Appeal No. 1998-0692
Application No. 08/693,551
portion of the component operated at a second higher voltage
thereby decreasing the propagation delay through the signal
paths; and
switches coupling certain signal paths from the first
portion and second portion of the component which propagate
the signal between the first voltage signal paths and higher
second voltage signal paths.
The examiner relies on the following reference:
Gregor 5,084,637 Jan. 28, 1992
Claims 4, 7 through 9, 12 and 13 stand rejected under 35
U.S.C. § 102(b) as anticipated by Gregor. Claims 5, 6, 10 and
11 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as unpatentable over
Gregor.
Reference is made to the briefs and answer for the
respective positions of appellant and the examiner.
OPINION
We reverse.
The examiner identifies, in Gregor, a first voltage
supply source, V , a second voltage supply source, V , aDDL DDH
first circuit portion, 22 and 23, and a second circuit
portion, 19 and 20, as well as a signal level switch, 10.
Independent claim 4 requires that signal paths include
“critical signal paths” through which signals must propagate
3
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