Ex Parte Oestreicher et al - Page 10




              Appeal No. 2006-0022                                                                    Παγε 10                 
              Application No. 09/810,943                                                                                      



              the seat 14.  The weight sensor 56 provides a signal 66 indicative of the weight of the                         
              occupant 12 to a controller 26.                                                                                 


                      As shown in Figure 2, the controller 26 includes a weight signal sampler function                       
              72 which samples the signal 66 from the weight sensor 56.  Each time the signal 66 is                           
              sampled, a weight indicative value of the signal 66 is "read."  Preferably, the weight                          
              signal sampler is an internal analog-to-digital ("A/D") converter having a controllable                         
              sample or conversion rate.  Sampling of the signal 66 by the weight signal sampler                              
              function 72 occurs at a fixed sample rate.  The sample rates for the signal 66 are preset                       
              to be relatively low.  Accordingly, the process of sensing occupant weight to control                           
              other rates within the system is not itself a burden on the processing system of                                
              controller 26.                                                                                                  


              Claims 36 to 40                                                                                                 
                      We sustain the rejection of claims 36 to 40 under 35 U.S.C. § 103.                                      


                      Claim 36 reads as follows:                                                                              
                             Apparatus comprising:                                                                            
                             a vehicle seat frame;                                                                            
                             a plurality of deflectable mounting structures which together bear the                           
                      entire weight of said frame;                                                                            








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