Appeal No. 1998-1792 Page 6
Application No. 08/453,217
Sprout Litig., 301 F.3d 1343, 1349, 64 USPQ2d 1202, 1206 (Fed. Cir. 2002).
"[A]nticipation is a question of fact." Hyatt, 211 F.3d at 1371, 54 USPQ2d at 1667
(citing Bischoff v. Wethered, 76 U.S. (9 Wall.) 812, 814-15 (1869); In re Schreiber, 128
F.3d 1473, 1477, 44 USPQ2d 1429, 1431 (Fed. Cir. 1997). "A claim is anticipated . . .
if each and every element as set forth in the claim is found, either expressly or
inherently described, in a single prior art reference." Verdegaal Bros., Inc. v. Union Oil
Co., 814 F.2d 628, 631, 2 USPQ2d 1051, 1053 (Fed. Cir. 1987) (citing Structural
Rubber Prods. Co. v. Park Rubber Co., 749 F.2d 707, 715, 223 USPQ 1264, 1270
(Fed. Cir. 1984); Connell v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 722 F.2d 1542, 1548, 220 USPQ
193, 198 (Fed. Cir. 1983); Kalman v. Kimberly-Clark Corp., 713 F.2d760, 771, 218
USPQ 781, 789 (Fed. Cir. 1983)).
Here, the appellants admit that "Marko proposes using a regulator 108 to create .
. . a second reference voltage VREF 110. . . ." (Appeal Br. at 3.) Furthermore, we find
that the reference's regulator 108 provides its second reference voltage VREF 110 at a
constant level. Specifically, Marko refers to "the reference voltage Vref110, which is
constant. . . ." Col. 3, ll. 29-30 (emphasis added). In addition, the second passage of
the reference cited by the appellants discloses that when "Vreg106 is . . . decreasing . .
.Vref110 remains the same. . . ." Col. 5, ll. 59-60 (emphasis added). Therefore, we
affirm the rejection of claim 11 and of claim 16, which falls therewith.
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