Appeal No. 2004-0045
Application No. 09/044,421
the claimed “pixel-by-pixel” erasing feature in which an electric
field is applied to “a particular one” of the pixels during the
erasing scan and having the same electric field magnitude as
applied during the display scan but opposite in polarity.
After reviewing the Kanbe reference in light of the arguments
of record, we are in general agreement with Appellants’ position as
stated in the Briefs. Our interpretation of the disclosure of
Kanbe coincides with that of Appellants, i.e., Kanbe provides for
“line-by-line” erasing in which an electric field of a certain
magnitude is applied to an entire line of pixels at a time, and not
to each pixel individually as claimed.
It is noteworthy that the Examiner does not dispute
Appellants’ characterization of the operation of the circuitry
disclosed by Kanbe but, rather, suggests (Answer, page 7) that
applying an electric field to an entire line of pixels also applies
such electric field to the individual pixels in that line as
claimed. We can find no basis on the record before us for the
Examiner interpreting the claim language in this manner. While the
Examiner is correct that claims are to be given their broadest
possible interpretation, any such interpretation must be consistent
with the specification. Appellants’ specification (e.g., page 15)
makes it clear that respective pixels in a line are erased on an
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