Appeal No. 95-4530
Application 08/077,993
independent claims 1 and 19, Metcalf et al. does not detect the
voltage signal at the two end portions of short circuited lines;
nor does the reference compare polarities between the fed pulse
voltage signal and the detected signal so as to discriminate the
wiring state between the two source portions and the
corresponding two end portions. At most, Metcalf et al.'s method
involves detection of an electric signal along an electric line.
The position of the examiner to the effect that the conductors
106 of Figures 2(b) and 2(c) of the reference are short circuited
at their source portions in a common circuit is not well taken.
These figures illustrate alternative ways of locating different
points on a conductor for detecting faults and do not disclose
the short circuiting of two wires in a common circuit.
Even assuming for the purpose of argument that appellants
utilize Metcalf et al.'s basic method of detecting a conductor
fault, it has not been established that the reference considered
as a whole would have suggested the method of appellants' claims
for determining the electrical wiring state of two short
circuited conductors. The bare conclusion that the method of
Metcalf et al. is applicable to any preexisting wiring condition
is not persuasive.
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