aoyama, golight, donaldson

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REVERSED
Tech Center 2400 Networking, Multiplexing, Cable, and Security
2454 Ex Parte Flinchem 11613817 - (D) ANDERSON 103 FOLEY & LARDNER LLP AFOLABI, MARK O

Tech Center 2600 Communications
2632 Ex Parte Marsili 11090811 - (D) MORGAN 103 Dicke, Billig & Czaja, PLLC MALEK, LEILA

Tech Center 3600 Transportation, Construction, Electronic Commerce, Agriculture, National Security, and License & Review
3612 Ex Parte Lassl et al 11530293 - (D) SPAHN 112(1)/103 Just Intellectuals, PLLC WESTBROOK, SUNSURRAYE

3646 Ex Parte McCarty et al 11735612 - (D) GERSTENBLITH 103 WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY, LLC BRAINARD, TIMOTHY A

The first step in construing a means-plus-function claim limitation “is to define the particular function of the claim limitation.” In re Aoyama, 656 F.3d 1293, 1296 (Fed. Cir. 2011) (quoting Golight, Inc. v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 355 F.3d 1327, 1333 (Fed. Cir. 2004)). The next step in construing a means-plus-function claim limitation “is to look to the specification and identify the corresponding structure for that function.” Id. at 1297 (quoting Golight, 355 F.3d at 1334). As explained in In re Donaldson, “the PTO may not disregard the structure disclosed in the specification corresponding to such language when rendering a patentability determination.” In re Donaldson Co., 16 F.3d 1189, 1195 (Fed. Cir. 1994). Rather, the PTO must look to the Specification and construe the “means” language recited in the claim as limited to the corresponding structure disclosed in the Specification and equivalents thereof. Id.

Golight Inc. v. Wal-Mart Stores Inc., 355 F.3d 1327, 69 USPQ2d 1481 (Fed. Cir. 2004) 2182

Donaldson, In re, 16 F.3d 1189, 29 USPQ2d 1845 (Fed. Cir. 1994) 2111.01, 2114, 2181, 2182

Tech Center 3700 Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, and Products & Design
3775 Ex Parte Wright et al 11526953 - (D) GRIMES 102/103 MAGINOT, MOORE & BECK, LLP SCHAPER, MICHAEL T

AFFIRMED-IN-PART
Tech Center 3600 Transportation, Construction, Electronic Commerce, Agriculture, National Security, and License & Review
3684 Ex Parte Pitroda 11931872 - (D) KIM 101/102/103 102./103 Husch Blackwell Sanders LLP Welsh & Katz NGUYEN, NGA B

AFFIRMED
Tech Center 1600 Biotechnology and Organic Chemistry
1635 Ex Parte Kay et al 10200002 - (D) FREDMAN 102/103 McDermott Will & Emery LLP WHITEMAN, BRIAN A

Tech Center 3700 Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, and Products & Design
3738 Ex Parte De Villiers et al 11982431 - (D) SNEDDEN 103 WILSON, SONSINI, GOODRICH & ROSATI SNOW, BRUCE EDWARD

3753 Ex Parte Neff et al 11045448 - (D) SPAHN 103 Phillips McFall McCaffrey McVay & Murrah, P.C. SCHNEIDER, CRAIG M

3767 Ex Parte Weilbacher 11517043 - (D) ADAMS 103 Tyco Healthcare Group LP d/b/a Covidien SCHMIDT, EMILY LOUISE

3777 Ex Parte Stamatas et al 10986941 - (D) McCOLLUM 103 JOHNSON & JOHNSON CHENG, JACQUELINE