Appeal No. 2006-2819 Page 2
Application No. 10/980,575
generating a second robust power grid for said voltage island on metal
levels N and above; and
routing a plurality of shortest distance connections from a plurality of
power sources to said second robust power grid.
The examiner relies on the following reference:
Gould et al. (Gould) 6,493,859 Dec. 10, 2002
Claims 1-6 and 19-21 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 102(e) as anticipated by
Gould
Reference is made to the briefs and answer for the respective positions of
appellants and the examiner.
OPINION
We REVERSE as to the rejection of claims 1-6, but AFFIRM as to the rejection
of claims 19-21.
The examiner contends that Gould’s step 155 in Figure 2, wherein power
networks are divided into segments, is the claimed generation of a first power grid, and
that step 170 in Figure 2 of Gould, the division of segments into pin shapes, is indicative
of the generation of a second power grid.
Even assuming, arguendo, the highly debatable point that Gould’s segments may
be considered a first power grid and that Gould’s pin shapes may be considered a second
power grid, the examiner has still not established a prima facie case of anticipation of the
instant claimed subject matter. Claim 1 requires that the first power grid is generated “on
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