JOHN LOVE, Magistrate Judge
This claim construction opinion construes terms in U.S. Patent Nos. 6,936,999 ("the `999 patent"), 6,949,916 ("the `916 patent"), 7,000,125 ("the `125 patent), and 7,049,798 ("the `798 patent). Plaintiff Power-One, Inc. ("Power-One") accuses Defendant Artesyn ("Artesyn") Technologies, Inc. of infringing various claims contained in these patents.
The Patents
Each of the patents-in-suit describes a system and method for supplying power to components and/or devices in an electronic system. The system and method disclosed in the `999 patent involves the use of one or more point-of-load ("POL") regulators that convert power from one level to another level. For example, a POL regulator may take, as an input, a voltage of 12 volts and provide an output of 3 volts or 5 volts. The POL regulator may be coupled to a power supply controller by way of a synchronous or asynchronous data bus. The claims in the `916 patent are directed more specifically to a serial data bus that facilitates communication between the various POL regulators and a controller connected to the bus.
Claims 1-15 of the `125 patent address, among other things, the transfer of programming and monitoring information between the POL regulators and the controller via a serial data bus. Claims 16 through 22 are method claims that call for transmitting programming data to a plurality of POL regulators over a serial data bus and receiving performance monitoring data from the POL regulators over the serial data bus. The remaining claims 23-31 call for a controller, as a part of the POL regulator, that determines the operating parameters for the POL regulator responsive to the programming information and generates the monitoring information responsive to operational characteristics of the POL regulator. The claims of the `798 patent include system and method claims. The "power control system" claims call for a power supply controller that provides initial configuration data and receives fault-monitoring data. A serial data bus communicates the initial configuration data and the fault-monitoring data. The system includes at least one POL regulator connected to the data bus. The method claims generally address the storage and transfer of initial configuration data and fault-monitoring data between a POL regulator and a controller.
Applicable Law
"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." Phillips v. AWH Corp., 415 F.3d 1303, 1312 (Fed. Cir. 2005) (en banc) (quoting Innova/Pure Water Inc. v. Safari Water Filtration Sys., Inc., 381 F.3d 1111, 1115 (Fed. Cir. 2004)). In claim construction, courts examine the patent's intrinsic evidence to define the patented invention's scope. See id.; C.R. Bard, Inc. v. U.S. Surgical Corp., 388 F.3d 858, 861 (Fed. Cir. 2004); Bell Atl. Network Servs., Inc. v. Covad Communications Group, Inc., 262 F.3d 1258, 1267 (Fed. Cir. 2001). This intrinsic evidence includes the claims themselves, the specification, and the prosecution history. See Phillips, 415 F.3d at 1314; C.R. Bard, Inc., 388 F.3d at 861. Courts give claim terms their ordinary and accustomed meaning as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention in the context of the entire patent. Phillips, 415 F.3d at 1312-13; Alloc, Inc. v. Int'l Trade Comm'n, 342 F.3d 1361, 1368 (Fed. Cir. 2003).
The claims themselves provide substantial guidance in determining the meaning of particular claim terms. Phillips, 415 F.3d at 1314. First, a term's context in the asserted claim can be very instructive. Id. Other asserted or unasserted claims can also aid in determining the claim's meaning because claim terms are typically used consistently throughout the patent. Id. Differences among the claim terms can also assist in understanding a term's meaning. Id. For example, when a dependent claim adds a limitation to an independent claim, it is presumed that the independent claim does not include the limitation. Id. at 1314-15.
Claims "must be read in view of the specification, of which they are a part." Id. (quoting Markman v. Westview Instruments, Inc., 52 F.3d 967, 978 (Fed. Cir. 1995)). "[T]he specification `is always highly relevant to the claim construction analysis. Usually, it is dispositive; it is the single best guide to the meaning of a disputed term.'" Id. (quoting Vitronics Corp. v. Conceptronic, Inc., 90 F.3d 1576, 1582 (Fed. Cir. 1996)); Teleflex, Inc. v. Ficosa N. Am. Corp., 299 F.3d 1313, 1325 (Fed. Cir. 2002). This is true because a patentee may define his own terms, give a claim term a different meaning than the term would otherwise possess, or disclaim or disavow the claim scope. Phillips, 415 F.3d at 1316. In these situations, the inventor's lexicography governs. Id. Also, the specification may resolve ambiguous claim terms "where the ordinary and accustomed meaning of the words used in the claims lack sufficient clarity to permit the scope of the claim to be ascertained from the words alone." Teleflex, Inc., 299 F.3d at 1325. But, "although the specification may aid the court in interpreting the meaning of disputed claim language, particular embodiments and examples appearing in the specification will not generally be read into the claims." Comark Communications, Inc. v. Harris Corp., 156 F.3d 1182, 1187 (Fed. Cir. 1998); see also Phillips, 415 F.3d at 1323. The prosecution history is another tool to supply the proper context for claim construction because a patent applicant may also define a term in prosecuting the patent. Home Diagnostics, Inc., v. Lifescan, Inc., 381 F.3d 1352, 1356 (Fed. Cir. 2004) ("As in the case of the specification, a patent applicant may define a term in prosecuting a patent.").
Although extrinsic evidence can be useful, it is "less significant than the intrinsic record in determining `the legally operative meaning of claim language.'" Phillips, 415 F.3d at 1317 (quoting C.R. Bard, Inc., 388 F.3d at 862). Technical dictionaries and treatises may help a court understand the underlying technology and the manner in which one skilled in the art might use claim terms, but technical dictionaries and treatises may provide definitions that are too broad or may not be indicative of how the term is used in the patent. Id. at 1318. Similarly, expert testimony may aid a court in understanding the underlying technology and determining the particular meaning of a term in the pertinent field, but an expert's conclusory, unsupported assertions as to a term's definition is entirely unhelpful to a court. Id. Generally, extrinsic evidence is "less reliable than the patent and its prosecution history in determining how to read claim terms." Id.
The Terms
The terms at issue are: "POL regulator," "[output] voltage set point data," "output current set point data," "[output voltage] slew rate data," "initial configuration data," "control . . . information," "control data," "monitoring information," "monitoring data," "address set," command set," "data set," "communication of control and monitoring data therebetween," "determine," "fault protection data," "controller," "power supply controller," "system controller," "fault-monitoring data," "output data," "performance monitoring information," "sequencing data," "at least one of . . .," "turn-on data," "turn-off data," "turn-on period," "turn-off period," "turn-on delay period," "turn-off delay period," and "synchronizing signal." 1. "POL regulator"
The first term at issue is "POL regulator," which is found in every asserted claim of each of the four patents-in-suit. Power-One argues that this term should be construed as a "dc/dc switching voltage regulator designed to receive power from a voltage bus on a printed circuit board and adapted to power a portion of the devices on the board and to be placed near the one or more devices being powered as part of a distributed board-level power system." Artesyn contends that this term is indefinite and cannot be properly construed.
Power-One asserts that "POL regulator" had an ordinary meaning in the art at the time of the invention and cites, among other things, Artesyn's own literature in support of this contention. Artesyn argues that "POL regulator" is not defined in the specification and that the intrinsic evidence provides no objective criteria to determine a proper definition of the term. Further, Artesyn contends that the extrinsic evidence cited by Power-One fails to convey an ordinary meaning. More specifically, Artesyn contends that Power-One's use of the term "near" in its proposed construction is problematic and unhelpful because it fails to convey any objective standard by which one would determine "nearness" in the context of "POL regulator."
In Datamize v. Plumtree Software, LLC, 417 F.3d 1342 (Fed. Cir. 2005), the Federal Circuit set forth the following principles pertaining to indefiniteness.
According to the Supreme Court, "[t]he statutory requirement [ 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 2] of particularity and distinctness in claims is met only when [the claims] clearly distinguish what is claimed from what went before in the art and clearly circumscribe what is foreclosed from future enterprise." The definiteness requirement, however, does not compel absolute clarity. Only claims "not amenable to construction" or "insolubly ambiguous" are indefinite. Thus, the definiteness of claim terms depends on whether those terms can be given any reasonable meaning. Furthermore, a difficult issue of claim construction does not ipso facto result in a holding of indefiniteness. "If the meaning of the claim is discernible, even though the task may be formidable and the conclusion may be one over which reasonable persons will disagree, we have held the claim sufficiently clear to avoid invalidity on indefiniteness grounds." In this regard it is important to note that an issued patent is entitled to a statutory presumption of validity. "By finding claims indefinite only if reasonable efforts at claim construction prove futile, we accord respect to the statutory presumption of validity and we protect the inventive contribution of patentees, even when the drafting of their patents has been less than ideal." In this way we also follow the requirement that clear and convincing evidence be shown to invalidate a patent.
Id. at 1347 (citations omitted). Turning first to the specification of the `999 patent, it is important that the POL regulator is discussed in terms showing its familiarity to those skilled in the art. See `999 Patent, col. 1:12-14 (Point-of-load ("POL") regulators, which are also referred to as voltage regulators or DC/DC converters, are commonly used in conjunction with electronic circuits."); 34-35 ("Traditionally, POL regulators operate in conjunction with at least one power supply controller."); Col. 2:12-14 ("POL regulators are traditionally adapted to receive . . ."). The specification of the `125 patent identifies problems facing complex electronic systems and how POL regulators help alleviate these problems.
With the increasing complexity of electronic systems, it is common for an electronic system to require power provided at several different discrete voltage and current levels . . . It is undesirable to deliver relatively high current at low voltages over a relatively long distance through an electronic device for number of reasons. First, the relatively long physical run of low voltage, high current lines consumes significant circuit board area and congests the routing of signal lines on the circuit board. Second, the impedance of the lines carrying the high current tends to dissipate a lot of power and complicate load regulation. Third, it is difficult to tailor the voltage/current characteristics to accommodate changes in load requirements.
In order to satisfy these power requirements, it is known to distribute an intermediate bus voltage throughout the electronic system, and include an individual point-of-load ("POL") regulator, i.e., DC/DC converter, at the point of power consumption within the electronic system . . . Ideally, the POL regulator would be physically located adjacent to the corresponding electronic circuit so as to minimize the length of the low voltage, high current lines through the electronic system. The intermediate bus voltage can be delivered to the multiple POL regulators using low current lines that minimize loss.
Col. 1: 13-15, 19-35, 42-47. Further, Figure 1 of the `125 patent shows a prior art power system where POLs 22, 24 and 26 are at the point of power consumption. The `125 specification also describes the functions and uses of POLs: "Each circuit has an associated point-of-load ("POL") regulator located closely thereby, such as POLs 22, 24, and 26. Each POL regulator converts the intermediate bus voltage to a low voltage, high current level demanded by the electronic circuit, such as 1.8 volts, 2.5 volts, and 3.3 volts provided by POLs 22, 24 and 26." Col. 3:22-27. "By locating the POLs 22, 24, and 26 close to their corresponding electronic circuits, the length of the low voltage, high current lines on the printed circuit board are minimized." Col. 3:32-35. The `798 specification again describes POL regulators in terms of the problems the POL is designed to address:
Similarly, some electronic devices include circuits that require low voltage (e.g. 1 v), high current (e.g., 100 A) power supplies. This is problematic in that it is impractical to deliver high current at low voltage levels over a relatively long distance and still meet desired regulation performances. A common solution is to use a high voltage, low current power supply and design a POL regulator near the internal circuit. This allows low current to travel throughout the device, and provides a low voltage, high current power supply (i.e., using the POL regulator) near the internal circuit.
See col. 1:25-35. One problem with Artesyn's approach is that it ignores the intrinsic record's repeated acknowledgment of a known prior art POL device. The term "POL" is not a coined term in the patents-in-suit; rather, a "POL" was a known device in the art. Artesyn also ignores numerous statements in the intrinsic record concerning the function and purpose of a POL regulator. The specification of the `999 patent explains that "POL regulators" are also referred to as "voltage regulators" or "DC/DC converters." It describes a prior art system that utilized POL regulators. See `999 patent, col. 1:12-14; col. 3:4-11; Figure 1. The specification goes on to say that "the voltage/current requirements of electronic circuits typically differ from the voltage that is readily available or the current that can practically be delivered. For example, some electronic devices only include a single voltage input (e.g., 12v), but require different voltages for circuits contained within (e.g., 3v, 5v, 9v, etc.). A common solution is to design multiple POL regulators within the device for converting the single input voltage into multiple voltage levels." See `999 patent, col. 1:14-22. The intrinsic record also explains that prior art POL regulators were placed "near" the load to be serviced by the POL so high currents would not be delivered over "relatively long distance[s]." Locating the POL regulator near the load to be serviced "allows low current to travel throughout the device, and provides a low voltage, high power supply (i.e., using the POL regulator) near the internal circuit." See `999 patent, col. 1:25-33. Therefore, the intrinsic record makes clear that one skilled in the art would know that a POL regulator should be placed in such a way to accomplish certain objectives.
Dennis Roark ("Roark"), Power-One's Chief Technical Officer, testified that to this point in his deposition:
Q. And how close to the load does a regulator have to be a point-load-regulator?
A. It has to be close enough to fulfill the need to manage transients and regulate the voltage in a tight fashion such that there is no disturbance to the load as a result of changes in load, changes in line, changes in the environmental conditions which it is. So those requirements define the requirement for the nearness.
See Ex.G to Power-One's Claim Construction Brief, p. 86, line 9-17.
