Ex Parte 7,902,107 et alDownload PDFPatent Trial and Appeal BoardAug 28, 201795001894 (P.T.A.B. Aug. 28, 2017) Copy Citation UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARKOFFICE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE United States Patent and Trademark Office Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS P.O. Box 1450 Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450 www.uspto.gov APPLICATION NO. FILING DATE FIRST NAMED INVENTOR ATTORNEY DOCKET NO. CONFIRMATION NO. 95/001,744 09/07/2011 7,902,107 B248 7004US (88418.0024.0 4832 109171 7590 08/29/2017 Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP Attn: IP Docketing P.O. Box 7037 Atlanta, GA 30357-7037 EXAMINER LOPEZ, CARLOS N ART UNIT PAPER NUMBER 3991 MAIL DATE DELIVERY MODE 08/29/2017 PAPER Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding. The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication. PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07) UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE United States Patent and Trademark Office Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS P.O. Box 1450 Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450 www.uspto.gov APPLICATION NO. FILING DATE FIRST NAMED INVENTOR ATTORNEY DOCKET NO. CONFIRMATION NO. 95/001,894 02/15/2012 7,902,107 B2 H0610.0506/P506-RE 7108 109171 7590 08/29/2017 Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP Attn: IP Docketing P.O. Box 7037 Atlanta, GA 30357-7037 EXAMINER LOPEZ, CARLOS N ART UNIT PAPER NUMBER 3991 MAIL DATE DELIVERY MODE 08/29/2017 PAPER Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding. The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication. PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07) UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE ____________ BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD ____________ JOHNSON MATTHEY, INC. & HALDOR TOPSOE A/S DENMARK, Requesters and Appellants, v. Patent of BASF CORPORATION, Patent Owner and Respondent ____________ Appeal 2017-006009 Reexamination Control 95/001,744 & 95/001,894 (merged) Patent 7,902,107 B2 Technology Center 3900 ____________ Before RICHARD M. LEBOVITZ, JEFFREY B. ROBERTSON, and JEFFREY W. ABRAHAM, Administrative Patent Judges. ROBERTSON, Administrative Patent Judge. DECISION ON APPEAL Third-Party Requesters Johnson Matthey, Inc. (hereinafter “JMI”) and Haldor Topsoe A/S Denmark (hereinafter “HTAS”) appeal under 35 U.S.C. §§ 134(c) and 315(b) from the Examiner’s refusal to reject claims 1, 3–21, Appeal 2017-006009 Reexamination Control 95/001,744 & 95/001,894 (merged) Patent 7,902,107 B2 2 23–34, 36, and 37 on various grounds.1 Patent Owner BASF Corporation (hereinafter “Patent Owner”) urges that the Examiner’s decision must be affirmed.2 We have jurisdiction under 35 U.S.C. §§ 6, 134(c) and 315(b). We REVERSE the Examiner’s decision not to adopt certain proposed rejections. By operation of rule, our reversal constitutes a new ground of rejection of claims 1, 3–21, 23–34, 36, and 37 under 37 C.F.R. § 41.77(b). STATEMENT OF THE CASE JMI requested inter partes reexamination of United States Patent 7,902,107 B2 (hereinafter the “’107 Patent”) on September 22, 2011, which was assigned Reexamination Control No. 95/001,744 (hereinafter “the ’744 Reexamination”). HTAS requested inter partes reexamination of the ’107 Patent on February 15, 2012, which was assigned Reexamination Control No. 95/001,894 (hereinafter “the ’894 Reexamination”). In a DECISION SUA SPONTE MERGING REEXAMINATION PROCEEDINGS mailed May 28, 2013 (hereinafter “Merger Decision”), the 1 See JMI’s Appeal Brief filed April 30, 2015, hereinafter “JMI App. Br.”; JMI’s Rebuttal Brief filed July 7, 2016, hereinafter “JMI Reb. Br.;” HTAS’s Appeal Brief filed January 28, 2015, hereinafter “JMI App. Br.”; JMI’s Rebuttal Brief filed June 6, 2016, hereinafter “HTAS Reb. Br.;” Examiner’s Answer mailed May 5, 2016, hereinafter “Ans.,” Right of Appeal Notice mailed October 30, 2014, hereinafter “RAN.” 2 See Patent Owner’s Respondent Brief to JMI’s Appeal Brief filed June 29, 2015, hereinafter “PO ’744 Resp’t Br.” And Patent Owner’s Respondent Brief to HTAS’s Appeal Brief filed June 29, 2015, hereinafter “PO ’894 Resp’t Br.” Appeal 2017-006009 Reexamination Control 95/001,744 & 95/001,894 (merged) Patent 7,902,107 B2 3 ’744 Reexamination and the ’894 Reexamination were merged into a single proceeding. The ’107 Patent issued to Joseph A. Patchett et al. on March 8, 2011, based on Application 12/028,300 filed February 8, 2008, which is listed as a continuation of application No. 11/676,798, filed on February 20, 2007, which in turn is listed as a division of application No. 10/634,659, filed on August 5, 2003 and issued as U.S. Patent 7,229,597 (hereinafter “the ’597 Patent.”) We are informed that the ’597 Patent is also subjected to inter partes reexamination (Reexamination Control No. 95/001,745), which has been appealed to the PTAB. (JMI App. Br. 1.) In addition, several other patents claiming the benefit of the ’597 Patent were subjected to Inter Partes Review, namely U.S. Patent 8,899,023 (IPR 2015-01265); U.S. Patent 9,039,982 (IPR 2015-01266); and U.S. Patent 9,032,709 (IPR 2015-01267). Final Written Decisions were entered in all three Inter Partes Review proceedings determining that the Petitioner had failed to show by a preponderance of the evidence that the claims were unpatentable. (IPR 2015-01265, Paper No. 35 entered November 30, 2016; IPR 2015-01266, Paper No. 35 entered November 30, 2016; IPR 2015- 01267, Paper No. 35 entered November 30, 2016.) The ’107 Patent states that the invention relates to an emission treatment system including a material effective in the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) of nitrogen oxides (NOx) by a reductant such as ammonia, and in particular, a wall-flow monolith containing an SCR catalyst composition including a zeolite and base metal component selected from copper or iron. (Col. 1, ll. 