Appeal No. 2004-2142
Application No. 09/220,736
blocks a predetermined amount of light from a brightly
illuminated region in the illuminated area but does not
substantially block light from a less brightly illuminated region
in the illuminated area.
Representative independent claim 1 is reproduced as follows:
1. An optical system for forming an image of at least a
portion of an illuminated area on an object, the illuminated area
being characterized by at least one brightly illuminated region
and at least one less brightly illuminated region, comprising:
a lens positioned a spaced distance from the illuminated
area on the object, said lens having an image side focal plane;
an aperture stop positioned so that it is substantially co-
planar with the image side focal plane of said lens; and
an occluding element positioned between said lens and the
illuminated area on the object so that said occluding element
blocks a predetermined amount of light from the brightly
illuminated region but does not substantially block light from
the less brightly illuminated region.
The examiner relies on the following reference:
Thomson 3,825,747 Jul. 23, 1974
Claims 1-3 and 7-9 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b)
as anticipated by Thomson.
Claims 4-6 and 10-17 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as
unpatentable over Thomson.
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