Ex parte KIGAWA - Page 9




          Appeal No. 1997-1571                                                        
          Application No. 08/048,123                                                  


                        The Section 103 rejection of claim 15                         
               Claim 15 relates to "[a]n interactive graphic editing                  
          method for designing a semiconductor integrated circuit" with               
          the step of "selecting an editing pattern object displayed on               
          a graphic display. . ." (emphasis added).  The term "editing                
          pattern object" recited in claim 15, read in light of the                   
          specification and the preamble, refers, not to any type of                  
          "editing objects," but rather to those "editing objects"                    
          concerning "pattern" operation related to the design of                     
          "semiconductor integrated circuits."  The term "design object"              
          in Wada can be construed as an "editing object," but it does                
          not read on the term "editing pattern object" recited in claim              
          15.  Stated differently, Wada discloses "designing objects"                 
          for designing piping systems.  Wada does not disclose an                    
          "editing pattern object" for the design of semiconductor                    
          integrated circuits as claimed.  The secondary reference to                 
          Daniel does not cure these deficiencies.  In our opinion, the               
          examiner's proposed modification amounts to an impermissible                
          hindsight reconstruction of the claimed invention.  Without                 
          having the benefit of appellant's teachings, one of ordinary                
          skill in the art would not have equated the step of selecting               
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