The Court sees nothing problematic in describing the POL regulator as being "near" the load. This is simply a way of saying that the POL regulator should be located so as to alleviate the problems associated with complex power systems that require "several different discrete voltage and current levels." See `125 patent, col. 1:15. The intrinsic record shows that there is no "one size fits all" approach to electronic systems and therefore, the term "near" is as precise as this particular subject matter permits. See, e.g., BJ Services, Co. v. Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. 338 F.3d 1368, 1373 (Fed. Cir. 2003) (upholding jury's verdict rejecting indefiniteness defense because those skilled in the art would understand a "C* value of about 0.06"); Exxon Research Engineering Co. v. United States, 265 F.3d 1371, 1379-81 (Fed. Cir. 2001) (finding "for a period sufficient" definite because the limitation was expressed in terms that are reasonably precise in light of the subject matter); Orthokinetics, Inc. v. Safety Travel Chairs, Inc., 806 F.2d 1565, 1576 (Fed. Cir. 1986) (construing "so dimensioned" as definite and stating that the term "is as accurate as the subject matter permits, automobiles being of various sizes"); Seattle Box Co., Inc. v. Industrial Crating and Packing, Inc., 731 F.2d 818, 826 (Fed. Cir. 1984) (rejecting claim that "substantially equal to" was indefinite and noting that the fact "some claim language may be imprecise . . . does not automatically render a claim invalid").
There are additional reasons why the Court rejects Artesysn's indefiniteness argument. First, Artesyn initially proposed a construction of "POL regulator" indicating that the meaning of this term can be discerned. See Joint Claim Construction Statement. Not only did Artesyn propose a construction, but it did so describing a POL as being "placed near the one or more devices being powered." Second, Artesyn's own literature uses the term "point of load" and describes "POLs" as being near the load, See Ex. B to Power-One's Reply Brief, showing, at the very least, that the term has meaning to those skilled in the art. Third, when asked about "POLs," Trey Burns, Artesysn's 30(b)(6) witness on claim construction, did not testify that he was unaware of or unable to understand the term. Rather, Burns testified that, with a couple of caveats, Power-One's proposed definition of a "POL" is "a reasonable statement." See Ex. I to Power-One's Claim Construction Brief, p. 100, lines 3-11. Burns also discussed "point-of-load converters" as being part of a "distributed power architecture where we move the regulation function closer to the load" to "eliminate the effects of distribution resistances and distribution inductances." Id. at p. 26, line 11 — p. 27, line 3. Finally, nothing in the prosecution history shows that the patent examiner had any trouble understanding the term. This evidence plainly suggests that POLs were well known devices whose locations and functions relative to other components was understood by those of ordinary skill in the art.
Artesyn relies on Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. v. MI, LLC, 456 F.Supp.2d 811 (E.D. Tex. 2006) (Davis, J.) to support its indefiniteness contention. In that case, however, the patentees relied upon the term "fragile gel" to distinguish their invention from the prior art tending to show that the characteristics of "fragile gel" were novel and a basis for patentability. Id. at 816. Having presented "fragile gel" in that fashion, the Court found that the patentees had failed to provide an objective standard for its definition. Id. at 817. Here, on the other hand, the specifications and prosecution history treat POL regulators as a known device in the art. See, e.g., `999 Patent, col. 1:12-14. And, while the specifications may describe new features for POL regulators, the specifications use the term "POL regulator" in its "traditional" sense (see `999 patent, col. 1:34-35) to refer to a device in a system for supplying power to components in an electronic system. Accordingly, the Court adopts Plaintiff's construction and construes "POL regulator" to mean "a dc/dc switching voltage regulator designed to receive power from a voltage bus on a printed circuit board and adapted to power a portion of the devices on the board and to be placed near the one or more devices being powered as part of a distributed board-level power system."
2. "[output] voltage set point data," "output current set point data," and "[output voltage] slew rate data"
Artesyn contends that the claimed "data" actually specifies something, i.e., the desired output voltage level, the desired output current level, and the desired slew rate respectively, while Power-One contends that this "data" is simply something "used to specify" these components. In other words, Power-One contends that, for example, "voltage set point data" is the collection of data used to specify the voltage set point.
i) "[output] voltage set point data"
Power-One proposes "data used to specify the commanded output voltage level of the POL regulator," while Artesyn proposes "data provided to a POL regulator specifying the desired output voltage level for the POL regulator." Beginning with the claim language, claims 2 and 26 of the `999 patent refer to "voltage set point data providing a desired output voltage of the corresponding POL regulator." Claim 3 of the `798 patent provides for the "power control system of claim 1, wherein said initial configuration data includes at least output voltage set point data corresponding to a desired voltage level of said output." Thus, the claims appear to equate the voltage set point data with a "desired output voltage." The `798 specification calls for the following:
. . . the controller is adapted to provide initial-configuration data to each POL regulator. The initial configuration data, which may include output-voltage-set-point-data (i.e., a desired output voltage), output-current-set point data (i.e., the highest desired output current), low-voltage-limit data (i.e., the lowest desired output voltage), high-voltage-limit data (i.e., the highest desired output voltage), output-voltage-slew-rate data (i.e., the desired output slew rate) . . .
`798 patent, col. 2:10-17. The `999 specification further provides:
For example, a POL regulator might generate a one volt output five milliseconds after receiving activation data if it received voltage set-point data and sequencing data corresponding to one volt and five milliseconds, respectively. Alternatively, a POL regulator might generate a one volt output one millisecond after receiving activation data if it received voltage set point data, slew-rate data and turn-on data corresponding to two volts, one volt per millisecond and three milliseconds, respectively.
`999 patent, col. 4: 33-41. These excerpts show that the POL regulator receives specified types or categories of "data." More specifically, the examples in the latter excerpt show that the "voltage-set-point data" has a specified numerical value, i.e. one or two volts.
In support of its argument, Power-One argues, for example, that data telling a POL regulator to cap or limit its output voltage can also be "voltage set point data." The `798 specification, however, is clear that such data is categorized as "high-voltage-limit data," not "output-voltage-set-point-data." `798 patent, col. 2:10-17 Power-One offers an example of a situation where, a POL regulator receives voltage set point data of seven volts, but the POL has an upper voltage limit of five volts. Thus, because the upper limit is five, the actual output voltage would be five. Power-One contends that the upper voltage limit data should be considered as part of the data determining the voltage set point. While the upper voltage limit data may affect the actual voltage level at the output, that does not change the fact that the "output voltage set point data" specifies the "desired" output voltage and that the intrinsic record shows that the voltage set point data is a distinct category of data, rather than a collection of data from which a set point is derived. See Applied Med. Res. Corp. v. U.S. Surgical Corp., 448 F.3d 1324, 1333 n. 3 (Fed. Cir. 2006) ("in the absence of any evidence to the contrary, we must presume that the use of . . . different terms in the claims connotes different meanings"). Accordingly, the Court adopts Artesyn's proposed construction and construes "[output] voltage set point data" as "data provided to a POL regulator specifying the desired output voltage level for the POL regulator."
ii) "output current set point data"
Power-One proposes this term means "data used to specify an output current level," while Artesyn proposes this term means "data provided to a POL regulator specifying the desired output current level for the POL regulator." Much of the analysis above applies here. Claim 4 of the `798 patent provides for the "power control system of claim 1, wherein said initial configuration data includes at least output current set point data corresponding to a desired maximum current level of said output." The `798 specification equates "output-current-set point data" with the "highest desired output current." See `798 patent, col. 2:13-14. Accordingly, the Court adopts Artesyn's proposed construction and construes "output current set point data" as "data provided to a POL regulator specifying the desired output current level for the POL regulator."
iii) "[output voltage] slew rate data"
Power-One proposes a construction of "data concerning the rate of change of the output of the device," while Artesyn proposes "data provided to a POL regulator specifying the desired slew rate ( i.e., rate of change of output voltage) for the POL regulator." Claims 2 and 26 of the `999 patent describe "output data" transmitted by the controller comprising:
at least one of turn-on data providing a command to turn-on the corresponding POL regulator, voltage set-point data providing a desired output voltage of the corresponding POL regulator, slew-rate data providing a rate of change of output voltage of the corresponding POL regulator, and sequencing data providing a delay period between either a turn-on or turn-off command and actual generation of a corresponding output.
This claim language demonstrates that "slew-rate data" is distinct from the other "data" referenced in the claim and specifies a particular type of information. See Allied, 448 F.3d at 1333 n. 3. Dependent Claim 7 of the `798 patent specifies that the initial configuration data includes "slew rate data corresponding to a desired slew rate of said output" again showing the distinctness of this category of data and what information it represents. The `798 specification also provides for distinct categories of data, including "output-voltage-slew-rate data," and states what each category represents. See `798 patent, col. 2:10-21. Similarly, the `999 specification provides for the POL receiving activation data including "voltage set point data, slew-rate data and turn-on data corresponding to two volts, one volt per millisecond, and three milliseconds, respectively." See `999 patent, col. 4:33-41. The specifications show that the slew rate data provided to the POL regulator is distinct from other categories of data and specifies a desired slew rate.
Plaintiff argues that the output of the POL need not be specified by the received data, but only in accordance with that data, citing, for example, column 5, lines 29-38 of the `999 patent and claim 11 of the `999 patent. First, Plaintiff's position would blur the distinctions between the different categories of data provided to the POL, whereas the patent specifications and claims clearly distinguish between them. Moreover, the fact that the POL produces an output "in accordance with" the provided data does not mean that the "slew rate data" need not specify a slew rate. Thus, the Court construes "[output voltage] slew rate data" as "data provided to a POL regulator specifying the desired slew rate ( i.e., rate of change of output voltage) for the POL regulator."
3. "initial configuration data"
Having considered the parties' competing proposals on this term, the Court adopts the following compromise construction: "programming information received by a POL regulator after power-up but prior to the first generation of an output voltage." See `798 patent, col. 2:10-23; col. 4:51 — col. 5:49; col. 6:43-54; Figure 6.
4. "control . . . information," "control data"
Having considered the parties' proposals, the Court disagrees with both proposals. Thus, the Court construes these terms as "data specifying a desired operation by a POL regulator." See `125 patent, col. 6:44-55.
5. "monitoring information," "monitoring data"
The Court finds Power-One's proposal to be correct and, therefore, construes this term as "data concerning the status of the one or more POL regulators in the power system." See `125 patent, col. 6:44-55
6. "address set," "command set," "data set"
The dispute with regard to these terms is whether a "set" can contain a single bit, as Power-One proposes, or, as Artesyn suggests, whether it must contain two or more bits. Power-One concedes that the examples of sets given in the specification are multi-bit sets. See, e.g., `916 patent, col. 4:19-25. However, the `916 specification provides that "communication cycles containing more or less information and/or bits is within the spirit and scope of the present invention." Id. at col. 4:30-33. Although the `916 specification provides examples of multi-bit sets, this does not mean that a "set" referred to in the claims must contain more than one bit. See, e.g., Varco, L.P. v. Pason Systems USA, Corp., 436 F.3d 1368, 1373 (Fed. Cir. 2006) ("`In examining the specification for proper context . . . this court will not at any time import limitations from the specification into the claims.'"). Accordingly, the Court declines to narrow the definition of set and construes these terms as follows:
Address set: A set of one or more bits in a message specifying the address of one or more devices connected to a bus.
Command set: A set of one or more bits in a message specifying a given command operation.
Data set: A set of one or more bits in a message reflecting data that is read from or written to a device.
7. "communication of control and monitoring data therebetween"
Power-One proposes this phrase refers to "sending control and monitoring data between the POL regulator and the data bus," while Artesyn proposes the phrase refers to "sending control and monitoring data between the POL regulators." The dispute here is whether the communication recited by the claims is between a POL regulator and the serial bus (Power-One's position) or between multiple POL regulators (Artesyn's position).
Claim 1 of the `916 patent describes
a plurality of point-of-load regulators . . . and
a bi-directional, serial data bus connected to each of said plurality of point-of-load regulators to permit communication of control and monitoring data therebetween, each one of said plurality of point-of-load regulators being adapted to initiate a communication cycle by providing a synchronizing signal onto said serial data bus followed by a multi-bit data message that includes at least one of an address set, a command set, and a data set.
The claim language calling for communication "therebetween" seems to refer to communication between the immediately preceding items, i.e., "said plurality of point-of-load regulators." Unasserted Claim 14 of the `916 patent provides for a "point-of load regulator having a serial data interface adapted to communicate control and monitoring data with other like point-of load regulators via a serial data bus . . ." Clearly, claim 14 contemplates communication of control and monitoring data between point-of-load regulators. See Phillips, 415 F.3d at 1314 ("Other claims of the patent, both asserted and unasserted, can also be valuable sources of enlightenment as to the meaning of a claim term . . . Because claim terms are normally used consistently throughout the patent, the usage of a term in one claim can often illuminate the meaning of the same term in other claims.").
Further, the larger context of claim 1 also supports communication between POL regulators. Claim 1 provides for POL regulators "being adapted to initiate a communication cycle by initiating a synchronization signal onto said serial data bus followed by a multi-bit data message that includes at least one of an address set, a command set and a data set." The address set can be used to identify the POL regulator that is providing the information or the POL that is being written to or read, while the command set can identify what the POL regulator is providing. See `916 patent, col. 4:43-48. Thus, the communication at issue is between the devices connected to the serial bus, rather than between a device and the serial bus to which it is connected. While the devices certainly communicate by way of the serial bus, they communicate with, or between, themselves.