10–22; col. 4, ll. 27–30, 45–52.) Appeal 2017-006009 Reexamination Control 95/001,744 & 95/001,894 (merged) Patent 7,902,107 B2 4 Claim 1, which is illustrative of the appealed subject matter, reads as follows (with paragraphing added for clarity and underlining indicating additions relative to the claim as issued): 1. A catalyst article consisting essentially of a wall flow monolith and catalytic material, wherein the wall flow monolith has a plurality of longitudinally extending passages formed by longitudinally extending walls bounding and defining said passages, wherein the passages comprise inlet passages having an open inlet end and a closed outlet end, and outlet passages having a closed inlet end and an open outlet end, and the wall flow monolith contains catalytic material comprising a slurry loaded washcoat of an SCR catalyst composition including a zeolite and a base metal component that permeates the walls at a loading up to 2.4 g/in3 effective to convert a NOx component to nitrogen through selective catalytic reduction with ammonia. (JMI App. Br. 36, Claims App’x.3) Independent claims 18 and 21 are similar to claim 1 with the exception that claims 18 and 21 recite that “the wall flow monolith has a wall porosity of at least 50% with an average pore size of at least 5 microns.” In addition, claim 18 recites that the SCR catalyst composition permeates the walls at a concentration of at least 1.3 g/in3, while claim 21 does not contain any recitation regarding the permeation of the walls by the SCR catalyst composition. The term “NOx” refers to nitrogen oxides. (’107 patent, col. 1, l. 15.) “SCR” is Selective Catalytic Reduction. The claim 3 The claim numbering in the Claims Appendix in JMI’s Appeal Brief appears to be incorrect as the numbering skips from claim 29 to claim 31. (See JMI App. Br. 41.) Appeal 2017-006009 Reexamination Control 95/001,744 & 95/001,894 (merged) Patent 7,902,107 B2 5 requires the SCR catalyst to include zeolite and a base metal. According to the ’107 patent, the base metal is preferably one or more of copper and iron. (Id., col. 4, ll. 45–48.) JMI’s Appeal in the ’744 Reexamination4 JMI contests the Examiner’s refusal to reject claims 1, 3–21, 23–34, 36, and 37 under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as follows: I. Claims 1, 3–21, 23–34, 36, and 37 as obvious over Ohno ’3515 and Speronello;6 II. Claims 1, 3–21, 23–34, 36, and 37 as obvious over Hashimoto,7 Ohno ’351 and Speronello; III. Claims 1, 3–21, 23–34, 36, and 37 as obvious over Nakanishi8 and Speronello; and IV. Claims 1, 3–21, 23–34, 36, and 37 as obvious over Araki,9 Heck,10 and Speronello. 4 In the interest of efficiency, throughout the course of discussing the ’744 Reexamination Appeal, we make reference to corresponding evidence in the ’894 Reexamination Appeal to the extent that there is a difference between the evidence in the two reexamination proceedings. 5 WO 02/26351 A1 published April 4, 2002, citations to English translation of Record. We further observe that this prior art was not raised in the three Inter Partes Review proceedings discussed above. 6 U.S. Patent 5,516,497 issued May 14, 1996. 7 Hashimoto, S. et al., “SiC and Cordierite Diesel Particulate Filters Designed for Low Pressure Drop and Catalyzed, Uncatalyzed Systems,” SAE Technical Paper Series, 2002-01-0322 (Mar. 2002). 8 JP 09-173866 published July 8, 1997, citations to English translation of record. 9 EP 0 766 993 A2 published April 9, 1997. Appeal 2017-006009 Reexamination Control 95/001,744 & 95/001,894 (merged) Patent 7,902,107 B2 6 (JMI App. Br. 5–6.) In support of the above proposed rejections JMI relies on the following declaration evidence in addition to the prior art cited above (JMI App. Br. 43–44, Evidence App’x): Declaration of Phillip G. Blakeman, Ph.D., Under 37 C.F.R. § 1.132 (“First Blakeman Decl.”) (Ex. 9); Declaration of Paul R. Phillips, Ph.D., Under 37 C.F.R. § 1.132 (“First Phillips Decl.”) (Ex. 10); Declaration of Andrew P. Walker, Ph.D., Under 37 C.F.R. § 1.132 (“Walker Decl.”) (Ex. 11); Declaration by Raj Rajaram, Ph.D., Under 37 C.F.R. C.F.R. § 1.132 (“Rajaram Decl.”) (Ex. 12); Second Declaration by Phillip G. Blakeman, Ph.D., Under 37 C.F.R. § 1.132 (“Second Blakeman Decl.”) (Ex. 13); Second Declaration by Paul R. Phillips, Ph.D., Under 37 C.F.R. § 1.132 (“Second Phillips Decl.”) (Ex. 14); and Third Declaration by Phillip G. Blakeman, Ph.D., Under 37 C.F.R. § 1.132 (“Third Blakeman Decl.”) (Ex. 15). Patent Owner relies on the following declaration evidence in support of the patentability of the claims (’744 Resp’t Br. 15–16, Evidence App’x): 10 Heck, R.M. et al., “Catalytic Air Pollution Control,” (2d ed. 2002) pp. 204–208. Appeal 2017-006009 Reexamination Control 95/001,744 & 95/001,894 (merged) Patent 7,902,107 B2 7 Declaration of Gary L. Haller, Ph.D. Under 37 C.F.R. § 1.132 and exhibit, dated January 23, 2012 (“Haller ’744 Decl.”) (Ex. 5); Declaration of Andrew P. Walker, Ph.D., Under 37 C.F.R. § 1.132 and exhibits, dated February 24, 2012 (“Walker Decl.”) (Ex. 6); Declaration of Robert J. Farrauto, Ph.D. Under 37 C.F.R. § 1.132 and exhibits, dated June 27, 2012 (“Farrauto Decl.”) (Ex. 7); Declaration of Joseph A. Patchett, Ph.D. Under 37 C.F.R. § 1.132, dated June 28, 2012 (“Patchett ’744 Decl.”) (Ex. 8); Declaration of Joseph C. Dettling Under 37 C.F.R. § 1.132 and exhibits, dated June 29, 2012 (“Dettling ’744 Decl.”) (Ex. 9); Second Declaration of Gary L. Haller, Ph.D. Under 37 C.F.R. § 1.132 and exhibits, dated June 28, 2012 (“Second Haller Decl.”) (Ex. 13); Second Declaration of Phillip G. Blakeman, Ph.D., Under 37 C.F.R. § 1.132, dated August 1, 2012 (“Second Blakeman Decl.”) (Ex. 14); and Second Declaration of Joseph A. Patchett, Ph.D. Under 37 C.F.R. § 1.132 and exhibits, dated May 1, 2015 (“Second Patchett Decl.”) (Ex. 17). HTAS’s Appeal in the ’894 Reexamination HTAS contests the Examiner’s refusal to reject claims 21, 24–26, 33, 34, and 36 under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as