電池內電解液量監控專利侵權Philadelphia Scientific控告Battery Watering Systems

2013年1月11日，主要營業處所設在美國賓州的機械動力與備用電池產品及服務供應商Philadelphia Scientific LLC公司(下稱Philadelphia Scientific)，向美國賓州東區聯邦地院提起專利侵權告訴，控告Battery Watering Systems, LLC、BFS of the Americas LLC與FourShare, LLC三家公司所共同營運之Battery Watering Technologies事業(下稱BWT)，其所販售供應之用於警示電池需要加水的i-Lite Sensor等產品，直接或間接侵犯了Philadelphia Scientific所擁有、與監控電池內電解液量有關之3項技術專利權利。

本案3項系爭專利內容如下：

美國專利編號US 5,936,382，名稱為「電池電解液液面監控器(Battery electrolyte level monitor)」，於1999年8月10日核發，而Philadelphia Scientific主張，至少該專利之請求項1與4受到侵犯；

美國專利編號US 7,812,613與US 8,330,467，名稱均為「用於監控電池內電解液液面之系統與方法(System and method for monitoring electrolyte levels in a battery)」，分別於2010年10月12日與2012年12月11日核發，而Philadelphia Scientific主張，至少前者專利之請求項1、16與17、以及後者專利之請求項1受到侵犯。

依據其網站資訊，Battery Watering Systems為FourShare, LLC公司的一分支部門，其主要營業處所位於北卡羅萊納州的Clemmons市，主要營業內容是製造販售、用於工業用電池或電動高爾夫球車電池等的電池加水系統產品。而Philadelphia Scientific 亦有製造販售電池加水系統(如Water Injector System等)與監控電池電解液量(如Blinky等)之產品，所以本案可以說是直接競爭公司間的專利爭訟。(783字；表2)

表一、系爭專利之請求項解析

US 5,936,382請求項1	US 7,812,613請求項1
1. A device for monitoring electrolyte level in a multi-celled battery, said device comprising: 一項用於監控多節電池中電解液液面的裝置，前述裝置包括	1. A system (Fig.1 - 126) for monitoring the electrolyte level in a battery (Fig.1 - 102) having one or more separators (Fig.1 - 108) between positive and negative plates (Fig.1 – 106(1) & 106(2)) in a cell of the battery, the one or more separators having a top which is at a level that is higher than a top of the plates, said system comprising: 一項用於監控一電池內電解液液面的系統，其具備一或多個在一節電池中介於正極板與負極板間的分離器，前述一或多個分離器、其頂端高於前述極板頂端的頂端，前述系統包括
an electric circuit (Fig.5 - 12) having a first terminal (Fig.5 - 14) capable of being fixed within one of the battery cells (Fig.5 - 18) at a minimum acceptable electrolyte level (Fig.5 - 16), and a second terminal (Fig.5 - 20) capable of being electrically connected to a second of the battery cells (Fig.5 - 22); 一電子電路具備第一端子、其可在多節電池之其中一節中被固定於可接受之電解液液面下限，以及第二端子、其可以被電連接於多節電池之另外一節	a measuring device (Fig.1 - 128) , suitable to be located in said battery, configured to detect when the electrolyte level in the battery falls below a first level which is above the tops of the separators in said battery; and 一測量裝置，其適合被裝設於前述電池內，並被配置來偵測前述電池之電解液液面低於、在前述電池中高於分離器頂端之第一液面的時候
a probe having an electrically conductive sensor member, said sensor member connected electrically to said circuit and having an exposed face defining said first terminal to contact the electrolyte (Fig.5 - 17); 一探針具備傳導電之感測器構件，前述感測器構件電連接於前述電路上、並具備一外露面位於前述第一端子用來接觸電解液	a controller (Fig.1 - 132), in electrical communication with the measuring device, configured to (i) receive a signal from the measuring device indicating when the electrolyte level in the battery has fallen below said first level, (ii) introduce a wait-period after the signal is received, and (iii) enable an indicator (Fig.1 - 130) to indicate that the electrolyte in the battery should be refilled after the wait-period expires; 一控制器，其與前述測量裝置具備電訊通訊，並被配置來(i)接收來自前述測量裝置、指示前述電池中電解液液面低於前述第一液面之訊號，(ii)於接收前述訊號後進入一段等待期間，以及(iii)啟動一指示器，只是前述電池中的電解液在前述等待期間結束後需被補充
an indicator (Fig.5 - 34) electrically connected to said circuit between said probe and said second terminal, said indicator being responsive to a flow of current through said circuit; and 一指示器，其介於前述探針與前述第二端子間而電連接於前述電路，前述指示器會對通過前述電路的電流產生反應	wherein said wait-period represents an appropriate time it takes the electrolyte level to fall from said first level to a second level which is below the tops of said separators and above the tops of said plates. 前述等待期間代表一段適當時間，其為電解液液面從前述第一液面、降至低於前述分離器頂端但高於前述極板頂端的第二液面
a resistor (Fig.5 - 42) electrically connected in parallel with said indicator. 一與前述指示器並聯連接之電阻器
US 8,330,467 請求項1
1. A method of monitoring electrolyte levels in a battery, comprising: 一項監控電池內電解液液面的方法，包括
detecting (Fig.4 - 402) when the electrolyte level in the battery falls below a particular level; 偵測前述電池內電解液液面低於一特定液面的時候
introducing a wait-period (Fig.4 - 406) when the electrolyte level in the battery is detected to have fallen below the particular level, and 進入一等待期間、當前述電池之電解液液面被偵測出低於前述特定液面時
indicating (Fig.4 - 408) that the electrolyte level in the battery should be refilled after the wait-period expires. 指示前述電池內電解液液面在前述等待期間結束後應被補充

Source: 科技政策研究與資訊中心—科技產業資訊室整理，2013/01

表二、專利訴訟案件基本資料：Philadelphia Scientific控告營運BWT之3家公司

Source: 科技政策研究與資訊中心—科技產業資訊室整理，2013/01/30