Appeal No. 96-1628
Application No. 08/167,617
regardless of the brightness level. In other words, the
voltage
would be reduced even for picture elements (within the block)
which have incident intensities below the threshold value.
The examiner asserts (Answer, page 10) that appellant's
arguments that Asao does not teach reducing only those
intensities which exceed a threshold "are not relevant since
'only those intensities which exceed a threshold are reduced'
is not directly recited in the claims." However, as discussed
above, claim 1 recites that the reduction is done selectively
for the video image signals corresponding to the areas in
which the intensity is above the threshold.
Furthermore, as the last paragraph of claim 1 is recited
as a means plus function, we "must look to the specification
and interpret that language in light of the corresponding
structure, material, or acts described therein, and
equivalents thereof, to the extent that the specification
provides such disclosure." In re Donaldson Co., 16 F.3d 1189,
29 USPQ2d 1845 (Fed. Cir. 1994). Here, the "means . . . for
selectively causing a reduction in the voltage levels of said
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