Appeal No. 95-0005
Application 08/141,412
however, should not be construed as an indication that the
claims are patentable over other combinations of prior art or
even the same references in a rejection based on different
rationale.
Claim 47 recites several limitations in means-plus-
function language, including (1) means for transmitting an
interrogation
signal across a single inductive coupling permitting bidirec-
tional communication between a meter transponder and an inter-
rogator, (2) register means coupled to a utility meter, for
providing consumption signals representing utility consumption
data, (3) means for accessing said register means to obtain
said consumption signals, (4) means for modulating said
consumption signals in accordance with said clock signal [from
the inter-rogator], and (5) means for transmitting said
consumption signals to said interrogator across said single
inductive coupling. The various means (3), (4), and (5) are
defined as being within a meter transponder. Similarly, claim
50 recites several means-plus-function limitations, including
6
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