Harmonic Design, Inc. v. Hunter Douglas, Inc.

ORDER RE PARTIES’ JOINT MOTION FOR INTERPRETATION OF CLAIM TERMS BY THE COURT

On January 31, 2000, the joint motion of Plaintiff Harmonic Design and Defendant Hunter Douglas for interpretation of claim terms by the Court came on for a hearing. After oral argument, the Court took the motion under submission.

The Court has fully considered the arguments, authorities, and exhibits submitted in the briefing and has fully considered the oral argument. Based on the foregoing, the Court makes the following findings.

I. Rules of Claim Construction

A patent infringement analysis entails two steps. The first step involves determining the meaning and scope of the patent claims asserted to be infringed. The second step involves comparing the properly construed claims to the device accused of infringing. See Markman v. Westview Instruments, Inc., 52 F.3d 967, 976 (Fed.Cir.1995).

Construction of patent claims is an issue of law for the Court to decide. See Markman v. Westview Instruments, Inc., 517 U.S. 370, 388 , 116 S.Ct. 1384 , 134 L.Ed.2d 577 (1996). In constructing claims, courts look to intrinsic evidence, which includes the language of the claims, the specification, and the…