity rates for specular UV reflectors, Doc. 43, Defs.’

App’x, 7, nor has DBG provided the UV reflectivity rate of its unpolished aluminum reflectors. The

Claims also do not expressly limit a “specular UV reflector” to certain types of reflective surfaces

such that the Court may infer whether unpolished aluminum falls outside the scope of the term. Id.

Finally, while the testimony and product samples presented at the hearing sufficiently elucidate the

meaning of “specular” as applied to the way visible light strikes each sides’ reflectors, the Court

cannot confirm such a meaning extends to UV light rays. See generally Doc. 46, Hearing Tr. Without

further meaning to be derived from the Claims, the Court turns to the Specification of Patent ’979.

2. The Specification

While the “claims of a patent define the invention,” another intrinsic source reviewed to

understand a claim term is the patent’s specification. Phillips, 415 F.3d at 1312 (quoting Innova, 381

F.3d at 1115); see also Laitram Corp. v. Morehouse Indus., 143 F.3d 1456, 1462 (Fed. Cir. 1998); V–

Formation, Inc. v. Benetton Grp. SpA, 401 F.3d 1307, 1310 (Fed. Cir. 2005) (explaining intrinsic record

“usually provides the technological and temporal context to enable the court to ascertain the

meaning of the claim to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention”).

The express statements in the Specification confirm that Patent ’979 relies on an ordinary

meaning of “specular.” The Specification expressly refers to paragraphs 21–26 as setting out the

“unique reflective specifications” for its specular UV reflectors. Doc. 43, Defs.’ App’x, 6. There, the

Specification states a “specular” reflection is a “mirror-like reflection—in which a single incoming

light ray is reflected into a single outgoing direction.” Id. at 7. The Specification contrasts its specular

UV reflectors’ “surface specular reflection” with a diffuse reflection reflecting light “into a broad

range of directions.” Id. Further, the specular UV reflectors are specified to have surfaces that “may

reflect virtually all of the . . . UV energy” that is emitted toward the reflectors. Id. at 4. The Court

thus does not find there to be a “special definition” for “specular.” Cf. Vitronics Corp., 90 F.3d at

1582 (“Although words in a claim are generally given their ordinary and customary meaning, a

patentee may choose to be his own lexicographer and use terms in a manner other than their

ordinary meaning, as long as the special definition of the term is clearly stated in the patent

specification or file history.”). And the property of a mirror that the “specular” UV reflection is

intended to be “like” is the single ingoing and outgoing rays of reflection.3 Doc. 43, Defs.’ App’x, 7.

While certain language in the Specification suggests “mirror-like” is extremely narrow, i.e.,

requiring virtually 100% reflectivity, the Court finds it does not specify the threshold level of

reflectivity. See id. The Specification acknowledges a “level of reflection required,” indicating there

is a contemplated minimum reflectivity rate. Id. The Specification also notes that material having a

“UV reflectivity of about 90% or higher may be suitable” suggesting Patent ’979 is intended to have

a limited range of acceptable reflectivity rates. Id. At the same time, such language does not preclude

materials having a reflectivity of 85%, for instance, because the Specification states the proposed

range “may be suitable,” rather than outright excluding lower UV reflectivity rates. Id. Thus, the floor

or minimum range of reflectivity rates required for Patent ’979 remains uncertain. See id.

Especially pertinent to the parties’ dispute is that Patent ’979 does not specify all the

materials that can achieve the “reflection required.” Id. The Specification states the “particularly

effective” reflective surfaces come from “hard metals such as chromium and stainless steel.” Id. But

there is no threshold surface specified that produces the “reflection required.” Id. The closest

threshold the Court can glean is that “it may be necessary to ‘micro-polish or buff’ selected materials”

to make them sufficiently reflective. Id. As a result, the Specification suggests that an unpolished

surface, such as unpolished aluminum, cannot achieve “the level of reflection required.” Id.

3 Because the Specification states the reflection must be “mirror-like” and not “that of a mirror,” the

Court does not find that Patent ’979’s specular UV reflectors are limited to only surfaces with a single ingoing

and outgoing ray of reflection.