Power-One cites to the statement in the `916 specification that the "present invention provides a system and method for using a serial bus to passively or actively communicate with a point-of-load regulator." Col. 2:55-57. Power-One also cites to Figures 2 and 3 which show, according to Power-One, control and monitoring information flowing between the POLs and the controller across the data bus. However, simply because a data bus is used to communicate or permits communication does not mean that communication is between the bus and the POLs or a controller. The specification of the `916 patent regularly speaks of communication "via," "by way of," or "over" the serial bus, rather than "between'" the serial bus and a device. See, e.g., `916 patent, col. 3:42-44; col. 3:53-61; col. 3:66-67; col. 4:8-15. While a person can communicate over a telephone line, one does not typically refer to communication occurring between a person and a telephone line. Indeed, Figure 2 is discussed in terms of a controller communicating with a plurality of POL regulators (i.e., 220, 230, 230, and 250) via a serial bus 200. Col. 3:42-44 (emphasis added). Likewise, Figure 4 is described as a "method of communicating over a single-wire serial bus" and Figure 5 shows "how information can be transmitted over a serial bus." Col. 3:66-67; Col. 4:29-31. Finally, the specification discusses how POL regulators determine priority of communication where multiple POL regulators initiate a communication cycle simultaneously. Col, 4, line 59-63 ("Thus, a POL regulator can determine, by reading the start sequence 510 and address set 520 of a communication cycle 50 as it is being sent, whether another POL regulator is also attempting to send a communication cycle 50 at the same time. If multiple devices . . ."). Thus, the bus is the vehicle that allows communication between multiple POL regulators or other devices. For the foregoing reasons, the Court construes this term as "sending control and monitoring data between the POL regulators."
8. "controller," "power supply controller," "system controller"
As to "controller," the parties have agreed to Power-One's proposal of "circuitry that controls the operation of one or more devices." As to the other terms, Power-One argues for the same construction, while Artesyn proposes "part of a distributed power control system that activates and at least partially programs and monitors a regulator and allows the output of the POL regulator to be transmitted to an external load circuit." The Court notes that a "power supply controller" is discussed in the `999 patent as follows:
Traditionally, POL regulators operate in conjunction with at least one power supply controller. The controller (1) activates and partially programs the POL regulator by providing data directly to the POL regulator, (2) monitors the output of the POL regulator by measuring data external to the POL regulator, and (3) allows the output of the POL regulator to be transmitted to an external load circuit by controlling an external switch.
Col. 1:34-42; see also `798 patent, col. 1:37-42. The Court finds that this language supports Artesyn's proposal and therefore, construes "power supply controller" and "system controller" as "part of a distributed power control system that activates and at least partially programs and monitors a regulator and allows the output of the POL regulator to be transmitted to an external load circuit."
9. "determine"
Power-One seeks no construction of this term, while Artesyn proposes that the term be construed as "calculate." The Court agrees with Power-One that the term needs no construction. The parties have agreed that the term "calculate" as used in the patents means "ascertain based on calculations." Artesyn fails to adequately explain why the term "determine" should have the same definition as "calculate." Further, the passages from the `999 patent Artesyn cites, col. 2:28-34 and col. 4:23-33, do not support narrowing the meaning of "determine." See Lieble-Flarsheim Co. v. Medrad, Inc., 358 F.3d 898, 906 (Fed. Cir. 2004) (noting that courts will not impose additional limitations from the specification onto the claims). Both passages actually use the term "calculate" showing that "calculate" means something different than "determine."
10. "fault protection data"
Power-One suggests this term should be construed to mean "data concerning identification of or response to faults," while Artesyn proposes a construction of "a form of monitoring data provided by a POL regulator in which each datum is a value reflecting a characteristic of the POL regulator sending the message, such as the temperature, output voltage, or output current of the sending POL regulator." To support its proposal, Artesyn relies on column 2, lines 20-28 and column 5, lines 20-23 of the `916 patent. However, to construe these terms as Artesyn advocates would suggest that the term is limited to examples provided in the specification. Indeed, these passages use "e.g." showing that types of fault protection data discussed are exemplary only. See Varco, 436 F.3d at 1375. Artesyn's proposal also includes limitations, i.e., "form of monitoring data" and "each datum is a value reflecting a characteristic of the POL regulator," that are unnecessarily vague and find no support in the cited passages. Thus, the Court construes "fault protection data" as "data concerning identification of or response to faults."
11. "fault monitoring data"
Power-One proposes this term be construed as "data concerning the status of one or more POL regulators in a distributed power system or surrounding conditions," while Artesyn suggests "information about a possible fault of the POL regulator or its output obtained through systematic measurements using an external device or sensor circuit." Again, the Court finds Artesyn's proposal too limiting and not justified in view of the specification. The `798 specification is clear that "fault monitoring data" is not limited to data "about a possible fault" as Artesyn proposes. See `798 patent, col. 5:40-46. Further, there is nothing in the `798 specification requiring that data be obtained through "systematic measurements." Concerning Power-One's proposal, the Court finds that the phrase "surrounding conditions" is not supported by the specification. The Court construes "fault-monitoring data" as "data concerning the status or operating condition of one or more POL regulators used to determine if there is a fault."
12. "output data"
Power-One proposes "data reflecting information affecting the provision of power to the load," while Artesyn proposes "real-time generated data reflecting information affecting the provision of power to a load." The dispute with respect to this term is whether the `999 patent's prosecution history shows that the data must be "real-time generated." A prosecution history disclaimer must be clear and unambiguous. See Sorensen v. International Trade Com'n, 427 F.3d 1375, 1378 (Fed. Cir. 2005) ("in order to disavow claim scope, a patent applicant must clearly and unambiguously express surrender of subject matter during prosecution."). Artesyn contends that during prosecution of the application that originally issued as the `999 patent, the claims were rejected over a prior art reference that disclosed a system including a "power-supply regulator 211" and a "look-up table 213" described by the patent examiner as "storage device 213." See Office Action, Mailed Jun. 3, 2004, for U.S. Patent Application No. 10/388,831. Artesyn argues that the applicant distinguished the claimed subject matter from the prior art on grounds that the "output data" in the "storage device" recited in the claim must be "real-time" data (as opposed to the type of data stored in the prior art device):
Since it is clear that the power supply controller 211 does not transmit output data, as discussed above, it further follows that there is no "storage device adapted to store said output data." The look-up table 213 cannot perform this function because, inter alia, it is not in communication with any device providing a "power supply controller." Further, a look up table generally contains an index of predetermined data and is not used to store real-time generated output data.
Id. Power-One contends that nothing in this passage concerning look-up tables can be fairly interpreted as a disclaimer of all but "real-time" output data in all the claims. The Court agrees. In the cited passage from the prosecution history, the applicant distinguished the prior art reference because it "does not transmit output data" and because it does not include a "storage device" that is in communication with any device providing a power supply controller. While the applicant further argued that a "look up table generally" is not used to store "real-time generated output data," the Court cannot conclude that this passage constitutes a clear and unambiguous disclaimer of all but "real-time generated data." Thus, the Court construes "output data" as "data reflecting information affecting the provision of power to the load." 13. "performance monitoring information"
14. "sequencing data"
This term is found in several claims of the `999 patent. For example, claim 2 recites "sequencing data providing a delay period between either a turn-on or turn-off command and actual generation of a corresponding output." Claim 10 calls for "sequencing data" and recites "using said sequencing data to determine when said output should be generated." Claim 15 also calls for "sequencing data" and recites "using said sequencing data and said enable data to determine when said output should be generated." Thus, from the claims, "sequencing data" is information related to the timing of the generation of an output. The specification of the `999 patent states that "the delay period can either be provided by the controller 210 (e.g., sequencing data) or calculated using data that has been provided by the controller 210 (e.g., turn-on data)." From the specification, the "sequencing data" specifies a delay period between some event (e.g., activation) and the generation of an output. `999 patent, col. 4:23-32. In this example, the event from which the generation of an output is delayed is the activation of the POL. However, the Court sees no basis in the claims or the patent specification for limiting the event or events from which the delay can be measured.
Accordingly, the Court will construe "sequencing data" to mean "data specifying a delay period between some event and the generation or termination of an output."
15. "at least one of . . ." followed by an enumerated list
For illustration sake, the Court will consider this phrase as "at least one of X, Y, and Z." Essentially, Artesyn contends that this phrase means "at least one X, at least one Y, and at least one Z." Power-One, on the other hand, argues that the listing of "X, Y, and Z" composes a group ( i.e., the group includes X, Y, and Z) from at least one is selected. The Court finds Artesyn's position to be inconsistent with the specification. For example, Artesyn contends that in the sole example in the `999 patent specification where a control unit in a POL regulator calculates the period of time recited in the claim, the calculation is made using data from all three of the relevant data categories (turn-on data, slew rate data, voltage set-point data) in claims 3, 4, 27 and 30:
Alternatively, a POL regulator may generate a one volt output one millisecond after receiving activation data if it received voltage set-point data, slew rate data and turn-on data corresponding to two volts, one volt per millisecond and three milliseconds respectively.
See Col. 4:37-41. However, the passage immediately preceding describes a scenario where a turn-on period is determined without turn-on data or slew rate data.
For example, a POL regulator might generate a one volt output for five milliseconds after receiving activation data if it received voltage set-point data and sequencing data corresponding to one volt and five milliseconds, respectively.
See Col 4:33-36. Another embodiment in the specification only mentions voltage set-point data and enable data when it speaks of output data, `999 patent, col. 3:63-65, while another includes output timing data as output data, col. 4:16-19. Further, claim 2 of the `999 patent describes "a control unit adapted to determine at least one timing parameter of said output in accordance with said output data wherein said output data further comprises at least one of turn-on data . . . and turn-off data." Artesyn's proposal would require the output data to include both "turn-on" data and "turn-off" data even though the control unit need only determine "at least one timing parameter." Finally, Artesyn's proposed construction would require "slew rate data" and "sequencing data," even though the specification makes clear that these types of data are optional: the POL control unit receives output timing data, which may include slew-rate data, sequencing data, termination data, etc.
See '999 patent, col. 7:1-3.
Artesyn cites Superguide Corp. v. Direct TV Enterprises, Inc., 358 F.3d 870, 886-87 (Fed. Cir. 2004), arguing that Superguide requires an "at least one of X, Y, and Z" term be construed "at least one X, at least one Y, and at least one Z." However, even if the Court were to agree that Superguide holds that the ordinary meaning of "at least one" is as Artesyn suggests, nothing in Superguide dictates that this term must be construed in this manner no matter what the specification teaches. In Superguide, the specification taught that the user must choose a value for each designated category. Id. at 887. Here, as noted above, the specification teaches embodiments that do not require each category of the enumerated set. Thus, the Court holds that although one of each of the enumerated data categories may be used, the "at least one" language only requires that one of the categories be selected. See Orion IP, LLC v. Staples, Inc., 406 F.Supp.2d 717, 726 (E.D. Tex 2005).
16. "turn-on data," "turn-off data," "turn-on period," "turn-off period," "turn-on delay period," "turn-off delay period"
As to the terms "turn-on period," "turn-off period," "turn-on delay period," "turn-off delay period," the Court sees little substantive difference between the parties' constructions and, therefore, adopts Power-One's proposals as the more helpful to the jury. The specification of the `999 patent states that a "delay period" is a "period of time to wait," which would comport with the plain and ordinary meaning of the term. `999 patent, col. 2:31-32. Both parties include this aspect in their proposed constructions. Thus, the Court construes these terms as "the time to wait from an event before turning on an output," "the time to wait from an event before turning off an output," "the time to wait from an event before turning on an output," and "the time to wait from an event before turning off an output," respectively.
As to the terms "turn-on data" and "turn-off data," the `999 patent specification discusses turn-on and turn-off data at col. 2:14-24. In particular, the specification states "[e]xamples of output timing parameters include when to generate the output (e.g., sequencing data, turn-on data), when to stop generating the output (e.g., termination data, turn-off data), the slew rate of the output (e.g., slew rate data), etc." At col. 4:33-52, the `999 patent specification recites and discusses exemplary values of "turn-on data" and other data. In these cases, the "turn-on data" specifies when the output is to be generated. The Court finds that Power One's proposed construction is too broad, while Artesyn's proposed construction is unnecessarily limiting. Accordingly, the Court will construe "turn-on data" to mean "data indicating when to generate an output," and the Court will construe "turn-off data" to mean "data indicating when to stop generating an output."
17. "synchronizing signal"
Power-One proposes "a signal that identifies the start of a communication cycle," while Artesyn proposes "a clock signal that synchronizes the timing of multiple devices with one another for purposes of communication." Claim 1 of the `916 patent requires a POL regulator be adapted "to initiate a communication cycle by providing a synchronizing signal onto a serial data bus followed by a multi-bit data message that includes at least one of an address set, a command set, and a data set." Claim 5, which depends from claim 1, recites that "said synchronizing signal further comprises a clock pulse that pulls said serial data bus to a low state." Thus, from the broad claims in the `916 patent, a "synchronizing signal" "initiate[s] a communication cycle" and is "followed by a multi-bit data message" that includes an address set, a command set and/or a data set.
The "synchronizing signal" of the claims corresponds to the "start sequence" described in the patent specification, as the start sequence in the specification is at the beginning of a communication cycle and is followed by the sets recited in the claims. `916 patent, col. 4:18-25, Fig. 5.
Artesyn uses the term "clock signal" in its proposal. The `916 patent specification describes a "clock signal" that synchronizes the various communicating devices and creates a series of clock cycles, each one including a data bit. `916 patent, col. 4:4-7. This "clock signal" is not described as initiating a communication cycle and it is not followed by a multi-bit message. Artesyn's proposed construction for the "synchronizing signal" of the claims appear to be more descriptive of the "clock signal" described in the specification that is used to transmit the data bits that comprise the address set, the command set and the data set. As the claims recite, these aspects follow the "synchronizing signal."
Power One's proposed construction accurately describes the start sequence described in the specification, which performs the function of the "synchronizing signal" in the claims. Accordingly, the Court construes this term as "a signal that identifies the start of a communication cycle."
Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, the Court interprets the claim language in this case in the manner set forth above. For ease of reference, the Court's claim interpretations are set forth in a table attached to this opinion.
So ORDERED and SIGNED.
