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 .
Response to Amendment/Argument
Applicant’s arguments, see remarks, filed 10/29/2025, with respect to the objection of claim 9 has been fully considered and are persuasive. The objection of claim 9 has been withdrawn.
Applicant’s arguments, see remarks, filed 10/29/2025, with respect to the rejection of claim 3 under 35 U.S.C. 112 has been fully considered and are persuasive. The rejection of claim 3 has been withdrawn.
Applicant’s arguments, see remarks, filed 10/29/2025, with respect to the rejections of claims 1-4 and 6-12 under 35 U.S.C. 103 have been fully considered and are persuasive. The rejections of claims 1-4 and 6-12 have been withdrawn.
Claim Objections
Claim 12 is objected to because of the following informalities: the end of the second to last paragraph is missing a punctuation mark, like a comma or semicolon. “…and the second conductive semiconductor layer wherein the first handle electrode…” should say “…and the second conductive semiconductor layer, wherein the first handle electrode…”. Appropriate correction is required.
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 1-12 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.
Claims 1 and 12 recite the limitation "the other end surface" in the second paragraph and fifth paragraph, respectively. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claims 2-11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) for depending from rejected claim 1.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-12 are allowed.
Regarding independent claim 1, the most relevant prior art reference US-20220336719-A1 to Inazu teaches most of the limitations of claim 1, but not the limitations of “an electrode unit that includes a first handle electrode formed to at least partially cover a side surface that is one end surface of the device unit in the x-axis direction and a second handle electrode formed to at least partially cover a side surface that is the other end surface opposite to the one end surface” as recited. Therefore, claim 1 is deemed patentable over the prior art.
Claims 2-11 are allowed as being dependent on allowed claim 1.
Regarding independent claim 12, the most relevant prior art reference US-20220336719-A1 to Inazu teaches most of the limitations of claim 12, but not the limitations of “an electrode unit that includes a first handle electrode formed to at least partially cover a side surface that is one end surface of the device unit in the x-axis direction and a second handle electrode formed to at least partially cover a side surface that is the other end surface opposite to the one end surface” as recited. Therefore, claim 12 is deemed patentable over the prior art.
As allowable subject matter has been indicated, applicant's reply must either comply with all formal requirements or specifically traverse each requirement not complied with. See 37 CFR 1.111(b) and MPEP § 707.07(a).
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to THADDEUS J KOLB whose telephone number is (571)272-0276. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 5:00pm.
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/T.J.K./ Examiner, Art Unit 2817
/ELISEO RAMOS FELICIANO/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2817