The “exemplary embodiment,” of “specular” UV reflectors is specified to be soft chrome,

further underscoring that unpolished materials are inadequate. See id. Soft chrome includes “the

plating used to produce a mirror-like finish that is seen on automobile[s].” Id. Everyday experience

dictates that chromed surfaces on cars producing a “mirror-like finish” are plainly dissimilar from

unpolished aluminum. As the Court confirmed during the parties’ oral argument, unpolished

aluminum does not produce a “mirror-like reflection” nor is it “micro-polished.” Doc. 46, Hearing

Tr., 13–16.

Notwithstanding the above, two aspects of Patent ’979 prevent a finding in DBG’s favor

based on the plain meaning argument. First is the Specification’s reference to a distinction between

surfaces that are effective for reflecting visible light versus UV light. For instance, gold and silver are

specified as “effective reflectors for visible light . . . [but] less suitable” than other metals to produce

the requisite UV specular reflection. Doc. 43, Defs.’ App’x, 7. DBG provides no evidence concerning

unpolished aluminum’s UV reflectivity versus visible light reflectivity. While the Court finds the

vast majority of the Specification to suggest unpolished aluminum is not a “specular” UV reflective

surface, DBG has not met its burden as to its first argument for summary judgment. DBG’s laser

test certainly indicates that unpolished aluminum produces a diffuse reflection of visible light, but

says nothing about UV light.4 Doc. 77, Mot., 25.

The second aspect of the Patent precluding summary judgment is the language in Claim 7,

a claim dependent on Claim 1. Doc. 43, Defs.’ App’x, 7. “[T]he presence of a dependent claim that

4 On the other hand, Puradigm’s test utilizes UV light, but the Court finds the resulting hazy reflections

from the unpolished aluminum reflectors to conflict with the Specification, including plain language

specifying a “mirror-like” UV reflection. Doc. 43, Defs.’ App’x, 7. The Court additionally finds Puradigm’s

expert’s analysis to be inconsistent with the Specification, and his conclusion “it is visually clear to me that

these images [derive] from a specular reflector” to be incomplete. Doc. 81-12, Pl.’s App’x, Milsner Decl., 665.

Therefore, the Court does not credit such an opinion. FED. R. EVID. 702(b)–(c).

adds a particular limitation gives rise to a presumption that the limitation in question is not present

in the independent claim.” Liebel–Flarsheim Co. v. Medrad, Inc., 358 F.3d 898, 910 (Fed. Cir. 2004).

Claim 7 expresses a limitation on at least one specular reflector in Claim 1. Doc. 43, Defs.’ App’x,

7. As the only claim to expressly use “specular,” Claim 1 is the independent claim. See id. Claim 7 is

the dependent claim and states: “The apparatus of [C]laim 1, wherein the first reflector comprises a

material having a UV reflectivity of about 90% or greater at UV wavelengths of 185 nm and 254

nm.” Doc. 43, Defs.’s App’x, 7. The language of Claim 7 thus gives rise to the presumption that one

specular UV reflector in Claim 1 does not have a “reflectivity of about 90% or greater” at the UV

wavelength range of 185 nm and 254 nm. Medrad, Inc., 358 F.3d at 910.

There is a hole in the evidence precluding the Court from reading this presumption in

DBG’s favor. The record does not disclose unpolished aluminum’s reflectivity of UV light. The

presumption Claim 7 raises therefore allows one to read the specular reflector in Claim 1 to possibly

have a reflectivity below 90% that could potentially capture unpolished aluminum. As a result, the

Court cannot find unpolished aluminum to be out of the scope of Claim 1 based on the words of

Patent ’979 alone.

Despite the strong textual basis to conclude that unpolished aluminum does not qualify as a

“specular” reflector under Patent ’979, the Court make such a conclusion as a matter of law. When

viewing the foregoing language in the light most favorable to Puradigm, the Court finds that

reasonable jurors could disagree about the scope of “specular” based on the Specification and

presumption raised by the language in Claim 7.

B. Prosecution of Patent ’979

The Court must turn to the final piece of available intrinsic evidence, the prosecution

history, to determine whether there were any express representations made by the Applicant

regarding the scope of the claim term “specular.” Vitronics Corp. v. Conceptronic, Inc., 90 F.3d 1576,

1582 (Fed. Cir. 1996) (“Third, the court may also consider the prosecution history of the patent, if

in evidence.”). DBG’s alternative argument turns on a back and forth in the prosecution history

between the Applicant of Patent ’979 and Patent Examiner.

