Appeal No. 2001-0743
Application 08/938,346
proposed combination. Finally, the examiner responds that the
diamond like carbon layer of Ikeda would maintain its intended
function at a different location in the print head structure
[answer, pages 8-13].
Appellants respond that the diamond like carbon layer of
Ikeda is the lower layer of the print head and that Ikeda does
not suggest placing the diamond like carbon layer between the
fluid barrier layer and the thin film layers as claimed.
Appellants repeat their argument that Ikeda only teaches the
diamond like carbon layer for drawing heat down into the
substrate so that Ikeda teaches away from placing the diamond
like carbon layer above the resistor layer [reply brief].
We do not sustain the examiner’s rejection of
representative claim 1. Appellants have admitted that the prior
art teaches the invention of claim 1 except for the specific
location of the diamond like carbon layer. Ikeda and Dylyn teach
that a diamond like carbon layer can have the property of
adhesion and the property of being a good conductor of heat. We
agree with appellants, however, that the examiner’s reliance on
Ikeda has fatally weakened the rejection. If the only question
based on the facts in this case were the obviousness of
substituting one type of known adhesive for another type of known
-8-
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