When properly used, statements of function or operation are usually welcomed by the Patent and Trademark Office. When not used to excess or to introduce unnecessary limitations into the claim, they make the claim more definite and easy to understand without having to refer to the specification.
功能性语句本身不是问题,问题在于有没有足够的结构来支撑这个功能,从这个意义上讲,“结构是王道”是正确的。自然,功能性语句不是可专利的标的,但可以与部分习知技术隔开,增加获准率。 |