An applicant’s representations during the prosecution of his patent potentially shed light on

a claim’s construction and limitations. Laitram Corp., 143 F.3d at 1462–63. “The doctrine of

prosecution disclaimer is well established in Supreme Court precedent, precluding patentees from

recapturing through claim interpretation specific meanings disclaimed during prosecution.” Omega

Eng’g Inc. v. Raytek Corp., 334 F.3d 1314, 1323 (Fed. Cir. 2003) (citations omitted); NovelPoint

Learning LLC v. LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc., No. 6:10-CV-229 JDL, 2012 WL 629537, at *4 (E.D. Tex.

Feb. 27, 2012). Explicit arguments made during prosecution can lead to narrow claim

interpretations. E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. v. Phillips Petroleum Co., 849 F.2d 1430, 1438 (Fed. Cir.

1988). But “for prosecution disclaimer to attach, . . . the alleged disavowing actions or statements

made during prosecution [must] be both clear and unmistakable.” Omega Eng’g, Inc., 334 F.3d at

1325–26.

In its alternative argument, DBG points to Patent ’979’s prosecution history and specifically

the Applicant’s statements to the Patent Examiner. DBG argues that the Applicant disclaimed

polished aluminum and, by logical extension, unpolished aluminum from the scope of “specular” UV

reflectors covered by Patent ’979. See Doc. 77, Renewed Mot., 18‒24. In response, Puradigm

contends that there is a genuine issue of material fact as to whether a POSITA reading the

prosecution history would find a clear disclaimer made.5 Doc. 80, Resp., 25‒26.

1. Alleged Disclaimer

According to DBG, the Applicant made the following disclaimer during the prosecution of

Patent ’979 to rebut the patent officer’s conclusion that an existing patent, Bigelow I, already

encompassed the “specular” reflectors in Patent ’979:

[Bigelow I] discloses only that certain materials have UV “reflectivity.”

For example, in the relied-on section of Bigelow, it states that polished

aluminum baffles reflect up to 90% of the striking UV. The property

of reflectivity is distinct from that of specular reflectance. Nowhere in

Bigelow is anything regarding a specular reflector disclosed – either

expressly or inherently.

Doc. 77, Renewed Mot. Br., 18 (emphasis in original) (citing Doc. 43, Defs’ App., 96).

The Applicant makes a “definitive statement” that Bigelow I’s polished aluminum reflectors

do not satisfy Patent ’979’s “specular” reflectors’ reflectivity because they are not reflective enough.

R2 Sols. LLC v. Am. Airlines, Inc., No. 4:22-CV-353, 2023 WL 2761124, at *27 (E.D. Tex. Apr. 3,

2023) (finding clear disclaimer from multiple definitive statements in prosecution history).

Moreover, there is no ambiguity that the alleged disclaimer is addressing UV reflectivity, as opposed

to reflectivity of visual light. Cf. Doc. 83, Resp., 25‒26; Parity Networks, LLC v. Hewlett Packard Enter.

Co., No. 6:17-CV-526-JDK-KNM, 2019 WL 340189, at *9 (E.D. Tex. Jan. 28, 2019) (finding

disclaimer where patentee’s statements “clearly limit” meaning of a term in patent). From the

disclaimer’s plain language expressing an intent to distinguish specular reflectivity from the

5 Puradigm also asserts that DBG’s disclaimer argument should be waived because it was impermissibly

introduced in its Reply brief. Doc. 80, Resp., 25. This argument is unavailing. DBG had not yet filed its Reply

when Puradigm made this argument, and more importantly, Pages 18‒24 of DBG’s opening brief are

dedicated to DBG’s disclaimer arguments. Doc. 77, Renewed Mot., 18‒24.

reflectivity of an aluminum reflector, a POSITA would understand the disclaimer to “be both clear

and unmistakable.” Omega Eng’g, Inc., 334 F.3d at 1325–26; Phillips Petroleum Co., 849 F.2d at 1438.

Puradigm emphasizes the alleged disclaimer was an isolated statement. Doc. 80, Resp., 28.

