Legal Definitions - rule of operation

Rule of Operation

In patent law, a rule of operation refers to the specific method or sequence of steps required to use a machine to achieve its intended, useful outcome.

It describes how a machine is manipulated or controlled to perform its function, rather than just the physical structure of the machine itself. This concept helps distinguish a patentable machine, which has a functional purpose achieved through a specific operational method, from a mere article of manufacture, which might be a static object without an inherent operational sequence.

Here are some examples illustrating the rule of operation:

• Automated Coffee Machine: Imagine a sophisticated coffee machine designed to brew various types of coffee. Its rule of operation would involve the user's actions such as filling the water reservoir, inserting a coffee pod or ground coffee, selecting the desired beverage type (e.g., espresso, latte), and pressing the "start" button. Each of these steps, performed in a specific order to produce a cup of coffee, constitutes the machine's rule of operation.

• Industrial Robotic Arm: Consider a robotic arm on an assembly line designed to precisely place components onto a circuit board. The rule of operation for this machine would encompass the programming commands and user interface interactions required to calibrate the arm, load the component tray, initiate the pick-and-place sequence, and manage error conditions. The specific method of inputting these instructions and overseeing the robot's actions to achieve the assembly task is its rule of operation.

• Digital Camera: For a modern digital camera, the rule of operation includes the steps a photographer takes to capture an image. This might involve turning the camera on, adjusting settings like aperture or shutter speed, focusing the lens, composing the shot, and pressing the shutter button. This sequence of user interactions and adjustments to achieve the desired photographic result is the camera's rule of operation.