A. U.S. Patent No. 6,936,999 ("the `999 Patent")
Claim Language Plaintiff's Construction Defendant's Construction Court's Construction Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator power supply controller output data data bus connected point-of-load ("POL") regulator connected POL regulator Connected Connected Connected output data Power supply controller Power supply controller Power supply controller generate an output control unit determine output data. Determine Determine Determine Output data Output data Output data Control unit Control unit Control unit Data bus Data bus Data bus Generate/generating an output Generate/generating an output Generate/generating an output Output builder Output builder Output builder Timing parameter Timing parameter Timing parameter Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator power supply controller output data data bus connected point-of-load ("POL") regulator connected POL regulator [Output] voltage set-point data [Output] voltage set-point data [Output] voltage set-point data output data output builder [Output-voltage] slew-rate data [Output-voltage] slew-rate data [Output-voltage] slew-rate data generate an output control unit i.e. i.e., output data Connected Connected Connected at least one of turn-on data providing a command to turn-on the corresponding POL regulator, voltage set-point data providing a desired Power supply controller Power supply controller Power supply controller output voltage of the corresponding POL regulator, turn-off data providing a command to turn off the corresponding POL regulator, and sequencing data providing a delay period between either a turn-on or turn-off command and actual generation of a corresponding output. Output data Output data Output data Sequencing data Sequencing data Sequencing data The phrase "at least one of turn-on The phrase "at least one of turn-on The phrase "at least one of turn-on data . . . voltage set-point data . . . data . . . voltage set-point data . . . data . . . voltage set-point data . . . slew-rate data . . . turn-off data . . . slew-rate data . . . turn-off data . . . slew-rate data . . . turn-off data . . . and sequencing data . . ." and sequencing data . . ." and sequencing data . . ." Turn-on data Turn-on data Turn-on data Turn-off data Turn-off data Turn-off data Control unit Control unit Control unit Data bus Data bus Data bus Generate/generating an output Generate/generating an output Generate/generating an output Output builder Output builder Output builder [Output] voltage set-point data [Output] voltage set-point data [Output] voltage set-point data control unit turn-on period at least one of said turn-on data , said sequencing data , said slew rate [Output-voltage] slew-rate data [Output-voltage] slew-rate data [Output-voltage] slew-rate data data , and said voltage set point data . i.e., Sequencing data Sequencing data Sequencing data The phrase "at least one of turn-on The phrase "at least one of turn-on The phrase "at least one of turn-on data . . . voltage set-point data . . . data . . . voltage set-point data . . . data . . . voltage set-point data . . . slew-rate data . . . turn-of data . . . slew-rate data . . . turn-of data . . . slew-rate data . . . turn-of data . . . and sequencing data . . ." and sequencing data . . ." and sequencing data . . ." At least one of the set X, Y, and Z. Turn-on data Turn-on data Turn-on data Turn-on period Turn-on period Turn-on period Control unit Control unit Control unit [Output] voltage set-point data [Output] voltage set-point data [Output] voltage set-point data control unit determine Determine Determine Determine turn-off period at least one of said turn-off data , said sequencing data , said slew Sequencing data Sequencing data Sequencing data rate data , and said voltage set point data . The phrase "at least one of turn-on The phrase "at least one of turn-on The phrase "at least one of turn-on data . . . voltage set-point data . . . data . . . voltage set-point data . . . data . . . voltage set-point data . . . slew-rate data . . . turn-of data . . . slew-rate data . . . turn-of data . . . slew-rate data . . . turn-of data . . . and sequencing data . . ." and sequencing data . . ." and sequencing data . . ." Turn-off data Turn-off data Turn-off data Turn-off period Turn-off period Turn-off period Control unit Control unit Control unit Power supply controller Power supply controller Power supply controller turn-on period power supply controller sequencing data. Sequencing data Sequencing data Sequencing data Turn-on period Turn-on period Turn-on period Data bus Data bus Data bus data bus Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator point-of-load ("POL") Generate/generating an output Generate/generating an output Generate/generating an output generating an output output-timing data Output timing data Output timing data Output timing data timing parameter Timing parameter Timing parameter Timing parameter Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator point-of-load ("POL") regulator generating an output Sequencing data Sequencing data Sequencing Data output-timing timing parameter Generate/generating an output Generate/generating an output Generate/generating an output sequencing data Output timing data Output timing data Output timing data Timing parameter Timing parameter Timing parameter Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator point-of-load ("POL") regulator generating an output output-timing data [Output-voltage] slew-rate data [Output-voltage] slew-rate data [Output-voltage] slew-rate data timing parameter i.e., slew-rate data Generate/generating an output Generate/generating an output Generate/generating an output Output timing data Output timing data Output timing data Timing parameter Timing parameter Timing parameter Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator point-of-load ("POL") regulator Turn-off data Turn-off data Turn-off data output-timing data timing parameter Turn-off delay period Turn-off delay period Turn-off delay period turn-off data calculate Calculate Calculate Calculate Generate/generating an output Generate/generating an output Generate/generating an output Output timing data Output timing data Output timing data Timing parameter Timing parameter Timing parameter Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator point-of-load ("POL") regulator generating an output Turn-on data Turn-on data Turn-on data timing parameter output-timing Turn-on delay period Turn-on delay period Turn-on delay period data turn-on data calculate turn-on delay period Calculate Calculate Calculate Generate/generating an output Generate/generating an output Generate/generating an output Output timing data Output timing data Output timing data Timing parameter Timing parameter Timing parameter Enable data Enable data Enable data enable data Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator point-of-load ("POL") regulator output-timing data generating an output Generate/generating an output Generate/generating an output Generate/generating an output timing parameter Output timing data Output timing data Output timing data Timing parameter Timing parameter Timing parameter Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator point-of-load ("POL") regulator slew-rate data [Output-voltage] slew-rate data [Output-voltage] slew-rate data [Output-voltage] slew-rate data i.e., Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator point-of-load ("POL") regulator slew-rate data [Output-voltage] slew-rate data [Output-voltage] slew-rate data [Output-voltage] slew-rate data i.e., sequencing data Sequencing data Sequencing data Sequencing data Sequencing data Sequencing data Sequencing data sequencing data Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator point-of-load ("POL") regulator stew-rate data [Output voltage] slew-rate data [Output voltage] slew-rate data [Output voltage] slew-rate data i.e., turn-on data Turn-on data Turn-on data Turn-on data turn-on delay period Turn-on delay period Turn-on delay period Turn-on delay period Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator point-of-load ("POL") regulator slew-rate data [Output voltage] slew-rate data [Output voltage] slew-rate data [Output voltage] slew-rate data i.e., turn-off data Turn-off data Turn-off data Turn-off data Turn-off delay period Turn-off delay period Turn-off delay period point-of-load regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator data bus output data received externally control unit calculate output data; Output data Output data Output data output builder generate an output timing parameter. Calculate Calculate Calculate Control unit Control unit Control unit Data bus Data bus Data bus Generate/generating an output Generate/generating an output Generate/generating an output Output builder Output builder Output builder Received externally Received externally Received externally Timing parameter Timing parameter Timing parameter point-of-load regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator data bus output data received externally control unit calculate output data; Output data Output data Output data output builder generate an output Sequencing data Sequencing data Sequencing data sequencing data Calculate Calculate Calculate Control unit Control unit Control unit Data bus Data bus Data bus Generate/generating an output Generate/generating an output Generate/generating an output Output builder Output builder Output builder Received externally Received externally Received externally point-of-load regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator data bus output data received externally calculate output data; [Output-voltage] slew-rate data [Output-voltage] slew-rate data [Output-voltage] slew-rate data output builder generate an output i.e., timing parameter; Output data Output data Output data slew-rate data Calculate Calculate Calculate Data bus Data bus Data bus Generate/generating an output Generate/generating an output Generate/generating an output Output builder Output builder Output builder Received externally Received externally Received externally Timing parameter Timing parameter Timing parameter point-of-load regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator data bus output data control unit calculate output data; Output data Output data Output data output builder generate an output timing parameter; Turn-off data Turn-off data Turn-off data turn-off data turn-off period Turn-off period Turn-off period Turn-off period Calculate Calculate Calculate Control unit Control unit Control unit Data bus Data bus Data bus Generate/generating an output Generate/generating an output Generate/generating an output Output builder Output builder Output builder Received externally Received externally Received externally Timing parameter Timing parameter Timing parameter point-of-load regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator data bus output data received externally a control unit output data; Output data Output data Output data output builder generate an output timing parameter; Turn-on data Turn-on data Turn-on data turn-on data calculate Turn-on period Turn-on period Turn-on period Calculate Calculate Calculate Control unit Control unit Control unit Data bus Data bus Data bus Generate/generating an output Generate/generating an output Generate/generating an output Output builder Output builder Output builder Received externally Received externally Received externally Timing parameter Timing parameter Timing parameter point-of-load regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator data bus output data received externally control unit calculate output data; [Output] voltage set-point data [Output] voltage set-point data [Output] voltage set-point data generate an output timing parameter; [Output-voltage] slew-rate data [Output-voltage] slew-rate data [Output-voltage] slew-rate data at least one of turn-on data providing a command to turn-on the corresponding POL regulator, voltage set-point data i.e., providing a desired output voltage of the corresponding POL regulator, slew-rate data providing Output data Output data Output data a rate of change of output voltage of the corresponding POL regulator, sequencing data providing a delay period between execution of other functions by the corresponding POL Sequencing data Sequencing data Sequencing data regulator, and turn-off data providing a command to turn off the corresponding POL regulator. The phrase "at least one of turn-on The phrase "at least one of turn-on The phrase "at least one of turn-on data . . . voltage set-point data . . . data . . . voltage set-point data . . . data . . . voltage set-point data . . . slew-rate data . . . turn-off data . . . slew-rate data . . . turn-off data . . . slew-rate data . . . turn-off data . . . and sequencing data . . ." and sequencing data . . ." and sequencing data . . ." Turn-on data Turn-on data Turn-on data Turn-off data Turn-off data Turn-off data Calculate Calculate Calculate Control unit Control unit Control unit Data bus Data bus Data bus Generate/generating an output Generate/generating an output Generate/generating an output Output builder Output builder Output builder Received externally Received externally Received externally Timing parameter Timing parameter Timing parameter point-of-load regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator data bus output data received externally control unit calculate output data [Output] voltage set-point data [Output] voltage set-point data [Output] voltage set-point data output builder generate an output timing parameter Output data Output data Output data at least one of said turn-on data, said sequencing data , Sequencing data Sequencing data Sequencing data said slew rate data , and said voltage set point data The phrase "at least one of turn-on The phrase "at least one of turn-on The phrase "at least one of turn-on data . . . voltage set-point data . . . data . . . voltage set-point data . . . data . . . voltage set-point data . . . slew-rate data . . . turn-of data . . . slew-rate data . . . turn-of data . . . slew-rate data . . . turn-of data . . . and sequencing data . . ." and sequencing data . . ." and sequencing data . . ." Turn-on data Turn-on data Turn-on data Turn-on period Turn-on period Turn-on period Calculate Calculate Calculate Data bus Data bus Data bus Generate/generating an output Generate/generating an output Generate/generating an output Output builder Output builder Output builder Received externally Received externally Received externally Timing parameter Timing parameter Timing parameter point-of-load regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator sequencing data. Sequencing data Sequencing data Sequencing data Control unit Control unit Control unit point-of-load regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator control unit turn-off period at least one of said turn-off data , said sequencing data , said slew rate data , and said voltage set point data [Output] voltage set-point data [Output] voltage set-point data [Output] voltage set-point data Sequencing data Sequencing data Sequencing data The phrase "at least one of turn-on The phrase "at least one of turn-on The phrase "at least one of turn-on data . . . voltage set-point data . . . data . . . voltage set-point data . . . data . . . voltage set-point data . . . slew-rate data . . . turn-of data . . . slew-rate data . . . turn-of data . . . slew-rate data . . . turn-of data . . . and sequencing data . . ." and sequencing data . . ." and sequencing data . . ." Turn-off data Turn-off data Turn-off data Turn-off period Turn-off period Turn-off period Control unit Control unit Control unit point-of-load regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator turn-off period sequencing data. Sequencing data Sequencing data Sequencing data Turn-off period Turn-off period Turn-off period Sequencing data Sequencing data Sequencing data turn-off period sequencing data. Turn-off period Turn-off period Turn-off period 1. A power control system comprising: A DC/DC switching voltage This term is indefinite and cannot be A dc/dc switching voltage regulator a adapted regulator designed to receive power properly construed. designed to receive power from a to transmit ; from a voltage bus on a printed voltage bus on a printed circuit board circuit board and adapted to power a and adapted to power a portion of the a to said power portion of the devices on the board devices on the board and to be supply controller; and to be placed near the one or placed near the one or more devices more devices being powered as part being powered as part of a and at least one of a distributed board-level power distributed board-level power to system. system. said data bus, said at least one comprising: a storage device adapted to store said Coupled to allow communication Joined together without an Joined together to allow ; intervening component communication an output builder adapted to ; and Circuitry that controls the operation Part of a distributed power control Part of a distributed power control a adapted to of one or more devices. system that activates and at least system that activates and at least at least one timing parameter of said partially programs and monitors a partially programs and monitors a output in accordance with said regulator and allows the output of regulator and allows the output of the POL regulator to be transmitted the POL regulator to be transmitted to an external load circuit. to an external load circuit. No construction necessary. Calculate No construction. In the alternative: To ascertain Ordinary meaning: Data reflecting Real-time generated data reflecting Data reflecting information affecting information affecting the provision information affecting the provision the provision of power to the load. of power to the load. of power to a load. [AGREED] [AGREED] Circuitry in a POL regulator that controls the operation of the POL regulator. [AGREED] [AGREED] A bus for transmitting or receiving digital data either synchronously or asynchronously. [AGREED] [AGREED] Create/creating an output. [AGREED] [AGREED] A voltage building and converting circuit that is part of a POL regulator and that is adapted to generate an output voltage provided to a load. [AGREED] [AGREED] A parameter used to determine when in time a change in the output provided by the regulator occurs. 