Appeal 2007-1248
Application 10/324,441
contact 44 to the data circuit 52 or power circuit 34/35 depending on the
type of peripheral sensed. The Examiner explains (Answer 13) that Romao
includes two switches, switch 35 and capacitor 32, that couple the shared
contact to the power and data circuits. Specifically, the Examiner states
(Answer 13) that the capacitor allows current to pass through it to the shared
contact if the data peripheral is connected but does not allow current to pass
to the shared contact if the power peripheral is connected.
Appellants contend (Br. 9) that the shared contact in Romao's
connector connects to both a data circuit and a power circuit regardless of
what type of peripheral is plugged into the socket. Further, by placing a
capacitor between the shared contact and the data circuit, Romao "obviates
the need for detecting a peripheral type and switching between power and
data circuits." Thus, according to Appellants (Br. 9-10), Romao does not
have any type of detecting or sensing of the type of peripheral connected to
the mobile phone or any type of selective connection circuitry as required by
the claims. The issue, therefore, is whether Romao discloses a control
circuit that 1) senses or detects the type of peripheral plugged into the jack
and 2) selectively couples a shared contact to either the data circuit or the
power circuit based on the type of peripheral sensed.
We agree with Appellants that Romao's pins (or contacts) 41-44 do
not sense or detect anything. They merely provide a means for connecting
contacts 21-24 with the data and power circuits. The pins make no
determinations as to what is in contact therewith. See Romao, Fig. 3.
Further, we find no other elements in Romao that sense or detect the type of
peripheral. Accordingly, Romao fails to disclose sensing a peripheral type.
In addition, we agree with Appellants that Romao fails to disclose the
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