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Effe
ctiv
e Pa
tent
Pro
secu
tion
Tech
niqu
es:
Dra
ftin
g A
nd A
men
ding
Pat
ent C
laim
sIn
Pre
para
tion
For L
itiga
tion
Patr
ick
G. B
urns
Toky
o, Ja
pan
2008
2
I. T
hink
abo
ut §
101
In r
e B
ilski
, 88
USP
Q2d
138
5 (F
ed. C
ir. 2
008)
(en
banc
)
In e
ssen
ce, t
he c
laim
is fo
r a
met
hod
of h
edgi
ng r
isk
in th
e fie
ld o
f com
mod
ities
trad
ing.
For
exa
mpl
e, c
oal p
ower
pla
nts (
i.e.,
the
“con
sum
ers”
) pur
chas
e co
al to
pro
duce
ele
ctri
city
and
are
av
erse
to th
e ri
sk o
f a sp
ike
in d
eman
d fo
r co
al si
nce
such
a sp
ike
wou
ld in
crea
se th
e pr
ice
and
thei
r co
sts.
Con
vers
ely,
coa
l min
ing
com
pani
es (i
.e.,
the
“mar
ket p
artic
ipan
ts”)
are
ave
rse
to th
e ri
sk
of a
sudd
en d
rop
in d
eman
d fo
r co
al si
nce
such
a d
rop
wou
ld
redu
ce th
eir
sale
s and
dep
ress
pri
ces.
The
cla
imed
met
hod
3
envi
sion
s an
inte
rmed
iary
, the
“co
mm
odity
pro
vide
r,”
that
sells
co
al to
the
pow
er p
lant
s at a
fixe
d pr
ice,
thus
isol
atin
g th
e po
wer
pl
ants
from
the
poss
ibili
ty o
f a sp
ike
in d
eman
d in
crea
sing
the
pric
e of
coa
l abo
ve th
e fix
ed p
rice
. T
he sa
me
prov
ider
buy
s coa
l fr
om m
inin
g co
mpa
nies
at a
seco
nd fi
xed
pric
e, th
ereb
y is
olat
ing
the
min
ing
com
pani
es fr
om th
e po
ssib
ility
that
a d
rop
in d
eman
d w
ould
low
er p
rice
s bel
ow th
at fi
xed
pric
e. A
nd th
e pr
ovid
er h
as
thus
hed
ged
its r
isk;
if d
eman
d an
d pr
ices
skyr
ocke
t, it
has s
old
coal
at a
dis
adva
ntag
eous
pri
ce b
ut h
as b
ough
t coa
l at a
n ad
vant
ageo
us p
rice
, and
vic
e ve
rsa
if de
man
d an
d pr
ices
fall.
4
A m
etho
d fo
r m
anag
ing
the
cons
umpt
ion
risk
cos
ts o
f a
com
mod
ity so
ld b
y a
com
mod
ity p
rovi
der
at a
fixe
d pr
ice
com
pris
ing
the
step
s of:
(a)
initi
atin
g a
seri
es o
f tra
nsac
tions
bet
wee
n sa
id c
omm
odity
pro
vide
r an
d co
nsum
ers o
f sai
d co
mm
odity
w
here
in sa
id c
onsu
mer
s pur
chas
e sa
id c
omm
odity
at a
fixe
d ra
te
base
d up
on h
isto
rica
l ave
rage
s, sa
id fi
xed
rate
cor
resp
ondi
ng to
a
risk
pos
ition
of s
aid
cons
umer
;(b
) id
entif
ying
mar
ket p
artic
ipan
ts fo
r sa
id
com
mod
ity h
avin
g a
coun
ter-
risk
pos
ition
to sa
id c
onsu
mer
s; a
nd(c
) in
itiat
ing
a se
ries
of t
rans
actio
ns b
etw
een
said
com
mod
ity p
rovi
der
and
said
mar
ket p
artic
ipan
ts a
t a se
cond
fix
ed r
ate
such
that
said
seri
es o
f mar
ket p
artic
ipan
t tra
nsac
tions
ba
lanc
es th
e ri
sk p
ositi
on o
f sai
d se
ries
of c
onsu
mer
tran
sact
ions
.
5
Impo
rtan
tly, h
owev
er, t
he c
laim
is n
ot li
mite
d to
tran
sact
ions
in
volv
ing
actu
al c
omm
oditi
es, a
nd th
e ap
plic
atio
n di
sclo
ses t
hat
the
reci
ted
tran
sact
ions
may
sim
ply
invo
lve
optio
ns, i
.e.,
righ
ts to
pu
rcha
se o
r se
ll th
e co
mm
odity
at a
par
ticul
ar p
rice
with
in a
pa
rtic
ular
tim
efra
me.
See
J.A
. at 8
6-87
.
6
“Mac
hine
or
tran
sfor
mat
ion”
is in
The
mac
hine
-or-
tran
sfor
mat
ion
test
is a
two-
bran
ched
in
quir
y; a
n ap
plic
ant m
ay sh
ow th
at a
pro
cess
cla
im sa
tisfie
s § 1
01
eith
er b
y sh
owin
g th
at h
is c
laim
is ti
ed to
a p
artic
ular
mac
hine
, or
by sh
owin
g th
at h
is c
laim
tran
sfor
ms a
n ar
ticle
. C
erta
in
cons
ider
atio
ns a
re a
pplic
able
to a
naly
sis u
nder
eith
er b
ranc
h.
Firs
t, th
e us
e of
a sp
ecifi
c m
achi
ne o
r tr
ansf
orm
atio
n of
an
artic
le
mus
t im
pose
mea
ning
ful l
imits
on
the
clai
m’s
scop
e to
impa
rt
pate
nt-e
ligib
ility
. Se
cond
, the
invo
lvem
ent o
f the
mac
hine
or
tran
sfor
mat
ion
in th
e cl
aim
ed p
roce
ss m
ust n
ot m
erel
y be
in
sign
ifica
nt e
xtra
-sol
utio
n ac
tivity
.
7
We
leav
e to
futu
re c
ases
the
elab
orat
ion
of th
e pr
ecis
e co
ntou
rs o
f m
achi
ne im
plem
enta
tion,
as w
ell a
s the
ans
wer
s to
part
icul
ar
ques
tions
, suc
h as
whe
ther
or
whe
n re
cita
tion
of a
com
pute
r su
ffic
es to
tie
a pr
oces
s cla
im to
a p
artic
ular
mac
hine
.
8
“Use
ful,
conc
rete
and
tang
ible
res
ult”
test
is o
ut
“Fre
eman
–W
alte
r-A
bele
” te
st is
out
“Tec
hnol
ogic
al a
rts”
test
is o
ut
The
re st
ill is
no
“bus
ines
s met
hod
exce
ptio
n,”
so b
usin
ess m
etho
d pa
tent
s are
pos
sibl
e, if
the
“mac
hine
or
tran
sfor
mat
ion”
test
is
satis
fied.