2. A power control system comprising: [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator a adapted to designed to receive power from a transmit ; voltage bus on a printed circuit board and adapted to power a portion of the a to said power devices on the board and to be placed supply controller; near the one or more devices being powered as part of a distributed and at least one board-level power system. to said data bus, said at least one comprising: Data used to specify the commanded Data provided to a POL regulator Data provided to a POL regulator a storage device adapted to store said output voltage level of the POL specifying the desired output voltage specifying the desired output voltage ; regulator. level for the POL regulator. level for the POL regulator. an adapted to ; and Data concerning the rate of change Data provided to a POL regulator Data provided to a POL regulator a adapted to determine of the output of a device. specifying the desired slew rate (, specifying the desired slew rate at least one timing parameter of said rate of change of output voltage) for ( rate of change of output output in accordance with said the POL regulator. voltage) for the POL regulator. ; wherein said output data further comprises [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] Joined together to allow communication [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] Part of a distributed power control system that activates and at least partially programs and monitors a regulator and allows the output of the POL regulator to be transmitted to an external load circuit. [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] Data reflecting information affecting the provision of power to the load. Data used to control the order of Data specifying the duration of a Data specifying a delay period operation of multiple POL delay period between the POL's between some event and the regulators. receipt of a turn-on or turn-off generation or termination of an command and generation or output. In the alternative: data used to termination of a desired output. determine a delay period between some event and the generation or termination of an output. No construction necessary. The term At least one item of turn-on data, at At least one of the set X, Y, and Z "at least one of" does not mean "at least one item of voltage set-point least one of each of." Rather, it data, at least one item of slew-rate means what it says — "at least one of" data, at least one item of turn-off the set X, Y, and Z. data, and at least one item of sequencing data. No construction necessary. Data commanding a POL regulator Data indicating when to generate an to provide a specified output voltage output. In the alternative: Data that concerns level after a specified time period has turning on an output. passed from the receipt of the data. No construction necessary. Data commanding a POL regulator Data indicating when to stop to cease to provide an output. generating an output. In the alternative: Data that concerns turning off of an output. [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] 3. The power control system of claim 2, wherein said is further adapted to determine a [See `999 Patent, claim 2] [See `999 Patent, claim 2] Data provided to a POL regulator to generate desired specifying the desired output voltage output in accordance with level for the POL regulator. [See `999 Patent, claim 2] [See `999 Patent, claim 2] Data provided to a POL regulator specifying the desired slew rate ( rate of change of output voltage) for the POL regulator. [See `999 Patent, claim 2] [See `999 Patent, claim 2] Data specifying a delay period between some event and the generation or termination of an output. No construction necessary. The term At least one item of said turn-off "at least one of" does not mean "at data, at least one item of said least one of each of." Rather, it sequencing data, at least one item of means what it says — "at least one of" said slew-rate data, and at least one At least one of the set X, Y, and Z the set X, Y, and Z. item of said voltage set-point data. [See `999 Patent, claim 2] [See `999 Patent, claim 2] Data indicating when to generate an output. No construction necessary. A period of time that the POL The time to wait from an event regulator waits after a particular before turning on an output. In the alternative: The time to wait event before transferring power to a from an event before turning on an load. output. [AGREED] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 2] [See `999 Patent, claim 2] Data provided to a POL regulator specifying the desired output voltage 4. The power control system level for the POL regulator. of claim 2, wherein said is further adapted to a of time to terminate a selected output in accordance with [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] No construction. [See `999 Patent, claim 2] [See `999 Patent, claim 2] Data specifying a delay period between some event and the generation or termination of an output. [See `999 Patent, claim 3] [See `999 Patent, claim 3] At least one of the set X, Y, and Z [See `999 Patent, claim 2] [See `999 Patent, claim 2] Data indicating when to stop generating an output. No construction necessary. Data specifying a time period after The time to wait from an event some event at which the POL before turning off an output. In the alternative: The time to wait regulator should, in the absence of from an event before turning off an sequencing data, cease to provide an output. active output. [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] 5. The power control system of claim 3, wherein said is provided by said [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] Part of a distributed power control in said system that activates and at least partially programs and monitors a regulator and allows the output of the POL regulator to be transmitted to an external load circuit. [See `999 Patent, claim 2] [See `999 Patent, claim 2] Data specifying a delay period between some event and the generation or termination of an output. [See `999 Patent, claim 3] [See `999 Patent, claim 3] The time to wait from an event before turning on an output. 8. The power control system of claim 1, wherein said further comprises a bi-directional [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] serial bus. 9. A method of determining at least one output-timing parameter of [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator at least one designed to receive power from a regulator comprising: voltage bus on a printed circuit board and adapted to power a portion of the receiving output-timing data from a devices on the board and to be placed controller; near the one or more devices being powered as part of a distributed storing said output-timing data in a board-level power system. POL storage device; of said at least one POL regulator; and [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] using said to determine at least one of said output. [AGREED] [AGREED] Data used to determine when in time a change in the output provided by a POL regulator occurs. [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] 10. A method of determining at least one output-timing parameter of A dc/dc switching voltage regulator at least one [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] designed to receive power from a comprising: voltage bus on a printed circuit board and adapted to power a portion of the receiving output-timing data from a devices on the board and to be placed controller; near the one or more devices being powered as part of a distributed storing said output-timing data in a board-level power system. POL storage device; of said at least one POL regulator; Data specifying a delay period and using said data to [See `999 Patent, claim 2] [See `999 Patent, claim 2] between some event and the determine at least one generation or termination of an of said output; output. wherein said step of receiving output-timing data further comprises receiving and [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] said step of using said output-timing data further comprises using said sequencing data to determine when [AGREED] [AGREED] Data used to determine when in time said output should be generated. a change in the output provided by a POL regulator occurs. [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] 11. A method of determining at least one output-timing parameter of A dc/dc switching voltage regulator at least one [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] designed to receive power from a comprising: voltage bus on a printed circuit board and adapted to power a portion of the receiving output-timing data from a devices on the board and to be placed controller; storing said output-timing near the one or more devices being data in a POL storage device; powered as part of a distributed board-level power system. of said at least one POL regulator; and using said to determine at least one Data provided to a POL regulator of said output; [See `999 Patent, claim 2] [See `999 Patent, claim 2] specifying the desired slew rate ( rate of change of output voltage) for wherein said step of receiving output-timing the POL regulator. data further comprises receiving and said step of using said output-timing [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] data further comprises using said slew-rate data to determine the slew rate of said output. [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 9] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] 12. A method of determining at least one output-timing parameter of A dc/dc switching voltage regulator at least one [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] designed to receive power from a comprising: voltage bus on a printed circuit board and adapted to power a portion of the receiving output-timing data from a devices on the board and to be placed controller; near the one or more devices being powered as part of a distributed board-level storing said output-timing data in a power system. POL storage device; generating an output of said at least one POL regulator; and Data indicating when to stop using said to [See `999 Patent, claim 2] [See `999 Patent, claim 2] generating an output. determine at least one of said output; wherein said step of receiving output-timing The time to wait from an event before data further comprises No construction necessary. Data specifying a time period after turning off an output. receiving and some event at which the POL In the alternative: The time to wait regulator should, in the absence of said step of using said output-timing from an event before turning off an sequencing data, cease to provide an data further comprises using said turn-off output. active output. data to a turn-off delay period corresponding to when said output is to be turned off. [AGREED] [AGREED] To ascertain based on calculations. [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 9] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] 13. A method of determining at least one output-timing parameter of A dc/dc switching voltage regulator at least one [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] designed to receive power from a comprising: voltage bus on a printed circuit board and adapted to power a portion of the receiving output-timing data from a devices on the board and to be placed controller; near the one or more devices being powered as part of a distributed board-level storing said output-timing data in a power system. POL storage device; of said at least one POL regulator; and Data indicating when to generate an using said output-timing data to [See `999 Patent, claim 2] [See `999 Patent, claim 2] output. determine at least one of said output; wherein said step of receiving further comprises The time to wait from an event before receiving and said step No construction necessary. A period of time that the POL turning on an output. of using said output-timing data regulator waits after a particular further comprises using said turn-on In the alternative: The time to wait event before transferring power to a data to a from an event before turning on an load. corresponding to when said output. output should be generated. [AGREED] [AGREED] To ascertain based on calculations. [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 9] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] 14. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving from said controller. [AGREED] [AGREED] Data that allows a POL regulator to produce an output. 15. A method determining at least one output-timing parameter of at A dc/dc switching voltage regulator least one [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] designed to receive power from a comprising: voltage bus on a printed circuit board and adapted to power a portion of the receiving from a devices on the board and to be placed controller; near the one or more devices being powered as part of a distributed board-level storing said output-timing data in a power system. POL storage device; of said at least one POL regulator; using said output-timing data to [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] determine at least one of said output; and receiving enable data from said [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 9] controller; wherein said step of receiving output-timing data further comprises [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] receiving sequencing data and said step of using said output-timing data further comprises using said sequencing data and said enable data to determine when said output should be generated. 16. A method of determining at least one output timing parameter of at A dc/dc switching voltage regulator least one [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] designed to receive power from a comprising: voltage bus on a printed circuit board and adapted to power a portion of the receiving from a devices on the board and to be placed controller; near the one or more devices being powered as part of a distributed board-level storing said slew-rate data in a POL power system. storage device; receiving enable data from said controller; and Data provided to a POL regulator using said slew-rate data to determine [See `999 Patent, claim 2] [See `999 Patent, claim 2] specifying the desired slew rate the slew-rate of an output of said at ( rate of change of output voltage) least one POL regulator. for the POL regulator. 17. A method of determining at least one output timing parameter of at A dc/dc switching voltage regulator least one [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] designed to receive power from a comprising: voltage bus on a printed circuit board and adapted to power a portion of the receiving from a devices on the board and to be placed controller; near the one or more devices being powered as part of a distributed board-level storing said slew-rate data in a POL power system. storage device; receiving enable data from said controller; using said slew-rate data to determine [See `999 Patent, claim 2] [See `999 Patent, claim 2] Data provided to a POL regulator the slew-rate of an output of said at specifying the desired slew rate least one POL regulator; ( rate of change of output voltage) for the POL regulator. receiving from said controller; storing said sequencing data in said POL storage device; and Data specifying a delay period using said sequencing data to [See `999 Patent, claim 2] [See `999 Patent, claim 2] between some event and the determine when said output is to be generation or termination of an output. produced. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein said step of using said Data specifying a delay period to determine when [See `999 Patent, claim 2] [See `999 Patent, claim 2] between some event and the said output is to be provided further generation or termination of an output. comprises waiting a period of time after said enable data has been received before said output is produced, said period of time being determined by said sequencing data. 19. A method of determining at least one output timing parameter of at A dc/dc switching voltage regulator least one [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] designed to receive power from a comprising: voltage bus on a printed circuit board and adapted to power a portion of the receiving from a devices on the board and to be placed controller; near the one or more devices being powered as part of a distributed board-level storing said slew-rate date in a POL power system. storage device; receiving enable data from said controller; Data provided to a POL regulator using said slew-rate data to determine [See `999 Patent, claim 2] [See `999 Patent, claim 2] specifying the desired slew rate the slew-rate of an output of said at ( rate of change of output voltage) least one POL regulator; for the POL regulator. receiving from said controller; storing said turn-on data in said POL Data indicating when to stop storage device; and [See `999 Patent, claim 2] [See `999 Patent, claim 2] generating an output. using at least said turn-on data and said slew-rate data to calculate a corresponding to when said output is to be produced. The time to wait from an event before [See `999 Patent, claim 13] [See `999 Patent, claim 13] turning on an output. 20. A method of determining at least one output timing parameter of at least one [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator comprising: designed to receive power from a voltage bus on a printed circuit board receiving from a and adapted to power a portion of the controller; devices on the board and to be placed near the one or more devices being storing said slew-rate data in a POL powered as part of a distributed board-level storage device; power system. receiving enable data from said controller; [See `999 Patent, claim 2] [See `999 Patent, claim 2] Data provided to a POL regulator using said slew-rate data to determine specifying the desired slew rate the slew-rate of an output of said at ( rate of change of output voltage) least one POL regulator; for the POL regulator. receiving from said controller; [See `999 Patent, claim 2] [See `999 Patent, claim 2] Data indicating when to stop storing said turn-off data in said POL generating an output. storage device; and using said turn-off data and said slew-rate data to calculate a turn-off delay period corresponding to when said [See `999 Patent, claim 12] [See `999 Patent, claim 12] The time to wait from an event before output is to be terminate. turning off an output. 