Appeal No. 96-1286
Application 08/259,360
cells (claim 13). Implicit in this look-up table architecture
is that those output states not requiring a programmable
architecture element or those non-occurring output states are
eliminated or ignored. The output states are those of multi-
variable logical functions.
Accordingly, the above discussion concerning inadequate
findings by the examiner as to claim 1 are also applicable to
claims 5, 9 and 13. In any event, the examiner’s broad and
general discussion of Nissen and Fuss does not constitute a
sufficient factual basis to modify the appellants’ admitted
prior art to arrive at a look-up table for implementing a
limited number of logic functions with fewer programmable
architecture elements than that necessary for performing all
possible logic functions of the input variables. The mere
fact that the prior art may be modified in the manner
suggested by the examiner does not make the modification
obvious unless the prior art suggested the desirability of the
modification. In re Fritch, 972 F.2d 1260, 1266 n.14, 23
USPQ2d 1780, 1783-84 n.14 (Fed. Cir. 1992); In re Gordon, 733
F.2d 900, 902, 221 USPQ 1125, 1127 (Fed. Cir. 1984).
Obviousness may not be established using hindsight or in view
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