Appeal No. 2002-1042
Application No. 09/262,102
given contrast ratio is observable. The examiner finds that it
would have been obvious to the artisan to change the voltage
across pixels of the IBM display in order to produce different
viewing angles [answer, pages 3-4].
With respect to claims 1 and 3-8, which stand or fall
together [brief, page 4], appellants argue that nothing in IBM
teaches or suggests that the viewing angle of the display can or
should be user-adjustable. Appellants note that the shifting of
the transmittance across the panel has nothing to do with varying
the viewing angle [brief, pages 4-8].
The examiner responds that there is nothing in the
specification that discloses that the voltage range variation is
done through a user adjustment. The examiner asserts that there
is no apparent reason that prevents a user working on the IBM
device from changing the voltage range to adjust the viewing
angle of the display [answer, pages 5-6].
Appellants respond that nothing in the IBM text suggests
that it is desirable that voltage ranges be user-adjustable so as
to produce different viewing angles. Appellants also assert that
the examiner’s response with respect to the specification has
nothing to do with this rejection based on prior art. Finally,
appellants assert that the examiner has essentially admitted that
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