Ex Parte Colgan et al - Page 3


            Appeal No. 2004-1886                                                      
            Application No. 10/117,613                                                

            alloy film.”  On page 7 of the brief, appellants argue that               
            while Gambino teaches an aligned method for forming alloy films           
            (hence, appellants do not dispute that Gambino teaches a self-            
            aligned method), Gambino teaches a method for use in a                    
            completely different manner than that recited in appellants’              
            claims.  Appellants argue that the alloy layer 60 of Gambino is           
            used to protect a metal line over, or on top of, the alloy layer          
            60, and therefore is not an etch stop layer for protecting a              
            metal under the alloy layer.                                              
            Appellants also argue that Kasahara and Gambino each                      
            teaches a process for a purpose that is completely different              
            than that of the other reference, and that neither reference has          
            shown the desirability to combine with the other reference and            
            therefor there can be no motivation for combining the teachings           
            of Kasahara and Gambino.  Brief, page 7.                                  
                 We refer to the examiner’s position on pages 4-5 of the              
            answer and incorporate it as our own herein.  Also, we refer to           
            the examiner’s response to appellants’ arguments as set forth on          
            pages 5-7 of the answer and incorporate it also as own herein.            
            As explained on page 6 of the answer, Gambino teaches that metal          
            alloy 60 is not undercut during the etching process and therefor          
            contact 35 under metal alloy 60 will be protected during the              
            etching process.  The examiner correctly concludes, therefore,            
            that the teaching of Gambino indicates that metal alloy 60                
            protects contact 35 under the metal alloy 60.  The examiner also          
            correctly concludes that because the metal alloy 60 of Gambino            
            is not affected by the etching process, it functions as an etch           
            stop layer.  We agree, and hence, we are not persuaded by                 
            appellants’ arguments that Gambino is dissimilar from Kasahara            
            such that the two references cannot be combined.                          




                                                                                                                                                                                  
            1 The Japanese reference is provided with an English translation of record.
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