美國專利法第101條 - Machine

美國專利法第101條：
SEC. 101
Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title.

美國專利法對Machine的定義是多個機構元件的組成與結構
此類發明案，"Apparatus"是一般建議用的名詞，可能比device或是其他用詞所能解釋的範圍還大，當然，應該還是看該專利的實際技術特徵，這裡是建議較好的命名方式
對解釋此類專利的Claim範圍時，或是考量新穎性、進步性的要件時，會考量所包含的元件與各元件間的連接關係，而其中各機構元件的運作或是產生的結果也都有"可能"列入考量，但是如果有"相同領域"公開的技術或是前案涵蓋該發明案的Claim的所有元件，即使產生的結果不同，實務上也難以獲准專利。

舉個例子：
美國專利第5,801,497號揭露一個power輸出裝置


這就是一個很典型的機構案，圖示中描述一個power output apparatus 10，其中元件有complex motor 30, stator 32, rotor 34, crankshaft 56, engine 50, rotor 36, drive shaft 22, first motor MG1, second motor MG2, driving circuit 92, three-phase coils 38等，而Claim除了放入這些必要元件外，需要描述各元件的連接關係。

Claim列舉如下：

1. A power output apparatus for outputting power to a drive shaft (先提到目的，多半並無需要), said power output apparatus comprising:

an engine having an output shaft;

a complex motor comprising a stator having multi-phase coils wound thereon, a first rotor connecting with said output shaft of said engine, and a second rotor connecting with said drive shaft, wherein said stator and said first rotor constitute a first motor that can carry out a regenerative operation and said stator and said second rotor constitute a second motor, at least either one of said first motor and said second motor being constructed as a non-synchronous motor;

a motor-driving circuit for regulating an exciting electric current flown through said multi-phase coils wound on said stator of said complex motor, thereby driving said first motor and said second motor in said complex motor; and

control means for driving and controlling said first motor and said second motor via said motor-driving circuit, so as to enable at least part of power output from said engine to be output to said drive shaft.

上述內容中除了描述了一些結構關係，更有很多地方寫出所執行的動作，還有產生的效果，其實這些週邊描述也算是各元件的關係，更可以加強該案的可讀性，也讓審查委員看懂。

Ron