Appeal No. 1999-2618
Application 08/647,223
coupling; one cannot couple a signal or transfer energy from
the collector of transistor 22 to the collector of
transistor 21 through oppositely poled diodes." The
Examiner again relies on the interpretation that "coupled"
broadly means "joined" or "linked" (EA7).
For the reasons discussed in connection with claim 1,
we conclude that the Examiner erred in interpreting the term
"coupled." The first terminal of the EL lamp 12 (the node
at the collector of transistor 21) is coupled to the output
(the node at the collector of transistor 14). However, the
first terminal of buzzer 26 (the node connected to
switch 25) is not coupled, in the electrical meaning of the
term, to the output because the back-to-back arrangement of
diodes prevents any energy or signal transfer. Accordingly,
the anticipation rejection of claims 7 and 11 is reversed.
Obviousness
The obviousness rejection of claim 5 does not cure the
deficiencies of the APA with respect to claim 1.
Accordingly, the obviousness rejection of claim 5 is
reversed.
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