Glossary of Terms

• Author: Steven H. Voldman
• Profession: Is an IEEE Fellow and graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
• Pages: 307-308

307

From Invention to Patent: A Scientist and Engineer’s Guide. First Edition. Steven H. Voldman.

© 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Published 2018 by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Addition A process of combining a first item and second item to provide an

invention.

Application A patent application is the document submitted to the patent office to

obtain a patent.

Background A section of the patent specif ication that discusses the prior art and the

subject of the patent application.

Brief Description of the Figures A se ction of a patent specification that provides a

listing of the figures in the patent application.

Claims A section of the patent application that discusses the content to be claimed

for what is the invention.

Continuation in Part (CIP) An extension of an existing patent application in which

additional material is added during a second submission process.

Copyright A symbol to provide protection to intellectual proper ty.

Detailed Description of the Figures A section of a patent specification that provides

a full description listing of the figures in the specification.

Expert Witness An expert in the subject matter who is involved in a patent litigation

process to provide expert testimony.

European Union (EU) An organization in Europe for patent protection.

Field of the Invention A section of patent application in the Background section that

states the field of the invention.

Final Rejection The Final Office Action of a patent application process where the

patent examiner states that this is the last Office Action where the claims are

rejected.

Invention A process that involves addition, deletion, or rearrangement to provide a

new item that is not in the public domain or not known to those skilled in the art.

Inventor An individual who has signed the Oath of Declaration and has contributed

to at least one claim.

Joint Inventor A coinventor who has contributed to at least one claim in the patent

specification.

Non‐obviousness An invention that is not knowledgeable to those skilled in the art.

Notice of Allowance (NOA) A document from the patent examiner or patent office

stating that a patent application claim has been accepted for issuing a patent.

Novelty A requirement for patentability that the patent claim is novel or new.

Glossary ofTerms