Appeal No. 96-2138
Application 07/967,607
OPINION
Appellant argues "that there is no teaching, suggestion, or
motivation for modifying the cited references in the manner
proposed by the Examiner" (Brief, page 4). We agree.
McSweeney relates to a method for minimizing the brightness
decrease which occurs in processing due to firing and milling
alkaline earth metal halophosphors having an antimony content
greater than about 0.70 weight percent. In one embodiment,
McSweeney discloses refiring the phosphor in a furnace having an
inert gas atmosphere such as nitrogen and having a separate
vessel containing an unfired blend of raw materials of the same
type of phosphor. Volatile components produced by the mixture of
raw materials "create a mildly reducing atmosphere which reduces
the presence of deleterious oxides in the refired phosphor"
(col. 2, line 48, to col. 3, line 2). Typical volatile species
include H O, CO , Sb O , and SbCl . In another embodiment,2 2 2 4 3
McSweeney theorizes that the defects which degrade phosphor
brightness involve halogen vacancies and removal of these
vacancies is believed to result in improved performance of the
resulting refired phosphor (col. 3, lines 28-31). Additional
volatile components are added which have a high halogen content
or activity, such as NH Cl, CaF , CaCl , and mixtures thereof.4 2 2
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Last modified: November 3, 2007