In r
e C
omis
key
did
not b
ar a
ny c
laim
rec
iting
a m
enta
l pro
cess
th
at la
cks s
igni
fican
t “ph
ysic
al st
eps.”
9
A c
laim
that
rec
ites “
phys
ical
step
s” b
ut n
eith
er r
ecite
s a
part
icul
ar m
achi
ne o
r ap
para
tus,
nor
tran
sfor
ms a
ny a
rtic
le in
to
a di
ffer
ent s
tate
or
thin
g, is
not
dra
wn
to p
aten
t-el
igib
le su
bjec
t m
atte
r.
A c
laim
that
pur
port
edly
lack
s any
“ph
ysic
al st
eps”
but
is st
ill
tied
to a
mac
hine
or
achi
eves
an
elig
ible
tran
sfor
mat
ion
pass
es
mus
ter
unde
r §
101.
10
II. T
hink
abo
ut §
112
Wri
tten
des
crip
tion
(§ 1
12(1
))
Ena
blem
ent (
§ 11
2(1)
)
Inde
finite
ness
(§ 1
12(2
))
11
Am
tel C
orp.
v. I
nfor
mat
ion
Stor
age
Dev
ices
, Inc
., 19
8 F.
3d.
13
74, 5
3 U
SPQ
2d 1
225
(Fed
. Cir
. 199
9)
Issu
e : W
heth
er th
ere
was
suff
icie
nt st
ruct
ure
corr
espo
ndin
g to
“hi
gh v
olta
ge g
ener
atin
g m
eans
” in
the
clai
ms.
Spec
ifica
tion:
T
he h
igh
volta
ge g
ener
ator
cir
cuit
was
sh
own
as b
lack
box
es in
the
draw
ings
, with
no
deta
il as
to
wha
t ele
ctro
nic
com
pone
nts w
ere
used
in th
e ci
rcui
t.
How
ever
, the
spec
ifica
tion
stat
ed th
at “
know
n ci
rcui
t te
chni
ques
are
use
d to
impl
emen
t hig
h vo
ltage
cir
cuit
34,”
and
re
fere
nced
an
artic
le e
ntitl
ed O
n C
hip
Hig
h V
olta
ge
Gen
erat
ion
in N
MO
S In
tegr
ated
Cir
cuits
Usi
ng A
n Im
prov
ed
Vol
tage
Mul
tiplie
r T
echn
ique
(T
he “
Dic
kson
” ar
ticle
)
12
Hel
d: S
umm
ary
judg
men
t inv
alid
atin
g th
e pa
tent
for
inde
finite
ness
was
impr
oper
.
13
Bud
de v
. Har
ley-
Dav
idso
n, In
c., 2
50 F
. 3d.
136
9, 5
8 U
SPQ
2d
1801
(Fed
. Cir
. 200
1)
Cla
im e
lem
ent a
t iss
ue:
A st
atus
sens
ing
mea
ns fo
r m
easu
ring
...va
cuum
in th
e in
take
man
ifold
.
Spec
ifica
tion:
“V
acuu
m se
nsor
s are
com
mer
cial
ly a
vaila
ble
units
whi
ch p
rodu
ce a
nalo
g si
gnal
s for
the
cont
rol u
nit”
. Fi
g.
3 ha
d a
box
labe
led
“vac
uum
sens
or”.
Hel
d : V
acuu
m se
nsor
s wer
e w
ell-k
now
n in
the
art.
The
cla
im
was
not
inva
lid fo
r la
ck o
f wri
tten
des
crip
tion.
14
15
Aut
omot
ive
Tec
hnol
ogie
s Int
’l., I
nc. v
. BM
W e
t al.,
501
F.3
d 12
74 (F
ed. C
ir. 2
007)
Pate
nt:
Cra
sh se
nsin
g de
vice
s for
aut
omob
ile a
ir b
ags.
Cla
im 1
: A
side
impa
ct c
rash
sens
or fo
r a
vehi
cle
havi
ng
fron
t and
rea
r w
heel
s, sa
id se
nsor
com
pris
ing:
(a)
a ho
usin
g;(b
) a
mas
s with
in sa
id h
ousi
ng m
ovab
le
rela
tive
to sa
id h
ousi
ng in
res
pons
e to
acc
eler
atio
ns o
f sai
d ho
usin
g;(c
) m
eans
res
pons
ive
to th
e m
otio
n of
sa
id m
ass u
pon
acce
lera
tion
of sa
id h
ousi
ng in
exc
ess o
f a
pred
eter
min
ed th
resh
old
valu
e, fo
r in
itiat
ing
an o
ccup
ant
prot
ectio
n ap
para
tus;
and
16
(d)
mea
ns fo
r m
ount
ing
said
hou
sing
ont
o at
leas
t one
of a
side
do
or o
f the
veh
icle
and
a si
de o
f the
veh
icle
bet
wee
n th
e ce
nter
s of
the
fron
t and
rea
r w
heel
s, in
such
a p
ositi
on a
nd a
dir
ectio
n as
to
sens
e an
impa
ct in
to th
e si
de o
f sai
d ve
hicl
e.
Spec
ifica
tion :
M
echa
nica
l sen
sors
wer
e de
scri
bed
in d
etai
l.
FIG
. 1
17
Mec
hani
cal s
enso
rs w
ere
desc
ribe
d in
det
ail.
Ele
ctro
nic
sens
ors
wer
e al
so d
escr
ibed
.
18
Spec
ifica
tion:
Fig.
11
is a
con
cept
iona
l vie
w o
f an
elec
tron
ic se
nsor
ass
embl
y 20
1 bu
ilt a
ccor
ding
to th
e te
achi
ngs o
f thi
s inv
entio
n. T
his s
enso
r co
ntai
ns a
sens
ing
mas
s 202
whi
ch m
oves
rel
ativ
e to
hou
sing
203
in
res
pons
e to
the
acce
lera
tion
of h
ousi
ng 2
03 w
hich
acc
ompa
nies
a
side
impa
ct c
rash
. T
he m
otio
n of
the
sens
ing
mas
s 202
can
be
sens
ed b
y a
vari
ety
of te
chno
logi
es u
sing
, for
exa
mpl
e, o
ptic
s, re
sist
ance
cha
nge,
cap
acita
nce
chan
ge o
r m
agne
tic r
eluc
tanc
e ch
ange
. O
utpu
t fro
m th
e se
nsin
g ci
rcui
try
can
be fu
rthe
r pr
oces
sed
to a
chie
ve a
var
iety
of s
enso
r re
spon
se c
hara
cter
istic
s as
des
ired
by
the
sens
or d
esig
ner.
