Parkervision, Inc. v. Qualcomm Inc.

27 F. Supp. 3d 1266, 2014 WL 2815808, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 85083
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Florida
DecidedJune 20, 2014
DocketCase No. 3:11-cv-719-ORL-37TEM
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 27 F. Supp. 3d 1266 (Parkervision, Inc. v. Qualcomm Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Parkervision, Inc. v. Qualcomm Inc., 27 F. Supp. 3d 1266, 2014 WL 2815808, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 85083 (M.D. Fla. 2014).

Opinion

ORDER

ROY B. DALTON JR., District Judge.

This cause is before the Court on the following:

1. Qualcomm’s Renewed Motion for Judgment as a Matter of Law and Motion for New Trial Regarding Invalidity (Doc. 499), filed December 20, 2013;
[1269]*12692. Parkervision’s Response in Opposition to Qualcomm’s Renewed Motion for Judgment as a Matter of Law and Motion for New Trial Regarding Invalidity (Doc. 516), filed January 24, 2014;
3. Qualcomm’s Renewed Motion for Judgment as a Matter of Law and Motion for New Trial Regarding Non-Infringement (Doc. 501 (redacted version)), filed December 20, 2013, and (Doc. 514 (sealed version)), filed January 23, 2014; and
4. Parkervision’s Response in Opposition to Qualcomm’s Renewed Motion for Judgment as a Matter of Law and Motion for New Trial Regarding Non-Infringement (Doc. 518), filed January 24, 2014.

BACKGROUND

The complex technology at issue in this patent infringement action concerns methods and devices for down-converting electromagnetic (radio frequency) signals by “energy sampling.” (See Doc. 336-13.) By using the same components previously used to down-convert modulated high frequency signals by “voltage sampling” (switches, capacitors, and resistors), energy sampling down-converts a modulated high frequency signal by altering the size of the capacitor, the duration that the switch is closed, the impedance of the resistors, and the value of the load. (See Doc. 386, pp. 273-78; Doc. 402, pp. 175-77.) Such alterations result in the energy — not the voltage — of the carrier signal being sampled, stored, and used to generate the desired lower frequency signal. (See Doc. 402, pp. 84-85.) Due to the similarity between energy sampling components and voltage sampling components (see U.S. Patent Number 6,061,551, Figs. 78A, 82A), one cannot discern if energy sampling is used in a receiver merely by viewing the layout of the components. (See Doc. 402, pp. 102-05, 113, 119, 121, 126, 152, 161-64, 176, 242; see also Doc. 403, pp. 173-74, 228, 232-33, 239-40.) Rather, the use of energy sampling can be discerned only by one skilled in the art who knows “how the switches are operated,” what the input and output impedance is, and the'“relative value” of the capacitor to the rest of the circuitry. (See Doc. 402, pp. 102-05; see also Doc. 403, pp. 174-82, 228, 232-37, 241-45.)

Employees of Parkervision developed energy sampling in 1996 and 1997 (Doc. 386, pp. 230-39), and Parkervision applied for its first patent related to the technology on October 1, 1998. (PX 1.)1 On May 9, 2000, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) issued Patent Number 6,061,551, for a “Method and System for Down-Converting Electromagnetic Signals” (“'551 Patent”). (Id.) Parkervision continued to submit applications for related patents, and by May 25, 2010, the USP-TO had granted Parkervision at least five additional related patents.2 (See Doc. 158, ¶ 9; see also PX 2 (Patent Number 6,266,-518 (“'518 Patent”)); PX 3 (Patent Num[1270]*1270ber 6,370,371 (“'371 Patent”)); PX 4 (Patent Number 7,496,342 (“'342 Patent”)).)

