Appeal No. 1997-4125 Page 12
Application No. 08/261,523
bus. Rather than phase-aligning data bits to a clock signal,
Murakami’s device phase-aligns a frame signal to a frame
synchronous signal. Specifically, the “invention provides a
device for phase-aligning an input time-division multiplexed
signal having an input clock signal to an output frame
synchronous signal synchronized with an output clock signal
different from the input clock signal to produce an output
frame signal ....” Col. 2, ll. 63-68.
Because the references do not teach phase-aligning data
bits to a clock signal, we are not persuaded that teachings
from the prior art would appear to have suggested the claimed
limitation of phase-aligning data bits transmitted on lines of
a bus with respect to a clock signal transmitted along with
the data on another line of the bus. The examiner has
impermissibly relied on the appellants’ teachings or
suggestions; he has not established a prima facie case of
obviousness. Therefore, we reverse the rejections of claims
1-3 under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a).
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