19
The
cla
im la
ngua
ge “
mea
ns r
espo
nsiv
e to
the
mot
ion
of sa
id
mas
s upo
n ac
cele
ratio
n of
said
hou
sing
...”
cove
rs m
echa
nica
l sw
itch
asse
mbl
ies a
nd e
lect
roni
c sw
itch
asse
mbl
ies.
Def
enda
nts :
T
he o
nly
clea
rly
linke
d st
ruct
ure
iden
tifie
d in
the
spec
ifica
tion
is a
mec
hani
cal s
witc
h as
sem
bly.
Hel
d: T
he c
laim
s are
inva
lid fo
r la
ck o
f ena
blem
ent.
The
cla
ims w
ere
cons
true
d to
cov
er b
oth
mec
hani
cal a
nd
elec
tron
ic se
nsor
s. T
hat f
ull s
cope
mus
t be
enab
led,
and
el
ectr
onic
sens
ors w
ere
not e
nabl
ed.
20
The
gen
eral
des
crip
tion
(abo
ve) f
ails
to p
rovi
de a
stru
ctur
al
desc
ript
ion
of h
ow a
per
son
havi
ng o
rdin
ary
skill
in th
e ar
t wou
ld
mak
e or
use
an
elec
tron
ic si
de im
pact
sens
or.
The
re is
no
disc
ussi
on o
f the
cir
cuitr
y in
volv
ed th
at w
ould
pro
vide
mor
e de
tail
on h
ow th
e se
nsor
ope
rate
s. T
he m
ere
boxe
d fig
ure
of th
e el
ectr
onic
sens
or a
nd th
e fe
w li
nes o
f des
crip
tion
fail
to a
ppri
se
one
of o
rdin
ary
skill
how
to m
ake
and
use
the
elec
tron
ic se
nsor
.
The
nov
el a
spec
t of t
his i
nven
tion
is u
sing
a v
eloc
ity-t
ype
sens
or fo
r si
de im
pact
sens
ing.
Acc
ordi
ng to
pla
intif
f, us
ing
iner
tial o
r ac
cele
ratio
n se
nsor
s to
sens
e si
de im
pact
rep
rese
nted
a
“bre
akth
roug
h” in
side
impa
ct c
rash
sens
ing.
21
Giv
en th
at th
e no
vel a
spec
t of t
he in
vent
ion
is si
de im
pact
se
nsor
s, it
is in
suff
icie
nt to
mer
ely
stat
e th
at k
now
n te
chno
logi
es
can
be u
sed
to c
reat
e an
ele
ctro
nic
sens
or.
Mor
eove
r, si
de im
pact
se
nsin
g w
as c
onsi
dere
d a
new
fiel
d, a
nd A
TI d
id n
ot k
now
of a
ny
elec
tron
ic se
nsor
use
d to
sens
e si
de im
pact
cra
shes
at t
he ti
me
of
the
pate
nt.
Mor
eove
r, th
ere
was
exp
ert t
estim
ony
that
a g
reat
de
al o
f exp
erim
enta
tion
wou
ld h
ave
been
nec
essa
ry to
mak
e an
el
ectr
onic
sens
or a
fter
rea
ding
the
pate
nt.
22
Bio
med
ino
LL
C v
. Wat
ers T
echn
olog
ies C
orpo
ratio
n, 4
90 F
.3d
946,
83
USP
Q2d
111
8 (F
ed. C
ir. 2
007)
The
Pat
ent :
A
che
mic
al p
roce
ss th
at r
ecite
d th
e cl
aim
ele
men
t “c
ontr
ol m
eans
for
auto
mat
ical
ly o
pera
ting
said
val
ves.”
Spec
ifica
tion:
The
onl
y re
fere
nces
in th
e sp
ecifi
catio
n to
the
“con
trol
mea
ns”
are
a bo
x la
bele
d “c
ontr
ol”
in F
ig. 6
and
a
stat
emen
t tha
t the
reg
ener
atio
n pr
oces
s of t
he in
vent
ion
“may
be
cont
rolle
d au
tom
atic
ally
by
know
n di
ffer
entia
l pre
ssur
e, v
alvi
ng a
nd
cont
rol e
quip
men
t.”
23
24
Hel
d: C
laim
s are
inva
lid fo
r in
defin
itene
ss.
“The
inqu
iry
is w
heth
er o
ne o
f ski
ll in
the
art w
ould
un
ders
tand
the
spec
ifica
tion
itsel
f to
disc
lose
a st
ruct
ure,
not
si
mpl
y w
heth
er th
at p
erso
n w
ould
be
capa
ble
of
impl
emen
ting
a st
ruct
ure.
..Acc
ordi
ngly
, a b
are
stat
emen
t th
at k
now
n te
chni
ques
or
met
hods
can
be
used
doe
s not
di
sclo
se st
ruct
ure.
To
conc
lude
oth
erw
ise
wou
ld v
itiat
e th
e la
ngua
ge o
f the
stat
ute
requ
irin
g “c
orre
spon
ding
stru
ctur
e,
mat
eria
l, or
act
s des
crib
ed in
the
spec
ifica
tion.
”
25
Mau
rice
Mitc
hell
Inno
vatio
ns v
. Int
el C
orp.
,249
Fed
. App
x. 1
84
(Fed
. Cir
. 200
7) (n
onpr
eced
entia
l)
Pate
nt:
Mic
roco
mpu
ter
with
bi-m
emor
y ar
chite
ctur
e.
Cla
im L
imita
tion
In Is
sue:
Mea
ns fo
r ca
usin
g sa
id fi
rst a
nd
seco
nd sw
itch
mea
ns to
rem
ain
in sa
id n
onsi
gnal
-con
duct
ing
stat
e up
on a
pplic
atio
n of
pow
er to
said
CPU
pow
er c
ircu
it an
d to
ass
ume
a si
gnal
-con
duct
ive
stat
e up
on r
ecei
pt o
f an
appr
opri
ate
sign
al fr
om sa
id C
PU.
26
Hel
d: I
nval
id.
The
re is
no
spec
ific
stru
ctur
e di
sclo
sed
to
carr
y ou
t the
“m
eans
for
caus
ing”
func
tion.
The
sp
ecifi
catio
n di
sclo
ses t
he M
CS6
520
peri
pher
al in
terf
ace
adap
ter,
but
that
is a
com
plex
inte
grat
ed c
ircu
it co
ntai
ning
nu
mer
ous i
ndiv
idua
l cir
cuits
whi
ch fu
nctio
ns a
s an
inte
rfac
e be
twee
n a
mic
ropr
oces
sor
and
peri
pher
al d
evic
es su
ch a
s pr
inte
rs, e
tc.
