Appeal No. 96-1145
Application 08/203,768
not reactive to the solvent metal, such as oxides, halides,
minerals, carbides or nitrides (col. 7, lines 32-41).
Diamonds are formed
in each synthesizing chamber under diamond-stable superhigh
temperature and pressure, and during diamond formation, there
is a temperature gradient across each solvent metal such that
each carbon source is in contact with the highest-temperature
portion of the respective solvent metal and the seed crystals
are in contact with the lowest-temperature portion of the
respective solvent metal (col. 3, lines 53-64).
The examiner argues that in Yazu’s method, "the portion
of the metal encompassing the seed is carbon-rich, the center
is carbon-lean and the portion touching the carbon source has
carbon dissolved therein" (answer, page 3). This argument is
not persuasive even if it is correct, because appellants’
claim 26, which is the only independent claim, requires "a
plurality of alternating zones of carbon-rich and carbon-lean
metallic solvent extending from the carbon source to the seed
particles". The examiner does not explain, and we do not
find, where Yazu
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