<In response the independent claims have been rewritten to specib that the entire ring oscillator variable speed system clock variable speed clock or oscillator provided in the integrated circuit in order to sharpen the distinction over the prior art Because the prior art does not provide an entire ring oscillator variable speed system clock in that the prior art circuits require an external crystal the prior art fails to teach or suggest the invention as now claimed>

What is lost in that statement is that the requirement that is being referred to is necessary to generate a clock signal. IMO, such is not required by a ring oscillator. Only some minimum voltage.

Opty