Appeal No. 1998-1815 Page 14
Application No. 08/684,328
are connected to memory cells 400 and 500 rather than to sense
amplifier 504.
Similarly, Figure 2a of Young shows word line WL
connected to elements 21a, 21b, 24a, and 24b. As evidenced by
Leung and contrary to the examiner's allegation, therefore,
persons skilled in the art would interpret the elements as
forming a memory latch rather than a sense amplifier latch.
Also contrary to the examiner's allegation, such persons would
then interpret elements 25, 27, and 28 as the "local or column
sense amplifier," col. 1, ll. 65-66, shown in the Figure
rather than as a local column read amplifier. In summary, the
examiner fails to show that Young teaches a local read
amplifier let alone such an amplifier coupled to data read
lines and to an internal node of a sense amplifier latch. He
fails to allege, let alone show, that Toshiba remedies the
defect of Young.
Because Young omits a local read amplifier, we are not
persuaded that teachings from the prior art would have
suggested the limitations of "operating a sense amplifier
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