Appeal No. 2000-0757
Application No. 09/021,393
instant invention gives the central photometric element a trapezoid shape, alleged to result
in “simple metering with superior results even when the main subject is at a distance other
than the normal 2-3 meters” [brief-page 3].
Independent claim 9 is reproduced as follows:
9. A photo-sensor for divided brightness measurement for automatic
exposure control comprising:
a photo-receiving surface on which an image of a scene to be
photographed is formed;
a central photometric element disposed in a center of said
photo-receiving surface for detecting a central light value from a central area
of said scene, said central photometric element having a trapezoid shape
whose bottom side is longer than a top side thereof; and
a peripheral photometric element surrounding said central
photometric element, for detecting a peripheral light value from a peripheral
area of said scene independently from said central photometric element.
The examiner relies on the following references:
Takei et al. (Takei) 4,746,949 May 24, 1988
Soshi et al. (Soshi) 4,987,434 Jan. 22, 1991
Takagi 5,534,968 Jul. 09, 1996
Claims 9, 33 and 35-38 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as unpatentable over
Takei, Soshi and Takagi.
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