Appeal No. 96-1839 Page 2
Application No. 08/024,610
BACKGROUND
The appellants’ invention relates to an electroluminescent display with brightness
enhancement. An understanding of the invention can be derived from a reading of
exemplary claim 1, which is reproduced below.
1. A backlit display comprising:
a case having an optical window and an axis;
an electroluminescent panel in said case;
a structured surface material between said electrolumin-
escent panel and said optical window, said structured surface
material having the property that light entering it while making
an angle in a first predetermined group of angles with said
axis will be reflected and light entering it while making an angle
in a second predetermined group of angles with said axis will
be refracted such that the majority of the light in said second
group of angles will form an output wedge that is narrow[er]
than said output wedge's associated input wedge, said angles
in said second group of angles being greater than said angles
in said first group of angles; and
a light gating means between said structured surface material
and said optical window.
The prior art references of record relied upon by the Examiner in rejecting the
appealed claims are:
Ukrainsky 4,748,546 May 31, 1988
Abileah 5,262,880 Nov. 16, 1993
(Filed Aug. 06, 1992)
McCartney, Jr. et al (McCartney) 5,280,371 Jan. 18, 1994
(Filed Jul. 09, 1992)
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