Appeal No. 1997-2057
Application No. 08/287,670
As to the first argument, the examiner merely states
(Answer, page 8) that "the claim recites ... such things as a
variable power source, an internal functional circuit, an
external signal, etc. These are all found in Takada."
Nowhere does the examiner address appellants' argument that
Takada outputs a single voltage rather than a range of
voltages and therefore is a voltage regulator instead of the
claimed variable power source. Further, we find nothing in
Takada that discloses an output of a range of voltages.
Regarding appellants' second argument, we agree that
there is no suggestion to combine the references. Takada's
functional circuit normally operates at a low voltage level,
typically 3.5 volts, to protect the transistors therein.
Takada's internal voltage generator (which the examiner
equates to the claimed variable power source) allows a higher
voltage of 5 volts to be applied to the functional circuit for
an acceleration test for the semiconductor integrated circuit.
Power management according to Faucher involves lowering the
voltage for the functional circuit from 5 volts to 3.3 volts,
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