MIT2

custom search

Reversed

Tech Center 1600 Biotechnology and Organic Chemistry

1632 THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO 14611643 FLAX 103 SUZANNAH K. SUNDBY Canady + Lortz LLP CHEN, SHIN LIN

1656 Ikeda Food Research Co., Ltd. et al. 16278030 CHANG 103 AMSTER, ROTHSTEIN & EBENSTEIN LLP LIU, SAMUEL W

Tech Center 1700 Chemical & Materials Engineering

1749 Continental Reifen Deutschland GmbH 15503741 CASHION 103 Continental Intellectual Property FISCHER, JUSTIN R

1778 Enozo Technologies, Inc. 15589062 COLAIANNI 102/103 NUTTER MCCLENNEN & FISH LLP GURTOWSKI, RICHARD C

1797 The Trustees of Dartmouth College 14407860 MCGEE 103 LATHROP GPM LLP GERIDO, DWAN A

Tech Center 2100 Computer Architecture and Software

2117 MAKO Surgical Corp. 15451105 HAGY 102 Foley & Lardner LLP GAMI, TEJAL

2127 Xerox Corporation 14848402 PYONIN 103 MAGINOT, MOORE & BECK LLP PIERRE LOUIS, ANDRE

2179 Apple Inc. 15620716 SHAW 102/103 Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP (PA)(Apple) CASILLAS, ROLAND J

Tech Center 2400 Networking, Multiplexing, Cable, and Security

2435 FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC 15057474 BAUMEISTER 103 BROOKS KUSHMAN P.C./FGTL MURPHY, JOSEPH B

2445 RADWARE, LTD. 15857169 HUME 112(2)/103 M&B IP Analysts, LLC JAKOVAC, RYAN J

2447 AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. 15090057 SZPONDOWSKI 102/103 AT&T Legal Department - BH MESA, JOEL

2482 Frances ALTIERI 15348438 KHAN 103 Edwards Neils LLC MESSMORE, JONATHAN R

Tech Center 2600 Communications

2626 Dell Products L.P. 14691770 BAUMEISTER 103 Zagorin Cave LLP (Dell) COHEN, YARON

2688 Ralph Wiechers et al. 15787449 CHAGNON Dissenting BAUMEISTER 103 REINHART BOERNER VAN DEUREN P.C. HAILE, BENYAM

Tech Center 2800 Semiconductors, Electrical and Optical Systems and Components

2831 The Nielsen Company (US), LLC 15668509 GUPTA 112(2)/103 Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC (Nielsen) PATEL, HARSHAD C

2855 SiTime Corporation 15702717 JURGOVAN 102 Schuyler - SiTime HOPKINS, BRANDI N

2875 Goodrich Lighting Systems GMBH 14825917 DENNETT 103 Cantor Colburn LLP - Hamilton Sundstrand CARTER, WILLIAM JOSEPH

Tech Center 3600 Transportation, Construction, Electronic Commerce, Agriculture, National Security, and License & Review

3621 Sensormatic Electronics, LLC 15076708 MEYERS 103 HoustonHogle LLP Joseph Houston, HoustonHogle LLP KIM, PATRICK

3624 International Business Machines Corporation 14979095 CALVE 103 RYAN, MASON & LEWIS, LLP CHOY, PAN G

3626 FENWAL, INC. 15134718 FETTING 103 41.50 101 Becker Patent Law, LLC SASS, KIMBERLY A.

3645 CGG SERVICES SAS 15329458 STAICOVICI 112(2)/102/103 Patent Portfolio Builders, PLLC BREIER, KRYSTINE E

3652 Cameron International Corporation 16168756 BAHR 103 OneSubsea IP UK ADAMS, GREGORY W

3656 Schwing GmbH 16091908 SHAH 112(1) FAEGRE DRINKER BIDDLE & REATH LLP JOHNSON, VICKY A

3698 Robert Novembre 14032841 MEDLOCK 101 Duane Morris-CHICAGO IP ANDERSON, JOHN A

Tech Center 3700 Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, and Products & Design

