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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of restriction in the reply filed on 17 October 2025 is acknowledged.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: Claim 18 limitations “a measured temperature equal to or above on or both of the temperature set point or a protection temperature of the resistive heater” was not in the original specification.
Appropriate correction is required.
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.
Claim 18 is 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 “a measured temperature equal to or above on or both of the temperature set point or a protection temperature of the resistive heater” in last 3 lines of claim 18 was not in the original specification.
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 and 4-21 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 applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the heating core" in line 6. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. To resolve this problem, examiner recommend applicant to add “having a heating core” to preamble.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the thermal sensors" in line 13. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Examiner recommend applicant to amend this limitation to “the one or more thermal sensors”. NOTE: claim 12 line 3 needs the same change.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the foil heater" in line 14. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Examiner recommend applicant to amend this limitation to “the resistive heater”.
Claim 6 recites “LCHS comprises at least two thermal sensors”. It’s not clear as to if “at least two thermal sensors” are part of “one or more thermal sensors” in claim 1. Examiner recommend applicant to amend claim 6 to “wherein the one or more thermal sensors comprise at least two thermal sensors that are ….”
Claim 10 recites the limitation "the temperature sensors" in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Examiner recommend applicant to amend this limitation to “the one or more thermal sensors”.
Claim 13 recites the limitation "the one or more temperature sensors" in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Examiner recommend applicant to amend this limitation to “the one or more thermal sensors”.
Claim 16 recites “LCHS comprises two or more thermal sensors”. It’s not clear as to if “two or more thermal sensors” are part of “one or more thermal sensors” in claim 1. Examiner recommend applicant to amend claim 6 to “wherein the one or more thermal sensors comprise two or more thermal sensors that are ….”
Claim 17 recites the limitation "the temperature set point" in last line. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Examiner recommend applicant to amend this limitation to “the revised temperature set point”. NOTE: claim 18 line 3 needs the same change.
Claim 19 recites the limitation "the heating core" in line 5. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. To resolve this problem, examiner recommend applicant to change the preamble to “(LCHS) having a heating core”.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1 and 19 would be allowable if rewritten or amended 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.
Claims 2-18 and 20-21 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.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KO-WEI LIN whose telephone number is (571)270-7675. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 6:30-2:30 Eastern Time.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Steve McAllister can be reached at (571)272-6785. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/KO-WEI LIN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3762