Appeal 2007-1809
Application 09/774,013
those areas of the defect signature of Scan B that qualify as defects or
blemishes (i.e., areas to be corrected on the image obtained from Scan A).
Additionally, Stavely’s image processing function eliminates
blemishes on the image obtained from Scan A in accordance with defect
information obtained via the image produced by Scan B – an image that was
“preprocessed” to identify the normal image’s defective areas. Such image
processing fully meets performing “blemish elimination processing” of the
image of Scan A – an image obtained by photoelectrically reading the image
on the film.
In sum, Stavely discloses every feature of representative claim 7
except for the preprocessing to comprise edge enhancement processing.
But, we see no reason why the skilled artisan could not have applied such
edge enhancement for the images produced by Scans A and B in Stavely in
view of the teachings of Yajima. Yajima notes that patterns obtained from
input devices can be blurry where (1) the characteristics of the image pickup
equipment are inferior, or (2) photographing conditions are inferior (Yajima,
col. 1, ll. 14-21). Yajima therefore provides a system that enhances the edge
of a line without being influenced by noises (e.g., smears and stains). To
this end, Yajima utilizes an edge enhancement processor 1 in conjunction
with a noise suppressor 3 (col. 3, l. 54 – col. 4, l. 13; col. 5, ll. 37-45; Fig. 4).
Such a system produces a good quality pattern from a blurred pattern
(Yajima, col. 2, ll. 40-47).
Although Yajima’s edge enhancement technique is used for optical
character recognition of printed and handwritten characters, we see no
reason why such edge enhancement techniques would not be applicable in
an image acquired from a film scanner such as that disclosed by Stavely.
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