Appeal No. 2000-1472
Application No. 08/855,104
than the outer peripheral edges of the series of apertures
with which it is associated.
Before addressing the examiner's rejections based upon
prior art, it is an essential prerequisite that the claimed
subject matter be fully understood. Analysis of whether a
claim is patentable over the prior art under 35 U.S.C. §§ 102
and 103 begins with a determination of the scope of the claim.
The properly interpreted claim must then be compared with the
prior art. In determination of the scope of the claim "resort
must be had in the first instance to the words of the claim"
and words "’will be given their ordinary and accustomed
meaning, unless it appears that the inventor used them
differently.’" Envirotech Corp. v. Al George, Inc., 730 F.2d
753, 759, 221 USPQ 473, 477 (Fed. Cir. 1984). It is equally
"fundamental that claims are to be construed in the light of
the specification and both are to be read with a view to
ascertaining the invention." United States v. Adams, 383 U.S.
39, 49, 148 USPQ 479, 482 (1966). Accordingly, we will
initially direct our attention to the appellant’s claim 1,
5
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