Opinion ID: 667253
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Development of Invention

Text: 11 Walters came up with the idea of adding element b to the apparatus described in his '912 patent sometime in late 1982 or early 1983. Around that time, Mr. Salquist of Star contacted Walters to discuss the possibility of Walters entering into a consulting relationship with Star to develop a medical imaging system. During one discussion, Walters disclosed to Salquist his idea for the back projecting apparatus recited in the count, including his idea of adding element b to the '912 apparatus. Salquist indicated interest in the proposed device, and this led to meetings between Walters and Mr. Cannon of Star. During one such meeting on April 22, 1983, Walters explained his back projecting apparatus to Cannon and scribbled notes on a copy of the '912 patent to illustrate his idea of modifying the '912 device through the addition of element b. To represent element b, Walters added a block to figure 6 of the '912 patent to connect block 114, a scaling means, to block 120, a projection data memory means for storing projection data. Walters explained at that time that element b would be a linearization table that would modify the addresses in the projection data memory of block 120 to accommodate any distortion in the projection data collected by the CT scanner. 12 The foregoing discussions led to a meeting on July 25, 1983, between Walters and Sewall, a chip designer with Star. During this meeting, Walters explained his proposed back projecting apparatus to Sewall, and Sewall took notes and marked up a copy of the '912 patent to indicate Walters' improvement over the '912 device. In August of 1983, Sewall wrote a summary of the discussions held during the July meeting, at Walters request, which confirmed that Walters came up with the idea of placing a linearization pointer memory means between blocks 114 and 120. Following this meeting, Walters undertook the responsibility of delivering to Star a design for a commercially functional back projecting apparatus. Sewall's part in this project was to implement Walters' design in chip form. 13 Prior to designing the hardware structure in detail, however, Walters believed it prudent to carry out a computer simulation of the proposed back projecting apparatus to ensure that it would function adequately. To this end, Walters independently wrote detailed register level specifications for conducting a complete computer simulation of the core elements of his back projecting apparatus and transmitted these specifications to Star to carry out the simulation. Walters intended that the register level specifications serve as a blueprint for the hardware. Accordingly, he instructed Star to adhere strictly to the protocols he had established and not make any functional revisions. In accordance with Walters' instructions, Star completed the computer simulation around April of 1984. 14 Sewall completed the design of the hardware structure following this successful simulation. In doing so, Sewall had no latitude to make any functional changes to the system that Walters had specified. The first prototype of the chip-based back projecting apparatus was completed at least as early as July of 1985, and Walters stated in his Preliminary Statement in the interference that the subject matter of the count was first reduced to practice at least as early as this date.