Opinion ID: 772056
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Cardinal's Accused Products

Text: 13 Cardinal's low-emissivity coatings contain layers of zinc oxide and silver, although in some of Cardinal's products, multiple deposits of zinc oxide are applied sequentially on top of each other, with no intervening layers of silver. Some of the layers in Cardinal's products, moreover, are separated by thin deposits of titanium dioxide, referred to by Cardinal as barrier layers. And, some of Cardinal's accused products have an overcoat or top coat of a thin deposit of silicon nitride or zinc oxide on top of the other layers of the coating. 14 Cardinal applies its barrier layers in the following manner. After first depositing a layer of zinc oxide, Cardinal sputters a layer of silver onto the zinc oxide in a nonreactive argon atmosphere. Cardinal thereafter applies a relatively thin deposit of titanium metal on top of the silver, again in a nonreactive argon atmosphere. Zinc oxide is then deposited on the titanium layer in a reactive atmosphere containing oxygen. This causes the titanium to oxidize, forming titanium dioxide. Were the titanium not present, the silver layer would be exposed to the reactive atmosphere and would itself be oxidized, rendering the silver black and the product unacceptable for sale. Elemental analyses of the different regions of Cardinal's accused coatings indicate that silver and zinc oxide molecules can become incorporated into the relatively thin titanium dioxide barriers. The remainder of this opinion will not distinguish between titanium, titanium oxide, and titanium dioxide. 15 AFG argues that Cardinal's products infringe claim 1 of the '532 patent. AFG argues that the barrier layers in Cardinal's products are the same as the interlayers disclosed in the patent, and that the language of its claim does not exclude such interlayers. AFG also argues that its claim reads on Cardinal's accused products containing top coats.