Appeal No. 1998-0259
Application No. 08/391,817
Applied Digital Data Systems, Inc., 730 F.2d 1440, 1444, 221
USPQ 385, 388 (Fed. Cir. 1984), cert. dismissed, 468 U.S. 1228
(1984), citing Kalman v. Kimberly-Clark Corp., 713 F.2d 760,
772, 218 USPQ 781, 789 (Fed. Cir. 1983).
Yamada
The Examiner explains that Yamada's Figure 7 anticipates
claim 1 with the optical fibers being 22-24, the substrate
being element 21, the encapsulant being element 28, and the
feature being a circular groove formed in encapsulant 28 over
the ends of optical fibers 22-24 (answer-pages 4 and 5).
Appellants argue that Yamada does not teach "a fiber
orientating feature disposed in the encapsulant" nor a
"feature being formed solely in the encapsulant material"
(brief-page 6).
Viewing Yamada's Figure 7, we agree with the Examiner.
The circular grooves (i.e., features) formed in encapsulant 28
over the optical fiber ends help retain the optical fibers "in
a fixed orientation with respect to the substrate" as claimed.
With respect to Appellants' argument that the feature be
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