Appeal No. 1997-1688
Application 08/515,752
the final rejection (Paper No. 16) and the examiner’s answer
(Paper No. 22) and the appellants’ brief (Paper No. 21) and reply
brief (Paper No. 23).
Appellants’ Invention
ESD protection circuits are illustrated in Figures 2 and 5.
A protection circuit includes a bond pad 14 which is subjected to
a first voltage of approximately 3.3 volts or a second voltage of
approximately 5 volts; a switching element connected to the bond
pad, the element becoming conductive upon the occurrence of an ESD
event; and a primary protection device connected between the
switching element and ground for dissipating an ESD signal. In
accordance with the above operation, an ESD signal is prevented
from damaging input/output circuitry 18.
Opinion
We will not sustain any of the five prior art rejections of
claim 28.
In the answer, the examiner in effect acknowledges that the
prior art does not teach a power supply which is at a first
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