案件資訊：
案件編號：T 0565/12
被舉發案：No. 1549459；申請號：03758659.1；公開號：1549459
名稱：SYSTEM AND PROCESS FOR MEASURING, COMPENSATING AND TESTING
NUMERICALLY CONTROLLED MACHINE TOOL HEADS AND/OR TABLES
引用案例：T 0410/96（http://enpan.blogspot.tw/2016/01/t-41096.html）
引用證據：
A1 DE-C2-199 44 429
A2 Proceedings of the 3rd euspen International Conference, 26th-30th May 2002, Volume 2 pages 629-632
A3 DE-A-195 01 094
A5 US--A-5 841 668
A12 Precision Engineering, Vol. 22, No. 1, January 1998, pages 10-18
涉及法條：EPC 1973 Art. 54, 56, 114(2)
（新穎性：http://enpan.blogspot.tw/2009/05/article-54.html、進步性：http://enpan.blogspot.tw/2009/05/article-5556.html）
EPC 114(2)
Article 114 Examination by the European Patent Office of its own motion
(2) The European Patent Office may disregard facts or evidence which are not submitted in due time by the parties concerned.
被舉發案涉及一種自動控制系統，可以補償與測試機台誤差，機台設有多個距離感測器，透過感測機構之間位置關係（用一個球狀結構），可以得到座標位置，而能達到檢測機台誤差與補償的目的，包括可以被模型化（modeled）的，以及動態而不能被模型化的誤差。
其中請求項範圍多處採用功能手段用語，如以下EPO所摘請求項1內容（每句前編號是方便引用）：
1.0 "System for measuring, compensating and testing numerically controlled machine tool heads (1) and/or tables, characterised in that it comprises:
1.1 at least one support base (11) equipped with a plurality of distance sensors (14);
1.2 at least one device (16) of the gage tool type composed of an elongated cylinder (17), said
cylinder (17) being equipped at one of its ends with connection means (18) for said heads (1) and
being equipped at another opposite end with a ball (20), said ball (20) being placed next to said
sensors (14) so that they are able, always and in any position, to measure a distance that separates
them from said ball (20);
1.3 wherein said system is operatively coupled with processing means (30),
1.3.1 said processing means (30) being adapted, through a single measure obtained by said sensors (14) about a distance that separates said sensors (14) from said ball (20), to detect the XYZ coordinates of a center of a tool in a position of interest,
1.3.2 said processing means (30) comprising means (31) for performing measure processes for errors that can be modeled,
1.3.3 means (32) for performing measure processes for errors that cannot be modeled and
1.3.4 means (33) for performing dynamic checks."
討論新穎性與進步性時，引證案A1缺乏幾項元件1.3.2-1.3.4，但是否可以結合引證案A2, A3的距離感測器以及引證案A5提出使用球來量測距離等技術可以簡單達成的技術？
顯然，舉發人認為可以簡單達成，因為每個特徵元件都已經被前案揭露，認為被舉發案不具新穎性，也不具進步性。反過來，被舉發人則認為舉發無理由。
訴願決定：
上述特徵1.3.3與1.3.4為重要討論之一，特徵表示被舉發案技術能達到檢測機台可被模型化（modeled）的，以及動態而不能被模型化的誤差，訴願委員會認為，引證案A12所揭露的誤差量測沒有定義出可以區分為「可被模型化的誤差」以及「不可被模型化的誤差」，但問題是這些特徵描述卻有沒有界定何謂可被模型化與不可被模型化的明確定義。
means for performing ...
對此，訴願決定指出，此處請求項特徵採用功能手段用語（means plus function），而解釋此用語時，應及於適用（adapted to）實現此功能的手段，將"means for performing ..."解釋為"means being adapted to perform"，範圍解釋起來比較寬，可以涵蓋不同的狀況，認為引證案僅是可以量測位置的單一功能，認為並未讀入被舉發案請求項範圍中。
訴願委員再針對對於被舉發案請求項1的特徵1.3.2、1.3.3與1.3.4的進步性議題，認為引證A1所揭露的機台校正技術使用探針與球定義出機台誤差，這是一個整體誤差，這是一種可被模型化的誤差，仍未揭示被舉發案區分可被模型化與不可被模型化的誤差的技術，且A1也沒有揭示可以動態檢測的技術。
其他訴願決定包括引證案之組合，如A1與A5，有先天不相容的問題，不能組合。
結論：
"The opponent's argument regarding the type of error being measured not characterising the claimed 'means for performing measure processes' cannot be accepted due to the interpretation of this feature as 'means adapted to perform measure processes' and thus a required adaptation."
舉發不成立，被舉發案仍維持其專利權。
my two cents:
專利範圍中「means-plus-function」用語解釋時是根據「說明書、圖式」揭露內容與其等效範圍，在美國實務中，更明確地表示如果說明書沒有對應結構、動作與材料時，有不明確的問題。
在歐洲，由此案例來看，審查時並未參考說明書內容來解釋，而「means」解釋時及於所執行的方法特徵，而且是"adapted to"，這樣，歐洲專利對此用語寬容度較高，甚至解釋範圍也比較廣。
舉發時，引證案之間的可組合性（相容性）也是證據力的考量。
訴願決定備份：https://app.box.com/s/x8xj6rrlqyc4qt0o6wb0pb22r6tuq0m7
Ron
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