Appeal No. 1997-3098
Application 08/377,776
such that it is out of phase with the input to a probe would
have fairly suggested, to one of ordinary skill in the art,
using first and second pluralities of input drive pulses to
the probes in the Birdsong system which are 180E out of phase
with each other.
For the above reasons we find that the examiner has not
set forth a factual basis which is sufficient for supporting a
conclusion of obviousness of the invention recited in
appellant’s claims 1-4 and 8-11. The rejection of these
claims, therefore, is reversed.
Claims 5-7 and 12-14
Claims 5-7 and 12-14 require an integrator circuit or
means for integrating which is capable of integrating the
probe test signals and threshold test signals.
The examiner argues that summing point 47 of Tucci ‘557
functions as an integrator circuit or means for integrating
because it algebraically sums two currents (answer, pages 3
and 7). Appellant argues that algebraically summing two
currents is not the same as integrating each test signal
(brief, page 10).
An integrator is “[a] circuit or device whose output is
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