Appeal No. 2006-0406
Application 09/497,865
Chang discloses coding and multiplexing to avoid redundant
receiving circuitry. Since appellants do not illustrate their
transmit circuitry, we have no idea what it looks like and it
cannot be used to distinguish over Aoki. It is argued that Aoki
does not teach a digital receiver that determines signal
strengths for the coded element signals and locks onto a
strongest signal having a corresponding element so that the
corresponding element can be used for transmission (Br6; RBr3).
Aoki discloses receiving and processing digital signals (Fig. 3)
and determines the maximum intensity of the incoming signals to
form a control signal for retrodirectivity (col. 5, line 10 to
col. 6, line 7) which is locking onto a strongest signal or, at
least, appellants have not said why not. It has been noted that
the claims do not preclude using all elements for transmission
including the element corresponding to the strongest signal. It
is argued that Aoki appears to be directed to a stationary system
and, thus, there is no teaching for use with a rotating plate and
an element (Br6; RBr3). Karlsson is used to teach associating an
antenna with a rotating plate for a mobile station (cols. 1 & 2).
It is not apparent why Aoki does not use an element corresponding
to the element having the strongest signal (as well as other
elements) for transmission. Therefore, the rejection of
claims 1, 7, 21, and 37 is affirmed even if the limitation "so
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