Appeal No. 2005-0648
Application No. 09/824,980
413, 426, 208 USPQ 871, 882 (CCPA 1981). This is because the
test for obviousness is what the combined teachings of the
references would have suggested to those of ordinary skill in the
art. Keller, 642 F.2d at 426, 208 USPQ at 881.
Here, the combined teachings of McCann and Ackermann reflect
that increased slot fill was recognized in the prior art as being
desirable in the context of switched reluctance motors (see
McCann) and that slot fills approaching 70 percent were common in
the prior art of induction motors (see Ackermann). In light of
these teachings, we are convinced that it would have been obvious
for an artisan to provide the modified switched reluctance motor
of Kliman with a slot fill of 70 percent or higher. From our
perspective, this provision would have constituted simply the
determination of a workable or optimum range for a parameter
(i.e., slot fill) recognized in the prior art as being result
effective (i.e., desirable). See In re Woodruff, 919 F.2d 1575,
1578, 16 USPQ2d 1934, 1936-37 (CCPA 1976); In re Boesch, 617 F.2d
272, 276, 205 USPQ 215, 219 (CCPA 1980); In re Aller, 220 F.2d
454, 456, 105 USPQ 233, 235 (CCPA 1955).
Under the circumstances recounted above and set forth in the
answer, we again reach the ultimate determination that the
9
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007