Knowles Electronics LLC v. Cirrus Logic, Inc.

Knowles’s 231 patent, entitled “Microelectromechanical System Package with Environmental and Interference Shield,” discloses microelectromechanical system (MEMS) packages comprising a substrate, a microphone, and a cover accommodating the microphone. The MEMS packages shield the microphone from an interference signal or an environmental condition, and purportedly improve over the prior art’s drawbacks “associated with manufacturing these housings, such as lead time, cost, and tooling,” On inter partes reexamination, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board affirmed an examiner’s rejection of claims 1−4 for anticipation and proposed claims 23−27 for lack of an adequate written description. The Federal Circuit affirmed. The Board properly construed the term “package” in claims 1–4. Substantial evidence supports the board’s lack of adequate written description determination as to proposed claims 23–27. View "Knowles Electronics LLC v. Cirrus Logic, Inc." on Justia Law