Appeal No. 1997-1003
Application No. 08/188,145
active] element is bonded to said flex circuits by a
planarizing layer of curable material having a pattern
complementary to the electrode pattern." In other words, the
curable material must be patterned complementary to the
electrode pattern and must have a surface level with the
electrodes.
The examiner states (Answer, page 4) that "planarizing
layer" and phrases from other claims are "basically functional
recitations which do not alter the claimed combination of
structural elements." Thus, the examiner ignores the claim
language noted above.
Appellants argue (Brief, page 9) that "[t]he art does not
show a layer which planarizes - i.e., entirely fills and
flattens an area between electrodes - yet provides direct
electrical contact between the sheet and those electrodes over
a distributed area." We agree. As indicated by appellants
(Brief, page 9), Larson discloses a thin epoxy bond 28 (or
conductive adhesive) between the electrodes and the block of
piezoelectric material, Fujii shows conductive adhesive bonds
34 and 36 over the entire conductive layer and discloses that
the bond should be thin to assure good conductivity (between
4
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