Appeal No. 2003-1520 Page 4
Application No. 09/670,146
This sensing of lines and deactivation of the print nozzles is done on a line by line basis.
In regard to the sensing of an image line which is wider than the line on the
medium on which ink is to be deposited and deactivating the print nozzles which if
activated would result in the deposition of ink outside the edges of the medium, claim 1
recites:
creating a control signal, for each CCD line. . . to deactivate the printing
nozzles that discharge ink droplets beyond the edges of the recording
medium. (emphasis added)
The examiner finds that Wen discloses the invention a recited in claim 1 except
that Wen does not disclose CCD line sensors. The examiner relies on Sevier for
teaching the use of a CCD line sensor as a scanning line detector. In regard to the
“creating a control signal” step, the examiner states:
. . . Wen, in resizing the image, will deactivate nozzles not used for
printing as media of different widths may be used. Wen resizes the image
to be printed by a couple of scan lines beyond the edge of the media
before printing, but Wen does not print (eject ink) beyond the border,
implying deactivation of nozzles for that print line, 745 patent, column 5,
lines 41 to 44.
We do not agree with the examiner.
Firstly, Wen does not disclose a system whereby the printing beyond the edges
of the recording medium is prevented. In fact, Wen specifically states that it is
preferable that the image that is printed onto the recording medium be a couple of print
lines wider that the width of the printing medium (col. 4, lines 50 to 52). In addition, the
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