Appeal No. 2006-1439
Application No. 10/195,178
The claimed invention is directed to a method for treating a
magnetic material within a magnetic device. In the Background of the
Invention, Appellants state that the present invention relates to damping
of magnetization changes in magnetic materials. Particularly in high
speed magnetic devices, which includes spin valves and magnetic
tunnel junctions (MTJ). (Specification, page 1). The specification further
discloses that it is desirable to adjust the magnetization damping in
magnetic devices to reduce magnetic oscillations after switching
magnetic direction. (Specification, pages 1-2). The discussion in the
detail description portion of the specification specifies that magnetic
test structures are utilized (specification, page 3) and the damping is
measured in terms of the Gilbert damping parameter. (Specification,
page 4). Thus, upon careful consideration of the specification as a
whole, it appears that the phrase “increasing damping of a magnetic
material within a magnetic device” is properly interpreted as a
specifically increasing magnetization damping of a magnetic material
within a magnetic device.3 Utilizing this interpretation of the claimed
subject matter, we turn to the Examiner’s stated rejection.
3 This interpretation equally applies to independent claim 6, which specifies
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