3735 Robert Selby et al. 14117800 BAHR 103 TAROLLI, SUNDHEIM, COVELL & TUMMINO L.L.P. NEWAY, BLAINE GIRMA

3762 Martin Christ Gefriertrocknungsanlagen GmbH 15299803 WARNER 103 THOMAS | HORSTEMEYER, LLP NGUYEN, BAO D

3762 Martin Christ Gefriertrocknungsanlagen GmbH 14345913 WARNER 102/103 THOMAS | HORSTEMEYER, LLP NGUYEN, BAO D

3771 Medtronic Xomed, Inc. 15687684 CAPP 103 41.50 103 DICKE, BILLIG & CZAJA, PLLC ATTN: MDT SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIES MATTERS IGBOKO, CHIMA U

3774 Edwards Lifesciences Corporation 15591915 STAICOVICI 102 EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION LEGAL DEPARTMENT SCHILLINGER, ANN M

3783 Cochlear Limited 15165165 ASTORINO 103 Edell Shapiro & Finnan LLC ZAMORY, JUSTIN L

3792 CARDIAC PACEMAKERS, INC. 15642121 SHAH 102 SEAGER, TUFTE & WICKHEM, LLP MALAMUD, DEBORAH LESLIE

3792 Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc. 15824894 WOODS 102/103 SCHWEGMAN LUNDBERG & WOESSNER/BSC PATEL, NATASHA

Affirmed-in-Part 

Tech Center 1600 Biotechnology and Organic Chemistry

1615 NESTEC S.A. 16061121 TOWNSEND 103 OTDP K&L Gates LLP-Nestec S.A. GEMBEH, SHIRLEY V

Tech Center 1700 Chemical & Materials Engineering

1771 Icon Scientific Limited 15499284 DENNETT 103 103 RENNER OTTO BOISSELLE & SKLAR, LLP GRAHAM, CHANTEL LORAN

1791 Christopher Barrett et al. 13173298 DERRICK 103 103 John A. O'Toole COX, STEPHANIE A

Tech Center 2100 Computer Architecture and Software

2136 Bigtera Limited 14184801 DEJMEK 112(1)/102 112(6)/112(2)/112(1) McClure, Qualey & Rodack, LLP BIRKHIMER, CHRISTOPHER D

In Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Electronics for Imaging, Inc. v. Abacus Software, 462 F.3d 1344, 1355–56 (Fed. Cir. 2006), our reviewing court “concluded that the term ‘circuit,’ combined with a description of the function of the circuit, connoted sufficient structure to one of ordinary skill in the art to avoid [35 U.S.C. § 112(f)] treatment.” We do not read Abacus to stand for the proposition that mere use of the term “circuit” serves as a talisman against triggering the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). If that were the case, a clever draftsperson could simply amend claim language from a term that invokes 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) to recite a “circuit” that performs the same function. Additionally, Abacus does not stand for always finding sufficient structure for the recited circuit in the recited function being performed. Such an interpretation would similarly eviscerate meaningful application of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). Recognizing these concerns, our reviewing court has explained that “not just any adjectival qualification or functional language” coupled with a recited “circuit” will provide the requisite structure to avoid triggering 35 U.S.C. § 112(f).

Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Electronics For Imaging, Inc. v. Abacus Software, 462 F.3d 1344, 80 USPQ2d 1225 (Fed. Cir. 2006) 2173.01 , 2181

2466 T-Mobile USA, Inc. 13774984 ANDERSON 112(1) 103 41.50 103 Lee & Hayes, P.C. TRAN, THINH D

Tech Center 2600 Communications

2641 HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO.,LTD. 15004134 HOFF Dissenting BUSCH 103 OTDP Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. c/o Shuang Liu(Huawei ID 00344817) APPIAH, CHARLES NANA

Tech Center 2800 Semiconductors, Electrical and Optical Systems and Components

2896 Xerox Corporation 15630185 GAUDETTE 103 OTDP Basch & Nickerson LLP TAVLYKAEV, ROBERT FUATOVICH

3992 MEGAN ROZMAN et al. 90013969 JEFFERY 102/103 103 41.50 103 Boisbrun Hofman, PLLC BANANKHAH, MAJID A

Affirmed 

Tech Center 1600 Biotechnology and Organic Chemistry

1612 Colgate-Palmolive Company 15434258 TOWNSEND 103 COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY ROBERTS, LEZAH

