Appeal No. 2006-0667
Application No. 09/953,310
Claim 21 is the only independent claim on appeal, and it
reads as follows:
21. An inductor for an integrated circuit containing at
least three metal levels, comprising:
(a) a first plurality of conductive traces, said traces
formed in a first metal level;
(b) a second plurality of conductive traces, said traces
formed in a second metal level;
(c) a plurality of vias connecting said first plurality of
traces with said second plurality of traces, said traces and vias
forming a toroidal coil, wherein said vias extend through a third
metal level, said third metal level between said first metal
level and said second metal level.
The references relied on by the examiner are:
Burghartz et al. (Burghartz) 5,793,272 Aug. 11, 1998
Liou 6,037,649 Mar. 14, 2000
Claim 21 stands rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b) as being
anticipated by Liou.
Claim 22 stands rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being
unpatentable over Liou in view of Burghartz.
Reference is made to the brief and the answer for the
respective positions of the appellants and the examiner.
OPINION
We have carefully considered the entire record before us,
and we will reverse the anticipation rejection of claim 21, and
reverse the obviousness rejection of claim 22.
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