Appeal No. 1997-3975 Application No. 08/395,376 220 USPQ 303, 313 (Fed. Cir. 1983), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 851 (1984). The examiner asserts that Shofner discloses all the components of independent claim 9. Appellants argue that Shofner does not disclose “analyzing means further comprising means for distinguishing between sensor signals corresponding to looped entities and sensor signals corresponding to not looped entities, as contained in Claim 9" [brief, page 7]. Appellants argue that Shofner can sense but not distinguish between looped and not looped entities. The examiner responds that Shofner discloses that the sensed signals are analyzed, and the results of the analysis shown in graphical form distinguish between looped and not looped entities as recited in claim 9 [answer, pages 8-9]. We agree with the examiner. Shofner clearly discloses that the sensed data “are acquired, analyzed, and stored” [page 4 of reference, emphasis added]. The question is whether the analysis in Shofner distinguishes between sensor signals corresponding to looped entities and sensor signals corresponding to not looped entities. We agree with the examiner that the graphical representation of the fiber properties described on page 4 of the reference 8Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 NextLast modified: November 3, 2007