Appeal No. 2005-0142 Page 6
Application No. 09/904,246
corresponding pad (not shown) on printed wiring board (PWB) 24." Col. 7, l. 67 - col. 8,
l. 4. Once melted, we agree with the examiner's finding that the solder balls 22 couple
the pads 20 of the thin film overlay to those of the PWB 24.
We are unpersuaded, however, that the solder balls 22 extend along the plane of
face-to-face abutment of the thin film overlay 18 and the PWB 24. To the contrary,
Figures 6 and 7 collectively confirm the appellant's observation that "the solder ball
extends transversely to the plane of face-to-face abutment." (Reply Br. at 3.) Absent a
teaching or suggestion of a coupling conductor that extends along the plane of
face-to-face abutment, we are unpersuaded of a prima facie case of obviousness.
Therefore, we reverse the obviousness rejection of claim 1 and of claims 2-5, which
depend therefrom.
Furthermore, the examiner does not allege, let alone show, that the addition of
Kawano or Kimura cures the aforementioned deficiency of Oka and Wachtler.
Therefore, we also reverse the obviousness rejection of claims 6-10, which also depend
from claim 1.
III. CONCLUSION
In summary, the rejections of claims 1-10 under § 103(a) are reversed.
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