Mitc
hell
cont
ends
that
the
MC
S652
0 co
ntai
ns tr
i-sta
te
circ
uitr
y or
tri-s
tate
dri
vers
and
that
a p
erso
n of
ord
inar
y sk
ill in
the
art w
ould
und
erst
and
the
tri-s
tate
stru
ctur
e in
the
MC
S652
0 to
be
capa
ble
of p
erfo
rmin
g “m
eans
for
caus
ing”
fu
nctio
n.
27
Whi
le th
e M
CS6
520
may
con
tain
tri-s
tate
or
driv
er-t
ype
circ
uits
, the
spec
ifica
tion
does
not
iden
tify
the
tri-s
tate
ci
rcui
ts in
the
MC
S652
0 as
the
stru
ctur
e to
car
ry o
ut th
e “m
eans
for
caus
ing”
lim
itatio
n. T
he m
ere
men
tion
of a
co
mpl
icat
ed in
tegr
ated
cir
cuit,
com
pris
ed o
f hun
dred
s if n
ot
thou
sand
s of c
ircu
its, i
s muc
h to
o br
oad
to su
ffic
ient
ly
indi
cate
the
prec
ise
“mea
ns fo
r ca
usin
g” st
ruct
ure
to a
pe
rson
of o
rdin
ary
skill
in th
e ar
t. T
he M
CS6
520
is b
oth
too
broa
d an
d no
t lin
ked
to th
e “m
eans
for
caus
ing”
lim
itatio
n.
28
Mon
sant
o C
o. v
. Syn
gent
a Se
eds,
Inc.
, 503
F.3
d 13
52 (F
ed. C
ir.
2007
)
Pate
nt:
Tec
hnol
ogy
for
prod
ucin
g tr
ansg
enic
cor
n th
at is
re
sist
ant t
o gl
ypho
sate
, a n
onse
lect
ive
herb
icid
e.
Cla
im 1
: A
chi
mer
ic p
lant
gen
e w
hich
com
pris
es:
(a)
a pr
omot
er se
quen
ce w
hich
func
tions
in
plan
t cel
ls;
(b)
a co
ding
sequ
ence
whi
ch c
ause
s the
pr
oduc
tion
of R
NA
, enc
odin
g a
chlo
ropl
ast t
rans
it pe
ptid
e/5-
en
olpy
ruvy
lshi
kim
ate-
e-ph
osph
ate
synt
hase
fusi
on p
olyp
eptid
e,
whi
ch c
hlor
opla
st tr
ansi
t pep
tide
perm
its th
e
29
fusi
on p
olyp
eptid
e, w
hich
chl
orop
last
tran
sit p
eptid
e pe
rmits
th
e fu
sion
pol
ypep
tide
to b
e im
port
ed in
to a
chl
orop
last
of a
pl
ant c
ell;
and
(c)
a 3’
non-
tran
slat
ed r
egio
n w
hich
enc
oded
a
poly
aden
ylat
ion
sign
al w
hich
func
tions
in p
lant
cel
ls to
cau
se
the
addi
tion
to p
olya
deny
late
nuc
leot
ides
to th
e 3’
end
of th
e R
NA
;
the
prom
oter
bei
ng h
eter
olog
ous w
ith r
espe
ct to
the
codi
ng
sequ
ence
and
ada
pted
to c
ause
suff
icie
nt e
xpre
ssio
n of
the
fusi
on p
olyp
eptid
e to
enh
ance
the
glyp
hosa
te r
esis
tanc
e of
a
plan
t cel
l tra
nsfo
rmed
with
the
gene
.
30
Hel
d: C
laim
1 r
equi
res t
he c
laim
ed g
ene
to fu
nctio
n in
pla
nt
cells
, inc
ludi
ng b
oth
dico
ts a
nd m
onoc
ots.
How
ever
, the
pa
tent
app
licat
ion
was
file
d be
fore
tran
sfor
mat
ion
of
mon
ocot
cel
ls w
as p
ossi
ble.
The
refo
re, t
hose
skill
ed in
the
art c
ould
not
tran
sfor
m a
mon
ocot
pla
nt c
ell a
s of t
he fi
ling
date
of t
he p
aten
t app
licat
ion.
The
cla
im r
equi
res
tran
sfor
mat
ion
of th
e pl
ant c
ell.
With
out t
he a
bilit
y to
tr
ansf
orm
a m
onoc
ot c
ell,
one
skill
ed in
the
art c
ould
not
de
term
ine
whe
ther
a p
lant
gen
e co
uld
carr
y ou
t the
cla
imed
fu
nctio
ns a
nd th
us fa
ll w
ithin
the
scop
e of
the
clai
m.
31
Hal
libur
ton
Ene
rgy
Serv
ices
, Inc
. v. M
-I L
LC
, 514
F.3
d 12
44,
85 U
SPQ
2d 1
654
(Fed
. Cir
. 200
8)
Pate
nt:
Oil
field
dri
lling
flui
ds th
at a
re “
frag
ile g
els.”
Cla
im 1
: A
met
hod
for
cond
uctin
g a
drill
ing
oper
atio
n in
a
subt
erra
nean
form
atio
n us
ing
a fr
agile
gel
dri
lling
flui
d co
mpr
isin
g:(a
) an
inve
rt e
mul
sion
bas
e;(b
) on
e or
mor
e th
inne
rs;
(c)
one
or m
ore
emul
sifie
rs; a
nd(d
) on
e or
mor
e w
eigh
ting
agen
ts, w
here
in
said
ope
ratio
n in
clud
es r
unni
ng c
asin
g in
a b
oreh
ole.
32
Spec
ifica
tion:
A “
frag
ile g
el”
as u
sed
here
in is
a “
gel”
that
is e
asily
di
srup
ted
or th
inne
d, a
nd th
at li
quifi
es o
r be
com
es le
ss g
el-
like
and
mor
e liq
uid-
like
unde
r st
ress
, suc
h as
cau
sed
by
mov
ing
the
fluid
, but
whi
ch q
uick
ly r
etur
ns to
a g
el w
hen
the
mov
emen
t or
othe
r st
ress
is a
llevi
ated
or
rem
oved
, suc
h as
w
hen
circ
ulat
ion
of th
e flu
id is
stop
ped,
as f
or e
xam
ple
whe
n dr
illin
g is
stop
ped.
The
“fr
agile
ness
” of
the
“fra
gile
gel
s” o
f th
e pr
esen
t inv
entio
n co
ntri
bute
s to
the
uniq
ue a
nd
surp
risi
ng b
ehav
ior
and
adva
ntag
es o
f the
pre
sent
inve
ntio
n.
The
gel
s are
so “
frag
ile”
that
it is
bel
ieve
d th
at th
ey m
ay b
e di
srup
ted
by a
mer
e pr
essu
re w
ave
or a
com
pres
sion
wav
e
33
duri
ng d
rilli
ng.
