Appeal No. 2000-1517
Application 08/850,470
Whalley discloses a method of encapsulating an electronic
or optical device wherein a selected sensitive region of the
device is left uncovered (see column 1, lines 21 through 32).
The device 1 is mounted on a substrate 2 and wire bonded at 3
and 4 to conductive tracks 5 and 6 on the substrate. In
certain embodiments (see Figures 2 through 5, 7 and 8), a
sheet 9 of transparent material having a hole 10 is located
over the device with the hole 10 aligned with the sensitive
region 11. The sheet is spaced from the device to prevent it
from pressing the wires 3 and 4 into short-circuiting contact
with the device. A spacer
15, which can be configured as posts, isolated ridges or a
ridge surrounding the hole 10 (see column 3, lines 26 through
58), may be formed on the device (Figure 7) or on the sheet
(Figure 8). Capillary action is employed to draw an
encapsuling material over the device except for the sensitive
region 11.
In comparing Whalley to the subject matter recited in
claim 1 (see page 4 in the answer), the examiner likens
Whalley’s spacer 15 to the sealing material/member recited in
the claim, but notes that Whalley does not disclose spacer 15
4
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Last modified: November 3, 2007