Appeal No. 2006-1094
Application No. 09/976,788
BACKGROUND
The appellant's invention relates to a method and control device for
operating a torque-converter lockup clutch. In accordance with appellant’s
invention, the slip of the torque converter is adjusted to a setpoint value while the
lockup clutch is being closed, the set point value being continuously selected inside
a closing interval as a function of time and taking into account the input torque
being applied to the torque converter. A copy of the claims under appeal is set
forth in the appendix to the appellant's brief.
The examiner relies upon the following as evidence of unpatentability:
Cowan 5,029,087 Jul. 2, 1991
Claims 1-30 all stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b) as being anticipated
by Cowan.
Rather than reiterate in their entirety the conflicting viewpoints advanced by
the examiner and the appellant regarding this appeal, we make reference to the
examiner's answer (mailed June 15, 2005) for the examiner's complete reasoning in
support of the rejection and to the appellant's brief (filed March 24, 2005) and
reply brief (filed August 18, 2005) for the appellant's arguments thereagainst.
OPINION
In reaching our decision in this appeal, we have given careful consideration
to the appellant's specification and claims, to the applied Cowan patent, and to the
respective positions articulated by the appellant and the examiner. After full
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