Appeal No. 1997-2209
Application No. 08/179,196
alkyl” groups in the appealed claims. In the claims on
appeal, the “lower alkyl” and “lower alkoxy” groups are parts
of the photo-induced acid precursor compound, which is
described in detail starting at page 5, line 7 of the
specification. The appellants do not place any particular
criticality on the maximum number of carbon atoms for the
“lower alkyl group” or the “lower alkoxy group.” Since the
appellants have not indicated any upper limits of carbon
numbers for the terms “lower alkyl” and “lower alkoxy,” the
logical conclusion would be that these terms are to be given
their broadest reasonable meanings as would be understood by
one skilled in the relevant art. See, e.g., In re Morris, 127
F.3d 1048, 1054, 44 USPQ2d 1023, 1027 (Fed. Cir. 1997).
Regarding claims 31 and 32, we agree with the appellants
that, based on a reasonable reading of the specification (page
13, lines 5-21), the total weight of the positive photoresist
composition can be the only possible basis for the specified
weight percentages. For if a different basis was intended,
the appellants would have specified such a different basis, as
in Murata or Urano.
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