Appeal No. 1997-2857
Application 08/171,175
recording process, which includes the recording of absolute
track addresses, begins at a distance L from the tape top with
such recording. The recording of audio and video signals,
however, is prohibited until the end of the area S or at a
distance Le from the tape top, i.e. after the predetermined
absolute track address position (Specification, page 35, lines
5-22). In our view, therefore, it logically follows that
absolute track addresses are recorded at a position on the
tape that precedes the predetermined absolute track address.
It is our conclusion that, under the factual situation
presented in the present case, Appellants have satisfied the
statutory written description requirement because they were
clearly in possession of the invention at the time of filing
of the application. Therefore, we do not sustain the
rejection of claims 1-5 under the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C.
§ 112.
Turning to a consideration of the 35 U.S.C. § 112, second
paragraph, rejection of claims 1-5, we note that the general
rule is that a claim must set out and circumscribe a
particular area with a reasonable degree of precision and
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