Ex Parte NORITA et al - Page 4




             Appeal No. 2003-1611                                                              Page 4               
             Application No. 09/243,794                                                                             


                                              1. CLAIM CONSTRUCTION                                                 
                    "Analysis begins with a key legal question -- what is the invention claimed?"                   
             Panduit Corp. v. Dennison Mfg. Co., 810 F.2d 1561, 1567, 1 USPQ2d 1593, 1597 (Fed.                     
             Cir. 1987).  Here, claim 22 recites in pertinent part the following limitations: "a reference          
             light projection apparatus for projecting reference light to the target placed in the space            
             via reflection of the mirror surface; an imaging apparatus for imaging the reference light             
             on the target via reflection of the mirror surface. . . ."  Accordingly, the independent               
             claim requires imaging reference light on a target via reflection of the light from the                
             surface of a mirror.                                                                                   


                                          2. ANTICIPATION DETERMINATION                                             
                    "Having construed the claim limitations at issue, we now compare the claims to                  
             the prior art to determine if the prior art anticipates those claims."  In re Cruciferous              
             Sprout Litig., 301 F.3d 1343, 1349, 64 USPQ2d 1202, 1206 (Fed. Cir. 2002).  "A claim                   
             is anticipated only if each and every element as set forth in the claim is found, either               
             expressly or inherently described, in a single prior art reference."  Verdegaal Bros., Inc.            
             v. Union Oil Co., 814 F.2d 628, 631, 2 USPQ2d 1051, 1053 (Fed. Cir. 1987) (citing                      
             Structural Rubber Prods. Co. v. Park Rubber Co., 749 F.2d 707, 715, 223 USPQ 1264,                     
             1270 (Fed. Cir. 1984); Connell v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 722 F.2d 1542, 1548, 220                       
             USPQ 193, 198 (Fed. Cir. 1983); Kalman v. Kimberly-Clark Corp., 713 F.2d760, 771,                      








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