Appeal No. 1997-3074 Page 3
Application No. 08/392,598
We affirm.
Turning first to claim 1, Latimer clearly discloses a bar
code scanner and a scale, both with printed circuit boards. As
the examiner points out, Latimer does not show the connectors
of the printed circuit boards of the scanner and scale directly
coupled to each other, employing, instead, cables to make the
connection. However, the examiner points out that it would
have been obvious to use a direct connection rather than the
cables of Latimer “in order to eliminate the losses associated
with the cables” [answer-page 4]. For their part, appellants
argue that the claim emphasizes the modular nature of the
scanner and that modularity is not taught by Latimer.
Appellants further note that the structural arrangement of
Latimer does not lend itself to placement of circuit boards of
a scanner and scale together so that they may be directly
connected.
We agree with the examiner’s conclusion of obviousness.
Latimer points out, at column 1, lines 50-63, that the prior
art employed integrated scanner/scale units and that there was
difficulty with such integrated units. This is why Latimer’s
invention is directed to making the scanner and scale separate,
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