Appeal 2007-4313
Application 10/286,172
CONCLUSION
Art from an unrelated field may nevertheless be pertinent to the
problem facing the inventor. Where, as here, the art is applied for a broad
teaching in the general field to which the claimed subject matter belongs, the
fact that it is part of an unrelated end use is of little concern. Similarly,
subject matter may be obvious for reasons other than those that inspired the
inventor. If the art teaches or suggests a combination for another reason, the
combination would still have been obvious.
The examiner has provided reasons for applying the teachings of the
art regarding grooved cathodes to the admitted prior art such that the
apparatus of claim 1 would have been obvious to a person having ordinary
skill in the art. The other claims under consideration were not separately
argued and so they fall with claim 1.
HOLDING
The rejection of claims 1-3, 7-11, 14-16, 20, and 21 is—
AFFIRMED
hlj
STEPHEN R. FUNK
MURATA MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
℅ KEATING & BENNETT, LLP
8180 GREENSBORO DRIVE, SUITE 850
MCLEAN, VA 22102
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