Appeal No. 1997-1335
Application No. 08/201,023
slit size of 5 Fm, produced an ink dot of 160 Fm with a
printing time of 0.5 msec (column 9, lines 53-61). In Miura,
Figure 11B produces a relatively large meniscus (column 9,
lines 27 and 28), while Figure 11C produces a relatively small
meniscus which would require a lower threshold voltage for
discharging the ink (column 9, lines 37-40). Thus, we see
that nozzle plates are subjected to a large variety of
applications. Appellants envision a piezo transducer drive
system (brief-page 4), Miura envisions an electric field and
air pressure system (column 1, lines 14 and 15), while
Fujimura envisions a thermal energy and electric field system
(abstract). Appellants’ claims are not limited to any
particular system or operational constraints. Each system may
use a variety of inks having different physical
characteristics. Each system may require different ink dot
sizes, depending on desired print quality and printing speed.
Accordingly, we agree with the Examiner that
optimization of the nozzle size and predetermined distance of
the water-repellent coating from the nozzle hole edge, would
have been obvious once the particular nozzle plate application
6
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007