Appeal No. 1998-1319
Application No. 08/466,188
device for outputting analog image data, 2) the present claims
recite a generator and driving, converter, and selector
circuits whereas the patent claims recite generating means and
driving, converter, and selector means, and 3) the present
claims specify that the selector circuit is part of the X
direction driving circuit. As to the addition of an
information device, since the claimed analog/digital converter
receives analog image data, it would have been obvious to the
skilled artisan to include a device for providing such analog
image data.
Regarding the remaining two differences, i.e. variations
in scope between the various "means" in the patent claims and
the presently claimed structures, 35 U.S.C. Section 112,
paragraph 6 states that an element expressed only as a means-
plus-function is to be construed to cover the corresponding
structure described in the specification and equivalents
thereof.
Thus, in construing means-plus-function language in a claim
one must interpret that language in light of the corresponding
structure described in the specification, and equivalents
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