Appeal No. 97-1694
Application 08/351,064
"first non-linear element being connected, in a forward
direction, between a bus and a termination voltage line via
which a termination voltage is supplied," as recited in
claim 55. The NMOS transistor is a "second non-linear element
being connected, in the forward direction, between the bus and
a voltage line carrying a voltage lower than a termination
voltage supplied via the termination voltage line," as recited
in claims 40 and 41, and has a "rise characteristic" and is a
"second non-linear element being connected, in the forward
direction, between the bus and a voltage line via which a
voltage lower than the termination voltage is supplied," as
recited in claim 55.
The argued difference between the subject matter of
claims 40 and 55 and IBM is the limitation of "no current
flowing in the bus when no signal is transmitted via the bus."
As we have discussed, appellants may have intended to recite
that no current flows in the termination device, instead of in
the bus. However, the claims in their present form do not
define over Lloyd and IBM. When no signal is transmitted via
a bus driven by a push-pull circuit, i.e., when both the
pull-up device and the pull-down device are OFF (open
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