Appeal No. 2002-1468
Application 09/038,219
embodiment in which the claims before us are directed to, the
dithering method operates on a high resolution signal that has
error component. The random value signal is added to a spatial-
temporal dither signal and the sum is added to the high
resolution signal. Then, the signal is truncated to provide the
drive signal for the spatial light modulator. Furthermore, the
spatial-temporal dither signal is accomplished by 4x4 spatial
pattern block that changes on a frame-by-frame basis and repeats
every four frames. The table, illustrated on page 13,
illustrates the dither pattern used. See pages 13 and 14 of
Appellants’ specification. Thus, as defined in the
specification, a temporal digital value source operates on a
completely different method than an error diffusion method.
We find that Shimazaki is directed to an error diffusion
process. See column 1, lines 5 through 14 of Shimazaki. In
particular, we find that figure 5 in which the Examiner has
relied on is a block diagram of an error diffusing circuit. See
column 4, lines 1 through 5 of Shimazaki. Furthermore, we find
that Shimazaki fails to teach the use of dithering and in
particular “[a] dither unit . . . comprising: a random value
source; a temporal dither value source” as recited in claims 18
through 25 as well as “[a] method of generating images . . .
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