Appeal No. 2006-1449
Application No. 10/404,266
displacement reasonably constitutes a "raised" trace with respect to the PCB's lower
surface.
We disagree with appellants that a trace cannot constitute a pad. Even with
appellants' definitions of "trace" and "pad," we see no reason why one cannot be a
subset of the other. That is, we see no reason why Burn's etched trace cannot also
constitute or comprise a pad, particularly in view of the electrical connection function of
Burns' trace 46. Appellants' definition of "pad" states in relevant part that "[a] pad is
usually a small conductor object" and that "[p]ads can be of any shape, or combination
of shapes" [emphasis added]. Moreover, according to the definition, "[p]ads may be
used for one of several different purposes, including providing a mounting point for a
terminal or jumper, providing a probe point for a circuit tester, or providing a connection
point for a trace to a padstack.…"
Because a pad can be any shape, nothing precludes such shape from being
linear. Also, the term "usually" in the definition of "pad" does not require that the
conductor be a small conductor object. Such terminology implies that large conductor
objects are included as well. Moreover, pads provide an electrical connection function
that, in our view, does not preclude at least a portion of a trace that provides an
electrical connection and mounting point in addition to routing signals. Notably, the
etched traces (i.e., connective elements) 46 in Burns provide such a connection and
mounting function, namely that solder 42 is applied to the trace and the lead of the
lower device (IC 14) to electrically connect the trace to the lead [see Burns, col. 4, lines
56-59; Fig. 2]. In short, we see no reason why the etched traces of Burns would not
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