HOSHINO et al V. TANAKA - Page 26




          Interference No. 103,208                                                    
          Hoshino et al. v. Tanaka                                                    

          whatever that is, and further assuming that the improvement is              
          with respect to all types of optical systems, it should be                  
          noted that it is only "unexpected" beneficial results which                 
          are an objective indicia of nonobviousness, see, e.g., In re                
          Baxter Travenol Labs, 952 F.2d 388, 392, 21 USPQ2d 1281, 1285               
          (Fed. Cir. 1991), In re De Blauwe, 736 F.2d 699, 705, 222 USPQ              
          191, 196 (Fed. Cir. 1984), and not any "expected" beneficial                
          results.  To the contrary, expected beneficial results are                  
          strong evidence of obviousness of the claimed invention, just               
          as unexpected beneficial results are evidence of                            
          unobviousness.  In re Skoll, 523 F.2d 1392, 1397, 187 USPQ                  
          481, 484 (CCPA 1975); In re Skoner, 517 F.2d 947, 950, 186                  
          USPQ 80, 82 (CCPA 1975); In re Gershon, 372 F.2d 535, 537, 152              
          USPQ 602, 604 (CCPA 1967).                                                  
               Mr. Utagawa’s declaration accompanying Motion H2 nowhere               
          asserts, much less establishes or demonstrates that the so-                 
          called "substantial improvements" or mere improvements are                  
          unexpected.  We decline to simply assume that the alleged                   
          improvements are or                                                         





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