Appeal No. 95-1217
Application 08/039,674
Vitronics Corp. v. Conceptronic, Inc., 90 F.3d 1576, 1582, 39
ordinary meaning unless the specification or file history
clearly state that a special definition is intended. Id.
The Appellants’ specification does not define the term
"distinct." In ordinary usage, the term "distinct" can mean
"separate" or it can mean "not alike." See Webster’s New
Universal Unabridged Dictionary 534 (deluxe 2d. ed., Dorset &
Baber 1983). Each of the neural networks (i.e., analysis
chains) in Fukumizu are separate from the other neural
networks. If
"distinct" could be interpreted as meaning "separate", then
Fukumizu would disclose this limitation of claim 1. However,
when the term "distinct" in claim 1 is read in light of the
other language of the claim, and in light of the
specification, it must be interpreted as requiring that each
analysis chains is not like the other analysis chains.
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