1616 CHEMINOVA A/S 14332865 FREDMAN 103 SUGHRUE MION, PLLC SCHLIENTZ, NATHAN W

1618 CARDIONOVUM GMBH 14888380 FREDMAN 103 KNOBBE MARTENS OLSON & BEAR LLP WESTERBERG, NISSA M

1636 Etubics Corporation et al. 15542005 MAJORS 103 Sheridan Ross PC HIBBERT, CATHERINE S

1644 William Hildebrand et al. 12859002 FREDMAN 103 112(1) KNOBBE MARTENS OLSON & BEAR LLP DIBRINO, MARIANNE

1653 Anastasia Christopher 15170337 MAJORS 103 41.50 103 FisherBroyles, LLP - Dayton, Ohio MOSS, NATALIE M

Tech Center 1700 Chemical & Materials Engineering

1714 Thomas Jalowiec 15627802 HASTINGS 103 Melcher Patent Law PLLC GOLIGHTLY, ERIC WAYNE

1741 The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company 15683801 BEST 112(2)/102/103 THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY FRANKLIN, JODI COHEN

1747 R. J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY 14950724 CASHION 103 WOMBLE BOND DICKINSON (US) LLP FELTON, MICHAEL J

1783 ESSILOR INTERNATIONAL (COMPAGNIE GENERALE D'OPTIQUE) et al. 15101695 SMITH 103 NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT US LLP -Essilor VAN SELL, NATHAN L

1789 INVISTA TECHNOLOGIES S.À R.L. 15029360 ROBERTSON 103 Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP - Winston-Salem EMRICH, LARISSA ROWE

1792 WTI, Inc. 15017009 KENNEDY 103 THOMAS | HORSTEMEYER, LLP LACHICA, ERICSON M

1792 Jeanne CHENG 13921372 COLAIANNI 103 NIXON & VANDERHYE, PC NGUYEN, THANH H

1792 Graphic Packaging International, LLC 15367272 SNAY 103 WOMBLE BOND DICKINSON (US) LLP AXTELL, ASHLEY

1793 OKI, Hisaharu et al. 14383407 MCGEE 103 KANESAKA BERNER AND PARTNERS LLP PRAKASH, SUBBALAKSHMI

1793 Ann HUSGEN et al. 12119990 COLAIANNI 103 SUGHRUE MION, PLLC TURNER, FELICIA C

1796 JOHNSON MATTHEY FUEL CELLS LIMITED et al. 15757171 HASTINGS 103 BakerHostetler / Johnson Matthey LI, JUN

Tech Center 2100 Computer Architecture and Software

2121 International Business Machines Corporation 14924943 DIXON 112(1)/112(2)/103 MCGINN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW GROUP, PLLC VASQUEZ, MARKUS A

2143 Optimizely, Inc. 14823643 HOWARD 103 Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP/Optimizely, Inc. WELCH, JENNIFER N

2145 SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA 14553685 THOMAS 103 BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH, LLP ORR, HENRY W

2153 W.W. GRAINGER, INC. 13834023 FRAHM 103 Greenberg Traurig, LLP HTAY, LIN LIN M

2162 International Business Machines Corporation 14953838 CHAGNON 112(2) 102/103 LAW OFFICE OF IDO TUCHMAN (YOR) LE, UYEN T

2183 ARM LIMITED 14953201 DIXON 103 NIXON & VANDERHYE, P.C. DOMAN, SHAWN

2184 ARM Limited 15428550 COURTENAY 103 NIXON & VANDERHYE, P.C. ROCHE, JOHN B

2195 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. 15257286 CRAIG 103 Volpe Koenig DEPT. AMD GHAFFARI, ABU Z

Tech Center 2400 Networking, Multiplexing, Cable, and Security

2421 APPLE INC. 15750046 NAPPI 103 F&P, LLP-Arlen Team MARANDI, JAMES R

2426 Amazon Technologies, Inc. 15792217 THOMAS 103 Client 170101 c/o THOMAS HORSTEMEYER, LLP TELAN, MICHAEL R

2439 FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC 15690435 HOWARD 103 BROOKS KUSHMAN P.C./FGTL KABIR, JAHANGIR

