Appeal No. 2004-0012
Application No. 10/057,614
understood that such control could also be extended to the
retractable lens of the device. In our view, appellants'
arrangement of leaving the retractable lens in the extended
position when the camera is turned off to save the life of the
battery would have been an obvious trade-off with the loss of
better storability and portability when the lens is in the
extended position. We are satisfied that one of ordinary skill
in the art would have found it obvious to balance the advantages
and disadvantages of extending the life of the battery at the
expense of storability and portability. Manifestly, maximizing
the life of a device's battery is a well-known goal for designers
of electrical devices, and we find that appellants' solution to
the problem of battery life would have been readily apparent and
obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, particularly in
light of Tatsuzo. In re Ludwig, 353 F.2d 241, 243-44, 147 USPQ
420, 421 (CCPA 1965).
As a final point, we note that appellants base no argument
upon objective evidence of nonobviousness, such as unexpected
results, which would serve to rebut the inference of obviousness
established by the examiner.
In conclusion, based on the foregoing, the examiner's
decision rejecting the appealed claims is affirmed.
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