Appeal No. 2006-2199
Application No. 09/845,391
line of photosensors 20a through 20f. In Nakamura, each of the photosensors in the
single line of photosensors has a different sensitivity to received light. In the disclosed
and claimed invention, each of the photosensors in a line of photosensors has the same
sensitivity to light and receives the same “spectral bandwidth of light.” The claimed
second line of photosensors paired with the noted line of photosensors receives a
“different” “spectral bandwidth” of light. Thus, the obviousness rejection of claims 1
through 4 and 6 is reversed because we agree with the appellant’s argument (brief,
page 5; reply brief, page 2) that “[a] combination of Decker et al. and Nakamura et al.
teaches only the general structure of staggered line arrays and receiving six spectral
bandwidths, but that general teaching does not teach or suggest the specific limitation
of receiving a different spectral bandwidth by each line in a staggered array.”
The obviousness rejection of claims 5, 8 and 9 is reversed based upon the
reasoning set forth supra, and the additional reason that we agree with the appellant’s
argument (brief, page 6; reply brief, page 3) that the additional reference to Kusaka is
not concerned with “spectral bandwidths of light being received by the photosensors.”
DECISION
The decision of the examiner rejecting claims 1 through 6, 8 and 9 under 35
U.S.C. § 103(a) is reversed.
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