CTNF 17/531,561 CTNF 81943 DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 07-03-aia AIA 15-10-aia The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA. Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114 07-42-04 AIA A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 6 March 2026 has been entered. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112(a) 07-30-01 AIA The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a): (a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention. The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112: The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. 07-31-01 Claims 1-16, 34-41 and 43 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention. Claim 1 recites “a doped diamond material in the substrate material” which is not supported in the original disclosure. The applicant describes three embodiments in connection with Fig. 4A and 4B (par. 59). 1) A planar device having a doped epilayer over an intrinsic bulk substrate (not shown) and surface illumination of the epi layer causes dopants in the epilayer to ionize and conduct current near the surface from the positive contact towards the negative contact. 2) A planar device having the entire substrate (area below the contacts of FIG. 4A) doped, and surface illumination causes dopants in the upper portion or entire substrate to be ionized based on the absorption depth. 3) A vertically-oriented device (as in FIG. 4B) having the entire substrate doped, and illumination from the side of the substrate causes ionization of the dopants so as to induce a photocurrent that flows vertically through the bulk substrate. In connection with the vertical orientation of FIG. 4B, it can be recognized that if the contacts are semi-transparent, surface illumination can also be utilized. The disclosure supports, either a doped diamond material on the substrate material or the substrate material is the doped diamond material itself. There is no embodiment in which a doped diamond material is in the substate material as now claimed. Claims 2-16, 34-41 and 43 include the limitations and do not cure the deficiencies of claim 1. Claim 13 is now not supported by the originally filed disclosure based on the amendments to parent claim 1. Claim 1 now requires the plurality of contacts to be on the same side – “a plurality of contacts being coupled to at least one surface of the substrate material and to the channel, the at least one surface being common to a side of the substrate material.” Therefore, the plurality of contacts cannot be arranged on the at least one surface common to a side of the substrate (embodiment of Fig. 4A) as required by claim 1 and also be arranged vertically on each of a first side and a second side (embodiment of Fig. 4B). Claims 14 and 15 include the limitations and do not cure the deficiencies of claim 13. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112(b) 07-30-02 AIA 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. 07-34-01 Claims 2 and 37-41 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. Claim 1 is amended to now require a plurality of contacts. Claim 2 then introduces a plurality of contacts which makes unclear as to whether or not this plurality of contacts is the same as the plurality of contacts of claim 1 or a different and distinct plurality of contacts. If intended to be a different and distinct plurality of contacts from that of claim 1, then the subject matter is not supported and is rejected under 35 U.S.C 112(a). Similarly, claim 37 introduces a plurality of contacts which makes unclear as to whether or not these are the same contacts of claim 1 or different and distinct contacts. If intended to be a different and distinct plurality of contacts from that of claim 1, then the subject matter is not supported and is rejected under 35 U.S.C 112(a). Claim 38 includes the limitations and does not cure the deficiencies of claim 37. Similarly, claim 39 introduces a plurality of contacts which makes unclear as to whether or not these are the same contacts of claim 1 or different and distinct contacts. If intended to be a different and distinct plurality of contacts from that of claim 1, then the subject matter is not supported and is rejected under 35 U.S.C 112(a). Claim 40 and 41 includes the limitations and does not cure the deficiencies of claim 39. Examiner Note As insofar as Claim 1 is supported and definite, the prior art of record alone or in combination neither teaches nor makes obvious the invention of the apparatus comprising: a plurality of contacts being coupled to at least one surface being common to a side of the substrate material; and wherein at least one of the plurality of contacts includes the doped diamond material and is to respond to the optical signal by manifesting reduced resistance, in an on-state of the diamond-based photoconductive switch while current is passed through between the plurality of contacts in an on-state of the diamond-based photoconductive switch, relative to an off-state of the diamond-based photoconductive switch in combination with all of the limitations of Claim 1. Contact Information Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to EARL N TAYLOR whose telephone number is (571)272-8894. The examiner can normally be reached M-F, 9:00am-5:00pm. Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, William Kraig can be reached on (571) 272-8660. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /EARL N TAYLOR/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2896 EARL N. TAYLOR Primary Examiner Art Unit 2896 Application/Control Number: 17/531,561 Page 2 Art Unit: 2896 Application/Control Number: 17/531,561 Page 3 Art Unit: 2896 Application/Control Number: 17/531,561 Page 4 Art Unit: 2896 Application/Control Number: 17/531,561 Page 5 Art Unit: 2896 Application/Control Number: 17/531,561 Page 6 Art Unit: 2896 Application/Control Number: 17/531,561 Page 7 Art Unit: 2896
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