Vic....if you really want to dig into it, I suggest a PDF editor software package rather than the typical PDF reader....I use Scansoft.

With it you can open up a PDF file (patent) and start reading the specifications. As you read you can do many things... e.g highlight text, lines, crop ....etc.

The real power of an editor is in linking specifications to the figures and other references. In other words, if you are reading a descriptive paragraph that points you to a reference figure...etc you can create a link between the two, where you can move back and fourth between the two until you understand the significance of what you are reading. I can even link to details in other docs

I've gotten to be a real wiz at it over the years...

Once you begin to understand things you reach for so much more. All of my patent docs and much of my PACER docs are all broken down by a PDF editor for quick reference.

It becomes second nature after a while.

doni