Appeal 2007-1372
Application 10/423,283
comprising alumina abrasive and an additive comprising a phosphorus
compound; and
moving substrate relative to the machine tool to machine the surface
of the substrate.
The Examiner relies upon the following references as evidence of
obviousness:
Iwasaki US 5,549,978 Aug. 27, 1996
Katayama US 5,999,368 Dec. 7, 1999
Orii US 2001/0009840 A1 Jul. 26, 2001
Sun US 6,604,987 B1 Jun. 6, 2002
Appellants' claimed invention is directed to a method for machining a
substrate comprising aluminum oxide. A slurry comprising an abrasive,
such as alumina, and a phosphorus compound is provided between the
substrate and a machining tool that are moving relative to each other.
According to Appellants, they "have discovered that use of such a slurry
containing both an abrasive and the particular additive is particularly
advantageous in the context of aluminum-containing ceramics, notably
aluminum oxide ceramics such as single crystal sapphire" (Br. 2,
penultimate para.). Appellants further state that "increased removal rates are
achieved without sacrificing surface quality through conventional techniques
such as increasing abrasive grain size" (id.).
Appealed claims 30 and 34-49 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C.
§ 103(a) as being unpatentable over Sun in view of Orii. Claims 31-33 stand
rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being unpatentable over the stated
combination of references further in view of Iwasaki.
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