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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 10/20/2025 has been entered.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the features must be shown or the features canceled from the claims:
Claim 1: “wherein the substrate has a pair of extension portions extending outward from diagonally opposite positions of the dielectric,
wherein, in the plan view, the connection terminal and one of the extension portions are disposed opposite to each other with the dielectric therebetween”
Claim 11: “wherein in the plan view, the connection terminal and at least one of the extension portions are offset from a line connecting a center of the substrate and a center of the parasitic element”.
Although figs. 5-6 show the extension portions but the drawings do not have labels or reference numbers showing the extension portions.
No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Specification
The specification is objected to as failing to provide proper antecedent basis for the claimed subject matter. See 37 CFR 1.75(d)(1) and MPEP § 608.01(o). Correction of the following is required:
Claim 1: “wherein the substrate has a pair of extension portions extending outward from diagonally opposite positions of the dielectric,
wherein, in the plan view, the connection terminal and one of the extension portions are disposed opposite to each other with the dielectric therebetween”
Claim 11: “wherein in the plan view, the connection terminal and at least one of the extension portions are offset from a line connecting a center of the substrate and a center of the parasitic element”.
The specification does not mention the extension portions.
In page 2 of the Remarks, Applicant stated that “Providing the extension portions diagonally opposite one another with the dielectric (31) therebetween, as set forth, e.g., in paragraphs [0017] and [0067] of the application as filed, helps manage any "prying force" from the cable and realizes a stable and balanced platform for securing the antenna components, which is particularly important for an antenna designed for attachment to a vehicle windshield where durability and resistance to vibration are key concerns.”
Examiner respectfully disagree because para [0017] and [0067] do not mention the extension portions. The paragraphs stated “However, with such a configuration, the "prying force" is transmitted to the case 21 and the base 22 via the connection terminal 51 and the screws 23. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the "prying force" from acting on the antenna body 30 and to prevent the influence of the "prying force" on a circuit of the antenna body 30 and a joint portion of solder or the like.”
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
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.
Claims 1 and 11 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.
The limitation “wherein the substrate has a pair of extension portions extending outward from diagonally opposite positions of the dielectric, wherein, in the plan view, the connection terminal and one of the extension portions are disposed opposite to each other with the dielectric therebetween” of claim 1 was not described in the specification.
The limitation “wherein in the plan view, the connection terminal and at least one of the extension portions are offset from a line connecting a center of the substrate and a center of the parasitic element” of claim 11 was not described in the specification.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see Remarks, filed 10/20/2025, with respect to claim 1 rejection have been fully considered and are persuasive. The 35USC 103 rejections have been withdrawn.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANH N HO whose telephone number is (571)272-4657. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:00-5:00.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Dameon Levi can be reached at (571)272-2105. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/DAMEON E LEVI/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2845
/ANH N HO/Examiner, Art Unit 2845