Appeal No. 1997-1003
Application No. 08/188,145
the electrodes and the piezoelectric elements), and Kaneko
shows adhesive layer 5 over the entire electrode layer such
that it is between the electrodes and the piezoelectric
member. In other words, none of the references disclose
patterning the adhesive with a pattern complementary to the
electrodes, and the examiner has provided no motivation for
modifying the references to meet the claims. Consequently,
the examiner has failed to establish a prima facie case of
obviousness, and we cannot sustain the rejection of claim 1
nor of its dependents, claims 2 through 5 and 7 through 18.
Independent claims 32, 34, and 36 each recite, in
pertinent part, "the flex circuit is assembled with at least
some of its conductors bonded to and in direct electrical
contact with the sheet strain element," where the sheet strain
element refers to the piezoelectric or other electro-active
element. As explained above, each of Larson, Fujii, and
Kaneko discloses an adhesive layer between the electrodes and
the piezoelectric elements. Therefore, none of the references
teach or suggest the direct electrical contact recited in the
claims, and the examiner has failed to provide any motivation
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