Appeal No. 1997-0897
Application No. 08/227,992 Page 2
BACKGROUND
Appellants’ invention relates to an image sensor and optical
character reader. An understanding of the invention can be
derived from a reading of exemplary claim 12, which is reproduced
as follows:
12. An image sensor, comprising:
a frame, including an opening, for housing said image
sensor;
optical means for irradiating light on and receiving light
reflected by a document;
focal length changing means, including a transparent
covering, for changing a focal length formed by said frame, and
said transparent covering, and said optical means by changing a
thickness of said transparent covering above the top portion of
said frame, along a light receiving axis of said image sensor.
The prior art references of record relied upon by the
examiner in rejecting the appealed claims are:
Rhodes 434,807 Aug. 19, 1890
Koch 3,825,938 Jul. 23, 1974
Claims 1, 2, 13, and 25 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 101
as inoperative and therefore lacking utility.
Claims 1-5, 12-15, 20-23, and 25-27 stand rejected under 35
U.S.C. § 101 on the basis that the invention as now claimed lacks
utility.
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