Appeal No. 2000-0302
Application No. 08/796,363
relative to the wire until it contacts the new ball 50, and
then further lowered with the ball until the ball contacts
electrode 56, as shown in Figs. 3 to 5 (col. 2, line 70, to
col. 3, line 5). Thereafter, the tool is returned to its
upper position (Fig. 2), the wire is cut by the burner, and
the cycle is repeated (col. 3, lines 15 to 20).
"To anticipate a claim, a prior art reference must
disclose every limitation of the claimed invention, either
explicitly or inherently." In re Schreiber, 128 F.3d 1473,
1477, 44 USPQ2d 1429, 1431 (Fed. Cir. 1997). Appellants argue
that Tiffany does not disclose the claimed step of "separating
said ball from said wire by lowering said capillary tool
relative to said wire" (emphasis added). The examiner asserts
that this step is disclosed at col. 3, lines 16 to 18 of
Tiffany (answer, page 5).
The paragraph from which the portion of Tiffany cited by
the examiner is taken reads (col. 3, lines 15 to 20):
When the welding is completed (the ball 50 is
firmly bonded to the wafer) the quill 24 may be
returned to the position shown in Fig. 2, and
the cycle may be repeated by severing the wire
by the flame cutter 60 to both cut the wire and
form a new ball to be deposited on the next
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