Appeal No. 2003-2176
Application No. 09/778,460
device which shifts or reduces a source voltage and produces a level shifted voltage.
(Col. 1, ll. 5-8). Inaba discloses that conventional level shifters have a voltage
dividing circuit of two resistors which are connected together in series to form
integrated-circuit-circuit resistors. (Col.1, ll. 33-37). The integrated-circuit-circuit
resistors are described as having peculiar temperature characteristics in relation to
the predetermined temperature characteristics. (Col.1, ll. 38-39).
According to the Examiner, Kim teaches the formation of resistors at the
same time as the top (or bottom) electrode of the capacitor and the gate electrode.
(Answer, p. 4).
The Examiner concluded that the subject matter of claim 4 was not patentable
because it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to have
connected together NMOS resistor and PMOS resistor to obtain a thin film resistor
unit that has reliable dividing voltage ratio. (Answer, p. 4).
The Examiner also concluded that the subject matter of claim 7 was not
patentable over the combined teachings of Erdeljac, Inaba and optionally Kim. The
Examiner has determined that Inaba discloses multiple resistors can be connected in
series and parallel to work as one unit. Thus, it would have been obvious to a
person of ordinary skill in the art, given the combined teachings of Erdeljac, Inaba
and optionally Kim, to have performed the method of manufacturing a
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