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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The foreign patent cited in the IDS submitted on 05/03/2023 does not have a proper document number. The document the applicant intended to be considered has been referenced on the attached PTO-892.
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 15 and 17 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 claims 15 and 17, the claims attempt to claim a process without setting forth any steps involved in the process, creating uncertainty as to the scope of the claim. See MPEP 2173.05(q).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-14 and 16 are allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
Boloorian teaches a photonic integrated circuit (fig. 1A), for use in hyperspectral spectroscopy, the photonic integrated circuit comprising: a multi-spectral laser source (10) (figs. 1A and 2A), configured to produce a multi-spectral optical signal (via multiple laser sources (84)); a directing component (18) (para [0036]), the directing component configured to direct the multi-spectral optical signal into a first component (24, 28, 36 for λ0) and a second component (24, 28, 36 for λ1) (fig. 2B) (para [0060]), and an up-chirp modulation profile (λ0) of the first component and a down-chirp modulation profile (λ1) to the second component (fig. 2B); a first transmitter (transmitter (388) associated with first component) (fig. 9) and receiver module (processing component (34) associated with first component) (fig. 1A), configured to transmit the modulated first component and receive reflections of the modulated first component (when assigned to the respective channel); and a second transmitter (transmitter (388) associated with second component) (fig. 9) and receiver module (processing component (34) associated with second component) (fig. 1A), configured to transmit the modulated second component and receive reflections of the modulated second component (when assigned to the respective channel).
The prior art fails to disclose a modulator configured to split the optical signal, and applying the up-chirp and down-chirp profiles to the respective components.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. See PTO-892.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Christopher D. Hutchens whose telephone number is (571)270-5535. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9-5.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Kimberly Berona can be reached at 571-272-6909. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/C.D.H./
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3647
/Christopher D Hutchens/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3647