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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 08/26/2026 has been entered.
Status of Claims
Claims 7-20 are cancelled. Claims 1-6 and 21-34 are pending. Claim 1 is amended. Claims 1, 21 and 29 are independent claims. Claims 21-34 are withdrawn. Claims 1-6 are currently examined on the merits.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation 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 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph:
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 1-6 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.
Claim 1 recites "... opposed axial temperature gradients from the source powder to the first seed crystal site and to the second seed crystal site, respectively…", which is not described in the specification as originally filed. Claims 2-6 are rejected because they depend on claim 1.
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 1-6 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.
The recited in claim 1 “…opposed axial temperature gradients from the source powder to the first seed crystal site and to the second seed crystal site, respectively …” constitutes an indefinite subject matter. It is not clear what “opposed axial temperature gradients from the source powder to the first seed crystal site and to the second seed crystal site, respectively” means. Therefore, the metes and bounds of claim 1 are not readily ascertainable. Clarification and/or correction are/is required. Claims 2-6 are rejected because they depend on claim 1.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-6 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action. No new matter should be introduced into claims.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: the closest prior art of record to Straubinger et al (US 20130305983 A1, “Straubinger”) teaches a crucible for manufacturing a semiconductor crystal, but does not teach, disclose or reasonably suggest that “the hollow wall extends along a direction between the first seed crystal and the second seed crystal, wherein the hollow wall, the first seed crystal site, and the second seed crystal site are substantially concentric about a longitudinal axis of the crucible, and wherein the source powder is distributed within the annular compartment to establish, based on a relative positioning between the heating element and the crucible” as recited in claim 1. Claims 2-6 would be allowable because they depend on claim 1.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Hua Qi whose telephone number is (571)272-3193. The examiner can normally be reached 9am-6pm.
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/HUA QI/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1714
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