2447 Rateze Remote Mgmt. L.L.C. 14876743 CYGAN 103 FOLEY & LARDNER LLP LIN, SHERMAN L

2458 Facebook, Inc. 14589124 KUMAR 103 Kacvinsky Daisak Bluni PLLC (1360) HENDERSON, ESTHER BENOIT

2485 Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ) 15604078 HOMERE 103 COATS & BENNETT, PLLC GADOMSKI, STEFAN J

2495 ENTIT SOFTWARE LLC 15280954 RAEVSKY 103 MICRO FOCUS LLC TORRES-DIAZ, LIZBETH

Tech Center 2600 Communications

2625 SONY CORPORATION 15989745 HOWARD 102/103 Paratus Law Group, PLLC TZENG, FRED

2646 Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc. 15288052 HAGY 102/103 Tong, Rea, Bentley & Kim, LLC Nokia LAFONTANT, GARY

2672 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha 15960697 BEAMER 103 SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA C/O KEATING & BENNETT, LLP HANG, VU B

2674 Apple Inc. 15994795 WHITEHEAD JR. 103 DENTONS US LLP - Apple SONIFRANK, RICHA MISHRA

2689 VOLVO CAR CORPORATION 15708538 FETTING 103 Brooks Kushman GIRMA, FEKADESELASS

Tech Center 2800 Semiconductors, Electrical and Optical Systems and Components

2836 SEW-EURODRIVE GMBH & CO. KG 15665069 KENNEDY 112(1) CARTER, DELUCA & FARRELL LLP AMRANY, ADI

2836 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft 15539851 CASHION 102/103 Wolter VanDyke Davis, PLLC KESSIE, DANIEL

2859 Robert Bosch GmbH 14359550 INGLESE 102/103 NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT US LLP DIBENEDETTO, MICHAEL N

2875 Saturn Licensing LLC 15652590 HOMERE 102/103 OBLON, MCCLELLAND, MAIER & NEUSTADT, L.L.P. CATTANACH, COLIN J

2886 Simmonds Precision Products, Inc. 15603126 KENNEDY 112(1) 112(2) Kinney & Lange, P.A. LEE, HWA S

Tech Center 3600 Transportation, Construction, Electronic Commerce, Agriculture, National Security, and License & Review

3619 Kyllmann, Alexander Leopold. 14234369 WARNER concurring FITZPATRICK 103 112(1)/112(2) Roberts Calderon Safran & Cole, P.C. BOOMER, JEFFREY C

3619 Google LLC 14507770 BROWN 103 Dority & Manning P.A. and Google LLC ROBINSON, KITO R

3626 Integer Health Technologies, LLC 15225503 CALVE 101 CARSTENS & CAHOON, LLP RAPILLO, KRISTINE K

3626 Patient Profiles, LLC 14610865 FETTING 101 FENWICK & WEST LLP SILICON VALLEY CENTER REYES, REGINALD R

3628 John Simms et al. 15626506 FETTING 101/103 Dennis Clarke CLARE, MARK C

3671 UTILITY CONCRETE PRODUCTS, LLC 13835100 DEJMEK 103 Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC CHU, KATHERINE J

3686 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V. 15118159 WIEDER 103 101 PHILIPS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY & STANDARDS AKOGYERAM II, NICHOLAS A

3694 Comenity LLC 15788538 NEW 101/103 ALLIANCE DATA C/O WAGNER BLECHER LLP HUDSON, MARLA LAVETTE

Tech Center 3700 Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, and Products & Design

3741 UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION 15138269 SCHOPFER 103 CARLSON, GASKEY & OLDS/PRATT & WHITNEY SEBASCO CHENG, STEPHANIE

3772 JOSHUA CHEETHAM 14092752 MARTIN 103 William H. Holt Law Offices of William H. Holt APONTE, MIRAYDA ARLENE

3784 Marina Prospero et al. 15876003 JESCHKE 103 112(1) Sinorica LLC dba Thoughts to Paper VERMILLERA, KATHLEEN M

3791 Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. 15016329 HILL 112(1)/103 101 ARENT FOX LLP - New York SHAH, JAY B

