Appeal 2007-0129
Application 09/810,225
step is calcined. The excited aluminate phosphors emit light. Appellants
maintain that the light emission properties of the phosphors are prolonged by
the coupling agent treatment (Specification 3). Claims 1 and 15 are
illustrative of the subject matter on appeal and are reproduced below:
1. A process for producing a vacuum ultraviolet ray-excited
light-emitting phosphor comprising the steps of
mixing an aluminate phosphor compound with a coupling agent
comprising an aluminum compound, and calcining the mixture,
wherein the coupling agent contains a 1, 3-diketone structure.
15. A process for producing a vacuum ultraviolet ray-excited
light-emitting phosphor comprising the steps of
mixing an aluminate phosphor compound with a coupling agent
comprising an aluminum compound, and calcining the mixture.
The Examiner relies on the following prior art references:
Sigai US 4,825,124 Apr. 25, 1989
Kasenga US 4,946,707 Aug. 7, 1990
Mizuta US 5,039,654 Aug. 13, 1991
Bechtel US 5,998,047 Dec. 7, 1999
Claims 1, 3, and 15 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being
unpatentable over Sigai in view of Bechtel. Claims 1, 3, 4, and 15 stand
rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being unpatentable over Kasenga in
view of Mizuta and Bechtel.
The Examiner acknowledges that each of Sigai, Kasenga, and Mizuta
do not disclose coating aluminate phosphors. Rather, Bechtel is applied in
each of the Examiner’s rejections for disclosing aluminate phosphors.
However, Bechtel treats aluminate phosphors with anhydrous catena-
polyphosphates to form a hard, water-insoluble coating thereon. The coating
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