follows:11 11 HTAS indicates also that it is challenging claim 21 under 35 U.S.C. § 112, first paragraph as failing to comply with the written description requirement. (HTAS App. Br. 4.) However, we agree with Patent Owner that HTAS did not timely raise this rejection during the reexamination proceeding in front Appeal 2017-006009 Reexamination Control 95/001,744 & 95/001,894 (merged) Patent 7,902,107 B2 8 V. Claim 21 under 35 U.S.C. § 102(a) as anticipated by Akama;12 VI. Claims 21 and 36 under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b) as anticipated by Ohno ’529;13 VII. Claims 21 and 36 under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as obvious over Nakatani;14 VIII. Claims 21, 24–26, 33, 34, and 36 under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as obvious over Nakatani and Speronello; IX. Claims 21, 24–26, 33, 34, and 36 under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as obvious over Ohno ’529 and Speronello, and X. Claims 24–26, 33, 34, and 36 under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as obvious over Akama as applied to claim 21 above and further in view of Speronello. (HTAS App. Br. 3–4.) of the Central Reexamination Unit, and as a result is not permitted to raise it on appeal. (’894 Resp’t Br. 2; Merger Decision 4–5 (explaining that appeal may only be taken from a rejection that was previously proposed by the particular Requester appealing.)) Accordingly, we do not address this proposed rejection in this Decision. We also observe that HTAS does not list claim 37 in the issues to be reviewed on appeal, but includes claim 37 in its arguments. (Compare HTAS App. Br. 3–4 with 4–5.) We agree with Patent Owner that HTAS did not propose a rejection of claim 37 with respect to the rejections appealed after claim 37 was added to the reexamination by amendment. (’894 Resp’t Br. 8, 12, 13–14.) 12 JP 2002-361047, published December 17, 2002. 13 U.S. Patent 7,625,529 B2, issued December 1, 2009. The ’529 Patent is relied upon as an English equivalent by HTAS of WO 02/26351 A1, which is the Ohno ’351 reference discussed above. (HTAS App. Br. 13.) 14 K. Nakatani et al., “Simultaneous PM and NOx Reduction System for Diesel Engines,” Society of Automotive Engineers, 2002. Appeal 2017-006009 Reexamination Control 95/001,744 & 95/001,894 (merged) Patent 7,902,107 B2 9 HTAS does not cite any declaration evidence in addition to the prior art cited above (HTAS App. Br. 34, Evidence App’x). Patent Owner relies on the following declaration evidence in support of the patentability of the claims (’744 Resp’t Br. 15–16, Evidence App’x): Declaration of Robert J. Farrauto, Ph.D. Under 37 C.F.R. § 1.132 and exhibits, dated June 27, 2012 (“Farrauto Decl.”) (Ex. 2); Declaration of Joseph A. Patchett, Ph.D. Under 37 C.F.R. § 1.132, dated July 11, 2012 (“Patchett ’894 Decl.”) (Ex. 3); Declaration of Joseph C. Dettling Under 37 C.F.R. § 1.132 and exhibits, dated July 10, 2012 (“Dettling ’894 Decl.”) (Ex. 4); Declaration of Gary L. Haller, Ph.D. Under 37 C.F.R. § 1.132 and exhibit, dated July 10, 2012 (“Haller ’894 Decl.”) (Ex. 5); and Second Declaration of Joseph A. Patchett, Ph.D. Under 37 C.F.R. § 1.132 and exhibits, dated May 1, 2015 (“Second Patchett Decl.”) (Ex. 10). FINDINGS OF FACT (“FF”) 1. Ohno ’351 discloses a catalyst-carrying filter that purifies the exhaust gas of an engine that is “capable of effective and efficient removal by oxidation of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbon (HC) and reduction of nitrogen oxide (NOx) Appeal 2017-006009 Reexamination Control 95/001,744 & 95/001,894 (merged) Patent 7,902,107 B2 10 contained in exhaust gas.” (P. 1, 1st ¶; see Ohno ’529, col. 1, ll. 6–10.15) 2. Ohno ’351 discloses a wall-flow filter in the form of a SiC sintered support that contains cells, where one end of the cell is sealed, and the open ends are arranged to form a checkered pattern of the open and closed ends. (¶ bridging pages 7 and 8; Figs. 1(a) and 1(b); see Ohno ’529, col. 5, ll. 43–55, Fig. 1(a) and 1(b).) 3. Ohno ’351 discloses that various impregnation methods may be used to produce the catalyst-carrying filter including an incipient wetness method, where an aqueous solution of catalyst is dropped in small amounts on the ceramic support. (P. 22, 1st full ¶; see Ohno ’529, col. 14, ll. 38–54.) 4. Ohno ’351 discloses: The catalyst carrying filter 10 of the embodiment of the invention is used as an exhaust gas purifying filter. One such use is the usual honeycomb ceramic support 15, for example, a gasoline oxidation catalyst, ternary catalyst and diesel engine oxidation catalyst. Another use would be as a diesel particulate filter with the honeycomb alternately sealed in a checkered pattern. (P. 28, 2nd ¶; see Ohno ’529, col. 18, ll. 35–41.) 5. Ohno ’351 discloses: This diesel particulate filter (hereinafter, abbreviated as “DPF”) itself would have the function of 15 References to Ohno ’529 reflect the corresponding citation to account for the English equivalent used in the ’894 Reexamination. Appeal 2017-006009 Reexamination Control 95/001,744 & 95/001,894 (merged) Patent 7,902,107 B2 11 only accumulating particulates (particulate matter: PM) in the cell walls 12, but when it carries a catalyst, the hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide in the exhaust gas could be oxidized. Also, even in an oxidized atmosphere such as the diesel exhaust gas, if it carried a NOx selective reduction catalyst component that can deoxidize NOx or an occlusion catalyst component, it would be possible to deoxidize NOx. (P. 28, ¶¶ 3–4; see Ohno ’529, col. 18, ll. 41–50.) 6. Speronello discloses that metal-promoted zeolites reduce NOx in the presence of ammonia to produce nitrogen and water over the competing reaction of oxygen and ammonia. (Col. 5, ll. 5– 12.) 7. Speronello discloses SCR catalysts where the base metal used in connection with the zeolite is iron or copper. (Col. 5, ll. 40– 46.) 