Appeal No. 2000-0142 Page 8
Application No. 08/705,569
hand, and the means I and the reference resistor on the other
hand do not have any components in common.” (Spec. at 2.) We
are persuaded that one skilled in the art would understand
that the limitations, when read in light of the specification,
require that the components constituting the means I and
reference resistor and the components constituting the current
amplifier are mutually exclusive.
Second, the examiner asserts, “[i]n claims 19-20, ‘the
resistance value’ . . . lacks antecedent basis.” (Examiner’s
Answer at 5.) The appellants argue, “claims 19 and 20 are not
indefinite because of this phrase.” (Reply Br. at 3.)
“Inherent components of elements recited have antecedent
basis in the recitation of the components themselves. For
example, the limitation ‘the outer surface of said sphere’
would not require an antecedent recitation that the sphere has
an outer surface.” M.P.E.P. § 2173.05(e) (8th ed., Aug.
2001).
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