Appeal No. 2001-1268
Application No. 09/100,698
In accordance with Donaldson, in considering means plus
function language, one must look to the specification and
interpret that language in light of the corresponding structure,
method or other acts described therein and equivalents thereof to
the extent that the specification provides such disclosure. The
instant claim language “stiction reduction means for reducing
stiction...” is clearly “means plus function” language, in
accordance with Donaldson. No specific structure is set forth in
the claim so we must look to the disclosure to ascertain the
meaning of “stiction reduction means for reducing stiction...”
and equivalents thereof. Appellants and the examiner are in
agreement on this.
Turning to the disclosure to identify the corresponding
structure for this “means plus function” element, we find, as
argued by appellants at the top of page 11 in the principal
brief, that this claim element is properly construed as the
structure shown in Figures 4-3, 5-1 and 5-2 of the application
and described in associated portions of the specification. In
further describing the structure, at that portion of the
principal brief, appellants point out that Figures 4-3, 5-1 and
5-2, describing the claimed element, explicitly show a slider (60
in FIGS. 5-1 and 5-2) for supporting a data transducer (70 in
-6–
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