Appeal No. 2000-0431 Page 12
Application No. 08/789,127
limitation. . . .” Col. 8, ll. 40-42. For its part, Kawakami
invites “changes and modifications,” col. 9, l. 20, to its
invention.
Bancroft suggests such a change or modification. We agree
with the examiner that “in column 3, Bancroft discloses the size
(or width) of the running or working are, [sic, area] i.e. are
[sic, area] to be cleaned.” (Examiner’s Answer at 4-5.)
Specifically, “[t]he present invention avoids these problems by
dividing the autonomous operation of the robot into two phases.
The first phase quickly determines the area to be cleaned and a
path for accomplishing the cleaning.” Col. 1, ll. 40-43. “The
second phase is then the actually cleaning of the area.” Id. at
l. 45. The secondary reference also discloses advantages flowing
from its two-phased operation. Specifically, “no operator
assistance is needed to train the robot and it is quickly
determinable if the robot is going to stay in the desired area.
In addition, because the area to be cleaned is known before the
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