Decoding Decoy Patent Claims to Locate Prior Art in Battery Technology
Value Delivered
By identifying and navigating decoy claim elements in a patent related to battery technology, we successfully uncovered prior art that aligned perfectly with the specific discharge profile described in the patent.
This breakthrough provided our client with critical evidence needed to challenge the patent’s validity.
Problems Solved
The patent at hand included decoy claims that emphasized the control circuit of a battery-operated medical device, diverting attention from the critical aspect—the choice of a Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery. The narrow range of specific voltage values in the patent made it difficult to find matching prior art through traditional search methods.
The challenge was further compounded by the graphical representation of data in potential prior art sources, which required exact value extraction.
Solution Offered
Recognizing the decoy claims, we shifted our focus from the control circuit to the LiFePO4 battery itself, exploring its properties and relevant applications. This led to the discovery of promising prior art, including a Texas Instruments analysis with the needed discharge profiles. Using ImageJ, an image processing tool, we decoded the exact voltage drop from graphical data, perfectly matching the patent’s specifications.
This innovative approach allowed us to deliver a tier-1 result, proving invaluable to our client in their patent invalidity case.
When tackling patent invalidity searches, it’s crucial to identify potential decoy elements that may distract from the core aspects of a patent. Challenges often include finding exact matches for specific values or decoding complex data from non-traditional sources.
