Appeal No. 1999-0142
Application 08/542,330
the near-subject frame 21a is positioned to reflect ambient light
away from the surface 39 of the mirror 35 (col. 4, lines 61-66). In
the near-subject setting, the LED 9 is energized to direct light
toward surface 27 and from there toward surface 39 of mirror 35.
Thus, the "bright-line image" in Strobel is just a reflection, either
from surfaces 33 for a distant-subject frame or from surface 27 for a
near-subject frame, that is superimposed on the image in the
viewfinder indicating the field of view of distant and near subjects.
The reflections are superimposed at the same locations regardless of
the brightness of the image in the viewfinder. There is no
processing of an image signal. While there is a shift from the
reflections of surfaces 33 to a reflection of surface 27 when going
from distant to near subjects, this has absolutely nothing to do with
extracting a bright portion of an image signal and shifting it to
form a bright line. Thus, we agree with Appellants' arguments
(Br9-10; Br12; RBr3) that the Examiner erred in finding that Strobel
and Seely disclose "extracting a bright portion from an image signal"
and "shifting the bright signal to form a bright line."
Third, since Strobel and Seely do not produce an "image
signal," and do not disclose "extracting a bright portion from an
image signal" and "shifting the bright signal to form a bright line,"
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