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 .
Response to Amendment
The amendment filed 12/17/2025 has been entered. Claims 1-2, 6-9 and 18-20 are currently pending. Amendments to the Specification and the claims have overcome the objections set forth in the Non-Final Office Action dated 07/18/2025.
Claim Objections
Claims 1-2, 6-9 and 18-19 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 1: “a plurality of reflector grill pins arranged between the RF filter and the radiation element module and grounding (GND) the radiation element module, outside air being introduced from in front of the RF filter to in back of the RF filter or being discharged from in back of the RF filter to in front of the RF filter through the at least one reflector grill pin” should read “a plurality of reflector grill pins arranged between the RF filter and the radiation element module and grounding (GND) the radiation element module, the plurality of reflector grill pins configured such that outside air , or , passes through the plurality of reflector grill pins”.
Claim 2: “the at least one reflector grill pin is” should read “the plurality of reflector grill pins are”.
Claim 6: “the reflector grill pins” should read “the plurality of reflector grill pins”.
Claim 7: “one of the reflector grill pins” should read “one of the plurality of reflector grill pins”.
Claim 8: “one of the reflector grill pins” should read “one of the plurality of reflector grill pins”.
Claim 9: “the reflector grill pins” should read “the plurality of reflector grill pins”.
Claim 19: “outside air being introduced from in front of the RF filter to in back of the RF filter or being discharged from in back of the RF filter to in front of the RF filter” should be amended to state that the plurality of grill pins are configured such that outside air or discharged air passes through the plurality of reflector grill pin”, as for claim 1.
Claim 19 (penultimate line): “so as to surround a central region” should read “so as to surround respective central regions”.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 18 is objected to due to its dependency.
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.
Claim 19 is 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 19 recites in line 5 “at least one reflector grill pin”. However, lines 14-16 recite the limitation “wherein the at least one reflector grill pin is disposed along a perimeter region of the front surfaces of the multiplicity of RF filters so as to surround a central region”. It is not clear how one reflector grill pin (of the at least one reflector grill pins) could surround a central region. Clarification is required.
For the purposes of examination, the at least one reflector grill pin is interpreted as a plurality of reflector grill pins.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-2, 6-9, 18 and 20 are allowed.
Claim 19 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.
Regarding claim 1, Kim et al. (US 2019/0268046 – US equivalent of IDS document KR 10-1855133; “Kim”) discloses (fig. 4 below) “An antenna RF module (title, “MIMO antenna assembly”) comprising:
an RF filter (¶87, 430) arranged on a front surface of a main board (second PCB 440);
a radiation element module (antenna elements 410) arranged on a front surface of the RF filter (430);
at least one reflector (first PCB 420) arranged between the RF filter (430) and the radiation element module (410) and grounding (GND) the radiation element module (¶87, “At least one ground plane is provided on the first PCB 420, and may function as a reflector for the plurality of antenna elements 410. That is, the at least one ground plane on the first PCB 420 is used as a reflector”); and
a radome cover (shown in fig. 4) combined with the front surface of the RF filter (all elements of the antenna RF module shown in fig. 4 are combined to form an antenna assembly) and protecting the radiation element module from the outside”.
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Kim discloses a heat sink with fins (see fig. 1). However, Kim does not teach, or suggest, a plurality of reflector grill pins arranged between the RF filter and the radiation element module and grounding (GND) the radiation element module, the plurality of reflector grill pins configured such that outside air introduced from in front of the RF filter to in back of the RF filter or discharged from in back of the RF filter to in front of the RF filter passes through the plurality of reflector grill pins; and wherein the plurality of reflector grill pins are disposed along a perimeter region of the front surface of the RF filter so as to surround a central region on which the radiation element module is disposed.
Ma et al. (US 2013/0222201 – of record; “Ma”) (fig. 4A below & fig. 4B) discloses “An antenna RF module (¶29, RF module 400) comprising:
a radiation element module (¶29, radiating element 410);
a plurality of reflector grill pins (heat dissipating fins 422), the plurality of reflector grill pins (422) configured such that air passes through the plurality of reflector grill pins (¶29, “the antenna reflector 420 also serves as a heat sink, and has various perforations 421 and/or heat dissipating fins 422 that are exposed to free-flowing air”); and
a radome cover (430) and protecting the radiation element module (410) from the outside,
wherein the plurality of reflector grill pins (422) are disposed along a perimeter region (fins 422 are arranged at the sides and back of the reflector 420) so as to surround a central region on which the radiation element module (410) is disposed”.
