Appeal No. 95-3797
Application 07/975,764
lens of the viewfinder optical system.
[Examiner’s Answer at page 5].
Appellant argues that Asano does not disclose a
second real image plane fixedly located at a focal plane of
the eyepiece lens and at which a display is located. We note
that The Academic Press Dictionary of Science and Technology
(Academic Press, San Diego 1992) defines “focal plane” as a
plane that is perpendicular to the principal axis and passes
through the focal point of the axis of a mirror, lens, or lens
system. As such, the focal plane of eyepiece 8 in Asano is
perpendicular to axis X. Clearly, the display 12 depicted in
Asano is disposed on axis Z which is not located at a focal
plane of eyepiece 8. The examiner while recognizing that
display 12 is not disposed in the focal plane of eyepiece 8
states:
Neverless, Asano et al clearly teaches that
a display can be placed in the second
optical path. Thus, it would have been
obvious to modify the fourth reflecting
surface (M4) to be a stationary semi-
transparent reflecting surface to define a
second optical path through the viewfinder
because this modification would provide the
shortest and an undeviated, straight line-
of-sight optical path. [Examiner’s Answer
at pages 6-7].
-6-6
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