DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 37-56 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Regarding claim 37, Applicant recites “processing circuitry configured to: configure the helmet light based on a data signal received by the welding helmet from a welding-type power supply or a wire feeder” in lines 4-6 of the claim. However, Examiner notes that it is unclear as to what “configure the helmet light” is referring to because there are no details as to what exactly is being “configured” based on a data signal received by the welding helmet from a welding-type power supply or a wire feeder. The recitation of “configure the helmet light” provides no clear or concrete functional effect that the recited data signal received by the welding helmet is applying to the welding helmet. Examples of additional limitations to clarify the meaning of “configure the helmet light” include configuring the helmet light to turn on or off, to dim, to flash, etc. Therefore, the recitation of “processing circuitry configured to: configure the helmet light based on a data signal received by the welding helmet from a welding-type power supply or a wire feeder” renders the claim as a whole to be indefinite. Claims 38-43 are rejected as being dependent on claim 37.
Regarding claim 44, Applicant recites “processing circuitry configured to: configure the helmet light based on a data signal received by the welding helmet from a welding-type power supply or a wire feeder that is separate and remote from the welding helmet” in lines 4-7 of the claim. However, Examiner notes that it is unclear as to what “configure the helmet light” is referring to because there are no details as to what exactly is being “configured” based on a data signal received by the welding helmet from a welding-type power supply or a wire feeder that is separate and remote from the welding helmet. The recitation of “configure the helmet light” provides no clear or concrete functional effect that the recited data signal received by the welding helmet is applying to the welding helmet. Examples of additional limitations to clarify the meaning of “configure the helmet light” include configuring the helmet light to turn on or off, to dim, to flash, etc. Therefore, the recitation of “processing circuitry configured to: configure the helmet light based on a data signal received by the welding helmet from a welding-type power supply or a wire feeder that is separate and remote from the welding helmet” renders the claim as a whole to be indefinite. Claims 45-50 are rejected as being dependent on claim 44.
Regarding claim 51, Applicant recites “processing circuitry configured to: configure the helmet light based on a data signal received by the welding helmet from a welding-type power supply or a wire feeder that is separate and remote from the welding helmet” in lines 4-7 of the claim. However, Examiner notes that it is unclear as to what “configure the helmet light” is referring to because there are no details as to what exactly is being “configured” based on a data signal received by the welding helmet from a welding-type power supply or a wire feeder that is separate and remote from the welding helmet. The recitation of “configure the helmet light” provides no clear or concrete functional effect that the recited data signal received by the welding helmet is applying to the welding helmet. Examples of additional limitations to clarify the meaning of “configure the helmet light” include configuring the helmet light to turn on or off, to dim, to flash, etc. Therefore, the recitation of “processing circuitry configured to: configure the helmet light based on a data signal received by the welding helmet from a welding-type power supply or a wire feeder that is separate and remote from the welding helmet” renders the claim as a whole to be indefinite. Claims 52-56 are rejected as being dependent on claim 51.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see pages 6-11, filed 2/23/2026, with respect to claims 37-56 have been fully considered and are persuasive. The rejection of claims 37-56 has been withdrawn.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 37-56 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Seo (CN 101953733) and Becker (CN 104520047) disclose a welding helmet but fail to disclose all the combination of features as recited in the claims.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PAUL CHANG LEE whose telephone number is (571)270-7923. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 10am-6pm.
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/PAUL C LEE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2871
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