Appeal No. 96-3624
Application No. 08/293,104
on the position of the slide switch 8, each switch of the
keyboard has an alternative function. Thus, it may fairly be
said that Koike does disclose a keyboard having a plurality of
switches, each individually operable to generate electrical
indication of its operations and wherein each is individually
operable to perform multiple functions. However, Koike
clearly does not disclose a “flexible, continuous programmable
template display membrane...wherein said membrane covers said
switches” and a “processor electrically connected to said
keyboard and to said membrane for displaying...positional
indicia of desired ones of said switches, and for
displaying...functional indicia of the function of desired
ones of said switches” [emphasis ours], as claimed.
While Polaroid does disclose a flexible LCD and Hunter
does disclose programmably alterable interactive labels for
certain function keys, we find nothing in the applied
references which would have led the skilled artisan to modify
Koike in such a manner as to apply a programmable display
membrane, having electrical connections for addressing display
elements to be illuminated, over the switches. Polaroid’s
flexible LCD certainly does not suggest this and Hunter
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