8. While exemplifying flow-through filters, Speronello discloses that “[a]ny suitable physical form of the catalyst may be utilized.” (Col. 7, ll. 10–57.) 9. Speronello discloses that the filter may be coated with a washcoat containing a slurry of fine particles of copper- promoted zeolite, the copper-promoted zeolite may be mixed with a binder and extruded into the honeycomb configuration, or formed in situ. (Col. 7, ll. 57–66, col. 8, ll. 46–55.) 10. Speronello discloses that zeolites may be selected to make the catalyst more resistant to sulfur poisoning, to have thermal and Appeal 2017-006009 Reexamination Control 95/001,744 & 95/001,894 (merged) Patent 7,902,107 B2 12 hydrothermal stability, and long life and efficiency. (Col. 6, ll. 17–49.) PRINCIPLES OF LAW In responding to a prima facie case of obviousness, one cannot show nonobviousness by attacking references individually where the rejections are based on combinations of references. In re Keller, 642 F.2d 413, 426 (CCPA 1981); In re Merck & Co., Inc., 800 F.2d 1091, 1097 (Fed. Cir. 1986). “[T]he test for combining references is not what the individual references themselves suggest but rather what the combination of disclosures taken as a whole would suggest to one of ordinary skill in the art.” In re McLaughlin, 443 F.2d 1392, 1395 (CCPA 1971). In addition, “[t]he prior art’s mere disclosure of more than one alternative does not constitute a teaching away from any of these alternatives because such disclosure does not criticize, discredit, or otherwise discourage the solution claimed.” In re Fulton, 391 F.3d 1195, 1201 (Fed. Cir. 2004). In order for a showing of unexpected results to overcome the teachings of the prior art, the results presented must be commensurate in scope with the claims. See In re Kollman, 595 F.2d 48, 55 (CCPA 1979). “[W]hen unexpected results are used as evidence of nonobviousness, the results must be shown to be unexpected compared with the closest prior art.” In re Baxter Travenol Labs., 952 F.2d 388, 392 (Fed. Cir. 1991). Appeal 2017-006009 Reexamination Control 95/001,744 & 95/001,894 (merged) Patent 7,902,107 B2 13 JMI’s Appeal in the ’744 Reexamination Ohno ’351 in view of Speronello ISSUES JMI contends that Ohno ’351 discloses a high-porosity wall-flow filter corresponding to the wall-flow monolith16 recited in the claims with a catalyst coating that permeates the walls of the filter, but not an SCR catalyst as recited in the claims. (JMI App. Br. 6–7.) However, JMI contends that Speronello discloses SCR catalyst compositions including a zeolite with a copper or iron metal base component that catalyze the reaction of NOx and ammonia to form nitrogen and water. (JMI App. Br. 7.) JMI acknowledges that Speronello exemplifies a flow-through substrate for the SCR catalyst, but contends that the method of coating in Speronello is similar to the method employed in the ’107 Patent and recited in the claims. (JMI App. Br. 7–8.) JMI argues that in view of Ohno ’351’s disclosed objective of providing a catalyst-carrying filter and that the catalyst on the filter may be an SCR catalyst, it would have been obvious to use Speronello’s catalyst in constructing the filter of Ohno ’351 as Speronello discloses that the metal zeolite catalysts exhibit resistance to sulfur poisoning, thermal durability, and a broad operational temperature range. (JMI App. Br. 9, 11–12.) The Examiner did not adopt the rejection of Ohno ’351 and Speronello because according to the Examiner, Ohno ’351 discloses a “selective reduction catalyst component” and not necessarily a complete SCR catalyst composition such that Ohno ’351 teaches away from SCR 16 As explained by JMI, the wall-flow monoliths recited in the claims are known by various names, including “wall flow filter,” “particulate filter,” “soot filter,” or “filter.” (JMI App. Br. 3.) Appeal 2017-006009 Reexamination Control 95/001,744 & 95/001,894 (merged) Patent 7,902,107 B2 14 catalyst compositions as disclosed in Speronello. (RAN 9.) The Examiner stated further that Ohno ’351 does not provide a reasonable expectation of success that an SCR catalyst composition that comprises a zeolite and a base metal would permeate the walls of a wall-flow monolith as claimed. (RAN 9.) Patent Owner contends that there are significant differences between the wall-flow monoliths disclosed in Ohno ’351 and the flow-through substrates disclosed in Speronello such that because Speronello does not disclose the application of zeolites to wall-flow filters, one of ordinary skill in the art would not have used the SCR catalyst disclosed in Speronello in a wall-flow filter as disclosed by Ohno ’351. (’744 Resp’t Br. 2–3.) Patent Owner further contends that, because Ohno ’351 requires an oxidation catalyst to oxidize carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon, substitution of the catalysts of Speronello in the filters of Ohno ’351 would mean that Ohno ’351 would no longer work for its intended purpose. (’744 Resp’t Br. 3–4.) Patent Owner argues further that Ohno ’351 does not teach a “slurry loaded washcoat” as recited in the claims, because there is a structural difference between the layers disclosed in Ohno ’351 and the slurry-loaded washcoat recited in the claims. (’744 Resp’t Br. 5.) Patent Owner agrees with the Examiner that Ohno ’351 discloses an SCR catalyst “component” rather than an SCR catalyst composition. (’744 Resp’t Br. 5–8.) Patent Owner contends that evidence of unexpected results supports the patentability of the claims. (’744 Resp’t Br. 12–14.) Appeal 2017-006009 Reexamination Control 95/001,744 & 95/001,894 (merged) Patent 7,902,107 B2 15 Thus, the dispositive issue is: Considering the evidence as a whole, would it have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to have used the SCR catalyst disclosed in Speronello in a wall-flow filter as disclosed in Ohno ’351? ANALYSIS After careful consideration of the evidence of record, we agree with JMI, that Ohno ’351 and Speronello would have rendered the claimed wall- flow monolith having an SCR catalytic material