But the Applicant’s alleged disclaimer is consistent with the terms of Patent ’979. See Desper Prods.,

Inc. v. QSound Labs., Inc., 157 F.3d 1325, 1333–36 (Fed. Cir. 1998) (concluding prosecution

statements were clear and unmistakable disclaimer because they were entirely consistent with the

patent’s written description). For example, “suitable” specular reflectors are specified to be made of

a material that has a “UV reflectivity of about 90% or higher.” Doc. 43, Defs.’ App’x, 7. In the

alleged disclaimer, the Applicant found polished aluminum to be just shy of this range, reflecting

only “up to 90%” of UV light. Id. at 96 (emphasis added). And the Applicant found this “up to

90%”6 reflectivity failed to expressly or inherently comport to a specular reflector. Id.

There is nothing ambiguous in the Applicant’s disclaimer of polished aluminum reflectors

having “up to 90%” reflectivity from Patent ’979. Puradigm has not pointed to, nor does the Court

find, language in the Claims or Specification to contradict the alleged disclaimer. Thus, the Court

finds the Applicant clearly and unmistakably disclaimed polished aluminum reflectors. Omega Eng’g,

Inc., 334 F.3d at 1325–26. By logical consequence, less reflective materials including unpolished

aluminum are also disclaimed.

2. Acquiescence

Puradigm argues that the Court should not find a clear disclaimer because the Applicant

ultimately acquiesced to the Patent Examiner’s view that Bigelow I’s polished aluminum reflectors

6 Also consistent with the Applicant’s distinction of polished aluminum from other surfaces is the

Specification’s statement that specular reflectors “may reflect virtually all . . . UV energy.” Id. at 4, 6. (emphasis

added).

are disclosed by Patent ’979. Doc. 80, Resp., 26–29. The Federal Circuit has suggested that evidence

of a clear disclaimer can be overcome by evidence that the patentee acquiesced to a view contrary to

the disclaimer. Springs Window Fashions LP v. Novo Indus., L.P., 323 F.3d 989, 995 (Fed. Cir. 2003).

The plain meaning of acquiescence is to accept or comply tacitly. Accord Semcon IP Inc. v. ASUSTeK

Computer, Inc., No. 2:18-CV-00193-JRG, 2019 WL 3063590, at *7 (E.D. Tex. July 10, 2019)

(describing acquiescence as “acceptance without protest” (emphasis added)).This plain meaning is

also consistent with the way the Federal Circuit has used the term acquiescence. See id. (discussing

Spring Windows).

Puradigm mistakenly describes acquiescence as a failure to protest. Cf. Doc. 80, Resp., 29

(defining “acquiesced” as “did not protest”). After the Applicant made the disclaimer, the Patent

Examiner repeated his contrary view that Bigelow I’s polished aluminum reflectors were captured by

Patent ’979. Doc. 43, Defs.’ App., 69. The Applicant did not again protest the Examiner’s view. See

id. at 10–58. After the Examiner repeated his contrary view, and after the clear disclaimer, the

Applicant stated he “neither agrees nor disagrees” with the Patent Examiner’s statements. See Doc.

43, Defs.’ App’x, 56; Doc. 81, Pl.’s App’x, 336. According to Puradigm, the Applicant therefore

acquiesced to the Examiner’s view. Doc. 80, Resp., 26–29. This argument misunderstands the

meaning of acquiescence to be the absence of protest. Id. at 29. Acquiescence also requires some

form of acceptance. Semcon IP Inc., 2019 WL 3063590, at *7.

Missing from the prosecution history is the Applicant’s implied or tacit acceptance of the

Examiner’s view that Patent ’979 captures polished aluminum reflectors. Expressly choosing not to

agree with the Patent Examiner’s contrary view also forecloses a finding of acquiescence. See id.; Doc.

43, Defs.’ App’x, 56; Doc. 81, Pl.’s App’x, 336. Puradigm’s emphasis on the neutrality of Applicant’s

decision is unavailing because the statement still lacks agreement. Doc. 80, Resp., 27–28.

The Applicant’s “reserv[ation] of [the] right to challenge [the Examiner’s] statements in the

future,” Doc. 43, Defs.’ App’x, 56, only reinforces the Court’s conclusion. The Applicant can hardly

be interpreted as acquiescing when he reserved his right to continue his contentions, including that

polished aluminum is not embodied by Patent ’979. Id. The Court finds no other intrinsic evidence

showing that the Applicant expressly or impliedly accepted the Patent Examiner’s view after the

Applicant’s clear disclaimer. Springs Window Fashions LP, 323 F.3d at 995. Without evidence

overcoming the finding of a clear disclaimer, Puradigm is bound by a narrower interpretation for

the term “specular” that excludes polished aluminum. Omega Eng’g, Inc., 334 F.3d at 1325–26;

NovelPoint Learning LLC, 2012 WL 629537, at *4.