The
y se
em to
bre
ak in
stan
tane
ousl
y w
hen
dist
urbe
d, r
ever
sing
from
a g
el b
ack
into
a li
quid
form
with
min
imum
pre
ssur
e, fo
rce
and
time
and
with
less
pr
essu
re, f
orce
and
tim
e th
an k
now
n to
be
requ
ired
to
conv
ert p
rior
art
flui
ds fr
om a
gel
-like
stat
e in
to a
flow
able
st
ate.
34
In o
ne w
ell,
AC
CO
LA
DE
TM
, a
fluid
hav
ing
the
feat
ures
or
char
acte
rist
ics o
f the
inve
ntio
n, a
nd c
omm
erci
ally
ava
ilabl
e fr
om H
allib
urto
n E
nerg
y Se
rvic
es, I
nc. i
n H
oust
on...
was
us
ed.
Hal
libur
ton’
s Pro
pose
dD
efin
ition
of “
Frag
ile G
el”:
Frag
ile g
els a
re th
ose
that
eas
ily tr
ansi
tion
to a
liqu
id st
ate
upon
th
e in
trod
uctio
n of
forc
e an
d re
turn
to a
gel
whe
n th
e fo
rce
is
rem
oved
, and
thos
e th
at a
re c
apab
le o
f sus
pend
ing
drill
cu
ttin
gs a
nd w
eigh
ting
mat
eria
ls a
t res
t.
35
Hel
d:
The
cla
ims a
re in
valid
for
inde
finite
ness
, bec
ause
the
spec
ifica
tion
does
not
ade
quat
ely
desc
ribe
frag
ile g
els.
H
allib
urto
n’s f
ailu
re to
dis
tingu
ish
the
frag
ilene
ss o
f the
dri
lling
fu
el’s
flui
ds o
f the
inve
ntio
n fr
om th
e cl
ose
prio
r ar
t (th
e 12
.1
SF fl
uid
that
exh
ibite
d th
e L
-sha
ped
curv
ed b
ehav
ior)
is fa
tal..
. E
ven
if th
e ‘8
32 p
aten
t dis
tingu
ishe
d “f
ragi
le g
els”
of t
he
inve
ntio
n fr
om th
ose
of th
e pr
ior
art,
it di
d no
t pla
ce a
ny li
mit
on th
e sc
ope
of w
hat w
as in
vent
ed b
eyon
d th
e pr
ior
art.
36
Sitr
ick
v. D
ream
wor
ks, L
LC, 5
15 F
.3d
993,
85
USP
Q2d
182
6 (F
ed. C
ir. 2
008)
Pate
nt:
Inte
grat
ion
of a
use
r’s a
udio
sign
al o
r vi
sual
imag
e in
to a
pre
- ex
istin
g vi
deo
gam
e or
mov
ie.
Spec
ifica
tion:
Inte
grat
ion
for
vide
o ga
mes
is d
escr
ibed
in d
etai
l, bu
t sou
nd
inte
grat
ion
into
mov
ies i
s not
.
37
Hel
d:
Bec
ause
the
asse
rted
cla
ims a
re b
road
eno
ugh
to c
over
bo
th m
ovie
s and
vid
eo g
ames
, the
pat
ents
mus
t ena
ble
both
em
bodi
men
ts.
Eve
n if
the
clai
ms a
re e
nabl
ed w
ith r
espe
ct to
vi
deo
gam
es –
an
issu
e w
e ne
ed n
ot d
ecid
e –
the
clai
ms a
re n
ot
enab
led
if th
e pa
tent
s do
not a
lso
enab
le fo
r m
ovie
s. T
he
pate
nts i
dent
ify a
con
trol
ler
and
desc
ribe
how
to im
plem
ent i
t fo
r us
e w
ith v
ideo
gam
es, b
ut d
o no
t tea
ch h
ow to
impl
emen
t th
e “i
nter
cept
logi
c fu
nctio
n” o
f con
trol
ler
260C
in c
onte
xt o
f m
ovie
s.
38
Allv
oice
Com
putin
g PL
C v
. Nua
nce
Com
mun
icat
ions
Inc.
, 84
USP
Q 2
d 18
86, 5
04 F
.3d
1236
(200
7)
Pate
nt:
Spee
ch r
ecog
nitio
n by
a c
ompu
ter
39
40
Hel
d: T
he c
laim
s are
not
inde
finite
.
To
the
cont
rary
, the
spec
ifica
tion
cont
ains
suff
icie
nt a
lgor
ithm
ic
stru
ctur
e to
giv
e m
eani
ng to
cla
ims 5
1 an
d 67
. C
laim
de
finite
ness
, as d
iscu
ssed
ear
lier,
dep
ends
on
the
skill
leve
l of a
pe
rson
of o
rdin
ary
skill
in th
e ar
t. M
iles L
abs. ,
Inc.
, 997
F.2
d at
87
5. I
n so
ftw
are
case
s, th
eref
ore,
alg
orith
ms i
n th
e sp
ecifi
catio
n ne
ed o
nly
disc
lose
ade
quat
e de
finin
g st
ruct
ure
to r
ende
r th
e bo
unds
of t
he c
laim
und
erst
anda
ble
to o
ne o
f ord
inar
y sk
ill in
th
e ar
t.
41
III.
Thi
nk a
bout
cla
im c
onst
ruct
ion
A.
Avo
id h
avin
g th
e sp
ecifi
catio
n re
ad in
to th
e cl
aim
s1.
B
e ca
refu
l giv
ing
wor
ds sp
ecia
l mea
ning
s
Ren
isha
w v
. M
arpo
ss,
158
F.3d
124
3, 4
8 U
SPQ
2d 1
117
(Fed
. C
ir. 1
998)
42
Pate
nt:
Tou
ch p
robe
that
gen
erat
es a
trig
ger
sign
al "
whe
n" a
se
nsin
g tip
con
tact
s an
obje
ct a
nd a
styl
us h
olde
r is
def
lect
ed.
Acc
used
Dev
ice :
Whe
n th
e st
ylus
con
tact
s an
obje
ct, t
he st
ylus
ho
lder
doe
s not
imm
edia
tely
mov
e up
tow
ard
a m
icro
switc
h. It
fir
st r
otat
es in
side
a c
onic
al se
at. W
hen
it hi
ts a
shel
f, th
e st
ylus
ho
lder
tips
upw
ard
and
hits
the
mic
ro sw
itch.
Issu
e : D
oes "
whe
n" c
over
slig
htly
del
ayed
trig
gers
?
43
Hel
d: N
o In
frin
gem
ent.
"Whe
n" d
efin
ed b
y de
scri
ptio
n in
the
spec
ifica
tion.
