Appeal No. 96-3304
Application 08/279,565
providing a digital display of a current reading in a
plurality of digits (column 3, lines 43-48). The digits in
the digital display are representative of energy consumed
(column 1, lines 25-27). A meterman uses a hand held data
input terminal unit 6 having a bar code reader and a keypad to
read the bar code label and to input the current reading
displayed on the digital display section.
Independent claim 1 requires that the means for
displaying alpha-numeric indicia in machine readable form is
responsive to an input to the meter that varies in relative
value over a period of time.
In rejecting claim 1, the examiner considers that the
Becker’s drums 21 correspond to the claimed means for
displaying alpha-numeric indicia in machine readable form. As
we understand it, it is the examiner’s position that the
movement of Becker’s meter when inserting or removing it from
its base constitutes an input that varies in relative value
over time. Alternatively, it may possibly be the examiner’s
position that it would have been obvious to make Becker’s
drums 21 responsive to an input that varies in relative value
over time in view of Wakatsuki.
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