3793 THE GENERAL HOSPITAL CORPORATION 14309170 HOELTER 103 QUARLES & BRADY LLP REMALY, MARK DONALD

Rehearing

Granted

Tech Center 1700 Chemical & Materials Engineering

1742 THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD. 15038021 COLAIANNI 112(1) 41.50 103 THORPE NORTH & WESTERN/YOKOHAMA KIM, YUNJU

Denied 

Tech Center 2800 Semiconductors, Electrical and Optical Systems and Components

2819 Jamal Ramdani et al. 13617584 GAUDETTE 103 The Law Offices of Bradley J. Bereznak PARKER, ALLEN L

Tech Center 3600 Transportation, Construction, Electronic Commerce, Agriculture, National Security, and License & Review

3669 Per Pelin et al. 15795013 SCHOPFER 103 REINHART BOERNER VAN DEUREN P.C. LUU, TIFFANY KELLY

lakkala, MIT2, aristocrat

custom search

REVERSED 
Tech Center 2100 Computer Architecture and Software
2174 Ex Parte Roberts et al 11510386 - (D) PAULRAJ 103 VERIZON KUMAR, ANIL N

Tech Center 2400 Networking, Multiplexing, Cable, and Security
2453 Ex Parte Telesco 11763556 - (D) WIEDER 103 CANTOR COLBURN LLP VOSTAL, ONDREJ C

Tech Center 2800 Semiconductors, Electrical and Optical Systems and Components
2843 Ex Parte HSIEH et al 12831255 - (D) WILSON 102(e) McClure, Qualey & Rodack, LLP CHANG, JOSEPH

2881 Ex Parte Wohlgemuth et al 12017820 - (D) BEST 102/103 Tucker Ellis LLP Brainlab AG IPPOLITO, NICOLE MARIE

2882 Ex Parte MUENSTER et al 12906437 - (D) HASTINGS 102 37 C.F.R. § 41.50(b) 112(b) Muncy, Geissler, Olds & Lowe, P.C. ARTMAN, THOMAS R

Additionally, we construe “an evaluation unit . . . that has software . . . configured to” perform various functions, as recited in independent claim 2, as a “means-plus-function” limitation subject to 35 U.S.C. § 112, sixth paragraph, and conclude that the Specification’s failure to disclose an algorithm corresponding to the recited functions renders the claim indefinite under 35 U.S.C. § 112, second paragraph (see, e.g., Ex parte Lakkala, 2013 WL 1341108, *2 (PTAB 2013) (informative), where the PTAB held that “a processor . . . configured . . .to” perform various functions is a means-plus-function limitation). Likewise claim 1’s “carrying out a material detection” step is construed as “step-plus-function” limitation, and is similarly indefinite.

This limitation does not include the word “means,” thus a rebuttable presumption exists that this limitation is not a means-plus-function limitation. Mass. Inst. of Tech. & Electronics for Imaging, Inc. v. Abacus Software, 462 F.3d 1344, 1353 (Fed. Cir. 2006). This presumption can be overcome, however, if the limitation “fails to recite sufficiently definite structure or else recites function without reciting sufficient structure for performing that function.” Id. (citation and internal quotation marks omitted.) That is the case here. ...

In light of this conclusion, we next consider whether Appellants’ written description contains corresponding structure for the “evaluation unit” limitation. Cf. Aristocrat Techs Austl. Pty Ltd. v. Int'l Game Tech., 521 F.3d 1328, 1331 (Fed. Cir. 2008). In computer-implemented inventions such as
the one at issue, the corresponding structure must include an “algorithm that transforms [a] general purpose microprocessor to a special purpose computer programmed to perform the disclosed algorithm.” Id. at 1338 (citation and internal quotation marks omitted.)

