|
|
|
| Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, September 06 2012 @ 02:51 PM EDT |
Interchangeable (as the juror used it) means that the two processes have the
same result.
a = x * y;
vs.
a = 0;
for(i=0;i<x;x++)
{
a += y;
}
These are interchangeable. (The second is essentially how early mechanical
computers actually did multiplication.)
For example, using pulleys and wheels instead of gears and chains may be
considered interchangeable (unless the specific use of one or the other makes a
difference to the process). The differences between two implementations can be
subtle, and still be significant. Or they can look very different on the
surface, but be considered interchangeable. It depends on what effect the
differences have.
Pretend, for example, that some industrial machine uses a gear drive drive
because it needs minimal slippage and maximum strength.
A straight, gear and chain replacement may be considered interchangeable unless
it provides some other benefit or improvement.
Let's say, for example, that the machine in question has a tendency to jam, and
those jams are seriously difficult to clear because of the force with which the
jam occurred.
If I developed a belt and wheel design which did the exact same thing, it would
be considered interchangeable, because the drive mechanism has no impact on the
operation of the device itself.
If, however, my belt and wheel design included a feature which caused the belt
to disengage as soon as the jam condition occurred, causing the jam to be less
severe, then my improvement would *not* be interchangeable, and therefore could
be patented separately.[ Reply to This | Parent | # ]
|
|
|
|
|
