Appeal No. 1998-0773 Page 5
Application No. 08/578,106
Hankey describes combining the conductive component, binder component and organic vehicle
to form a paste (col. 5, lines 38-41). The paste is screen printed onto copper present on a ceramic
substrate and then fired in a nitrogen atmosphere (col. 5, lines 32-37). The object is to provide a stable
copper compatible resistance composition that can be fired in non-oxidizing atmospheres (col. 2, lines
57-59) and provide a thick film resistor system which exhibits property reproducibility and reduced
processing sensitivity (col. 2, lines 60-63).
Wu teaches thin layers, especially epitaxial thin layers, of a conductive mixed alkaline earth
metal oxide of formula Sr Ca RuO , where x is from 0 to 1 (col. 2, lines 20, 21, and
1-x x 3
43-44). The Examiner and Appellants agree that the generic formula of Wu encompasses the
resistance materials of the claim (Answer, page 4; Brief, page 6). Wu deposits the conductive metal
oxide using pulsed laser deposition or by methods such as evaporation or sputtering, on a noble metal
such as platinum, to form a composite electrode structure or a buffer or intermediate layer between the
metal film or substrate and a subsequently deposited oxide material (col. 2, lines 19-38, col. 3, lines 49-
59).
What we notice is that Wu is not directed to solving the same or a similar problem as Hankey.
Wu is not concerned with stability of the metal oxide conductive material when used in a thick film paste
deposited on copper; nor is Wu interested in property reproducibility and processing sensitivity in such
a thick film paste. What is lacking is a reasonable expectation that the mixed alkaline earth metal oxide
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