Appeal No. 2002-0510 Page 4 Application No. 09/139,309 a layer of neat dielectric polymer or glass distinct from the layer of variable voltage material and in contact with one surface of the layer of variable voltage material, wherein the neat dielectric polymer or glass layer is present in a thickness of less than about 1.6 mils. 11. A variable voltage protection component for placement between a ground plane and an electronic circuit comprising: a first layer of variable voltage protection material comprising a binder having dispersed therein at least about 20% by volume of conductive or semiconductive particles; a second layer of variable voltage protection material in contact with the first layer comprising a binder having dispersed therein at least 40 % by volume of conductive and/or semiconductive particles; and a third layer of variable voltage protection material in contact with said second layer comprising a binder having dispersed therein at least 20 % by volume of conductive or semiconductive particles. Claims 5-20 and 30-32 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 2, as indefinite. Claims 5-10 and 31 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b) as anticipated by U.S. Patent No. 4,041,436 ("Kouchich"). Claims 5-10 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as obvious over U.S. Patent No. 5,278,535 ("Xu"). Claims 11-16 stand rejected under § 103(a) as obvious over U.S. Patent No. 1,509,496 ("Slepian") and U.S. Patent No. 5,476,714 ("Hyatt"). Claims 11-20 and 31 stand rejected under § 103(a) as obvious over U.S. Patent No. 3,310,766 ("Downing") and Hyatt. Claims 17-20 and 31Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 NextLast modified: November 3, 2007