Appeal No. 96-2440
Application 08/099,289
1. A method for inspecting a product, comprising:
scanning a surface of said product with a scanning device
and creating scan lines each with video data signals
corresponding to said surface, wherein each said scan line
includes non-useful or dead (i.e., dark) video data signals;
generating information signals related to said product,
wherein said information signals are created external to said
scanning device;
transmitting both said video data signals and said
information signals along at least one optical fiber to a
computer processing unit, wherein said information signals are
multiplexed into said non-useful or dead (i.e., dark) video data
signals to create a sequential stream of data for transmission to
said computer processing unit; and
processing said video data signals and said information
signals to evaluate the condition of said product.
Opinion
We do not sustain the rejection of claims 1-4, 6-8, 10, 12-
14, 16-18, 20, 22-25, 27-29, 31-34, 36-38 and 40-41.
Each of the independent claims 1, 12, 22 and 32 requires
scanning of a surface of the product being inspected to create
plural scan lines each with video data signals corresponding to
the surface. Moreover, each independent claim specifically
recites that each scan line includes "non-useful or dead (i.e.,
dark) video data signals." Additionally, each independent claim
further requires the multiplexing of externally created
information signals "into said non-useful or dead (i.e., dark)
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