Appeal No. 1999-0578
Application 08/217,641
intermediate state in Figures 2a-2g and Figure 4. The
examiner also responds that the range taught by Hanyu includes
the range claimed by appellants. Appellants respond that the
multi-domain states of Hartmann are not the same as a
spatially uniform intermediate state.
In considering Hartmann, the examiner notes that when
-6V<V<0V, the liquid crystal display is in a first state
(OFF), whereas when V$6V, the liquid crystal display is in a
second state (ON), while when Vb1<V<0, for example, -5V<Vb<0,
the liquid crystal display has a spatially uniform
intermediate state [answer, pages 11-12]. We do not agree
with this interpretation of the examiner. The liquid crystal
display of Hartmann has a first stable state (ON) when V $6V
d
and a second stable state (OFF) when V <0V [note Figure 4b].
d
The intermediate state identified by the examiner appears to
us to simply be part of the range of conditions when the
liquid crystal display is in the OFF state. Thus, the
conditions identified by the examiner do not result in a
spatially uniform intermediate state as claimed, but rather,
result in one of the bistable states.
Since Hartmann does not teach a liquid crystal layer
13
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