To
the
exte
nt th
at th
ese
pass
ages
ref
er to
the
pref
erre
d em
bodi
men
t, th
ey c
anno
t be
read
into
the
clai
ms
with
out s
ome
hook
. The
cla
im te
rm "
whe
n" is
that
hoo
k. E
ach
of
the
pass
ages
abo
ve sh
ow th
at th
e pa
tent
ee w
ante
d "w
hen"
to
mea
n as
soon
as p
ossi
ble
afte
r co
ntac
t.
44
Gut
tman
, Inc
. v. K
opyk
ake
Ent
erpr
ises
, Inc
., 30
2 F.
3d 1
352,
64
USP
Q2d
130
2 (F
ed. C
ir. 2
002)
45
Pate
nt:
Met
hod
of c
opyi
ng a
n im
age
onto
an
edib
le su
bstr
ate
that
can
be
plac
ed o
n a
cake
.
Cla
im:
Pass
ing
an e
dibl
e w
eb a
long
an
elon
gate
d, n
on-t
ortu
ous
copy
pat
h…
Arg
ued:
A n
on-t
ortu
ous c
opy
path
is fr
ee o
f “to
rtuo
us b
ends
.”
Dic
tiona
ry:
“Tor
tuou
s” m
eans
“m
arke
d by
rep
eate
d tw
ists
, be
nds o
r tu
rns.”
46
Spec
ifica
tion:
A to
rtuo
us b
end
is o
ne th
at a
n ed
ible
subs
trat
e sh
eet “
wou
ld n
ot li
kely
surv
ive.
”
Hel
d : T
he c
laim
lang
uage
shou
ld n
ot b
e lim
ited
to su
bsta
ntia
lly
stra
ight
cop
y pa
ths.
The
inve
ntor
cle
arly
con
tem
plat
ed u
sing
the
inve
ntio
n in
mac
hine
s with
cur
ved,
but
non
-tor
tuou
s, co
py p
aths
.
47
2. U
se w
ords
that
hav
e an
ord
inar
y m
eani
ng
Oak
ley,
Inc.
v. S
ungl
ass H
ut In
t’l. ,
316
F.3
d 13
31, 6
5 U
SPQ
2d
1321
(Fed
. Cir
. 200
3)
“Viv
id c
olor
ed a
ppea
ranc
e” in
a c
laim
for
sung
lass
es
coul
d no
t be
defin
ed, s
o ra
nges
from
the
spec
ifica
tion
wer
e re
ad
into
the
clai
ms.
48
3.
Do
not o
ver-
emph
asiz
e un
clai
med
com
pone
nts o
r fe
atur
es
Inno
vad
Inc.
v. M
icro
soft
Cor
p., 2
60 F
.3d
1326
, 59
USP
Q2d
167
6 (F
ed. C
ir. 2
001)
Aut
omat
ic te
leph
one
dial
er sy
stem
49
Cla
im:
22.
A te
leph
one
dial
er sy
stem
, com
pris
ing:
[a]
a ca
se
havi
ng
at
leas
t on
e su
rfac
e fo
r su
bsta
ntia
lly
encl
osin
g a
smal
l vol
ume;
[b] r
epro
gram
mab
le m
emor
y m
eans
dis
pose
d w
ithin
said
cas
e fo
r st
orin
g a
sele
cted
se
quen
ce
of
digi
ts
duri
ng
a pr
ogra
mm
ing
mod
e,
said
di
gits
co
nstit
utin
g at
le
ast
one
tele
phon
e nu
mbe
r;[c
] sig
nal m
eans
dis
pose
d w
ithin
sai
d ca
se e
lect
rica
lly c
oupl
ed
to s
aid
repr
ogra
mm
able
mem
ory
mea
ns f
or p
rodu
cing
a
sequ
ence
of
du
al
tone
m
odul
ated
fr
eque
ncy
sign
als
corr
espo
ndin
g to
sai
d at
leas
t one
tele
phon
e nu
mbe
r st
ored
in
said
rep
rogr
amm
able
mem
ory
mea
ns d
urin
g a
dial
ing
mod
e;
50
[d] a
n au
dio
freq
uenc
y ou
tput
mea
ns e
lect
rica
lly c
oupl
ed
to sa
id si
gnal
mea
ns fo
r pr
oduc
ing
a se
quen
ce o
f aud
io
freq
uenc
y si
gnal
s cor
resp
ondi
ng to
said
sequ
ence
of d
ual t
one
mod
ulat
ed fr
eque
ncy
sign
als p
rodu
ced
by sa
id si
gnal
mea
ns
duri
ng sa
id d
ialin
g m
ode;
[e]
at le
ast
one
batt
ery
disp
osed
with
in s
aid
case
, ele
ctri
cally
co
uple
d an
d pr
ovid
ing
pow
er
to
said
re
prog
ram
mab
le
mem
ory
mea
ns, s
aid
sign
al m
eans
, and
sai
d au
dio
freq
uenc
y ou
tput
mea
ns;
[f] a
sin
gle,
bi-s
tate
sw
itch
oper
able
from
ext
erio
r of
sai
d ca
se
for
activ
atin
g sa
id s
igna
l m
eans
to
prod
uce
said
seq
uenc
e of
du
al t
one
mod
ulat
ed f
requ
ency
sig
nals
dur
ing
said
dia
ling
mod
e co
rres
pond
ing
to s
aid
digi
ts i
n sa
id r
epro
gram
mab
le
mem
ory
mea
ns;
51
[g] p
rogr
amm
ing
mea
ns fo
r pr
ogra
mm
ing
said
re
prog
ram
mab
le m
emor
y m
eans
with
said
at l
east
tele
phon
e nu
mbe
r du
ring
said
pro
gram
min
g m
ode;
and
[h]
mea
ns
for
rele
asab
ly
elec
tric
ally
co
uplin
g sa
id
repr
ogra
mm
able
m
emor
y m
eans
an
d sa
id
prog
ram
min
g m
eans
onl
y du
ring
said
pro
gram
min
g m
ode.
Spec
ifica
tion :
A s
ingl
e, b
i-sta
te s
witc
h on
the
outs
ide
of th
e ca
se
activ
ates
the
sign
al.
Acc
used
Dev
ice :
An
inte
gral
, num
eric
key
pad.
Hel
d: N
o in
frin
gem
ent.
One
rea
son
is th
at c
laim
ele
men
ts [a
]-[f
] do
NO
T in
clud
e a
keyp
ad, b
ecau
se t
he s
peci
ficat
ion
excl
udes
th
at fr
om th
e sc
ope
of th
e cl
aim
s.
52
B.
Use
dep
ende
nt c
laim
s
Phill
ips v
. AW
H C
orp.
, 363
F.3
d 12
07, 7
0 U
SPQ
2d 1
417
(Fed
. C
ir. 2
004)
(by
Judg
e L
ouri
e, jo
ined
by
Judg
e N
ewm
an, d
isse
nt in
pa
rt b
y Ju
dge
Dyk
) (va
cate
d an
d w
ithdr
awn,
for
en b
anc
cons
ider
atio
n on
Jul
y 21
, 200
4);
Phill
ips v
. AW
H C
orp.
