Appeal No. 2006-2101
Application No. 10/085,303
a salt mixture comprising:
lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate; and
lithium trifluoromethanesulfonimide,
wherein the cell contains from about 100 to 1500 ppm by
weight of sodium.
The examiner relies upon the following references as
evidence of obviousness:
Flandrois et al. (Flandrois) 5,554,462 Sep. 10, 1996
Harrison et al. US 2001/0028871 A1 Oct. 11, 2001
(Patent Application Publication)
Sloop US 2003/0186110 A1 Oct. 2, 2003
(Patent Application Publication)
Boryta et al. (Boryta) US 2004/0005267 A1 Jan. 8, 2004
(Patent Application Publication)
Appellants' claimed invention is directed to a lithium
electrochemical cell that contains from about 100 to 1500 ppm by
weight of sodium. According to appellants, they "believe that
they are the first to recognize that reducing the overall
quantity of sodium in the lithium cell enhances the ability of
the cell to retain a good capacity during storage for extended
periods of time" (page 7 of principal brief, first paragraph).
Appealed claims 1-7 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C.
§ 103(a) as being unpatentable over Sloop in view of either
Harrison or Boryta. Claims 1-6 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C.
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