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 .
This office action is a response to the restriction requirement filed on 2/9/2026.
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Group I, claims 1-15, in the reply filed on 2/9/2026 is acknowledged.
The non-elect claims 16-29 are cancelled hereby filed on 2/9/2026.
Drawings
The drawings are not of sufficient quality to permit examination. Accordingly, replacement drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to this Office action. The replacement sheet(s) should be labeled “Replacement Sheet” in the page header (as per 37 CFR 1.84(c)) so as not to obstruct any portion of the drawing figures. 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.
Applicant is given a shortened statutory period of TWO (2) MONTHS to submit new drawings in compliance with 37 CFR 1.81. Extensions of time may be obtained under the provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(a) but in no case can any extension carry the date for reply to this letter beyond the maximum period of SIX MONTHS set by statute (35 U.S.C. 133). Failure to timely submit replacement drawing sheets will result in ABANDONMENT of the application.
New corrected drawings in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in this application because Figures 2, 5A, 5B, 7A, 7B and 13 are not of sufficient quality to permit examination. Applicant is advised to employ the services of a competent patent draftsperson outside the Office, as the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office no longer prepares new drawings. The corrected drawings are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. The requirement for corrected drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Specification
The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
The following title is suggested: --METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING AN ANTENNA APERTURE--.
Claim Objections
Claims 1-15 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Re. claim 1: The phrase “placing at least one portion of an antenna aperture” as recited in line 3 appears to be --placing at least one portion of the antenna aperture--.
The phrase “aperture having a plurality of antenna elements;” as recited in line 4 appears to be --aperture having a plurality of antenna elements; and--.
Re. claim 2: The phrase “wherein bond pad pattern for each” as recited in line 1 appears to be --wherein a bond pad pattern for each--.
The phrase “across the at least one portion” as recited in line 3 appears to be --across the at least one portion of the antenna aperture--.
Re. claim 4: The phrase “the location comprises a tape or magazine” as recited in lines 1-2 appears to be --the location comprises a tape or a magazine--.
Re. claim 6: The phrase “wherein dies on each the plurality of tapes have” as recited in line 3 appears to be --wherein dies on each tape of the plurality of tapes have--.
Re. claim 10: The phrase “to compensate for the RF element rotation” as recited in lines 2-3 appears to be --to compensate for the radio-frequency (RF) element rotation--.
Re. claim 12: The phrase “the center of the aperture” as recited in line 3 appears to be --the center of the antenna aperture--.
Re. claim 14: The phrase “the center of the aperture” as recited in line 3 appears to be --the center of the antenna aperture--.
Re. claim 15: The phrase “for placing the at least one at least one portion of the antenna aperture” as recited in lines 1-2 appears to be --the center of the antenna aperture for placing the at least one portion of the antenna aperture--.
Appropriate correction is required.
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 1-15 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.
Re. claims 1-15: According to the preamble of the claimed invention of claim 1, the scope of the claimed invention is a method for manufacturing an antenna aperture. However, the body of claim recites how to use the antenna aperture. The antenna aperture is already produced and used. For example, the first process as recited in lines 3-4 describes that the antenna aperture is placed on the platen.
There are no positive manufacturing processes for the antenna aperture in the claimed invention. Therefore, no art rejections have been applied to the claim 1, since there are a great deal of confusion and uncertainty as to the proper interpretation of the limitations of claims. Therefore, it would not be proper to reject such claims on the basis of prior art. See MPEP 2173.06.
In addition, there are numerous phrases and clauses that are naming the claimed invention by other descriptive words other than what is used in the disclosure that are vague, indefinite, and/or awkwardly and confusingly worded, and therefore, are not fully understood. The following are examples of such deficiencies:
Re. claim 1: The phrase “the antenna aperture segment” as recited in lines 10-11 lacks antecedent basis.
Re. claim 6: The phrase “orientations of the dies are different between the plurality of tapes” as recited in line 4 renders the claim vague and indefinite. It is unclear as to which dies are indicated. Are the plurality of dies or dies on each the plurality of tapes having an identical orientation” Clarification is required.
Re. claim 10: The phrase “the bond pad pattern” as recited in line 2 lacks antecedent basis.
The phrase “The phrase “the bond pad pattern” as recited in lines 2-3 lacks antecedent basis.
Re. claim 11: The phrase “the at least one antenna segment” as recited in line 7 lacks antecedent basis.
Although, applicant is entitled to make up new terminologies, as so desired, please clarify what the deficiencies are so that the examiner can clearly understand and prosecute the merits of the invention by pointing out the claimed devices in the specification and the drawings in the next communication. Applicant’s full cooperation will be greatly appreciated.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PAUL D KIM whose telephone number is (571)272-4565. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday: 6:00 AM-2:00 PM.
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, Thomas Hong can be reached at 571-272-0993. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/PAUL D KIM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3729