, 415
F.3
d 13
03, 1
321,
75
USP
Q2d
132
1, 1
332
(Fed
. Cir
. 200
5)(e
n ba
nc)
Pate
nt:
Ste
el sh
ell m
odul
es fo
r pr
ison
er d
eten
tion
faci
litie
s.
53
Cla
im 1
: B
uild
ing
mod
ules
…an
d fu
rthe
r m
eans
dis
pose
d in
side
the
shel
l for
incr
easi
ng it
s loa
d be
arin
g ca
paci
ty
com
pris
ing:
inte
rnal
stee
l baf
fles e
xten
ding
inw
ardl
y fr
om th
e st
eel s
hell
wal
ls.
Issu
e : W
hat i
s a “
baff
le?”
Stip
ulat
ion:
The
par
ties s
tipul
ated
that
the
term
mea
nt “
mea
ns
for
obst
ruct
ing,
impe
ding
or
chec
king
the
flow
of s
omet
hing
.”
Dis
tric
t Cou
rt:
“Baf
fles”
ext
end
inw
ard
from
the
shel
l wal
ls a
t ob
lique
or
acut
e an
gles
, and
“ba
ffle
s” fo
rm a
n in
term
edia
te
inte
rloc
king
bar
rier
in th
e in
teri
or o
f the
wal
l mod
ule.
54
CA
FC P
anel
Dec
isio
n:
“Baf
fle”
is n
ot in
mea
ns p
lus
func
tion
lang
uage
. Fr
om th
e sp
ecifi
catio
n’s e
xplic
it de
scri
ptio
ns
of th
e in
vent
ion,
we
conc
lude
that
the
pate
ntee
reg
arde
d hi
s in
vent
ion
as p
anel
s pro
vidi
ng im
pact
or
proj
ectil
e re
sist
ance
, and
th
at th
e ba
ffle
s mus
t be
orie
nted
at a
ngle
s oth
er th
an 9
0°.
Baf
fles
dire
cted
at 9
0° c
anno
t def
lect
pro
ject
iles a
s des
crib
ed in
the
‘798
pa
tent
, and
in a
ny e
vent
, are
dis
clos
ed in
the
prio
r ar
t…be
caus
e w
e so
con
stru
e th
e ‘7
98 p
aten
t, an
d be
caus
e A
WH
doe
s not
use
ac
ute
or o
btus
e an
gles
in it
s pan
els,
we
affir
m th
e D
istr
ict
Cou
rt’s
judg
men
t of n
onin
frin
gem
ent.
55
Pane
l Dis
sent
: T
he m
ajor
ity d
ecis
ion
effe
ctiv
ely
limits
the
clai
ms
to th
e pr
efer
red
embo
dim
ent.
The
re is
no
sugg
estio
n th
at th
e pa
tent
ee, a
ctin
g as
his
ow
n le
xico
grap
her,
gav
e a
spec
ial m
eani
ng
to th
e te
rm b
affle
s. T
he sp
ecifi
catio
n co
ntai
ns n
o la
ngua
ge
clea
rly
limiti
ng th
e cl
aim
s to
a sp
ecifi
c st
ruct
ure.
Im
pact
re
sist
ance
is o
nly
one
of se
vera
l obj
ectiv
es o
f the
inve
ntio
n, a
nd
baff
les t
hat a
re o
rien
ted
at 9
0° w
ould
still
ach
ieve
the
load
be
arin
g an
d th
erm
al-a
cous
tical
isol
atio
n ob
ject
ives
taug
ht in
the
spec
ifica
tion.
Mor
eove
r, th
e fa
ct th
at a
feat
ure
of th
e in
vent
ion
may
hav
e be
en d
escr
ibed
in th
e pr
ior
art h
ardl
y ra
ises
seri
ous
ques
tions
of i
nval
idity
. H
ere,
ther
e w
as n
o ef
fort
to d
istin
guis
h th
e pr
ior
art o
n th
e ba
sis t
hat p
rior
art
baf
fles w
ere
orie
nted
at
90° a
ngle
s.
56
CA
FC e
n ba
nc D
ecis
ion:
The
pri
ncip
le q
uest
ion
is th
e ex
tent
to
whi
ch w
e sh
ould
res
ort t
o an
d re
ly o
n a
pate
nt’s
spec
ifica
tion
in
seek
ing
to a
scer
tain
the
prop
er sc
ope
of it
s cla
ims.
Qui
te
apar
t fr
om
the
wri
tten
de
scri
ptio
n or
th
e pr
osec
utio
n hi
stor
y, t
he c
laim
s th
emse
lves
pro
vide
sub
stan
tial
guid
ance
as
to t
he m
eani
ng o
f pa
rtic
ular
cla
im t
erm
s. O
ther
cl
aim
s, bo
th a
sser
ted
and
unas
sert
ed,
can
also
be
valu
able
so
urce
s of
enl
ight
enm
ent
as t
o th
e m
eani
ng o
f th
e cl
aim
ter
m.
Diff
eren
ces
amon
g cl
aim
s ca
n al
so
be
a us
eful
gu
ide
in
unde
rsta
ndin
g th
e m
eani
ng o
f pa
rtic
ular
cla
im t
erm
s. F
or
exam
ple,
th
e pr
esen
ce
of
a de
pend
ent
clai
m
that
ad
ds
a pa
rtic
ular
lim
itatio
n gi
ves
rise
to
a
pres
umpt
ion
that
th
e lim
itatio
n in
que
stio
n is
not
pre
sent
in th
e in
depe
nden
t cla
im.
57
How
ever
, the
spe
cific
atio
n is
alw
ays
high
ly r
elev
ant t
o th
e cl
aim
con
stru
ctio
n an
alys
is.
Usu
ally
, it
is d
ispo
sitiv
e; i
t is
the
si
ngle
bes
t gui
de to
the
mea
ning
of a
dis
pute
d te
rm.
The
sp
ecifi
catio
n ne
cess
arily
in
form
s th
e pr
oper
co
nstr
uctio
n of
the
clai
ms.
The
spec
ifica
tion
may
rev
eal a
spec
ial
defin
ition
giv
en to
a c
laim
term
by
the
pate
ntee
that
diff
ers
from
th
e m
eani
ng i
t w
ould
oth
erw
ise
poss
ess.
In
othe
r ca
ses,
the
spec
ifica
tion
may
rev
eal a
n in
tent
iona
l dis
clai
mer
, or
disa
vow
al,
of c
laim
scop
e by
the
inve
ntor
.T
he
pate
nt’s
pr
osec
utio
n hi
stor
y sh
ould
al
so
be
cons
ider
ed.
