Appeal No. 96-0423
Application 08/126,439
The Examiner is correct that a "means" may be a
singular or plural. Whether the "means" is singular
or plural is determined based on the structure
disclosed in the specification. In the instant
application, the specification discloses a single
drive mechanism for imparting periodic oscillation
to the hour angle and declination of the antenna.
Thus, in the instant claims, the "means" refers to a
single drive mechanism (comprising a plurality of
parts). Clearly, the specification does not
disclose separate drive mechanisms, each
corresponding to a respective axis of the antenna
for imparting periodic oscillation about that axis.
[Reply brief, pages 3-4.]
Page 2 of the principal brief on appeal indicates in the
summary of the invention portion that the presently appealed
claims are directed to the second embodiment set forth at
Figures 4 through 7 of the disclosed invention where a single
drive means imparts to the antenna periodic oscillatory
movement of the declination and hour angle axis as well as the
pointing axis. This second embodiment is described at page 4,
line 30 through page 9 of the specification as filed. The
antenna tracking apparatus described in this second embodiment
and shown in Figures 4 through 7 relies upon a single electric
motor and the appropriate mechanical hardware (including the
gear reducer 68, the radius arm 66, the CVJ/cone arm
combination in Figure 5) to provide the basis for the
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