21. A comprising: [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator a serial interface; designed to receive power from a voltage bus on a printed circuit board a storage device adapted to store and adapted to power a portion of the via devices on the board and to be placed said serial data bus interface; near the one or more devices being powered as part of a distributed board-level a adapted to at power system. least one timing parameter based on said and an adapted to [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] Data reflecting information affecting voltage in the provision of power to the load. accordance with said at least one [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 12] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [AGREED] [AGREED] Received from a source external to the POL regulator. [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] 22. A comprising: [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator a serial interface; designed to receive power from a voltage bus on a printed circuit board a storage device adapted to store and adapted to power a portion of the via devices on the board and to be placed said serial data bus interface; near the one or more devices being powered as part of a distributed board-level a adapted to at power system. least one timing parameter based on said and an adapted to [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] Data reflecting information affecting voltage in the provision of power to the load. accordance with said at least one timing parameter; wherein said output data further [See `999 Patent, claim 2] [See `999 Patent, claim 2] Data specifying a delay period comprises and said between some event and the control unit is further adapted to generation or termination of an output. calculate a time when said output voltage is to be generated, said time being determined in accordance with said sequencing data. [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 12] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 21] 23. A comprising: [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator a serial interface; designed to receive power from a voltage bus on a printed circuit board a storage device adapted to store and adapted to power a portion of the via devices on the board and to be placed said serial data bus interface; near the one or more devices being powered as part of a distributed board-level a control unit adapted to at power system. least one timing parameter based on said and an adapted to [See `999 Patent, claim 2] [See `999 Patent, claim 2] Data provided to a POL regulator voltage in specifying the desired slew rate accordance with said at least one ( rate of change of output voltage) for the POL regulator. wherein said output data further comprises and said control unit is further adapted to [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] Data reflecting information affecting determine a slew rate for said output the provision of power to the load. voltage, said slew rate being determined in accordance with said slew-rate data. [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 12] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 21] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] 24. A comprising: [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator a serial interface; designed to receive power from a voltage bus on a printed circuit board a storage device adapted to store and adapted to power a portion of the received externally via devices on the board and to be placed said serial data bus interface; near the one or more devices being powered as part of a distributed board-level a adapted to at power system. least one timing parameter based on said and an adapted to [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] Data reflecting information affecting voltage in the provision of power to the load. accordance with said at least one wherein said output data further [See `999 Patent, claim 2] [See `999 Patent, claim 2] Data indicating when to stop comprises and said generating an output. control unit is further adapted to calculate a of time that is to be waited before said control unit terminates said output, said turn-off [See `999 Patent, claim 4] [See `999 Patent, claim 4] The time to wait from an event before data being used to calculate said turning off an output. turn-off period of time. [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 12] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 21] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] 25. A comprising: [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator a serial interface; designed to receive power from a voltage bus on a printed circuit board a storage device adapted to store and adapted to power a portion of the via devices on the board and to be placed said serial data bus interface; near the one or more devices being powered as part of a distributed board-level adapted to calculate at power system. least one timing parameter based on said and an adapted to [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] Data reflecting information affecting voltage in the provision of power to the load. accordance with said at least one wherein said output data further [See `999 Patent, claim 2] [See `999 Patent, claim 2] Data indicating when to generate an comprises and said output. control unit is further adapted to a turn-on period of time that is to be waited before said control unit produces said output voltage, said turn [See `999 Patent, claim 3] [See `999 Patent, claim 3] The time to wait from an event before on data being used to calculate said turning on an output. turn-on period of time. [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 12] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 21] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] 26. A comprising: [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator a serial interface; designed to receive power from a voltage bus on a printed circuit board a storage device adapted to store and adapted to power a portion of the via devices on the board and to be placed said serial data bus interface; near the one or more devices being powered as part of a distributed board-level a adapted to at power system. least one timing parameter based on said and an output builder adapted to [See `999 Patent, claim 2] [See `999 Patent, claim 2] Data provided to a POL regulator voltage in accordance with specifying the desired output voltage said at least one level for the POL regulator. wherein said output data further comprises [See `999 Patent, claim 2] [See `999 Patent, claim 2] Data provided to a POL regulator specifying the desired slew rate ( rate of change of output voltage) for the POL regulator. [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] Data reflecting information affecting the provision of power to the load. [See `999 Patent, claim 2] [See `999 Patent, claim 2] Data specifying a delay period between some event and the generation or termination of an output. [See `999 Patent, claim 2] [See `999 Patent, claim 2]. At least one of the set X Y, and Z [See `999 Patent, claim 2] [See `999 Patent, claim 2] Data indicating when to generate an output. [See `999 Patent, claim 2] [See `999 Patent, claim 2] Data indicating when to stop generating an output. [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 12] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 21] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See `999 Patent, claim 1] 27. A comprising: [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator a serial interface; designed to receive power from a voltage bus on a printed circuit board a storage device adapted to store and adapted to power a portion of the via devices on the board and to be placed said serial data bus interface; near the one or more devices being powered as part of a distributed board-level a adapted to at power system. least one timing parameter based on said ; and an adapted to [See '999 Patent, claim 2] [See '999 Patent, claim 2] Data provided to a POL regulator voltage in specifying the desired output voltage accordance with said at least one level for the POL regulator. ; wherein said control unit is further adapted to determine a turn-on period [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] Data reflecting information affecting to generate a desired output in the provision of power to the load. accordance with . [See '999 Patent, claim 2] [See '999 Patent, claim 2] Data specifying a delay period between some event and the generation or termination of an output. [See '999 Patent, claim 3] [See '999 Patent, claim 3] At least one of the set X, Y, and Z [See '999 Patent, claim 2] [See '999 Patent, claim 2] Data indicating when to generate an output. [See '999 Patent, claim 3] [See '999 Patent, claim 3] The time to wait from an event before turning on an output. [AGREED] [AGREED] [See '999 Patent, claim 12] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See '999 Patent, claim 21] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] 28. The of claim 27, wherein said turn-on period is provided in said [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator designed to receive power from a voltage bus on a printed circuit board and adapted to power a portion of the devices on the board and to be placed near the one or more devices being powered as part of a distributed board-level power system. [See '999 Patent, claim 2] [See '999 Patent, claim 2] Data specifying a delay period between some event and the generation or termination of an output. [AGREED] [AGREED] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] 30. The of claim 26, wherein said is further adapted to determine a [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator of time to terminate a designed to receive power from a selected output in accordance with voltage bus on a printed circuit board and adapted to power a portion of the devices on the board and to be placed . near the one or more devices being powered as part of a distributed board-level power system. [See '999 Patent, claim 2] [See '999 Patent, claim 2] Data provided to a POL regulator specifying the desired output voltage level for the POL regulator. [See '999 Patent, claim 2] [See '999 Patent, claim 2] Data specifying a delay period between some event and the generation or termination of an output. [See '999 Patent, claim 3] [See '999 Patent, claim 3] At least one of the set X, Y, and Z [See '999 Patent, claim 2] [See '999 Patent, claim 2] Data indicating when to stop generating an output. [See '999 Patent, claim 4] [See '999 Patent, claim 4] The time to wait from an event before turning off an output. [AGREED] [AGREED] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] 31. The of claim 30, wherein said is provided in said [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator designed to receive power from a voltage bus on a printed circuit board and adapted to power a portion of the devices on the board and to be placed near the one or more devices being powered as part of a distributed board-level power system. [See '999 Patent, claim 2] [See '999 Patent, claim 2] Data specifying a delay period between some event and the generation or termination of an output. [See '999 Patent, claim 4] [See '999 Patent, claim 4] The time to wait from an event before turning off an output. 34. The power control system of claim 4, wherein said is provided in said [See '999 Patent, claim 2] [See '999 Patent, claim 2] Data specifying a delay period between some event and the generation or termination of an output. [See '999 Patent, claim 4] [See '999 Patent, claim 4] The time to wait from an event before turning off an output. B. U.S. Patent No. 6,949, 916 ("the '916 Patent")
Claim Language Plaintiff's Construction Defendant's Construction Court's Construction Point-of-load regulator Point-of-load regulator Point-of-load regulator point-of-load regulators data bus communication of control and monitoring data there between, Control . . . data Control . . . data Control . . . data synchronizing signal least one of an address set , a Monitoring data Monitoring data Monitoring data command set , and a data set Address set Address set Address set Command set Command set Command set Data set Data set Data set Communication of control and Communication of control and Communication of control and monitoring information there monitoring information there monitoring information there between between between Connected Connected Connected The phrase "at least one of an The phrase "at least one of an The phrase "at least one of an address set, a command set, and a address set, a command set, and a address set, a command set, and a data set" data set" data set" Synchronizing signal Synchronizing signal Synchronizing signal Data bus Data bus Data bus Address set Address set Address set connected data bus synchronizing signal at least one of an address set , a command set , and a data set Data set Data set Data set Connected Connected Connected The phrase "at least one of an The phrase "at least one of an The phrase "at least one of an address set, a command set, and a address set, a command set, and a address set, a command set, and a data set" data set" data set" Data bus Data bus Data bus Point-of-load regulator Point-of-load regulator Point-of-load regulator point-of-load regulators at least one of output voltage set-point data output current set-point data , and fault protection data [Output] voltage set-point data [Output] voltage set-point data [Output] voltage set-point data Output current set-point data Output current set-point data Output current set-point data Fault protection data Fault protection data Fault protection data The phrase "at least one of output The phrase "at least one of output The phrase "at least one of output voltage set-point data, output voltage set-point data, output voltage set-point data, output current set-point data, and fault current set-point data, and fault current set-point data, and fault protection data" protection data" protection data" Point-of-load regulator Point-of-load regulator Point-of-load regulator point-of-load regulators Point-of-load regulator Point-of-load regulator Point-of-load regulator point-of-load regulators Point-of-load regulator Point-of-load regulator Point-of-load regulator point-of-load regulators. [Output] voltage set-point data [Output] voltage set-point data [Output] voltage set-point data output voltage set-point data, output current set-point data Output current set-point data Output current set-point data Output current set-point data 1. A power control system comprising: [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator a plurality of designed to receive power from a providing corresponding voltage bus on a printed circuit board regulated output voltages; and adapted to power a portion of the devices on the board and to be placed and a bi-directional, serial near the one or more devices being connected to each of said plurality of powered as part of a distributed point-of-load regulators to permit board-level power system. each one of said plurality of point-of-load Data used to adjust the operation of Information provided to one or more Data specifying a desired operation regulators being adapted to the one or more POL regulators in the POL regulators reflecting a desired by a POL regulator. initiate a communication cycle by power system. operating set point for the POL providing a regulator, such as an output voltage onto said serial data bus followed by a set point. multi-bit data message that includes at . Data concerning the status of the one Information provided by a POL Data concerning the status of the one or more POL regulators in the power regulator that keeps track of the or more POL regulators in the power system or surrounding conditions. operation of the power control system system. through systematic measurements. A set of one or more bits in a message A set of bits in a message specifying A set of one or more bits in a message specifying the address of one or more the address of one or more devices specifying the address of one or more devices connected to a bus. connected to a bus. devices connected to a bus. A set of one or more bits in a message A set of bits in a message specifying a A set of one or more bits in a message specifying a given command given command operation. specifying a given command operation. operation. A set of one or more bits in a message A set of bits in a message reflecting A set of one or more bits in a message reflecting data that is read from or data that is read from or written to a reflecting data that is read from or written to a device. device. written to a device. Sending control and monitoring data Sending both control and monitoring Sending control and monitoring data between the POL regulator and the information between POL regulators. between the POL regulators. data bus. [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] Joined together to allow communication. No construction necessary. The term At least one item from an address set, At least one of the set X, Y, and Z. "at least one of" does not mean "at at least one item from a command set, least one of each of." Rather, it and at least one item from a data set. means what it says — "at least one of" the set X, Y, and Z. A signal that identifies the start of a A clock signal that synchronizes the A signal that identifies the start of a communication cycle. timing of multiple devices with one communication cycle. another for purposes of communication. [AGREED] [AGREED] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] 2. The power control system of claim 1, further comprising a controller to said serial A set of one or more bits in a message A set of bits in a message specifying A set of one or more bits in a message , said controller also being specifying the address of one or more the address of one or more devices specifying the address of one or more adapted to initiate a communication devices connected to a bus. connected to a bus. devices connected to a bus. cycle by providing a onto said serial data bus followed by a multi-bit data message A set of one or more bits in a message A set of bits in a message specifying a A set of one or more bits in a message that includes specifying a given command given command operation. specifying a given command operation. operation. . A set of one or more bits in a message A set of bits in a message reflecting A set of one or more bits in a message reflecting data that is read from or data that is read from or written to a reflecting data that is read from or written to a device. device. written to a device. [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] Joined together to allow communication. [See '916 Patent, claim 1] [See '916 Patent, claim 1] At least one of the set X, Y, and Z [AGREED] [AGREED] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] 4. The power control system of claim 1, wherein each one of said plurality of [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator includes at least one register adapted designed to receive power from a to store voltage bus on a printed circuit board , and adapted to power a portion of the devices on the board and to be placed . near the one or more devices being powered as part of a distributed board-level power system. [See '999 Patent, claim 2] [See '999 Patent, claim 2] Data provided to a POL regulator specifying the desired output voltage level for the POL regulator. Data used to specify an output current Data provided to a POL regulator Data provided to a POL regulator level. specifying the desired output current specifying the desired output current level for the POL regulator. level for the POL regulator. Data concerning identification of or A form of monitoring data provided Data concerning identification of or response to faults. by a POL regulator in which each response to faults. datum is a value reflecting characteristics of the POL regulator sending the message, such as the temperature output voltage, or output current of the sending POL regulator. No construction necessary. The term At least one item of output voltage "at least one of" does not mean "at set-point data, at least one item of At least one of the set X, Y, and Z. least one of each of." Rather, it output current set-point data, and at means what it says — "at least one of" least one item of fault protection data. the set X, Y, and Z. 6. The power control system of claim 1, wherein said address set further comprises plural data bits [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator identifying one of said plurality of designed to receive power from a to which voltage bus on a printed circuit board control data is being written. and adapted to power a portion of the devices on the board and to be placed near the one or more devices being powered as part of a distributed board-level power system. 7. The power control system of claim 1, wherein said address set further comprises plural data bits [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator identifying one of said plurality of designed to receive power from a that initiates voltage bus on a printed circuit board the communication cycle. and adapted to power a portion of the devices on the board and to be placed near the one or more devices being powered as part of a distributed board-level power system. 9. The power control system of claim 1, wherein said data set further comprises plural data bits defining [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator data to be written to or read from one designed to receive power from a of said plurality of voltage bus on a printed circuit board and adapted to power a portion of the devices on the board and to be placed near the one or more devices being powered as part of a distributed board-level power system. 10. The power control system of claim 9, wherein said data set includes at least one of [See '999 Patent, claim 2] [See '999 Patent, claim 2] Data provided to a POL regulator specifying the desired output voltage , and fault level for the POL regulator. protection data. Data used to specify an output current Data provided to a POL regulator Data provided to a POL regulator level. specifying the desired output current specifying the desired output current level for the POL regulator. level for the POL regulator. C. U.S. Patent No. 7,000,125 ("the '125 Patent")
