Appeal No. 2000-0866 Page 6
Application No. 08/852,829
prior art. The examiner did not respond to this argument in
the answer.
Independent claim 5 reads as follows:
A method for controlling a vehicle component using a
plurality of physical sensors for sensing first operating
parameters and a controller in communication with the
plurality of physical sensors, the method comprising:
monitoring signals generated by the plurality of
physical sensors to determine values for the first
operating parameters;
processing the values for the first operating
parameters using a neural network embedded in the
controller to determine a value for residual mass
fraction, the value for residual mass fraction being
based on a linear combination of the plurality of values
for the first operating parameters such that the neural
network functions as a sensor for the second operating
parameter; and
controlling the vehicle component based on the value
of the second operating parameter.[1]
After reviewing the disclosures of the applied prior art,
we reach the conclusion that the subject matter of claim 5 is
1We understand the phrase "second operating parameter"
used in claim 5 as referring to the previously recited
"residual mass fraction." In that regard, we note the
appellants' amendment filed November 23, 1998 (Paper No. 6)
wherein claim 5 was amended to change "second operating
parameter" to "residual mass fraction" in two places.
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