Appeal No. 96-1451
Application No. 07/937,936
review, we will reverse the obviousness rejection of claims 1
through 18.
As admitted by appellants (Brief, page 3), Yamamoto
discloses a fluorescent bulb with a four phosphor blend of
green, blue, and two red phosphor components, the wavelength
ranges for all four components overlapping appellants' claimed
ranges. One of the red phosphors is disclosed as having a
wavelength range of 600-620 nm with the examples using rare
earth, europium-activated yttrium oxide. Yamamoto discloses
that the other has a wavelength range of 620-660 nm and
specifies several examples, all but one of which are rare
earth containing phosphors. IES lists a number of fluorescent
phosphors with their peak of fluorescent band, their color,
and their use. One such phosphor is lead and manganese
activated calcium silicate which has a peak wavelength of 610
nm (which is within the range of 600-620 nm), has a pink
color, and is used for improved-color cool and warm white.
The examiner states (Answer, page 5) that "Yamamoto does
not appear to be limited to the exemplary phosphor components
as evidenced by the disclosure of wavelength ranges as opposed
to a constant wavelength." The examiner, therefore, proposes
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