Appeal No. 1999-1656
Application No. 08/638,759
BACKGROUND
The invention is directed to an optical system having an element for attenuating
diffraction light of order other than that necessary for forming an image. Claim 1 is
reproduced below.
1. An optical system for forming an image of an object, the optical system
comprising:
at least one diffraction optical element for receiving light from the object and
for diffracting the light from the object to produce first diffraction light of a given
order and second diffraction light of at least one order other than the given order;
at least one refraction optical element in series with the at least one
diffraction optical element; and
a diffraction light selection element, arranged in series with the at least one
diffraction optical element and the at least one refraction optical element, for
receiving the first diffraction light and the second diffraction light, transmitting the
first diffraction light and attenuating the second diffraction light.
The examiner relies on the following references:
Nose 4,539,482 Sep. 3, 1985
Hugle et al. (Hugle) 5,517,279 May 14, 1996
(filed Aug. 30, 1993)
Claims 2, 5, and 6 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 102 as being anticipated by
Nose.
Claims 1-12 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as being unpatentable over
Hugle and Nose.
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