Appeal No. 1997-0058
Application No. 08/300,399
"44 (transistor 45, RC 51, 50) and filter 40, 41. The
transistor 45 exhibits the function of an amplifier as do all
transistors .... Thus, the limitation of 'an amplifier' is
seen as 44, 40 and 41." We disagree. As pointed out by
appellants (Brief, page 11), White's transistor 45 is being
used as a switch with no amplification function. Therefore,
White does not disclose an amplifier, as claimed.
Consequently, we cannot sustain the rejection of claim 1.
Claim 6 does not require an amplifier, but rather recites
in pertinent part a step of "applying a maximum slew rate
limit to the sense signal to produce a ... signal having a
slew rate that is prevented from exceeding the maximum slew
rate limit." As slew rate is defined as slope (see pages 581-
2 of Analog Filter Design by M.E. Van Valkenberg, submitted by
appellants with the Brief as Exhibit A), the method of claim 6
limits the slope of the current sense signal to below a
maximum. Further, in light of the disclosure, we interpret
the claimed maximum slew rate as a slope less than that of a
current spike.
The examiner states (Answer, pages 3-4) that White's
Figure 2 shows limiting the slew rate. In Figure 2 the
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