Appeal No. 1997-1174
Application 08/353,681
equivalent of a digital processor. In re
Donaldson,
29 USPQ 2d 1845 (CAFC 1994).
Fennema does not eliminate signal
asymmetry. Fennema eliminates head
position error by adjusting the position of
the head with respect to track center to
eliminate offset. The inclusion of
Fennema’s track centering system in
Christner simply does not address the
claimed asymmetry correction aspects of
Applicant’s claims. (Brief-pages 10 and
11.)
The Examiner responds that
even though the combination does not
anticipate the instant claims, it would
render the instant invention obvious. ...
Fennema balances positive and negative
peaks, as depicted in Figure 8. Since the
combination would reduce signal asymmetry
to a tolerable minimum, the claim
limitation is met. (Answer-page 4.)
We agree with Appellants. We cannot see how mechanically
moving a magnetic head for track centering, based on
equalizing the TES’s positive and negative peaks, would meet
the language of claim 12 as argued by Appellants. Likewise,
we see no motivation to use the teachings of Fennema’s
tracking signal to make an asymmetry correction to a
magnetoresistive head signal.
7
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