Appeal No. 2000-0730
Application 08/761,098
Rapid Transit System, 804 F.2d 659, 664, 231 USPQ 649, 652
(Fed. Cir. 1986). The application need not disclose the
details of well known prior art devices for reading tokens.
There can be no reasonable doubt that the "token means for
reading tokens" was enabled to one of ordinary skill in the
art.
The "lockout means" is disclosed to be a state machine or
controller that remembers the tokens read and that can prevent
transition of the system from one state to another (e.g.,
machine OFF to ON by controlling the power in figure 1) until
a selected pattern of tokens has been read, e.g., until all
tokens used to assert control have been used to release
control (specification, p. 3, line 18 to p. 2, 4, line 3;
p. 5, lines 1-15; figures 1, 3a, and 3b). The implementation
of such a state machine in computer software and the use of a
computer to control the state of a machine, such as to control
power to the machine, is considered to be well within the
level of ordinary skill of one in the relevant art of computer
programming and control.
The Examiner, referring to the specification at p. 4,
lines 21-27, asserts (EA5):
- 4 -
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007