Appeal No. 1996-1644
Application No. 07/933,147
other factors which affect the plasma. Compare the Answer,
page 5, with the Brief and the Reply Brief in their entirety.
In other words, the examiner finds, and appellants do not
dispute, that both the claimed R.F. oxygen plasma operating
condition (defined by watts) and the claimed R.F. oxygen
plasma treating time are known result effective variables.
Given the above teachings, we agree with the examiner
that there is an ample suggestion to use a conventional oxygen
plasma method, such as a R.F. oxygen plasma, under optimum
conditions, e.g., the desired oxygen plasma operating time and
R.F. plasma operating power (watts), to oxidize a natural
diamond surface or synthesized diamond surface to render it
more hydrophilic, prior to coating it with an organic amine or
other organic compounds having desired functionalities. One
of ordinary skill in the art would have had a reasonable
expectation of successfully improving adhesion between the
diamond surface and the organic amine or the other organic
compounds via R.F. plasma oxidation. This is especially
compelling in this situation since Sato, as found by the
examiner at page 6 of the Answer, also teaches
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