Appeal No. 1996-0203
Application No. 08/006,414
OPINION
Claim 1 is directed to a "structure" defined by the
elements recited in claim 1. The elements "comprising" the
structure are: (1) at least one metal layer having at least
one opening (see 11 in Figure 14); (2) at least one layer of
at least one polymer which coats and conforms to the metal
layer and which lines the at least one opening through said
metal layer (see 25 in Figure 14); and, (3) wherein the
opening through the metal layer has at least one via metal
stud (see 41 in Figure 14).
We are somewhat confused by the scope of claim 1 because
appellants urge that the structure claimed therein is
represented by Figures 14 and 15 of the drawings. However,
while claim 1 requires at least one hole through the metal
layer, it also requires that the hole or opening is filled
with metal to yield a "via stud" as in 41 in Figure 14. We
observe that Figures 14 and 15 are solid structures without
holes or openings. Nevertheless, we are not free to ignore any
claim limitation. Thus, we shall interpret claim 1 as
requiring both at least one hole through the metal layer and
7
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007