Having carefully and extensively read through the prosecution history, the Court concludes

that there is no genuine dispute of material fact that a POSITA reviewing the prosecution history

would understand the Applicant to have submitted a clear disclaimer as to polished aluminum

reflectors. By logical consequence, Patent ’979 disclaims unpolished aluminum as a surface reflecting

even less UV light.

C. Puradigm’s Expert Testimony

In the event intrinsic evidence does not provide a patent claim’s scope and meaning, courts

may rely on extrinsic evidence to “shed useful light on the relevant art.” Phillips, 415 F.3d at 1317.

While Puradigm’s expert, Dr. Thomas Milsner, has offered testimony in support of his construction

of “specular,” the Court does not find such testimony necessary or helpful to a jury. FED. R. EVID.

702. Milsner’s testimony appears to fall into the type of extrinsic source that courts warn provides

overly broad definitions. See Phillips, 415 F.3d at 1317. Milsner focuses on differentiating between

reflectivity that is “predominantly specular” versus reflectivity that is 100% specular. Doc. 81, Pl.’s

App’x, 646–49, 653, 662–64, 714. Nothing in Patent ’979, its Specification, or its prosecution

history suggests that the Applicant intended “specular” to be modified by the term “predominant”

or to mean generally specular.

The modifier “predominant” does not show up in Patent ’979 or the Specification.

NovelPoint Learning LLC, 2012 WL 629537, at *3 (explaining extrinsic evidence can be “less reliable

than the patent and its prosecution history in determining how to read claim terms” (quoting Phillips,

415 F.3d at 1318)); supra Part IV.A. The prosecution history contains a clear disclaimer of polished

aluminum because it is not sufficiently “specular,” or “mirror-like”—again, there is no mention of

the modifier “predominant.” Supra Part IV.B. Thus, the expert’s testimony is “not useful,” and the

Court does not consider it. Phillips, 415 F.3d at 1318; see Vitronics Corp. v. Conceptronic, Inc., 90 F.3d

1576, 1582 (Fed. Cir. 1996) (citing Hoechst Celanese Corp. v. BP Chems. Ltd., 78 F.3d 1575, 1578, 38

USPQ2d 1126, 1129 (Fed. Cir. 1996) (“A technical term used in a patent document is interpreted

as having the meaning that it would be given by persons experienced in the field of the invention,

unless it is apparent from the patent and the prosecution history that the inventor used the term

with a different meaning.”)).

The Applicant used the qualifications to “specular” that he desired. The qualification that is

specified for specular is “UV reflectivity of about 90% or higher.” Doc. 43, Defs.’ App’x, 7. But there

is nothing in the intrinsic evidence to connect the “about 90% or higher” language to

“predominantly” or generally specular.

In sum, the intrinsic evidence resolves this dispute such that extrinsic evidence is not helpful.

The Court’s observation of the two purifiers at issue, as well as Patent ’979’s Claims and

Specification strongly suggest that DBG’s unpolished aluminum reflectors would not fall within the

scope of Patent 979. However, these sources do not permit finding, as a matter of law, that

unpolished aluminum are distinct from the “specular” reflectors. Nonetheless, Patent ’979 clearly

disclaims polished aluminum from the scope of its specular reflectors. As a result, DBG’s unpolished

aluminum reflectors are also disclaimed from the scope of “specular UV reflector” in Claim 1. All

remaining claims in Patent 979 are dependent on the term “specular” in Claim 1. The Court

therefore holds as a matter of law that none of the claims in Patent 979 encompass reflectors made

from unpolished aluminum. As a result, DBG is entitled to summary judgment.

V.

CONCLUSION

The Court finds as a matter of law that Patent ’979 clearly disclaims unpolished aluminum

reflectors from falling within its scope. Therefore, DBG’s motion for summary judgement is

GRANTED. Puradigm’s infringement claims are DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. A final

judgment will follow.

SO ORDERED.

SIGNED: August 29, 2024.

NEJ.B E

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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