Appeal No. 1997-3152 Page 10
Application No. 08/116,305
From these teachings of Chu, we are in agreement with the
appellants that Chu’s metal layer or bus 40, or patterned as
40a-40f, are spaced from leads 72 by insulation layer 60.
However, we also find from these teachings of Chu that metal
layer or bus 40, or patterned as 40a-40f constitute an
interposer ring that is electrically connected to the lead
frame. We find this electrical connection to meet the claim
limitation that the interposer ring is formed integrally with
the lead frame. However, we find that Chu does not disclose
that the interposer ring is attached to the remainder of the
lead frame by a plurality of severable tie bars, as required
by claim 1. Turning to Atobe, the appellants assert (brief,
page 10) that contrary to the examiner’s assertion, Atobe’s
reference numeral 24 does not refer to an interposer ring.
According to the appellants, Atobe’s reference numeral 24
refers to a void or hole in the structure. From our review of
Atobe, we find that reference numeral 24 refers to a “shallow
notch.” Atobe discloses (translation, page 9) that
the shallow notches (24) are formed on both sides of
the indicating, mechanism (20) of the side of the
stage (14) to which the indicating mechanism (20) is
connected. The linking mechanism (18) and
indicating mechanism (20), therefore, are connected
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