Appeal No. 1997-1374
Application No. 08/415,101
Mignardi teaches grouping in a cardinal array (brief-page 5).
Also, with respect to the SLM being of the DMD type, we note
that Hornbeck teaches known SLM’s to be of the DMD or LCD type
(column 2,
lines 11-18), along with arrays of both cardinal (Figure 31)
and ordinal (Figure 34) format. Appellants argue:
Applicant’s Claim 1 recites a method of controlling
an orthogonal array of spatial light modulator
elements that allows an orthogonal array to achieve
the increased effective horizontal resolution
available to cardinal array, without the decrease in
usable modulator area and contrast ratio that occurs
when some modulator structures are fabricated in
cardinal arrays (see page 9, lines 3-9 and Fig. 3 of
the specification). (Emphasis added.) (Brief-page
8.)
The only direct response we can identify, by the
Examiner, to this argument is:
Contrary to applicant’s arguments in their
responses, the patent to Mignardi et al. not only
suggests a cardinal format for a DMD but also that
sub-arrays can be driven in unison to create pixels.
(Emphasis added.) (Answer-page 3.)
We believe the Examiner’s response misses the point.
Appellants’ sub-arrays are located in an ordinal array, and
are controlled (driven) to create a cardinal array effect. We
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