Appeal No. 1997-1505 Page 14
Application No. 08/580,778
with Grandfield, the resultant combination would not render
the claims obvious because the claims require “a frequency
adjustment means for adjusting loop frequency until a desired
reference voltage is obtained; and circuit arrangement for
locking the loop frequency.”
The examiner acknowledges (answer, page 5) that Wahler
does “not specifically disclose using the circuit to provide
the reference voltage.” To overcome this deficiency in
Wahler, the examiner relies on Grandfield. The examiner takes
the position (id.), that “it is well known in the art that due
to the feedback regulating capabilities of the PLL, the
voltage controling [sic:] the VCO will necessarily be a
regulated voltage. This well known aspect is clearly
disclosed in the circuit to Grandfield.” In the opinion of
the examiner (id.)
While the reference to Grandfield discloses
generating a current, it is notoriously well known
that generation of constant current and generation
of constant voltage are strongly dependent upon one
another and that conversion between the two arrangements
only minimal [sic:] modification (e.g., addition of a
resistance). Therefore, it would have been obvious
for one skilled in the art to use the PLL circuit
disclosed to Wahler et al. to provide a reference
voltage for the reasons disclosed to Grandfield of
obtaining a highly regulated voltage.
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