Appeal No. 95-3674
Application 08/122,981
Hanson 4,718,249 January 12, 1988
Yokotani et al. (Yokotani) 5,168,339 December 1, 1992
Claims 7-13 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 112, second
paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly
point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which
appellants regard as their invention. The examiner states
(Examiner's Answer, pages 2-3): "claims 7 to 13 which purport
to be both process of using and process of making are ambiguous
and therefore does [sic] not particularly point out and
distinctly claim subject matter of invention."
Claims 7-9 and 12 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as
being unpatentable over Yokotani. The examiner states
(Examiner's Answer, pages 3-4):
Yokotani discloses a porous semiconductor material,
p-type and n-type thermoelectric elements formed in the
porous semiconductor material. Figure 1 of Yokotani
clearly show [sic] a multiple thermoelectric elements
couples together to form a multiple stage thermoelectric
device. It is well known that the thermoelectric elements
disclosed by Yokotani provide the peltier couple.
Claims 10, 11, and 13 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103
as being unpatentable over Yokotani further in view of Hanson.
The examiner states (Examiner's Answer, page 4): "Hanson
teaches that thermoelectric device can be used in heat pump,
generator and air conditioner."
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