comprising a zeolite and a base metal component obvious. That is, Ohno ’351 expressly discloses that the wall-flow monolith disclosed therein is designed to include catalysts capable of selective reduction of NOx contained in engine exhaust gas. (FF 1, 2, 4, 5.) Speronello discloses SCR catalysts including zeolite and base metal that have specific advantages over conventional SCR catalysts, including thermal resistance, long life, and efficiency. (FF 7, 10.) Thus, one of ordinary skill in the art would have had a reason to use the catalysts disclosed in Speronello as the SCR catalysts expressly suggested in Ohno ’351. Catalyst “Component” As to the Examiner’s and Patent Owner’s position that Ohno ’351 discloses catalyst “components” for selective catalytic reduction, which would not include the complete catalysts disclosed in Speronello, we are of the view that this reading Ohno ’351 is unduly narrow. Specifically, we find that one of ordinary skill in the art, in reading the disclosure of Ohno ’351 as Appeal 2017-006009 Reexamination Control 95/001,744 & 95/001,894 (merged) Patent 7,902,107 B2 16 a whole, would have understood the discussion of an SCR catalyst component in Ohno ’351 to include a complete SCR catalyst composition that itself is a component of a larger system, rather than being limited to an incomplete catalyst composition. A basis for this finding is that in the objectives disclosed in Ohno ’351, it is expressly stated that the wall flow monolith is capable of selective reduction of NOx, indicating that a functional catalyst is present. (FF 1, 5.) Thus, we agree with the interpretation of Ohno ’351 advanced by JMI, namely that “component” refers to a component of the filter, and not a component of an SCR catalyst. (JMI App. Br. 14–16, Third Blakeman Decl. paras. 7–9.) Patent Owner points to other patents that disclose zeolites as catalyst “components” and that a single “component” can exhibit catalytic reduction of NOx. (’744 Resp’t Br. 5–7; Second Patchett Decl. ¶¶ 9–20.) The positions taken by Patent Owner do not consider the prior art as a whole, and in particular, the disclosure of Speronello relating to the specific advantages of the SCR catalyst composition disclosed therein. (FF 10.) Moreover, the issue is whether Ohno ’351, itself, discloses an SCR catalyst, namely a catalyst that catalyzes the reaction of NOx and ammonia to form nitrogen and water. (JMI App. Br. 7.) Thus, that Ohno ’351 uses the term “component” and does not specify the use of a zeolite, is not dispositive as to what one of ordinary skill in the art would have understood from the prior art. Teaching Away / Reasonable Expectation of Success Even if Ohno ’351 were to be interpreted narrowly as disclosing a component of an SCR catalyst, Ohno ’351 does not criticize or otherwise Appeal 2017-006009 Reexamination Control 95/001,744 & 95/001,894 (merged) Patent 7,902,107 B2 17 disparage the use of the SCR catalyst composition as disclosed in Speronello. Thus, we are not persuaded by Patent Owner’s and the Examiner’s position that Ohno ’351 teaches away from the use of the SCR catalyst in Speronello even if their interpretation of “component” as limiting the catalyst is correct. Fulton, 391 F.3d at 1201. Similarly, we are not persuaded by the Examiner’s position that the prior art provides no reasonable expectation of success to use a complete SCR catalyst, because Ohno ’351 discloses that the pores of the filter wall are not completely clogged. (RAN 33.) We do not view Ohno ’351’s disclosure that the pores of the filter are not completely clogged to provide sufficient evidence that a zeolite containing catalyst composition would be unsuitable for a wall flow filter. Indeed, Patent Owner’s expert could not definitively state that a catalyst composition would clog the pores of the filter wall.17 (Second Haller Decl. ¶ 20 (“A slurry loaded washcoat, comprised of preformed catalyst particles in a slurry, would be expected to fill the individual pores in the walls of the wall flow filter to some extent with individual particles that make up the slurry” (emphasis added).) As explained further below, Ohno ’351 does not limit its coating methods, and therefore, we are also not persuaded by Patent Owner’s arguments that there would be no reasonable expectation of success in using a zeolite and base metal, because it would be “highly unlikely” that zeolite crystals could be 17 Hashimoto provides evidence that wash coating can be used successfully for DPF filters. (Hashimoto, text under Fig. 21, second to last page (“the porosity and mean pore size of the DPF materials are critical for the catalyzed DPF system. Also, high porosity material can be coated with significantly higher wash coat loading without adversely effecting pressure- drop.”).) Appeal 2017-006009 Reexamination Control 95/001,744 & 95/001,894 (merged) Patent 7,902,107 B2 18 grown in the pores of the wall-flow filter disclosed in Ohno ’351. (’744 Resp’t Br. 7; Farrauto Decl. ¶ 20.) We observe, as does the Examiner, that the claims do not expressly recite any particular attributes of a “slurry loaded washcoat” and as a result, the claims merely recite the presence of a coating of catalytic material on the wall-flow monolith. (RAN 7.) Thus, we interpret “washcoat” to mean that a coating of SCR catalyst is present on the wall-flow monolith. Nevertheless, even if the term “slurry loaded washcoat” imparts particular structural characteristics to the claims, we do not subscribe to Patent Owner’s view that Ohno ’351 teaches away from wash coating due to significant peeling of the coating during washing as well as resulting in increased back pressure. (’744 Resp’t Br. 7, Haller ’744 Decl. ¶ 13; Second Patchett Decl. ¶ 21; Ohno ’351 ¶ bridging pages 15 and 16.) As pointed out by JMI, Ohno ’351 uses the term wash coating to refer to the formation of a prior art thick coating of alumina film on the surfaces of the prior art cell walls, wherein gaps between particles can become clogged and