Appeal No. 1998-2740
Application 08/438,492
words, the information that the robot is to move from point P2 to
point P3 in a straight line only tells the robot computer how to
get from point P2 to point P3. The conversion formulas for
determining the ultimate movement path are stored within the
robot computer. Using point P2 and point P3 and the straight
line parameter, Seki calculates the path for actually moving the
robot between point P2 and P3. The remainder of the teaching
points between points P2 and P3 must be calculated by the robot
computer. The computer would have to calculate a different path
if a path other than a straight line was desired. Therefore, we
agree with the examiner that Seki teaches that the path of
movement is based on parameters of the work piece and defined
conversion formulas. These conversion formulas form part of the
robot computer apparatus and mathematically define path movements
using formulas.
Seki permits an operator to machine a new work piece
which is similarly shaped to a stored work piece by simply
replacing the points P2 and P3 etc. and to let the robot computer
automatically recalculate the teaching points (the actual path
movement) based on these new parameters. In our view, the
formulas for actually following a straight line or a circular arc
in Seki are conversion formulas as disclosed and claimed by
8
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007