Appeal No. 2000-0710
Serial No. 08/788,959
thicknesses in such a cover layer which increases layer
displacement and reduces chamber size. In this regard, in Fig.
2, Rittberg teaches decreased cross sections 27 in the common
chamber cover plate or layer 25 above fluid chambers 294. The
reduced sections 27 would have increased the flexibility of the
layer 25 for reducing the size of the ink chambers so as to eject
more ink for printing. The reduced sections 27 of the common
metal layer 25 in an area not attached to the piezoelectric thin
film are thinner than the portions of the common electrode in the
areas attached to the piezoelectric thin film, as defined in
claims 6 and 20. See especially, the two left-most reduced
sections 27 in Fig. 2 of Rittberg.
With respect to dependent claim 21, it is argued that
neither reference teaches or suggests a diaphragm that consists
of a common electrode. This position is not persuasive because
cover plate 25 in Rittberg is a metal diaphragm common to fluid
chambers 29 and the upper electrodes.
Dependent claims 3, 5, 8 and 9 are not specifically argued
by appellants.
4. The cover plate or layer is not labeled in Fig. 2 of Rittberg but
it is clear from the specification that it is the layer directly above
the fluid chambers 29.
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