Appeal No. 96-3895
Application 08/288,103
produce a corresponding waveform 304. See also Figure 3 which
illustrates waveform 304 as the result of median filtering a
single raw measurement waveform 302. Our reading indicates that
there would be five different median filtered waveforms 304.
As for the subtracting operation, the examiner simply
concludes that it would have been obvious to one with ordinary
skill in the art to perform a subtraction of a given value from a
measured value. In that regard, the examiner stated (answer at
6, lines 3-8):
The motivation being that Marko et al. teach the
filtering of a measurement a plurality of times (col.
6, lines 31-34), and repeated filtering (ie. filtering
a measurement after it has already be filtered) is a
functional equivalent of just subtracting a value since
both lead to the same end result (ie. reducing
systematic variation).
We disagree with the above-quoted position of the examiner.
The claims do not simply recite subtracting any arbitrary value.
The value subtracted must be predetermined and representative of
systematic activity at a particular angular position of the
crankshaft. Repetitive filtering of the same measured signal
waveform, such as by subsampling or median filtering, is not the
same as subtracting a value which is representative of systematic
activity at corresponding angular positions, even if systematic
variation would be reduced. Nothing in Marko reasonably suggests
6
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007