Appeal No. 2001-2019
Application No. 08/996,567 Page 15
from the central stations by abruptly increasing or decreasing
the level of the transmitted voltage (col. 10, lines 7-32). This
has the great advantage of assuring that the firing instants of
the flash lamps will all be referenced to a common clocking
action, and in that way assure that the various firing instants
all occur at the proper times and in the intended sequences. In
conventional flashing lamp highway signaling systems, the
difference in transmission paths creates different time
constants, and the various firing instants are free running and
unsynchronized with each other (col. 10, line 36 through col. 11,
line 26).
From the disclosure of Markl, we find that Markl
synchronizes the flashing of the emergency lights to warn
motorists of traffic accidents, traffic jams, road icing, etc.
Because Markl teaches the use of synchronized flashing lights to
warn motorists of road emergencies, we find that Markl is related
to an alarm system, and would have suggested to an artisan that
the flashing lights should be synchronized to overcome the
problems associated with random flashing caused by differing time
constants.
We are not persuaded by appellants' assertion (brief, page
6) that Markl is not directed to an audible alarm or
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