Ex Parte Gharib et al - Page 9

              Appeal 2007-0113                                                                     
              Application 10/353,776                                                               
              1967).  The rejection of claims 2-7 based on the doctrine of res judicata is         
              reversed.                                                                            
                                    The indefiniteness rejection                                   
                    The test for definiteness under 35 U.S.C. § 112, second paragraph, is          
              whether “those skilled in the art would understand what is claimed when the          
              claim is read in light of the specification.”  Orthokinetics, Inc. v. Safety         
              Travel Chairs, Inc., 806 F.2d 1565, 1576, 1 USPQ2d 1081, 1088 (Fed. Cir.             
              1986) (citations omitted).  A claim may be invalid for indefiniteness if it is       
              “insolubly ambiguous” and not “amenable to construction.” Exxon Research             
              & Eng'g Co. v. United States, 265 F.3d 1371, 1375, 60 USPQ2d 1272, 1276              
              (Fed. Cir. 2001).                                                                    
                    The Examiner argues that the claims are vague and indefinite because           
              neither the claims nor the Specification specifies the actual numerical values       
              of ρ, U, and t or defines by how much t is less than T (Answer 9).  The              
              Examiner further points out that there are an infinite number of                     
              combinations that could yield the formation number F as claimed and                  
              disclosed.  Id.  Each of these matters simply illustrates the breadth of claims      
              2-7.  Just because a claim is broad does not mean that it is indefinite.  See In     
              re Johnson, 558 F.2d 1008, 1016 n.17, 194 USPQ 187, 194 n.17 (CCPA                   
              1977); In re Miller, 441 F.2d 689, 693, 169 USPQ 597, 600 (CCPA 1971);               
              In re Gardner, 427 F.2d 786, 788, 166 USPQ 138, 140 (CCPA 1970).  The                
              Examiner has not cogently explained how these aspects of the claims render           
              the claims “insolubly ambiguous” and not “amenable to construction” so as            
              to justify a holding of indefiniteness.                                              
                    The Examiner further contends that it is not clear what is meant by            
              “when the fluid flow across the nozzle orifice is substantially uniform,” as         

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