Appeal 2007-1404
Application 10/212,316
PR Newswire, DaimlerChrysler’s Active Night Vision Technology Improves
Night Driving (2000) (hereinafter DC).
The rejections as presented by the Examiner are as follows:
1. Claims 7, 10, 11, 13, and 14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C § 103(a) as
unpatentable over DC, Dunning, and Owen.
2. Claim 12 is rejected under 35 U.S.C § 103(a) as unpatentable over
DC, Dunning, Owen, and Breed.
OPINION
DC describes a night vision system for a vehicle that comprises two
laser headlights on the vehicle’s front end that illuminate the road by means
of infrared light. A video camera records the reflected image, which appears
in black and white on a heads-up screen located in the driver’s field of
vision. The reference lists numerous advantages of an infrared system for
night driving.
Dunning describes an inter-vehicle communication system where
information transfer between vehicles is provided by data sources, data
sensors, and vehicle sensors connected to a central processing unit in each
vehicle. The data sources are provided, preferably, by adapting vehicle
headlights, taillights, or other existing light sources for optical data transfer.
Dunning “Abstract.” By encoding information onto vehicle components
such as headlights and taillights at appropriate data rates, information can be
transferred between vehicles. Dunning col. 2, ll. 22-36. Communication
links are preferably established by using the headlights and taillights as
communication sources. Col. 4, ll. 60-63. Information may be modulated by
vehicle headlights (e.g., col. 5, l. 30 – col. 6, l. 21) and demodulated by the
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