Appeal No. 96-2744
Application 08/004,734
the fiber end tips of Gery. It calls for a "plurality of optical
waveguides coupled to the display elements for conducting light
energy to the display elements" and this is the function
performed by the fiber optic cables of Gery. The claim also
calls for "a modulated light source coupled to each waveguide for
selectively providing light to be conducted to the display
elements" and this is clearly taught by Gery. See the abstract
of Gery where light source locations are coupled to the input
ends of individual fibers and the points to be activated are
processed by a computer to activate selected light sources to
produce a desired pattern in the display region. Claim 50 also
calls for "an index matching medium substantially surrounding the
display elements and the waveguides." We agree with the examiner
that in view of the teaching of Müller of index matching to avoid
reflections [column 1, lines 37-39] in fiber optic cables, the
artisan would have been led to provide for such index matching in
Gery.
The problem, as we see it, with the examiner's rejection of
claim 50 is with the requirement in the claim that each such
display element must comprise "a bead of resin doped with a dye
that emits visible light when stimulated by light energy." None
of the applied references suggests any such "bead of resin." The
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