Appeal No. 1997-1249
Application 08/179,601
than the i layer. Thus, the Examiner states, it would have
been obvious to make the i layers of Doehler thicker than its
n and p layers, as taught by Yamazaki, “to increase the volume
of i-type material available to absorb light, in order to
increase the sensitivity of the device to incident light.”
(Answer-page 3.)
Appellant argues that there is no motivation for the
combination of references (brief-page 8). We agree. The
Examiner’s reasoning that increasing the volume of the i layer
will increase detector sensitivity is not supported by
Yamazaki, and without more, is mere speculation. Also, an
increase in volume could be achieved by increasing the area
without increasing the thickness. In addition, even if
Yamazaki taught increased sensitivity with increased i layer
thickness, we see no reason to use this teaching in Doehler.
The i layer of Doehler does not contribute to sensitivity.
Doehler states at column 1 lines 42-66:
A doping superlattice consists of an alternating
sequence of n and p doped layers in a semiconductor.
These doped layers may, but need not, be separated
by layers of undoped (intrinsic) semiconductor
material. The doping superlattice is also referred
to as a NIPI superlattice because of the alternating
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