Claim Language Plaintiff's Construction Defendant's Construction Court's Construction Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator point-of-load (POL) regulators; data bus connecting system controller connected Programming . . . information Programming . . . information Programming . . . information programming, control monitoring information Control . . . information Control . . . information Control . . . information Monitoring information Monitoring information Monitoring information Connected, connecting Connected, connecting Connected, connecting System controller System controller System controller Data bus Data bus Data bus Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator data bus programming, control monitoring information system controller POL Programming . . . information Programming . . . information Programming . . . information Control . . . information Control . . . information Control . . . information Monitoring information Monitoring information Monitoring information System controller System controller System controller Data bus Data bus Data bus Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator POL regulators Control information Control information Control information system controller monitoring control information Monitoring information Monitoring information Monitoring information System controller System controller System controller Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator POL regulators data bus. Data bus Data bus Data bus Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator POL regulators permitting programming in the absence of data received from said system controller via said serial interface. permitting permitting permitting programming in the absence of programming in the absence of programming in the absence of data received from said system data received from said system data received from said system controller via said serial interface" controller via said serial interface" controller via said serial interface" Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator POL regulator. Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator POL regulators default configuration settings system controller. System controller System controller System controller Default configuration settings Default configuration settings Default configuration settings Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator point-of-load (POL) regulators data bus connected programming parameters performance monitoring Connected Connected Connected information Performance monitoring Performance monitoring Performance monitoring information information information Data bus Data bus Data bus Programming parameters Programming parameters Programming parameters Programming parameters Programming parameters Programming parameters programming parameters point-of-load regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator data bus programming monitoring information connected Programming . . . information Programming . . . information Programming . . . information controller Monitoring information Monitoring information Monitoring information programming information power Connected Connected Connected conversion circuit. Controller Controller Controller Data bus Data bus Data bus Power conversion circuit Power conversion circuit Power conversion circuit point-of-load regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator controller programming information Programming . . . information Programming . . . information Programming . . . information Controller Controller Controller point-of-load regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator point-of-load regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator programming information Programming information Programming information Programming information Data bus Data bus Data bus Default configuration settings Default configuration settings Default configuration settings 1. A power control system comprising: [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator a plurality of designed to receive power from a voltage bus on a printed circuit board and adapted to power a portion of the at least one serial devices on the board and to be placed operatively said plurality near the one or more devices being of POL regulators; and powered as part of a distributed board-level power system. a to said at least one serial data bus and adapted to send and receive digital data to and from said plurality of POL regulators; Data used to configure the one or Information provided to one or more Data used to configure the one or more POL regulators in the power POL regulator that determines a more POL regulators in the power wherein, and system. programmable characteristic of a system. is carried point-of-load regulator such as the on said at least one serial data bus address setting the POL regulator, the between said system controller and identification of the PL regulator, or said plurality of POL regulators. the phase displacement of the POL regulator. Data used to adjust the operation of Information provided to one or more Data specifying a desired operation the one or more POL regulators in the POL regulators reflecting a desired by a POL regulator. power system. operating set point for the POL regulator, such as an output voltage set point. Data concerning the status of the one Information provided y a POL Data concerning the status of the one or more POL regulators in the power regulator that keeps track of the or more POL regulators in the power system or surrounding conditions. operation of the power control system system. through systematic measurements. [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] Joined together to allow communication. Circuitry that controls the operation Part of a distributed power control Part of a distributed power control of one or more devices. system tat activates and at least system that activates and at least partially programs and monitors a partially programs and monitors a POL regulator and allows the output regulator and allows the output of the of the POL regulator to be transmitted POL regulator to be transmitted to an to an external load circuit. external load circuit. [AGREED] [AGREED] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] 2. The power control system of claim 1, wherein said at least one serial further comprises a [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator first data bus carrying said designed to receive power from a and voltage bus on a printed circuit board between and adapted to power a portion of the said and said devices on the board and to be placed plurality of regulators. near the one or more devices being powered as part of a distributed board-level power system. [See '125 Patent, claim 1] [See '125 Patent, claim 1] Data used to configure the one or more POL regulators in the power system. [See '125 Patent, claim 1] [See '125 Patent, claim 1] Data specifying a desired operation by a POL regulator. [See '125 Patent, claim 1] [See '125 Patent, claim 1] Data concerning the status of the one or more POL regulators in the power system. [See '125 Patent, claim 1] [See '125 Patent, claim 1] Part of a distributed power control system that activates and at least partially programs and monitors a regulator and allows the output of the POL regulator to be transmitted to an external load circuit. [AGREED] [AGREED] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] 4. The power control system of claim 1, further comprising a frontend regulator providing an [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator intermediate voltage to said plurality designed to receive power from a of on an voltage bus on a printed circuit board intermediate voltage bus. and adapted to power a portion of the devices on the board and to be placed near the one or more devices being powered as part of a distributed board-level power system. 6. The power control system of claim 1, wherein said further comprises a user [See '125 Patent, claim 1] [See '125 Patent, claim 1] Data specifying a desired operation interface adapted to communicate at by a POL regulator. least one of said and with a user. [See '125 Patent, claim 1] [See '125 Patent, claim 1] Data concerning the status of the one or more POL regulators in the power system. [See '125 Patent, claim 1] [See '125 Patent, claim 1] Part of a distributed power control system that activates and at least partially programs and monitors a regulator and allows the output of the POL regulator to be transmitted to an external load circuit. 10. The power control system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of each further [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator comprise at least one serial interface designed to receive power from a adapted to communicate with said at voltage bus on a printed circuit board least one serial and adapted to power a portion of the devices on the board and to be placed near the one or more devices being powered as part of a distributed board-level power system. [AGREED] [AGREED] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] 11. The power control system of claim 10, wherein said plurality of each further [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator comprise a hardwired interface designed to receive power from a voltage bus on a printed circuit board and adapted to power a portion of the devices on the board and to be placed near the one or more devices being powered as part of a distributed board-level power system. The phrase " The phrase " The phrase " [AGREED] [AGREED] The phrase "permitting programming in the absence of data received from said system controller via said serial interface" requires that each of the plurality of POL regulators includes a hardwired interface through which the POL regulator can be programmed without using the serial interface. 13. The power control system of claim 11, wherein said hardwired interface further comprises an address [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator interface adapted to receive a unique designed to receive power from a identification address for each said voltage bus on a printed circuit board and adapted to power a portion of the devices on the board and to be placed near the one or more devices being powered as part of a distributed board-level power system. 15. The power control system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of each further [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator comprises a memory containing designed to receive power from a to voltage bus on a printed circuit board revert to in the absence of data and adapted to power a portion of the received from said devices on the board and to be placed near the one or more devices being powered as part of a distributed board-level power system. [See '125 Patent, claim 1] [See '125 Patent, claim 1] Part of a distributed power control system that activates and at least partially programs and monitors a regulator and allows the output of the POL regulator to be transmitted to an external load circuit. [AGREED] [AGREED] Configuration settings used in the absence of configuration data being received via the data bus. 16. A method of controlling a plurality of , comprising: [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator designed to receive power from a receiving programming parameters; voltage bus on a printed circuit board and adapted to power a portion of the transmitting serially over a common devices on the board and to be placed operably to near the one or more devices being plurality of POL regulators digital powered as part of a distributed programming data based on said board-level power system. ; and receiving from said plurality of POL regulators over said common [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] Joined together to allow data bus. communication. No construction necessary. Information obtained through Information concerning one or more systematic measurements that tracks performance characteristics of the In the alternative: Information one or more performance device. concerning one or more performance characteristics of a device. characteristics of the device. [AGREED] [AGREED] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [AGREED] [AGREED] Information that is received by a power supply controller that relates to a programmable characteristic of a point-of-load regulator. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein said first receiving step further comprises receiving [AGREED] [AGREED] [See '125 Patent, claim 16] from a user. 23. A comprising: [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator designed to receive power from a a power conversion circuit adapted to voltage bus on a printed circuit board convert an intermediate voltage to an and adapted to power a portion of the output voltage; devices on the board and to be placed near the one or more devices being a serial interface adapted to powered as part of a distributed communicate and board-level power system. to and from an external serial data bus thereto; and [See '125 Patent, claim 1] [See '125 Patent, claim 1] Data used to configure the one or a connected to said serial more POL regulators in the power data bus interface and said power system. conversion circuit, said controller being adapted to determine operating parameters for said power conversion circuit responsive to said [See '125 Patent, claim 1] [See '125 Patent, claim 1] Data concerning the status of the one and or more POL regulators in the power generate said monitoring information system. responsive to operational characteristics of said [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] Joined together to allow communication. Circuitry that controls the operation Circuitry in a POL regulator that Circuitry that controls the operation of one or more devices. controls the operation of the POL of one or more devices. regulator. [AGREED] [AGREED] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [AGREED] [AGREED] Circuitry that transforms an input voltage to the desired output voltage according to settings received through a serial interface, hardwired settings, or default settings. 26. The of claim 23, further comprising a hardwired interface coupled to said [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator permitting said controller designed to receive power from a to determine said operating voltage bus on a printed circuit board parameters without receiving said and adapted to power a portion of the from devices on the board and to be placed said serial data bus interface. near the one or more devices being powered as part of a distributed board-level power system. [See '125 Patent, claim 1] [See '125 Patent, claim 1] Data used to configure the one or more POL regulators in the power system. [See '125 Patent, claim 23] [See '125 Patent, claim 23] Circuitry that controls the operation of one or more devices. 28. The of claim 26, wherein said hardwired interface further comprises an address [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator interface adapted to receive a unique designed to receive power from a identification address. voltage bus on a printed circuit board and adapted to power a portion of the devices on the board and to be placed near the one or more devices being powered as part of a distributed board-level power system. 30. The of claim 23, further comprising a memory containing default [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator configuration settings to revert to in designed to receive power from a the absence of said voltage bus on a printed circuit board received from said serial and adapted to power a portion of the b interface. devices on the board and to be placed near the one or more devices being powered as part of a distributed board-level power system. [See '125 Patent, claim 1] [See '125 Patent, claim 1] Data used to configure the one or more POL regulators in the power system. [AGREED] [AGREED] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See '125 Patent, claim 15] D. U.S. Patent No. 7,049,798 ("the '798 Patent")
Claim Language Plaintiff's Construction Defendant's Construction Court's Construction Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator data bus connected power supply controller initial configuration data fault-monitoring data Initial configuration data Initial configuration data Initial configuration data point-of-load ("POL") regulator Fault-monitoring data Fault-monitoring data Fault-monitoring data control unit Connected Connected Connected Power supply controller Power supply controller Power supply controller Control unit Control unit Control unit Data bus Data bus Data bus Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator POL regulator fault-monitoring data. Fault-monitoring data Fault-monitoring data Fault-monitoring data [Output] voltage set-point data [Output] voltage set-point data [Output] voltage set-point data initial-configuration data output-voltage-set-point data Initial configuration data Initial configuration data Initial configuration data Initial configuration data Initial configuration data Initial configuration data initial-configuration data Initial configuration data Initial configuration data Initial configuration data initial-configuration data [Output] voltage slew-rate data [Output] voltage slew-rate data [Output] voltage slew-rate data initial-configuration data output-voltage-slew-rate data i.e. Initial configuration data Initial configuration data Initial configuration data Initial configuration data Initial configuration data Initial configuration data initial-configuration data enable/disable data. Enable/disable data Enable/disable data Enable/disable data Initial configuration data Initial configuration data Initial configuration data initial-configuration data timing data. Timing data Timing data Timing data Fault-monitoring data Fault-monitoring data Fault-monitoring data fault-monitoring data Fault-monitoring data Fault-monitoring data Fault-monitoring data fault-monitoring data Point-of-load regulator Point-of-load regulator Point-of-load regulator fault-monitoring data point-of-load regulator. Fault-monitoring data Fault-monitoring data Fault-monitoring data Point-of-load regulator Point-of-load regulator Point-of-load regulator point-of-load regulator Point-of-load regulator Point-of-load regulator Point-of-load regulator point-of-load regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator Point-of-load . . . regulator point-of-load ("POL") regulator initial-configuration data controller data bus; Initial configuration data Initial configuration data Initial configuration data Controller Controller Controller fault-monitoring data Fault-monitoring data Fault-monitoring data Fault-monitoring data Data bus Data bus Data bus Generate/generating an output Generate/generating an output Generate/generating an output Initial configuration data Initial configuration data Initial configuration data initial-configuration data generating said output Generate/generating an output Generate/generating an output Generate/generating an output Fault-monitoring data Fault-monitoring data Fault-monitoring data fault-monitoring data controller Controller Controller Controller Fault-monitoring data Fault-monitoring data Fault-monitoring data fault-monitoring data controller Controller Controller Controller Fault-monitoring data Fault-monitoring data Fault-monitoring data fault-monitoring data controller Controller Controller Controller POL regulator POL regulator POL regulator output-voltage-set-point POL regulator. [Output] voltage