Appeal 2006-2721
Application 09/579,938
The “means for” language in claims 1 and 5 specify a function
without defining structure satisfying that function and thus, the strictures of
35 U.S.C. § 112, sixth paragraph, apply. See Texas Digital Sys., Inc. v.
Telegenx, Inc., 308 F.3d 1193, 1208, 64 USPQ2d 1812, 1822-23 (Fed. Cir
2002), and cases cited therein. Therefore, these clauses must be limited to
the “corresponding structure” disclosed in the written description in the
specification and “equivalents” thereof.4 In re Donaldson Co., 16 F.3d
1189, 1192-95, 29 USPQ2d 1845, 1848-50 (Fed. Cir. 1994) (in banc)
(“[T]he ‘broadest reasonable interpretation’ that an examiner may give
means-plus-function language is that statutorily mandated in [35 U.S.C.
§ 112,] paragraph six.”).
4 The “corresponding structure” is that “structure in the written description
necessary to perform that function [citation omitted],” that is, “‘the
specification . . . clearly links or associates that structure to the function
recited in the claims.’ [Citation omitted.]” Texas Digital Sys., 308 F.3d at
1208, 64 USPQ2d at 1822-23. “[A] section 112, paragraph 6 ‘equivalent[]’ .
. . [must] (1) preform the identical function and (2) be otherwise
insubstantially different with respect to structure. [Citations omitted.]”
Kemco Sales, Inc. v. Control Papers Co., 208 F.3d 1352, 1364, 54 USPQ2d
1308, 1315-16 (Fed. Cir. 2000). “[T]wo structures may be ‘equivalent’ for
purposes of section 112, paragraph 6 if they perform the identical function,
in substantially the same way, with substantially the same result. [Citations
omitted.]” Kemco Sales, 208 F.3d at 1364, 54 USPQ2d at 1315. The
examiner should not confuse “impermissibly imputing limitations from the
specification into a claim with properly referring to the specification to
determine the meaning of a particular word or phrase recited in a claim.
[Citations omitted.]” Donaldson, 16 F.3d at 1195, 29 USPQ2d at 1850; see
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