Appeal No. 95-4622
Application 08/113,665
As noted by the examiner, Kumagai shows that plural bit
lines are located parallel to each other and, as indicated in
Figure 1 of this reference, that contact holes 20 and 24 exist
along these lines in what appear to be extended regions. The
contact hole/extended regions in Kumagai are as claimed located
at predetermined length intervals. Obviously, to the artisan,
since both Kumagai and Okuyama relate to memory device
structures, the artisan obviously would have chosen either
approach with which to embody the contact holes. The alternative
approach is set forth in Figure 2 of Okuyama where bit lines 12
have therein in an expanded region connection holes 11.
In assessing the collective teachings of the three
references the examiner has indicated page 6 of the answer that
“it therefore follows that the conductive lines which are in the
contact holes have portions of narrower width and shorter length
(each determined by the diameter of the contact hole).” From our
reading of Okuyama, it appears that the examiner may have better
stated the position by indicating that it follows that the two
conductive lines which are around the contact holes have portions
of narrow width and shorter length. As shown in Figure 2 of
Okuyama there are two halves of the bit line 12 at each
connection hole 11, one to the right and one to the left of the
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