impede passage, whereas Ohno ’351 discloses embodiments wherein the cell walls are structured and coated to promote individual covering with alumina thin film such that pores in the cell walls are maintained as pores and are never completely clogged. (Ohno ’351 p. 12, last full ¶, p. 13, 1st full ¶; JMI Reb. Br. 6; Walker Decl. ¶¶ 12– 14.) Contrary to Patent Owner’s position, Ohno ’351 discloses specifically that various methods of coating a catalyst on a wall flow filter may be used. (FF 3.) Thus, Ohno ’351 is not limited to generating the catalyst composition in situ, i.e., where the zeolite and base metal composition would Appeal 2017-006009 Reexamination Control 95/001,744 & 95/001,894 (merged) Patent 7,902,107 B2 19 be grown on the surface of the wall-flow monolith. Speronello discloses that the support disclosed therein is coated using a variety of techniques including a slurry-loaded washcoat of pre-formed zeolite/base metal catalyst. (FF 9.) As a result, we are not persuaded by Patent Owner’s contentions that there is a structural difference between Ohno’s chemically derived layers and the slurry-loaded washcoat recited in the claims. (’744 Resp’t Br. 5 citing Farrauto Decl. ¶¶ 18–19, Patchett ’744 Decl. ¶ 14,18 Dettling ’744 Decl. ¶ 24.19) Accordingly, because Ohno ’351 is not limited in its catalyst coating method to generating the catalyst in situ, and we have not been directed to sufficient evidence that applying a slurry-loaded washcoat of SCR catalyst as disclosed in the prior art would render the wall flow filter of Ohno ’351 inoperable, we are not persuaded that a wall-flow monolith including a slurry-loaded washcoat of an SCR catalyst composition would not have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art. Wall-Flow v. Flow-Through Filters We are not persuaded by Patent Owner’s contentions that there are significant differences between the flow-through substrates in Speronello and the wall-flow filters described in Ohno ’351 in relation to porosities, back pressure considerations, and temperature operations such that Ohno ’351 and Speronello are in a different technical field. (’744 Resp’t Br. 2–3.) In particular, while we do not disagree with Patent Owner that one of 18 See Patchett ’894 Decl. ¶ 13. 19 See Dettling ’894 Decl. ¶ 21.) Appeal 2017-006009 Reexamination Control 95/001,744 & 95/001,894 (merged) Patent 7,902,107 B2 20 ordinary skill in the art may load a flow-through substrate differently than a wall-flow monolith (Haller ’744 Decl. ¶ 1920) and that there are different considerations associated with each type of filter, we are of the view that this does not rise to a level of a different technical field. (JMI App. Br. 6, 9–10; Walker Decl. ¶ 11; Phillips Decl. ¶ 5.) Both types of filters are associated with the purification of exhaust from engines, and in particular reduction of NOx gases therefrom. (FF 2, 4, 5, 9, 10.) Moreover, both Ohno ’351 and Speronello do not limit the applications with which the filters described therein could be used. (FF 4, 5, 8.) In addition, as evidenced by Heck, zeolites were known in the art to be used for NOx reduction with ammonia at higher temperatures. (Heck, Fig. 8.9.) Accordingly, Patent Owner’s contentions with respect to the considerations involved with different types of filters are not persuasive. Oxidation Catalyst With respect to Patent Owner’s contention that Ohno ’351 requires an oxidation catalyst and that using the SCR catalyst disclosed in Speronello would mean that Ohno ’351 would no longer work for its intended purpose, again we observe that Ohno ’351 expressly discloses the use of an SCR catalyst and specifically discloses the reduction of NOx as an objective, which is the purpose of the SCR catalyst. (FF 1, 5.) In addition, the claims do not require the presence of an oxidation catalyst and Ohno ’351 is broad in its disclosure of the filters disclosed therein. In this regard, we agree with JMI that Ohno ’351, while providing an example of an oxidation catalyst, is 20 See Haller ’894 Decl. ¶ 19.) Appeal 2017-006009 Reexamination Control 95/001,744 & 95/001,894 (merged) Patent 7,902,107 B2 21 not limited to oxidation catalysts, but is generally directed to “an exhaust gas purifying filter.” (FF 4; JMI App. Br. 9; Second Blakeman Decl. ¶¶ 12, 13.) Unexpected Results Patent Owner contends that Example 4 in the ’107 Patent demonstrates unexpected results as to the effectiveness of a diesel particulate filter loaded with an SCR catalyst comprising zeolite and a base metal such as copper or iron in removing NOx and preventing soot buildup on the walls of the filter in the absence of any platinum group metals on the filter. (’744 Resp’t Br. 13.) Patent Owner points also to the experiments described in the Patchett Declaration that allegedly compare the catalyst article in Ohno ’351 to the catalyst article in the ’107 Patent to further demonstrate unexpected results. (’744 Resp’t Br. 13–14; Patchett ’744 Decl. ¶¶ 15–17, 20–22;21 Second Haller Decl. ¶¶ 27–28.) Example 4 of the ’107 Patent is an evaluation of filtration efficiency of NOx conversion and particulate removal for coated soot filters, where an SCR catalyst containing a copper containing zeolite was coated on to either a wall-flow monolith substrate (Catalyst A1, see Example 1, col. 12, ll. 16– 36) or a flow-through monolith substrate (Catalyst D1, see Example 1, col. 12, ll. 47–55). (Col. 14, ll. 11–15, 57–62.) The results of the experiment are shown in Table 1 of the ’107 Patent. The ’107 Patent discloses that the results show that disposing the SCR catalyst composition on the wall-flow monolith demonstrate integrated high NOx and particulate removal efficiency. (Col. 15, ll. 3–28.) According to Patent Owner, the results are 21 See Patchett ’894 Decl. ¶¶ 14–16, 24–26. Appeal 2017-006009 Reexamination Control 95/001,744 & 95/001,894 (merged) Patent 7,902,107 B2 22 unexpected because the filters of the prior art require the presence of a platinum group metal in the filter to promote