Appeal No. 1997-3164
Application 08/397,024
With respect to the question of whether claim 23
requires that the alteration step take place after fabrication
of the antenna, we agree with the examiner that claim 23 is
not so limited. The claim recites the steps of providing a
substrate of a certain type and altering dimensions of the
tabs on the substrate. We agree with the examiner that the
Schnetzer substrate shown in Figure 8 is initially provided
without the indentations which are etched after the slots have
been formed [column 8, lines 28-41]. As the indentations 137
are etched in Schnetzer at the time of fabrication, the step
of altering the dimensions of the indentations after the
substrate has been provided is satisfied as recited in claim
23.
With respect to the question of whether the claimed
invention requires that the method adjust two frequencies of a
dual frequency cavity backed slot antenna, we agree with
appellant. The preamble of claim 23 recites that the method
is for tuning a dual frequency cavity backed slot antenna.
Step (b) recites that the altering of dimensions adjusts “the
frequency” of “said antenna.” The phrase “the frequency” must
refer to the dual frequency of the preamble, and the phrase
8
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007