Aristocrat Technologies Australia PTY Ltd. v. International Game Technology, 521 F.3d 1328 (Fed. Cir. 2008) 2181

Tech Center 3700 Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, and Products & Design
3763 Ex Parte Spera et al 11553546 - (D) POLLOCK 102(e)/102/103 K&L Gates LLP-Chicago Baxter LEE, WENG WAH

AFFIRMED-IN-PART 
Tech Center 1600 Biotechnology and Organic Chemistry
1632 Ex Parte Rovinski et al 12233021 - (D) MILLS dissenting-in-part JENKS 103 103 SIM & MCBURNEY PARAS JR, PETER

AFFIRMED 
Tech Center 1700 Chemical & Materials Engineering
1726 Ex Parte Fukui et al 10363039 - (D) NAGUMO 103 KUBOVCIK & KUBOVCIK WALLS, CYNTHIA KYUNG SOO

Tech Center 2100 Computer Architecture and Software
2168 Ex Parte Kozlov et al 11830791 - (D) WINSOR 102/103 112(2) HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY FAN, SHIOW-JY

Tech Center 2800 Semiconductors, Electrical and Optical Systems and Components
2818 Ex Parte Chung et al 11767820 - (D) HANLON 102/103 ISHIMARU & ASSOCIATES LLP THOMAS, KIMBERLY M

Tech Center 3700 Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, and Products & Design
3753 Ex Parte Deal et al 10902492 - (D) PER CURIAM 103 BGL/Cook - Chicago HOUSTON, ELIZABETH

3763 Ex Parte Van Den Bossche et al 13575028 - (D) CHERRY 103 Symbus Law Group, LLC SCHMIDT, EMILY LOUISE

3768 Ex Parte Goodwin 11012573 - (D) PER CURIAM 102/103 Pabst Patent Group LLP BOR, HELENE CATHERINE

REHEARING

GRANTED
Tech Center 1700 Chemical & Materials Engineering
1792 Ex Parte KAMPER et al 12212149 - (D) OWENS 103 37 C.F.R. § 41.50(b) 103 John A. O'Toole WILLIAMS, LELA

DENIED
Tech Center 2100 Computer Architecture and Software
2158 Ex Parte Lin 11680193 - (D) SMITH 103 Cuenot, Forsythe & Kim, LLC PENG, HUAWEN A

REEXAMINATION

AFFIRMED 
1205 Ex parte APP PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., Appellant Ex Parte 5670524 et al 08/256,319 90011068 - (D) GRIMES 102/103 112(2)/102/103 BINGHAM MCCUTCHEN LLP THIRD PARTY REQUESTER: NAVINTA LLC CAMPELL, BRUCE R original HENLEY III, RAYMOND J

Tech Center 1600 Biotechnology and Organic Chemistry
1614 Ex parte APP PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., Appellant Ex Parte 5,834,489 et al 08/851,062 90011069 - (D) GRIMES 102/103 BINGHAM MCCUTCHEN LLP PATENT OWNER: DLA PIPER LLP (US) THIRD PARTY REQUESTER: ROTHWELL. FIGG. ERNST & MANBECK. P.C. CAMPELL, BRUCE R original HENLEY III, RAYMOND J

1636 Ex parte THE MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL CORPORATION Appellant Ex Parte 6,114,148 C1 et al 08/717,294 90012334 - (D) JENKS 102 CLARK & ELBING LLP PONNALURI, PADMASHRI original SHUMAN, JON D

Tech Center 2800 Semiconductors, Electrical and Optical Systems and Components
2837 PG DRIVES TECHNOLOGY, INC. Requester v. LAUTZENHISER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC Patent Owner and Appellant Ex Parte 6,426,600 et al 09/802,823 95001471 - (D) KOHUT 102/103 Valenti, Hanley & Robinson, PLLC Third Party Requester: PG Drives Technology, Inc. WHITTINGTON, KENNETH original IP, SHIK LUEN PAUL

CCS, flo healthcare, greenberg, lighting world, MIT2

custom search

REVERSED
Tech Center 1700 Chemical & Materials Engineering
1773 Ex Parte Greenstein et al 11133943 - (D) HASTINGS 103 Caliper Life Sciences, Inc. C/O CARDINAL LAW GROUP, LTD GORDON, BRIAN R

