Appeal No. 2000-0946 Page 5
Application No. 08/704,217
heating current supply IH is cut off from the heating element and the sensing current IS
is supplied to the heating element so that the resistance measuring means can
measure the resistance to determine whether the desired heating element temperature
has been reached.
Appellant does not challenge the examiner’s findings that Tamura discloses a
heating element, means for sensing temperature of the heating element and a
controller means for measuring a rate of change in temperature of the heating element
through the means for sensing temperature (see brief, pages 10 and 11). However,
appellant contends that, because Tamura “fails to teach or suggest the rate of
temperature change is detected while the power is active, as required in claim 1,” the
examiner’s rejection is improper (brief, page 11). This characterization of Tamura is, of
course, inaccurate, as the rate of change of resistance (temperature) is determined
while the sensing current generator 6 supplies sensing current IS to the heating
element, that is, while the power is active. Further, the examiner’s determination that
the rate of change sensed by Tamura’s slope detection circuit is proportional to the
input voltage applied across the heating element during the supply of sensing current IS
thereto appears reasonable on its face and has not specifically been challenged by
appellant.
Appellant’s argument (brief, page 11) that Tamura fails to teach or suggest that,
by measuring the rate of temperature change of the heating element while the power
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