Yet
bec
ause
the
pro
secu
tion
hist
ory
repr
esen
ts a
n on
goin
g ne
gotia
tion
betw
een
the
PTO
and
the
appl
icat
ion,
rat
her
58
than
the
final
pro
duct
of t
hat n
egot
iatio
n, it
oft
en la
cks t
he
clar
ity o
f the
spec
ifica
tion
and
thus
is le
ss u
sefu
l for
cla
im
cons
truc
tion
purp
oses
.
The
dis
tric
t cou
rts a
re a
utho
rize
d to
rel
y on
ext
rins
ic e
vide
nce.
H
owev
er, w
hile
ext
rins
ic e
vide
nce
can
shed
use
ful l
ight
on
the
rele
vant
art
, it i
s les
s sig
nific
ant t
han
the
intr
insi
c ev
iden
ce in
de
term
inin
g th
e le
gally
ope
rativ
e m
eani
ng o
f cla
im la
ngua
ge.
Texa
s D
igita
l pla
ced
too
muc
h re
lianc
e on
ext
rins
ic s
ourc
es, s
uch
as d
ictio
nari
es,
trea
tises
and
enc
yclo
pedi
as,
and
too
little
on
intr
insi
c so
urce
s, in
par
ticul
ar t
he s
peci
ficat
ion
and
pros
ecut
ion
hist
ory.
59
To
avoi
d im
port
ing
limita
tions
from
the
spec
ifica
tion
into
th
e cl
aim
s, it
is im
port
ant
to k
eep
in m
ind
that
the
pur
pose
s of
th
e sp
ecifi
catio
n ar
e to
tea
ch a
nd e
nabl
e th
ose
of s
kill
in t
he a
rt
to m
ake
and
use
the
inve
ntio
n an
d to
pro
vide
a b
est
mod
e fo
r do
ing
so.
Muc
h of
the
tim
e, u
pon
read
ing
the
spec
ifica
tion
in
that
con
text
, it
will
bec
ome
clea
r w
heth
er t
he p
aten
tee
is s
ettin
g ou
t sp
ecifi
catio
n ex
ampl
es o
f th
e in
vent
ion
to a
ccom
plis
h th
ose
goal
s, or
whe
ther
the
pate
ntee
inst
ead
inte
nds
for
the
clai
ms
and
the
embo
dim
ents
in
the
spec
ifica
tion
to b
e st
rict
ly c
oext
ensi
ve.
The
man
ner
in w
hich
the
pat
ente
e us
es a
ter
m w
ithin
the
sp
ecifi
catio
n an
d cl
aim
s us
ually
w
ill
mak
e th
e di
stin
ctio
n ap
pare
nt.
60
In th
is c
ase,
dep
ende
nt c
laim
2 st
ates
that
the
baff
les m
ay
be “
orie
nted
with
the
pane
l sec
tions
dis
pose
d at
ang
les f
or
defle
ctin
g pr
ojec
tiles
such
as b
ulle
ts a
ble
to p
enet
rate
the
stee
l pl
ates
.” T
he in
clus
ion
of su
ch a
spec
ific
limita
tion
on th
e te
rm
“baf
fles”
in c
laim
2 m
akes
it li
kely
that
the
pate
ntee
did
not
co
ntem
plat
e th
at th
e te
rm “
baff
les”
in c
laim
1 a
lrea
dy c
onta
ined
th
at li
mita
tion.
The
fac
t th
at t
he w
ritt
en d
escr
iptio
n se
ts f
orth
mul
tiple
ob
ject
ives
to
be s
erve
d by
the
baf
fles
reci
ted
in t
he c
laim
s, co
nfir
ms
that
the
term
“ba
ffle
s” s
houl
d no
t be
read
res
tric
tivel
y to
req
uire
tha
t th
e ba
ffle
s in
eac
h ca
se s
erve
all
of t
he r
ecite
d fu
nctio
ns.
61
Whi
le w
e ha
ve a
ckno
wle
dged
the
max
im t
hat
clai
ms
shou
ld b
e co
nstr
ued
to p
rese
rve
thei
r va
lidity
, w
e ha
ve n
ot a
pplie
d th
at
prin
cipl
e br
oadl
y, a
nd w
e ha
ve c
erta
inly
not
end
orse
d a
regi
me
in w
hich
a v
alid
ity a
naly
sis
is a
reg
ular
com
pone
nt o
f cl
aim
co
nstr
uctio
n.
Inst
ead,
we
have
lim
ited
the
max
im t
o ca
ses
in
whi
ch t
he c
ourt
con
clud
es, a
fter
app
lyin
g al
l the
ava
ilabl
e to
ols
of c
laim
con
stru
ctio
n, th
at th
e cl
aim
is st
ill a
mbi
guou
s.
62
C.
Be
cons
iste
nt
App
arat
us c
ompr
isin
g:at
leas
t one
com
pone
nt X
, a
plur
ality
of c
ompo
nent
s Y, a
nd
a co
mpo
nent
Z.
D.
Thi
nk a
bout
com
petit
ive
adva
ntag
e1.
In
vent
ion
disc
losu
re2.
Pr
otot
ypes
3.
Sale
s bro
chur
es
63
IV.
Thi
nk a
bout
the
doct
rine
of e
quiv
alen
ts
Is it
alw
ays b
est t
o fil
e ve
ry b
road
cla
ims?
If a
com
pone
nt is
in th
e or
igin
al c
laim
, equ
ival
ent c
ompo
nent
s ca
n be
cov
ered
.
If a
com
pone
nt is
add
ed b
y am
endm
ent o
r na
rrow
ed fo
r pa
tent
abili
ty p
urpo
ses,
equi
vale
nt c
ompo
nent
s are
pro
babl
y no
t cov
ered
.
64
V.
Thi
nk a
bout
pro
secu
tion
hist
ory
esto
ppel
A.
Onl
y on
e re
ason
for
pate
ntab
ility
B.
Con
side
r m
ore
inde
pend
ent c
laim
s
Hon
eyw
ell v
. Ham
ilton
Sun
stra
nd, 3
70 F
.3d
1131
(Fed
. Cir
. 200
4)
Est
oppe
l can
app
ly w
hen
an in
depe
nden
t cla
im is
am
ende
d to
in
clud
e a
depe
nden
t cla
im.
65
C.
Be
accu
rate
in r
emar
ks
Am
hil E
nter
pris
es L
td. v
.Waw
a In
c., 8
1 F.
3d 1
554,
38
USP
Q2d
14
71 (F
ed. C
ir. 1
996)
“Sub
stan
tially
ver
tical
face
” in
terp
rete
d as
bei
ng a
“ve
rtic
al
face
” be
caus
e pa
tent
ee u
sed
the
phra
ses i
nter
chan
geab
ly d
urin
g pr
osec
utio
n.
