Appeal No. 94-2926
Application No. 07/777,045
The disclosed invention relates to a computerized method
for determining the velocity field of a three-dimensional
fluid flow over a submerged body by determining vorticity
strength distribution at the surface of the submerged body in
terms of a plurality of finite volume elements.
Claim 1 is the only independent claim on appeal, and it
reads as follows:
1. In a computerized method for determining the
velocity field of a three-dimensional fluid flow over a
submerged body by determining vorticity strength distribution
at the surface of the submerged body, the improvement
comprising the step of representing vorticity distribution of
the fluid flow at the surface geometry of the body in terms of
a plurality of finite volume elements.
Claims 1 through 3 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 101
as
being directed to nonstatutory subject matter. According to
the examiner (Supplemental Answer, page 4):
9C. The claimed invention sets forth a series of
steps to be performed on a computer. There are no
steps recited which could be characterized as pre-
or post-computer activity (i.e. steps performed
outside of the computer). The claimed method solves
a mathematical problem in the field of computational
fluid dynamics without a claimed limitation to a
practical application. One could also reasonably
argue that the claimed invention is drawn to an
abstract idea in that the method involves [sic,
involved] characterizes phenomena found in nature,
2
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