Appeal No. 2003-1153
Application No. 09/349,214
for a method of computing of an intrusion indication for each of
the remote crash sensors. Iyoda is similar to Hermann because
Iyoda also teaches a method including "the steps of: (a)
determining an amount of deformation of the vehicle based on a
state of said vehicle, which crashes into the collision object;
and (b) activating the passive restraint when the amount of
deformation determined in the step (a) exceeds a specified
threshold value." See Iyoda, col. 4, lines 31-40. Therefore, a
combination of Hermann, Kincaid, and Iyoda does not provide the
mentioned missing piece "crash classification mask" used in a
logical operation to combine with the sensor data to arrive at "a
restraint deployment code." Without an objective teaching or
suggestion of the crash classification mask and restraint
deployment code in the prior art, the Examiner cannot satisfy the
initial burden of establishing a prima facie case of obviousness.
Therefore, we will not sustain the Examiner's rejections of
claims 5-10 as obvious over Hermann in view of Kincaid and
further in view of Iyoda.
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