Appeal 2007-0217
Application 10/711,278
alkylacrylates, we concur with the Examiner that there is factual basis for
concluding that one of ordinary skill in the art would have reasonably
expected that polymer-coated particles fairly taught by Sakai would be
appropriate for dispersing in a suspending fluid to form an electrophoretic
medium. As for Appellants’ argument that “[t]here is no indication in Sakai
that the particles carry any electric charge” (Br. 17, ¶ 1), Appellants have not
refuted the Examiner’s finding that one of ordinary skill in the art would
have readily charged the polymer-coated particles of Sakai “by absorbing
oil-soluble inorganic substances to portion B solvatable in non-polar liquid”
in order to form an electrophoretic dispersion.
We will also sustain the Examiner’s rejection over Devonport in view
of Uytterhoeven. Devonport, like Appellants, discloses a process for making
a polymer-coated pigment particle by reacting the particle with a reagent
having a functional group capable of reacting with the particle, as well as a
polymerizable or polymerization-initiating group that reacts with a monomer
or oligomer to cause formation of a polymer bonded to the particle. As with
Sakai, Devonport teaches that the outer polymer coating may be derived
from styrene and alkyl acrylates, among other hydrophobic materials
(Devonport, col. 8, ll. 48 et seq.) Hence, based on the Uytterhoeven
teaching above regarding the nature of the outer polymer coating on a
particle to be dispersed in an electrophoretic medium, we agree with the
Examiner that one of ordinary skill in the art would have reasonably
expected that the polymer-coated particles of Devonport, which are taught to
be used in printing inks and toners, would be suitable for dispersion in an
electrophoretic medium. Also, we find that the use as toners disclosed by
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Last modified: November 3, 2007