Appeal No. 97-2630
Application 08/186,050
Ethernet controller can operate within an acceptable error
margin. All that must happen is that noise caused by digital
circuitry be limited. Accordingly, any reduction in the
digital noise, including that made possible by what the
appellant has referred to as “standard steps” (Brief at page
5) for isolating analog and digital components, is sufficient
to meet the claim. While the resulting structure may not be
as reliable as one made according to additional steps taken to
further reduce the digital noise, it cannot be said that the
resulting device is either unfunctional or without utility.
The law does not require commercial grade performance in all
devices properly deemed obvious over the prior art. All of
the teachings of the prior art, including nonpreferred
embodiments, are relevant. See, e.g., In re Lamberti, 545
F.2d 747, 750, 192 USPQ 278, 280 (CCPA 1976). It is evident
that the appellant should have inserted into claim 1 a
specific error margin that must not be exceeded, but that the
appellant has not done.
The appellant has acknowledged and referred to “standard
steps” for noise reduction, and the examiner has found that
certain noise reduction techniques on integrated circuit chips
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