1791 Ex Parte Yu et al 11279722 - (D) BEST 103 Hovey Williams LLP PADEN, CAROLYN A

Tech Center 2400 Networking, Multiplexing, Cable, and Security
2444 Ex Parte SMITH 12579383 - (D) BENOIT 102 37 C.F.R. § 41.50(b) 112(2) Reed Smith LLP CLOUD, JOIYA M

When an inventor has not signaled an intent to invoke § 112, sixth paragraph, by using the term “means,” the presumption against its invocation is strong but can be overcome if “the claim term fails to recite sufficiently definite structure or else recites function without reciting sufficient structure for performing that function.” Lighting World, Inc. v. Birchwood Lighting, Inc., 382 F.3d 1354, 1358 (Fed. Cir. 2004) (quoting CCS Fitness, Inc. v. Brunswick Corp., 288 F.3d 1359, 1369 (Fed. Cir. 2002) (internal quotation marks omitted) (citation omitted)). A claim limitation that “essentially is devoid of anything that can be construed as structure” can overcome the presumption. Flo Healthcare, 697 F.3d at 1374. The presumption may be overcome by a claim limitation that uses a nonstructural term that is “simply a nonce word or a verbal construct that is not recognized as the name of structure” but is merely a substitute for the term “means for” associated with functional language. Lighting World, 382 F.3d at 1360. Claim language that further defines a term that otherwise would be a nonce word can denote sufficient structure to avoid construction under § 112, sixth paragraph, MIT v. Abacus Software, 462 F.3d 1344, 1354 (Fed. Cir. 2006), as can a claim limitation that contains a term that “is used in common parlance or by persons of skill in the pertinent art to designate structure,” Lighting World, 382 F.3d at 1359. Nor will claim language invoke a § 112, sixth paragraph, construction if persons of ordinary skill in the art reading the specification understand the term to be the name for a structure that performs the function, even when the term covers a broad class of structures or identifies the structures by their function. Greenberg v. Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., 91 F.3d 1580, 1583 (Fed. Cir. 1996) (“Many devices take their names from the functions they perform.”).

Greenberg v. Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., 91 F.3d 1580, 39 USPQ2d 1783 (Fed. Cir. 1996) 2181

Tech Center 3700 Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, and Products & Design
3767 Ex Parte Andersen et al 12320348 - (D) ADAMS 103 LAW OFFICE OF LOUIS WOO BOSWORTH, KAMI A

3771 Ex Parte Daly et al 10864869 - (D) GRIMES 103/obviousness-type double patenting NIXON & VANDERHYE, PC YU, JUSTINE ROMANG

AFFIRMED
Tech Center 1600 Biotechnology and Organic Chemistry
1619 Ex Parte Weber et al 11352643 - (D) BRADEN 102/103 L'Oreal USA VENKAT, JYOTHSNA A

Tech Center 1700 Chemical & Materials Engineering
1787 Ex Parte Husemann et al 11917295 - (D) FRANKLIN 103 Norris McLaughlin & Marcus, PA SHAH, SAMIR

Tech Center 2100 Computer Architecture and Software
2156 Ex Parte Stading et al 11226960 - (D) DIXON 112(2)/102 IBM CORPORATION NGUYEN, LOAN T

2175 Ex Parte Burckart et al 10733658 - (D) FRAHM 103 CAREY, RODRIGUEZ, GREENBERG & O'KEEFE, LLP LONG, ANDREA NATAE

Tech Center 3700 Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, and Products & Design
3767 Ex Parte Whittaker et al 12030590 - (D) GREEN 102/103 JOHNSON & JOHNSON MEHTA, BHISMA

3775 Ex Parte Jackson 11110405 - (D) GREEN 103 LAW OFFICE OF JOHN C. MCMAHON YANG, ANDREW

3775 Ex Parte Jackson 11187417 - (D) GREEN 103 LAW OFFICE OF JOHN C. MCMAHON YANG, ANDREW

Tech Center  4100 Patent Training Academy
4100 Ex Parte TOOMEY et al 11421178 - (D) GRIMES 103 MCKEE, VOORHEES & SEASE, P.L.C. WELCH, GARY L