Appeal No. 1999-1101
Application 08/727,125
because the standard chlorophyll readings (hence, the amount
of nitrogen in the plant) are affected by many factors. One
of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated by
Peterson to use reference areas of crop to calibrate the
sensors regardless of the type of sensor. It is noted that
claims 3 and 9 do not require that the physical
characteristics of the reference crop and the non-reference
crop be determined simultaneously. The physical
characteristic of the reference crop could be measured and
stored and then used for comparison during measurement of the
physical characteristics of the non-reference crop (the bulk
field). The rejection of claims 3 and 9 is sustained.
As to claim 7, Appellants merely repeat the limitations
of the claim. This is not an argument. See 37 CFR
§ 1.192(c)(7). In any case, however, Monson expressly teaches
that the sensor can be secured to a tractor drawn real-time
fertilizer application system. One of ordinary skill in the
art seeking to use an electromagnetic sensor as taught by
Demetriades-Shah in a real-time fertilization system would
have been motivated to mount the sensor on a tractor in view
of Monson. Claim 13 is the apparatus counterpart of claim 7
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