Appeal No. 1999-1101
Application 08/727,125
chlorophyll concentration by reflectance measurements and that
chlorophyll concentration is directly related to nitrogen
fertilizer requirements of the crop. One of ordinary skill in
the art would have been motivated to substitute a reflectance
measurement sensor, either vertically or obliquely mounted, as
taught in Demetriades-Shah for the soil measurement sensor in
the real-time system of Monson because: (1) it was a known
alternative way to determine fertilizer requirements;
(2) Peterson suggested remote sensing in place of soil testing
to determine fertilizer requirements and Demetriades-Shah was
one known type of remote sensor for determining fertilizer
requirements; and (3) there is a direct correlation between
the measured chlorophyll (nitrogen) content of the crop and
the fertilization requirements of the crop in Demetriades-Shah
and Peterson, whereas there is only an indirect correlation
between the nitrogen content of the soil and the fertilization
requirements of the crop in Monson. In the absence of
persuasive arguments to the contrary, the combination of
references is sufficient to establish a prima facie case of
obviousness.
- 10 -
Page: Previous 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007