Appeal No. 2005-2489
Application No. 09/949,736
plus-function element is intended. See Sage Prods. Inc. v. Devon
Indus., Inc., 126 F.3d 1420, 1427, 44 USPQ2d 1103, 1109 (Fed.
Cir. 1997). Nevertheless, such presumption is not applicable if
the claim recites sufficient structures for carrying out the
function of the means-plus-function element. See Enviroco Corp v.
Clestra Cleanroom, Inc., 209 F. 3d 1360, 1364-65, 54 USPQ2d 1449,
1452-53 (Fed. Cir. 2000); Al-Site Corp. v. VSI Int’l Inc.,
174 F.3d 1308, 1319, 50 USPQ2d 1161, 1167 (Fed. Cir. 1999);
Unidynamics Corp. v. Automatic Products International Ltd.,
157 F.3d 1311, 1319, 48 USPQ2d 1099, 1104-1105 (Fed. Cir. 1998).
Applying the above precedents to the present case, we
interpret the term “stage in the chamber adapted to receive and
hold an encapsulated integrated circuit” as used in claims 19 and
37 as including any conventional X, Y positioning table capable
of receiving and holding (supporting) an encapsulated integrated3
circuit. This interpretation is consistent with the written
description found at page 3 of the specification, which states in
relevant part:
3According to page 586 of WEBSTER’S II New Riverside
University Dictionary (1994)(attached to this decision), the
meaning of the term “hold” embraces “support”.
6
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007