burning of soot, and it would have been unexpected that a high particulate removal efficiency could be maintained without an undue increase in back pressure. (Second Haller Decl. ¶ 27.) JMI contends that the results in Example 4 and the results presented in the Patchett Declaration are not commensurate in scope with the claims and further do not outweigh the evidence of obviousness in the proposed rejections. (JMI Reb. Br. 17; see Phillips Decl. ¶¶ 6–12.) In particular, JMI contends that the metal-promoted zeolite SCR catalysts in the ’107 Patent were already known in the art as evidenced by Speronello and perform their known function. (JMI Reb. Br. 18.) JMI contends that nothing in the claims of the ’107 Patent requires an amount of particulate removal, filtration efficiency and back pressure. (JMI Reb. Br. 18.) JMI contends that the experiments conducted by Dr. Patchett are irrelevant because the experiments only involved a platinum catalyst, and in view of the prior art teachings of metal-promoted zeolite catalysts, the experiments fail to establish anything unexpected. (JMI Reb. Br. 19.) We agree with JMI that the results presented in Example 4 of the ’107 Patent are not commensurate in scope with the claims. That is, the claims are directed to a “catalyst article” including a zeolite and a base metal component, which according to independent claim 1, permeates the walls of the wall flow monolith at a loading up to 2.4 g/in3, in independent claim 18, permeates the walls of the wall flow monolith at a concentration of at least 1.3 g/in3, and in claim 21, the amount of loading is such that the catalyst Appeal 2017-006009 Reexamination Control 95/001,744 & 95/001,894 (merged) Patent 7,902,107 B2 23 composition is “effective to convert a NOx component to nitrogen through selective catalytic reduction with ammonia.” However, in Example 4, the catalyst loadings are 2.1 g/in3 for the wall-flow monolith (A1), and 2.0 g/in3 for the flow-through substrate (D1). (Col. 12, ll. 36–50, col. 15, Table 1.) Thus, the results in Example 4 are not commensurate in scope with the claims, because the catalyst loadings recited in the claims comprise a broad range (claim 1) and are open ended (claims 18, 21), while the examples are only directed to one loading at the higher end of the claimed range. In addition, while providing evidence that a zeolite/base metal catalyst composition has different results depending on the substrate on which it is disposed, Example 4 does not provide sufficient evidence to support Patent Owner’s position that the results in Example 4 of the ’107 Patent are surprising and unexpected. Specifically, although the comparison of total particulate removal percentage between the flow-through and wall-flow monoliths arguably reflects a comparison between Speronello as the closest prior art, such a comparison does not demonstrate unexpected results, as other evidence on this record presented by Patent Owner indicates that one of ordinary skill in the art would not have expected that the total particulate removal percentage would be high in a flow through monolith because the flow through monolith is not used to capture particulates. (Dettling ’744 Decl. ¶¶ 21, 23.22) Accordingly, we are not persuaded by Patent Owner’s position that because Speronello is limited to a catalyst on a flow-through monolith, integrated NOx removal, particulate removal, filtration efficiency and acceptable back pressure maintenance are evidence of unexpected 22 See Dettling ’894 Decl. ¶¶ 22, 24. Appeal 2017-006009 Reexamination Control 95/001,744 & 95/001,894 (merged) Patent 7,902,107 B2 24 results. (’744 Resp’t Br. 13–14.) Thus, while we attribute some weight to the opinions of Patent Owner’s declarants as outlined above as to the surprising and unexpected nature of the sustained particulate removal efficiency of the wall-flow monoliths containing an SCR catalyst falling within the scope of the claim, such opinions are unconvincing when considered in light of the scope of the claims, the underlying evidence relied on in support thereof, and the teachings of the prior art discussed above. Regarding the results presented in the Patchett Declaration (Patchett ’744 Decl. ¶¶ 13–1623), we agree with JMI that testing platinum alumina catalysts disclosed in Ohno ’351 provides little information as to any unexpected results with respect to the zeolite and base metal and the ability to act as SCR catalysts in a wall flow monolith, as according to Patent Owner, the catalysts disclosed by Ohno ’351 are oxidation catalysts. (Farrauto Decl. ¶ 21.) Industry Recognition and Praise Patent Owner argues further that the ’107 has received recognition and praise in the form of the 2011 Thomas Alva Edison Patent Award in the environmental category. (’744 Resp’t Br. 14; Patchett ’744 Decl. ¶ 23.24) However, we have not been directed to sufficient evidence to relate the Award to the specific catalyst article recited in the claims. 23 See Patchett ’894 Decl. ¶¶ 12–15. 24 See Patchett ’894 Decl. ¶ 27. Appeal 2017-006009 Reexamination Control 95/001,744 & 95/001,894 (merged) Patent 7,902,107 B2 25 Obviousness Conclusion Accordingly, after weighing both the evidence in favor of obviousness and the evidence against obviousness of the subject matter of the claims as discussed above, we find that the evidence in favor of obviousness outweighs the evidence against obviousness, particularly in view of the disclosure in Speronello of the SCR catalyst compositions recited in the claims and the express suggestion in Ohno ’351 to employ SCR catalysts in wall flow monoliths. As a result, we reverse the Examiner’s decision not to reject claims 1, 3–21, 23–34, 36 and 37 and set forth a new rejection for these claims as obvious over Ohno and Speronello for the reasons discussed above. For the dependent claims, we refer to JMI’s discussion of how the limitations of those claim would be met in JMI’s Request for Reexamination, pages 9–32. (See JMI App. Br. 9.) Remaining Proposed Rejections