Before any of the patents issued, Park-ervision approached Qualcomm in 1998 to license the invention. (See Doc. 336-13, p. 6.) After unsuccessful efforts to reach an agreement in 1998 and 1999, the parties went their separate ways. (Id.) More than a decade later, Parkervision initiated this action contending that, in 2006, Qualcomm began directly and indirectly infringing the claims of Parkervision’s patents by using energy sampling in the integrated circuits of various receiver and transceiver products that Qual-comm sold to original equipment manufacturers (“OEM”), who incorporate the products in mobile communication devices (such as smartphones) sold and used in the United States. (See Docs. 1, 158; see also. Doc. 336-13, pp. 4-9.) Qualcomm denies that it directly or indirectly infringes Parkervision’s patents and contends that the patents are invalid based on anticipation. (See Doc. 248; Doc. 336-13, pp. 11-12.)

To better understand the complex nature of the technology at issue, the Court held a non-adversarial tutorial on July 24, 2012. (See Doc. 146; see also Docs. 112, 133.) At the tutorial, Parkervision presented the testimony of David Sorrells (a named inventor of the patents and Parker-vision’s Chief Technology Officer), and Qualcomm presented the testimony of Professor Robert Fox. (Doc. 146.) The witnesses provided the Court with a high-level overview of electronic circuit design and the use of radio frequency signals for wireless communications. (Id.) After the tutorial, the Court held a Markman hearing. (Docs. 145, 163; see also Docs. 119, 122, 136, 137, 141.) The Court issued its claim construction Order on February 20, 2013. (Doc. 243; see also Docs. 136, 137, 141.) The parties then filed motions for summary judgment regarding validity (Doc. 269, filed by Parkervision), and non-infringement (Doc. 270, filed by Qual-comm). In August 2013, the Court denied the parties’ respective motions for summary judgment. (Docs. 318, 320.)

In October 2013, the parties tried the matter before a jury in two phases — the first phase concerned validity and infringement (Docs. 386-88, 391, 393-94, 402-05, 407, 410-11, 413, 438-39), and the second phase concerned damages and willfulness (Docs. 417, 427, 439-44, 446, 470-71).3 In the first phase, the jury heard live testimony from four witnesses — Mr. Sorrells (Doc. 386, pp. 193-281; Doc. 402, pp. 9-71, 74-138, 141-210, 219-55), Parkervision’s President, Jeffrey Parker (Doc. 403, pp. 5-158), Parkervision’s retained infringement expert, Dr. Paul Prucnal (id. at 160-86, 194-263; Doc. 404, pp. 4-256),4 and Qual-comm’s retained invalidity expert, Dr. Behzad Razavi (Doc. 405, pp. 11-272). While both parties extensively cross-examined each other’s witnesses, Parkervision did not present any expert testimony concerning the prior art discussed by Dr. Razavi, and Qualcomm did not present any testimony concerning infringement or the development and operation of its accused products.5

At the conclusion of the first phase of the trial, the jury deliberated for more [1271]*1271than ten hours over three days before returning its verdict rejecting Qualcomm’s invalidity claims and finding that Qual-comm directly and indirectly infringed: (1) claims 23, 25, 161, 193, and 202 of the '551 Patent; (2) claims 27, 82, 90, and 91 of the '518 Patent; (3) claim 2 of the '371 Patent; and (4) claim 18 of the '342 Patent. (See Doc. 416; see also Docs. 407, 410, 413.) Specifically, the jury indicated by checkmarks on the verdict form that the following products infringe Parkervision’s asserted patent claims: Astra, Bahama, Eagleray, GZIF3, GZIF4, Halley, Hercules, Iceman, Iris, Libra/Gemini, Magellan, Marimba,6 Merlin, Napoleon, Odyssey, Ramsis, Solo, Volans, Voltron, and Ywing.7 (Doc. 416, p. 2.)

Qualcomm timely moved for judgment as a matter of .law (“JMOL”) concerning invalidity and non-infringement. (Docs.

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Bluebook (online)
27 F. Supp. 3d 1266, 2014 WL 2815808, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 85083, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/parkervision-inc-v-qualcomm-inc-flmd-2014.