Appeal No. 96-1319
Application 07/934,982
the processor is prevented from executing the instructions” [brief, pages 5-6]. We do not
agree with this argument.
Nusinov discloses that an improved chip is designed to have an external pin which
is unused for old or existing systems and is connected to external circuitry in new systems
which can use the improved chip [column 1, lines 34-49]. Thus, Nusinov teaches that a
new chip will appear as an old chip to existing systems but will appear as an enhanced
chip to new systems. The collective teachings of Nicoud, Witt and Nusinov suggest a
smart VRAM having a memory and computer on a chip which appears as a standard
VRAM to existing equipment and as an enhanced VRAM or smart memory to new
systems. The dual capability of this smart memory would be controlled by whether the
normally unused external pin (such as pin 2 in Nusinov) is connected to an external signal
indicating that the external system can use the enhanced features of the chip. When this
smart memory is connected to an existing system, the unused external pin remains
unconnected to the enhanced features of the chip. That is, the smart video memory of
Nicoud, Witt and Nusinov would appear as a standard VRAM to existing equipment, and
the enhanced feature of a computer on the chip would be prevented from executing
instructions because it would remain disconnected from the external system. The
operation of this enhanced circuit in an existing system fully meets the language of
independent claims 1, 11 and 16. Thus, the collective teachings result in a smart memory
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