Authorities Cited: United States Patent and Trademark Office U.S. Patent No. 6,948,622 United States Code 28 U.S.C. § 1295(a)(1) 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) 35 U.S.C. § 287 Supreme Court 297 U.S. 387 517 U.S. 370, 374 Circuit Courts 729 F.2d 765, 772 849 F.2d 1430, 1433 887 F.2d 1050, 1053 52 F.3d 967, 976-980 138 F.3d 1448, 1454 215 F.3d 1281, 1295 295 F.3d 1315, 1319 308 F.3d 1193, 1219 358 F.3d 898, 911 415 F.3d 1303, 1323-1327 497 F.3d 1360, 1368