Appeal No. 2006-3126 Page 7
Application No. 10/154,060
The examiner disagrees [answer, page 13]. The examiner asserts that
microprocessor 112 acts as a power estimator in the embodiments that use
a semi-smart or smart battery [answer, page 14]. The examiner notes that
ASIC 204 communicates with microprocessor 112 in the smart battery
embodiment (col. 9, lines 37-42) [id.]. In the semi-smart battery
embodiment, the examiner notes that microprocessor 112 communicates
with memory 206 (col. 9, line 58 through col. 10, line 7) [id.]. The examiner
further notes that microprocessor 112 periodically determines whether the
present capacity has reached a low capacity alarm threshold (col. 13, lines
62-67) [id.]. The examiner concludes that Flynn discloses a power estimator
because the capacity of the battery is a measure of the remaining battery
power [id.].
In addition, the examiner notes that Flynn’s microprocessor 112 acts
as a controller to independently allocate power from the power supply to a
first component (e.g., disabling display 108, fig. 4 and col. 14, lines 33-36)
and a second component (e.g., disabling the transmit operation in RF section
116, col. 14, lines 3-7). The examiner concludes that power is
independently allocated to the components since certain components may be
supplied with power while other components are turned off [id.].
After carefully considering the Flynn reference, we agree that the
instant claimed “power estimator” reads on Flynn’s microprocessor 112 in
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