Because the combination of Ohno and Speronello is sufficient to address all of the claims appealed, we find it unnecessary to reach the remaining rejections advanced in JMI’s appeal. Appeal 2017-006009 Reexamination Control 95/001,744 & 95/001,894 (merged) Patent 7,902,107 B2 26 HTAS’s Appeal in the ’894 Reexamination Ohno ’529 in view of Speronello DISCUSSION HTAS contends that the combination of Ohno ’529 (the English equivalent of Ohno ’351, see FN 12) and Speronello would have rendered claims 21, 24–26, 33, 34, and 36 obvious. (HTAS App. Br. 19–25.) The Examiner did not adopt the rejection for similar reasons as discussed above with respect to the ’744 Reexamination. (RAN 22–23.) Patent Owner contends that the Examiner was correct for similar reasons as discussed above in the ’744 Reexamination. (’894 Resp’t Br. 8– 12.) For the reasons discussed above, we reverse the Examiner’s decision to reject claims 21, 24–26, 33, 34, and 36 and enter a new ground of rejection of these claims based on Ohno ’529 in view of Speronello. For the dependent claims, we refer to HTAS’s discussion of how the limitations of those claim would be met in HTAS’s Request for Reexamination, pages 20– 24. (See HTAS App. Br. 20.) In addition, because we are aware that Ohno ’529 teaches porosities falling within the range disclosed in claim 37 (see Request for Reexamination in the ’894 reexamination filed by HTAS 21), we enter a new ground of rejection for claim 37 as obvious over Ohno ’529 in view of Speronello. Appeal 2017-006009 Reexamination Control 95/001,744 & 95/001,894 (merged) Patent 7,902,107 B2 27 Remaining Proposed Rejections Because the combination of Ohno and Speronello is sufficient to address all of the claims appealed, we find it unnecessary to reach the remaining rejections advanced in HTAS’s appeal. DECISION The Examiner’s decision refusing to reject claims 1, 3–21, 23–34, 36, and 37 is reversed. TIME PERIOD FOR RESPONSE This decision contains new grounds of rejection pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 41.77(b) which provides that “[a]ny decision which includes a new ground of rejection pursuant to this paragraph shall not be considered final for judicial review.” Correspondingly, no portion of the decision is final for purposes of judicial review. A requester may also request rehearing under 37 C.F.R. § 41.79, if appropriate, however, the Board may elect to defer issuing any decision on such request for rehearing until such time that a final decision on appeal has been issued by the Board. For further guidance on new grounds of rejection, see 37 C.F.R. § 41.77(b)–(g). The decision may become final after it has returned to the Board. 37 C.F.R. § 41.77(f). Section 41.77(b) of Title 37 of the Code of Federal Regulations also provides that the Owner, WITHIN ONE MONTH FROM THE DATE OF THE DECISION, must exercise one of the following two options with respect to the new grounds of rejection to avoid termination of the appeal as to the rejected claims: Appeal 2017-006009 Reexamination Control 95/001,744 & 95/001,894 (merged) Patent 7,902,107 B2 28 (1) Reopen prosecution. The owner may file a response requesting reopening of prosecution before the examiner. Such a response must be either an amendment of the claims so rejected or new evidence relating to the claims so rejected, or both. (2) Request rehearing. The owner may request that the proceeding be reheard under § 41.79 by the Board upon the same record . . . . Any request to reopen prosecution before the examiner under 37 C.F.R. § 41.77(b)(1) shall be limited in scope to the “claims so rejected.” Accordingly, a request to reopen prosecution is limited to issues raised by the new ground(s) of rejection entered by the Board. A request to reopen prosecution that includes issues other than those raised by the new ground(s) is unlikely to be granted. Furthermore, should the Owner seek to substitute claims, there is a presumption that only one substitute claim would be needed to replace a cancelled claim. A requester may file comments in reply to Owner response. 37 C.F.R. § 41.77(c). Requester comments under 37 C.F.R. § 41.77(c) shall be limited in scope to the issues raised by the Board’s opinion reflecting its decision to reject the claims and the Owner's response under paragraph 37 C.F.R. § 41.77(b)(1). A newly proposed rejection is not permitted as a matter of right. A newly proposed rejection may be appropriate if it is presented to address an amendment and/or new evidence properly submitted by the Owner, and is presented with a brief explanation as to why the newly proposed rejection is now necessary and why it could not have been presented earlier. Appeal 2017-006009 Reexamination Control 95/001,744 & 95/001,894 (merged) Patent 7,902,107 B2 29 Compliance with the page limits pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 1.943(b), for all Owner responses and requester comments, is required. The Examiner, after the Board’s entry of Owner response and Requester comments, will issue a determination under 37 C.F.R. § 41.77(d) as to whether the Board’s rejection is maintained or has been overcome. The proceeding will then be returned to the Board together with any comments and reply submitted by the Owner and/or Requester under 37 C.F.R. § 41.77(e) for reconsideration and issuance of a new decision by the Board as provided by 37 C.F.R. § 41.77(f). Requests for extensions of time in this inter partes reexamination proceeding are governed by 37 C.F.R. § 1.956. See 37 C.F.R. § 41.77(g). REVERSED; 37 C.F.R. § 41.77(b) Appeal 2017-006009 Reexamination Control 95/001,744 & 95/001,894 (merged) Patent 7,902,107 B2 30 PATENT OWNER: WOMBLE CARLYLE SANDRIDGE & RICE, LLP ATTN: IP Docketing P.O. Box 7037 Atlanta, GA 30357-7037 THIRD-PARTY REQUESTER: FITZAPATRICK, CELLA, HARPER & SCINTO 1290 Avenue of The Americas New York, NY 10104-3800 Stephen A. Soffen DICKSTEIN SHAPIRO LLP 1825 Eye Street, NW Washington, DC 20006-5403 Copy with citationCopy as parenthetical citation