Opinion ID: 218033
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Claim Preambles

Text: Regarding the ’231 patent, MemsTech appeals the Commission’s determination on the limiting effect of the preambles of claims 1 and 2. MemsTech argues that “microelectromechanical system package” is not necessary to give meaning to claims 1 and 2 of the ’231 patent, because it adds nothing beyond the elements already present in the claims. MemsTech thus contends that, contrary to the Commission’s determination, the preambles should not be construed as claim limitations. In response, the Commission and Knowles argue that the Commission correctly found that the preambles in question are limitations. They contend that the Commission properly considered the intrinsic and extrinsic evidence and correctly concluded that the “package” term adds a limitation not otherwise present in the claim body. We conclude that the Commission correctly deter- mined that the disputed preambles are claim limitations. “[W]hen the preamble is essential to understand limitations or terms in the claim body, the preamble limits claim scope.” Catalina Marketing, 289 F.3d at 808. The body of claim 1 lists a microphone, a substrate, a cover, and a housing formed by connecting the cover and the substrate. The body of claim 2 lists a microphone, a substrate, and a cover. As the Commission correctly concluded, J.A. 49, the specification describes mounting the MEMS “packages” of the invention on end-users’ MEMS TECH v. ITC 20 printed circuit boards (“PCBs”), ’231 patent col.3 ll.3-16. Indeed, the essence of the invention claimed in the ’231 patent is the containment of the components in a “package.” See, e.g., ’231 patent title (“Microelectromechanical System Package with Environmental and Interference Shield” (emphasis added)); col.1 ll.8-12, 36-41; col.3 ll.3-4; col.4 ll.40-43; col.5 ll.2-5. The requirement that the components listed in the claim body come together to form a mountable package is thus an “important characteristic of the claimed invention.” Poly-Am., 383 F.3d at 1310. Yet, standing alone, the bodies of claims 1 and 2 do not require that the listed components come together in this way to constitute a package. For this reason, the Commission determined that the preamble term “microelectromechanical system package” adds a limitation that is not otherwise present in the claim and is necessary to give meaning to the claim. See Catalina Marketing, 289 F.3d at 808. The Commission did not legally err in its determination.