It would seem that all understandings of what constitutes a microprocessor are either incorrect or no longer valid. The USPTO woould have us believe that any electornic circuit through which signals flow is a micriprocessor.

I do not believe the examiner is that stupid. So, in my opinion, the delay is intentional. But on the plus side, I do not think the semiconductor industry can allow such fuzzy logic to stand as precedents. You couple the above fuzzy logic with no difference between mainframe and microprocessor and most existing patents are going to get trashed not just this one. IMHO Opty