Appeal No. 2002-0496 Page 5
Application No. 09/182,542
to a transformer, at least one end of the distribution loop being coupled to
receive a power system signal, the fault locator system comprising:
a fault signature detector coupled to the distribution loop at one of
the junctions between two of the cable sections to detect a transient signal
representing a fault; and
a power supply, coupled to receive operational power from the
transformer which is coupled to the junction of the two cable sections.
Claims 1-36 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 1, as non-enabled.
OPINION
We have considered the positions of the examiner and the appellants in toto.
Being persuaded by most of the reasons expressed in the declaration of Robert C.
Wharton (Paper No. 15), we reverse the non-enablement rejection of claims 1-15 and
17-36. We now turn to the non-enablement rejection of claim 16. The examiner
asserts, "[c]laim 16 lacks enablement as it is unclear how successive pulses of the
transient signal is used to determine the velocity of the signal in the distribution loop."
(Examiner's Answer at 7.) The appellants argue, "[t]his means is described in the
specification at step 618 of Fig. 6 and at page 18, line 32 through page 19, line 2. From
the description of the pulses at page 13, lines 10-13, one of ordinary skill in the art at
the time the invention was made could readily determine an approximate velocity of the
traveling wave because the distance from the FDI to both ends of the cable system is
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