set-point data [Output] voltage set-point data [Output] voltage set-point data Initial configuration data Initial configuration data Initial configuration data POL regulator POL regulator POL regulator initial-configuration data output-voltage-slew-rate data POL regulator. [Output] voltage slew-rate data [Output] voltage slew-rate data [Output] voltage slew-rate data i.e., Initial configuration data Initial configuration data Initial configuration data POL regulator POL regulator POL regulator initial-configuration data POL regulator Initial configuration data Initial configuration data Initial configuration data POL regulator POL regulator POL regulator fault-monitoring data POL regulator. Fault-monitoring data Fault-monitoring data Fault-monitoring data POL regulator POL regulator POL regulator fault-monitoring data POL regulator Fault-monitoring data Fault-monitoring data Fault-monitoring data POL regulator POL regulator POL regulator fault-monitoring data POL regulator. Fault-monitoring data Fault-monitoring data Fault-monitoring data POL regulator POL regulator POL regulator fault-monitoring data POL regulator Fault-monitoring data Fault-monitoring data Fault-monitoring data POL regulator POL regulator POL regulator fault-monitoring data POL regulator. Fault-monitoring data Fault-monitoring data Fault-monitoring data POL regulator POL regulator POL regulator fault-monitoring data POL regulator Fault-monitoring data Fault-monitoring data Fault-monitoring data 1. A power control system comprising: [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator a power supply controller adapted to designed to receive power from a provide initial-configuration data and voltage bus on a printed circuit board receive fault-monitoring data; and adapted to power a portion of the devices on the board and to be placed a serial to said near the one or more devices being to powered as part of a distributed communicate said board-level power system. and ; and at least one connected to said data bus, Configuration data (i.e., programming Data provided to a POL regulator by a Programming information received by adapted to produce an output in data) received prior to the generation power supply controller prior to any a POL regulator after power-up but accordance with at least a portion of of an output voltage. activation of the POL regulator that prior to the first generation of an said initial-configuration data, said at relates to one or more programmable output voltage. least one POL regulator comprising: features of the POL regulator. a storage device adapted to store said initial-configuration data and said fault-monitoring data; Data concerning the status of one or Information about a possible fault of Data concerning the status or and a adapted to provide more POL regulators in a distributed the POL regulator or its output operating condition of one or more at least a portion of said fault-monitoring power system or surrounding obtained through systematic POL regulators used to determine if conditions. measurements using an external there is a fault. data to said power supply device or sensor circuit. controller. [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] Joined together to allow communication. [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] Part of a distributed power control system that activates and at least partially programs and monitors a regulator and allows the output of the POL regulator to be transmitted to an external load circuit. [AGREED] [AGREED] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] 2. The power control system of claim 1, wherein said at least one further comprises at [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator least one sensor circuit for detecting designed to receive power from a information corresponding to said voltage bus on a printed circuit board and adapted to power a portion of the devices on the board and to be placed near the one or more devices being powered as part of a distributed board-level power system. [See '798 Patent, claim 1] [See '798 Patent, claim 1] Data concerning the status or operating condition of one or more POL regulators used to determine if there is a fault. 3. The power control system of claim 1, wherein said includes at least [See '999 Patent, claim 2] [See '999 Patent, claim 2] Data provided to a POL regulator specifying the desired output voltage corresponding to a desired voltage level for the POL regulator. level of said output. [See '798 Patent, claim 1] [See '798 Patent, claim 1] Programming information received by a POL regulator after power-up but prior to the first generation of an output voltage. 5. The power control system of claim 1, wherein said includes at least [See '798 Patent, claim 1] [See '798 Patent, claim 1] Programming information received by low-voltage-limit data corresponding a POL regulator after power-up but to a lowest desired voltage level of prior to the first generation of an said output. output voltage. 6. The power control system of claim 1, wherein said includes at least [See '798 Patent, claim 1] [See '798 Patent, claim 1] Programming information received by high-voltage-limit data a POL regulator after power-up but corresponding to a highest desired prior to the first generation of an voltage level of said output. output voltage. 7. The power control system of claim 1, wherein said includes at least [See '999 Patent, claim 2] [See '999 Patent, claim 2] Data provided to a POL regulator specifying the desired slew rate (, corresponding to a desired slew rate rate of change of output voltage) for of said output. the POL regulator. [See '798 Patent, claim 1] [See '798 Patent, claim 1] Programming information received by a POL regulator after power-up but prior to the first generation of an output voltage. 8. The power control system of claim 1, wherein said includes at least [See '798 Patent, claim 1] [See '798 Patent, claim 1] Programming information received by a POL regulator after power-up but prior to the first generation of an output voltage. [AGREED] [AGREED] Data that allows a POL regulator to produce and output or disallows a POL regulator from producing an output. 9. The power control system of claim 1, wherein said includes at least [See '798 Patent, claim 1] [See '798 Patent, claim 1] Programming information received by a POL regulator after power-up but prior to the first generation of an output voltage. [AGREED] [AGREED] Data used to determine when in time a change in the output provided by a POL regulator occurs. 10. The power control system of claim 1, wherein said includes at least [See '798 Patent, claim 1] [See '798 Patent, claim 1] Data concerning the status or output-voltage data that is based operating condition of one or more upon a measured voltage level of said POL regulators used to determine if output. there is a fault. 11. The power control system of claim 10, wherein said output-voltage data corresponds to said measured voltage level of said output. 12. The power control system of claim 10, wherein said output-voltage data corresponds to a comparison of said measured voltage level of said output and a known voltage value. 13. The power control system of claim 1, wherein said includes at least [See '798 Patent, claim 1] [See '798 Patent, claim 1] Data concerning the status or output-current data that is based upon operating condition of one or more a measured current level of said POL regulators used to determine if output. there is a fault. 14. The power control system of claim 13, wherein said output-current data corresponds to said measured current level of said output. 15. The power control system of claim 13, wherein said output-current data corresponds to a comparison of said measured current level of said output and a known current value. 16. The power control system of claim 1, wherein said includes at least [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator temperature-status data that is based designed to receive power from a upon a measured temperature level of voltage bus on a printed circuit board said at least one and adapted to power a portion of the devices on the board and to be placed near the one or more devices being powered as part of a distributed board-level power system. [See '798 Patent, claim 1] [See '798 Patent, claim 1] Data concerning the status or operating condition of one or more POL regulators used to determine if there is a fault. 17. The power control system of claim 16, wherein said temperature-status data corresponds to said [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator measured temperature level of said at designed to receive power from a least one voltage bus on a printed circuit board and adapted to power a portion of the devices on the board and to be placed near the one or more devices being powered as part of a distributed board-level power system. 18. The power control system of claim 16, wherein said temperature-status data corresponds to a [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator comparison of said measured designed to receive power from a temperature level of said at least one voltage bus on a printed circuit board and a and adapted to power a portion of the known temperature value. devices on the board and to be placed near the one or more devices being powered as part of a distributed board-level power system. 24. A method of controlling at least one comprising: [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator designed to receive power from a receiving voltage bus on a printed circuit board from a via a serial and adapted to power a portion of the devices on the board and to be placed near the one or more devices being storing at least a portion of said powered as part of a distributed initial-configuration data in a POL board-level power system. storage device; using at least a portion of said initial-configuration data to determine at least one output-parameter of an [See '798 Patent, claim 1] [See '798 Patent, claim 1] Programming information received by output of said at least one POL a POL regulator after power-up but regulator; prior to the first generation of an output voltage. generating said output; storing in [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] Circuitry that controls the operation said POL storage device; of one or more devices. providing at least a portion of said fault-monitoring data to said controller via said serial data bus; [See '798 Patent, claim 1] [See '798 Patent, claim 1] Data concerning the status or and using said at least a portion of operating condition of one or more said fault-monitoring data to monitor POL regulators used to determine if at least one POL-parameter of said at there is a fault. least one POL regulator. [AGREED] [AGREED] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [AGREED] [AGREED] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] 26. The method of claim 24, wherein said includes at least enable data, [See '798 Patent, claim 1] [See '798 Patent, claim 1] Programming information received by and said step of a POL regulator after power-up but further comprises generating prior to the first generation of an said output in response to receiving output voltage. said enable data. [AGREED] [AGREED] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] 27. The method of claim 24, wherein said step of providing at least a portion of said [See '798 Patent, claim 1] [See '798 Patent, claim 1] Data concerning the status or to said operating condition of one or more is performed in response to receiving POL regulators used to determine if a request for said at least a portion of there is a fault. said fault-monitoring data. [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] Circuitry that controls the operation of one or more devices. 28. The method of claim 24, wherein said step of providing at least a portion of said [See '798 Patent, claim 1] [See '798 Patent, claim 1] Data concerning the status or to said operating condition of one or more is performed independent of a POL regulators used to determine if request for said at least a portion of there is a fault. said fault-monitoring data. [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] Circuitry that controls the operation of one or more devices. 30. The method of claim 28, wherein said step of providing at least a portion of said [See '798 Patent, claim 1] [See '798 Patent, claim 1] Data concerning the status or to said operating condition of one or more is performed if said at least one POL-parameter POL regulators used to determine if violates a known there is a fault. parameter. [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] Circuitry that controls the operation of one or more devices. 32. The method of claim 24, wherein said initial-configuration data includes [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator data, and said step of using designed to receive power from a said at least a portion of said initial-configuration voltage bus on a printed circuit board data further includes and adapted to power a portion of the using said output-voltage-set-point devices on the board and to be placed data to determine the voltage level of near the one or more devices being said output of said at least one powered as part of a distributed board-level power system. [See '999 Patent, claim 2] [See '999 Patent, claim 2] Data provided to a POL regulator specifying the desired output voltage level for the POL regulator. [See '798 Patent, claim 1] [See '798 Patent, claim 1] Programming information received by a POL regulator after power-up but prior to the first generation of an output voltage. 33. The method of claim 24, wherein said includes [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator , and said step of using said designed to receive power from a at least a portion of said initial-configuration voltage bus on a printed circuit board data further includes and adapted to power a portion of the using said output-voltage-slew-rate devices on the board and to be placed data to determine the slew rate of near the one or more devices being said output of said at least one powered as part of a distributed board-level power system. [See '999 Patent, claim 2] [See '999 Patent, claim 2] Data provided to a POL regulator specifying the desired slew rate ( rate of change of output voltage) for the POL regulator. [See '798 Patent, claim 1] [See '798 Patent, claim 1] Programming information received by a POL regulator after power-up but prior to the first generation of an output voltage. 34. The method of claim 24, wherein said includes timing data, and said [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator step of using said at least a portion of designed to receive power from a said initial-configuration data further voltage bus on a printed circuit board includes using said timing data to and adapted to power a portion of the determine when said at least one devices on the board and to be placed is to perform a near the one or more devices being particular action. powered as part of a distributed board-level power system. [See '798 Patent, claim 1] [See '798 Patent, claim 1] Programming information received by a POL regulator after power-up but prior to the first generation of an output voltage. 35. The method of claim 24, wherein said includes actual-output-voltage data, [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator and said step of using said at least a designed to receive power from a portion of said fault-monitoring data voltage bus on a printed circuit board further includes using said actual-output-voltage and adapted to power a portion of the data to monitor the devices on the board and to be placed output voltage level of said at least near the one or more devices being one powered as part of a distributed board-level power system. [See '798 Patent, claim 1] [See '798 Patent, claim 1] Data concerning the status or operating condition of one or more POL regulators used to determine if there is a fault. 36. The method of claim 24, wherein said includes voltage-comparison data, [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator and said step of using said at least a designed to receive power from a portion of said fault-monitoring data voltage bus on a printed circuit board further includes using said voltage-comparison and adapted to power a portion of the data to monitor the devices on the board and to be placed output voltage level of said at least near the one or more devices being one in relation to a powered as part of a distributed known parameter. board-level power system. [See '798 Patent, claim 1] [See '798 Patent, claim 1] Data concerning the status or operating condition of one or more POL regulators used to determine if there is a fault. 37. The method of claim 24, wherein said includes actual-output-current data, [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator and said step of using said at least a designed to receive power from a portion of said fault-monitoring data voltage bus on a printed circuit board further includes using said actual-output-current and adapted to power a portion of the data to monitor the devices on the board and to be placed output current level of said at least near the one or more devices being one powered as part of a distributed board-level power system. [See '798 Patent, claim 1] [See '798 Patent, claim 1] Data concerning the status or operating condition of one or more POL regulators used to determine if there is a fault. 38. The method of claim 24, wherein said includes current-comparison data, [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator and said step of using said at least a designed to receive power from a portion of said fault-monitoring data voltage bus on a printed circuit board further includes using said current-comparison and adapted to power a portion of the data to monitor the devices on the board and to be placed output current level of said at least near the one or more devices being one in relation to a powered as part of a distributed known parameter. board-level power system. [See '798 Patent, claim 1] [See '798 Patent, claim 1] Data concerning the status or operating condition of one or more POL regulators used to determine if there is a fault. 39. The method of claim 24, wherein said includes actual-temperature data, and [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator said step of using said at least a designed to receive power from a portion of said fault-monitoring data voltage bus on a printed circuit board further includes using said actual-temperature and adapted to power a portion of the data to monitor the devices on the board and to be placed temperature of said at least one near the one or more devices being powered as part of a distributed board-level power system. [See '798 Patent, claim 1] [See '798 Patent, claim 1] Data concerning the status or operating condition of one or more POL regulators used to determine if there is a fault. 40. The method of claim 24, wherein said includes temperature-comparison [See '999 Patent, claim 1] [See '999 Patent, claim 1] A dc/dc switching voltage regulator data, and said step of using said at designed to receive power from a least a portion of said fault-monitoring voltage bus on a printed circuit board data further includes and adapted to power a portion of the using said temperature-comparison devices on the board and to be placed data to monitor the temperature of near the one or more devices being said at least one in powered as part of a distributed relation to a known parameter. board-level power system. [See '798 Patent, claim 1] [See '798 Patent, claim 1] Data concerning the status or operating condition of one or more POL regulators used to determine if there is a fault.