Appeal No. 2006-3077
Application No. 09/911,912
Now, the question before us is what Farnung would have taught to
one of ordinary skill in the art? To answer this question, we find the
following facts:
1. At column 8, lines 26 through 67, Farnung states the following:
In particular, and as illustrated in FIG. 12, it is possible to have
the minimum point 700 and the maximum point 720 moved
proportionally with brightness changes in the midpoint 710. This
allows very dark and very light values to change proportional to
changes in brightness.
Alternatively, and with reference to FIG. 13, the minimum point
700 and the maximum point 720 can be fixed at (0, 0) and (100, 100),
respectively, and two new fixed points, the lower offset point 730 and
the upper offset point 740 added. The lower offset point 730 could be
placed between the minimum point 700 and the midpoint 710 at a
location determined by the system curve's black point, i.e., the point at
which all values below it are at the darkest output level. The upper
offset point 740 can be placed between the midpoint 710 and the
maximum point 720 at a location determined by the system curve's
white point, i.e., the point at which all values above it are at the
brightest output level. The resulting tone reproduction curve would be
1:1 between the minimum point and the lower offset point 730, and
between the upper offset point 740 and the maximum point 720
causing the corresponding values from the system curve to be
preserved during cascading. This method allows for adjustments to
affect only the mid range value between the lower offset point 730
and the upper offset point 740 in an image preserved darker and
lighter values.
Furthermore, and with reference to FIG. 14, the minimum point
700 and maximum point 720 can be fixed, and one new upper offset
point 750 added. The manipulation of the upper offset point 750, as
discussed in relation to the manipulation of the upper offset point 740
described in relation to FIG. 13 allows for the lighter values in an
image to be preserved, but causes darker values, excluding absolute
8
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Last modified: September 9, 2013