Appeal No. 2001-2349
Application No. 09/237,895
properties as the claimed invention. Consequently, we will not
sustain the rejection of claim 24 over Stimson.
The examiner rejects claims 25 and 26 as being clearly
anticipated by Nishio. Again, the issue deals with the phrase
"consisting essentially of." The examiner states (Answer,
page 3-4) that Nishio's metallic layer 6 of borosilicate glass
including NiO constitutes an oxide layer having nickel as its
major elemental metal component.
Appellants respond (Brief, page 6) that Nishio's layer 6 has
40 to 90% by weight of glass and up to 30% by weight of an
aggregate, leaving only 10 to 60% by weight of the semiconductive
oxide. Appellants assert that the glass and aggregate in layer 6
would materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of
the claimed surface layer since Nishio's layer "would effectively
be an electrically conductive glass."
The claimed invention replaces the conventional conductive
glass with a layer that provides a good positive electrical
connection while lengthening the resistor. Nishio, on the other
hand, replaces the electrically conductive glass with the above-
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007