DETAILED ACTION
This Office Action is in response to a Non-Final office action, filed on 06/04/2026, on an application filed on 10/30/2023. Claims 1-2, 4-6, 11, and 14-21 are presented for examination consideration.
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 Claim Amendments
Amended independent claim 1 amended in Applicant’s Claim Amendment (filed on 06/04/2026) will be subject to 112(b) rejection. New independent claim 18 in Applicant’s Claim Amendment (filed on 06/04/2026) will be subject to 112(a) and 112(b) rejections.
Nevertheless, Applicant's Claim Amendments that was filed on 10/11/2024 are moot in view of the new ground(s) of rejection due to the INTENSIVE amendments to independent claim 1 and new independent claim 18.
Drawings Objections
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 following features must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s):
The limitation phrase “first base” in the limitation “a first base having an outer side” in independent claim 1 needs to be shown.
The limitation phrase “second base” in the limitation “and a second base located below the first base” in independent claim 1 needs to be shown to establish positional relationship with “below”.
The limitation phrases “first ground conductor” and “first through conductor” in the limitation “a first ground conductor, located between the first base and the second base; and a first through conductor connected to the first ground conductor and located in the second base” in independent claim 1 needs to be shown. The POSITIONAL relationships between “first and second bases” and “first ground conductor”, and between “first through conductor” and “first ground conductor”, needs to be establish, as per detailed in the 112(b) rejection of the claim.
The limitation phrase “first grid portion” in the limitation “wherein the first through conductor is located on the first grid portion” in independent claim 1 needs to be shown to determine the POSITIONAL relation between “first through conductor” and “first grid portion”, as per detailed in the 112(b) rejection of the claim.
The limitation phrase “first signal conductor” in the limitation “a first signal conductor located on the first base and extending in a first direction away from the outer side” in independent claim 18 needs to be shown, as per the 112(a) rejection.
The limitation phrase “second signal conductor” in the limitation “a second signal conductor located on the first base and spaced apart from the first signal conductor in a second direction crossing the first direction” in independent claim 18 needs to be shown, as per the 112(a) rejection.
The limitation phrase “first base” in the limitation “a first base having an outer side” in independent claim 18 needs to be shown.
The limitation phrase “second base” in the limitation “and a second base located below the first base” in independent claim 18 needs to be shown to establish positional relationship with “below”.
The limitation phrases “first ground conductor” and “first through conductor” in the limitation “a first ground conductor, located between the first base and the second base; and a first through conductor connected to the first ground conductor and located in the second base” in independent claim 18 needs to be shown. The POSITIONAL relationships between “first and second bases” and “first ground conductor”, and between “first through conductor” and “first ground conductor”, needs to be establish, as per detailed in the 112(b) rejection of the claim.
The limitation phrase “first grid portion” in the limitation “wherein the first through conductor is located on the first grid portion” in independent claim 18 needs to be shown to determine the POSITIONAL relation between “first through conductor” and “first grid portion”, as per detailed in the 112(b) rejection of the claim.
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 Objections
The disclosure is objected to because of following errors:
The specification is objected to because of the claimed structures are NOT properly and specifically itemized and DESCRIBED to support amended independent claim 1 as detailed in the drawing objection and the 112(b) rejection.
The specification is objected to because of the claimed structures are NOT properly and specifically itemized and DESCRIBED to support new independent claim 18 as detailed in the drawing objection and the 112(b) and 112(a) rejections.
Appropriate correction is required as well as no new matter should be entered.
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 18-21 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 pre-AIA the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention.
In new independent claim 18 the limitation phrases “first signal conductor” and “second signal conductor” in the limitations “a first signal conductor located on the first base and extending in a first direction away from the outer side; a second
signal conductor located on the first base and spaced apart from the first signal conductor in a second direction crossing the first direction” is not properly described in the specification, in the drawings, and in the original presented claims, consequently raising doubt of the claim invention at the time of filing. Specifically, NOWHERE in the specification and/or the drawings does it indicate and/or show the cited claim limitation. The filed disclosure is indicating "signal conductors 12". Therefore, NOT GIVEN to the limitation phrases "“first signal conductor” and “second signal conductor”, as per Figs. 2-3 and the specifications. In addition, Applicant's Remarks that were submitted on 06/04/2026 DOES NOT specifically indicate where the ALL the limitations are supported in the specifications and/or drawings. Consequently, the cited limitation is raising doubt of the claimed invention at the time of filing since NEW MATTER has been added to claim 18.
Claims 19-21 are rejected since the base independent claim 18 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 1st paragraph.
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 1-2, 4-6, 11, and 14-21 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 pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention.
In amended independent claim 1, the limitation phrase limitation phrase “first grid portion” in the limitation “wherein the first through conductor is located on the first grid portion” is confusing. Specifically, the cited limitation phrase in the cited limitation is CONTRADICTING the STRUCTURES of Figs. 6-7. In Figs. 6-7 has “through conductors 14c” in the “first grid portion 131” and NOT “through conductor 14b”, where “first through conductor” is item 14b, as established by ¶[0051] of the PgPub and the limitation “a first through conductor connected to the first ground conductor and located in the second base”. In addition, Applicant's Remarks that were submitted on 06/04/2026 DOES NOT SPECIFICALLY indicate where the ALL the limitations are supported in the specifications and/or drawings. By having Applicant’s Remark specify “Support for the above amendments can be found throughout the specification, in particular in paragraphs [0018], [0029]-[0032], [0037]-[0038], and [0085], and in FIGS. 3, and 5-7” would be too BROAD to attempt any mapping of the specification to drawings.
Claims 2, 4-6, 11, and 14 -17 are rejected since the base claim 1 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph.
In new independent claim 18, the limitation phrase limitation phrase “first grid portion” in the limitation “wherein the first through conductor is located on the first grid portion” is confusing. Specifically, the cited limitation phrase in the cited limitation is CONTRADICTING the STRUCTURES of Figs. 6-7. In Figs. 6-7 has “through conductors 14c” in the “first grid portion 131” and NOT “through conductor 14b”, where “first through conductor” is item 14b, as established by ¶[0051] of the PgPub and the limitation “a first through conductor connected to the first ground conductor and located in the second base”. In addition, Applicant's Remarks that were submitted on 06/04/2026 DOES NOT SPECIFICALLY indicate where the ALL the limitations are supported in the specifications and/or drawings. By having Applicant’s Remark specify “Support for the above amendments can be found throughout the specification, in particular in paragraphs [0018], [0029]-[0032], [0037]-[0038], and [0085], and in FIGS. 3, and 5-7” would be too BROAD to attempt any mapping of the specification to drawings.
Claims 19-21 are rejected since the base claim 18 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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 GUILLERMO J EGOAVIL whose telephone number is (571)270-1325. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 8:00-5:00.
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/GUILLERMO J EGOAVIL/Examiner, Art Unit 2847
/TIMOTHY J THOMPSON/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2847
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