US Patent 7064372 - Large Area Nanowire Array
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7064372.pdf
Occasionally when applicants start claiming ranges of size or quantity in their patents, Examiners start to make stupid decisions. The reason for this is that some ranges, while common to those or ordinary skill in the pertinent art, are not discussed in the prior art patent literature that many Examiners rely upon. This particular patent claims:
1. An article, comprising a population of nanowires disposed in a thin film on a surface of a substrate, wherein: the population of nanowires is substantially oriented in a first direction; and the thin film has an area of greater than 10 cm^2.
However, vertically aligned nanotubes have been proposed for flat panel displays since the late 1990's, predating this patent's earliest filing date. See for example, US 6,283,812, column 12, lines 6-51. Given that flat panel displays were conventionally formed larger than 10 cm^2 before this patents earliest filing date it would seen that this patent was allowed in clear error and should be invalidated or reexamined.
Occasionally when applicants start claiming ranges of size or quantity in their patents, Examiners start to make stupid decisions. The reason for this is that some ranges, while common to those or ordinary skill in the pertinent art, are not discussed in the prior art patent literature that many Examiners rely upon. This particular patent claims:
1. An article, comprising a population of nanowires disposed in a thin film on a surface of a substrate, wherein: the population of nanowires is substantially oriented in a first direction; and the thin film has an area of greater than 10 cm^2.
However, vertically aligned nanotubes have been proposed for flat panel displays since the late 1990's, predating this patent's earliest filing date. See for example, US 6,283,812, column 12, lines 6-51. Given that flat panel displays were conventionally formed larger than 10 cm^2 before this patents earliest filing date it would seen that this patent was allowed in clear error and should be invalidated or reexamined.
posted by blaisemouttet at 1:25 AM
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