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Ma does not teach, or suggest, an RF filter arranged on a front surface of a main board; the radiation element module arranged on a front surface of the RF filter; the plurality of reflector grill pins arranged between the RF filter and the radiation element module and grounding the radiation element module, the plurality of reflector grill pins configured such that outside air introduced from in front of the RF filter to in back of the RF filter or discharged from in back of the RF filter to in front of the RF filter passes through the plurality of reflector grill pins; and the radome cover is combined with the front surface of the RF filter, wherein the plurality of reflector grill pins are disposed along a perimeter region of the front surface of the RF filter.
Claims 2, 6-9 and 18 are allowable due to their dependency on claim 1.
Regarding independent claim 19, Kim discloses (fig. 4) “An antenna RF module assembly (title, “MIMO antenna assembly”) comprising:
a multiplicity of RF filters (¶87, “a plurality of band-pass filters 430”) arranged on a front surface of a main board (second PCB 440);
a multiplicity of radiation element modules (¶87, “plurality of antenna elements 410”) arranged on front surfaces, respectively, of the multiplicity of RF filters (430)”.
Although Kim discloses a reflector (first PCB 420) arranged between each of the multiplicity of RF filters (430) and each of the multiplicity of radiation element modules (430) and grounding (GND) the radiation element module (¶87, “At least one ground plane is provided on the first PCB 420, and may function as a reflector for the plurality of antenna elements 410”); and a radome cover (Radome in fig. 4) combined with the front surfaces, respectively, of the multiplicity of RF filters (430) and protecting the multiplicity of radiation element modules (410), respectively, from the outside, Kim does not teach, or suggest, “a plurality of reflector grill pins arranged between each of the multiplicity of RF filters and each of the multiplicity of radiation element modules and grounding (GND) the radiation element module, the plurality of reflector grill pins configured such that outside air introduced from in front of each of the multiplicity of RF filters to in back of each of the multiplicity of RF filters, or discharged from in back of each of the multiplicity of RF filters to in front of each of the multiplicity of RF filters, passes through the plurality of reflector grill pins; and
a multiplicity of radome covers combined with the front surfaces respectively, of the multiplicity of RF filters and protecting the multiplicity of radiation element modules, respectively, from the outside, wherein the plurality of reflector grill pins are disposed along a perimeter region of the front surfaces of the multiplicity of RF filters so as to surround respective central regions on which the multiplicity of radiation element modules are disposed”.
Ma is cited as disclosing (fig. 4A & fig. 4B) some elements of the claimed invention, namely “An antenna RF module assembly (¶29, RF module 400) comprising:
a radiation element module (¶29, radiating element 410); a plurality of reflector grill pins (heat dissipating fins 422), the plurality of reflector grill pins (422) configured such that air passes through the plurality of reflector grill pins (¶29, “the antenna reflector 420 also serves as a heat sink, and has various perforations 421 and/or heat dissipating fins 422 that are exposed to free-flowing air”); and
a radome cover (430) and protecting the radiation element module (410) from the outside,
wherein the plurality of reflector grill pins (422) are disposed along a perimeter region (fins 422 are arranged at the sides and back of the reflector 420) so as to surround a central region on which the radiation element module (410) is disposed”.
However, Ma does not teach, or suggest, a multiplicity of RF filters arranged on a front surface of a main board; a multiplicity of radiation element modules arranged on front surfaces, respectively, of the multiplicity of RF filters; a plurality of reflector grill pins arranged between each of the multiplicity of RF filters and each of the multiplicity of radiation element modules and grounding (GND) the radiation element module, the plurality of reflector grill pins configured such that outside air introduced from in front of each of the multiplicity of RF filters to in back of each of the multiplicity of RF filters, or discharged from in back of each of the multiplicity of RF filters to in front of each of the multiplicity of RF filters, passes through the plurality of reflector grill pins; and a multiplicity of radome covers combined with the front surfaces respectively, of the multiplicity of RF filters and protecting the multiplicity of radiation element modules, respectively, from the outside, wherein the plurality of reflector grill pins are disposed along a perimeter region of the front surfaces of the multiplicity of RF filters so as to surround respective central regions on which the multiplicity of radiation element modules are disposed.
Regarding claim 20, Kim is cited as teaching (fig. 4) some elements of the claimed invention, namely a main board (second PCB 440), at least one digital element being mounted on a front surface or rear surface of the main board (¶86, “a calibration network is provided on one board 440, together with a power amplifier and a digital circuit”); a casing-shaped rear housing (fig. 5, housing 12) formed to have an installation space in the rear housing in which the main board (440) is installed, the installation space being open at a front side; and an RF module assembly connected to the main board through an electrical signal line, wherein the antenna RF module assembly comprises: a multiplicity of RF filters (¶87, “a plurality of band-pass filters 430”) arranged on a front surface of a main board (second PCB 440); a multiplicity of radiation element modules (¶87, “plurality of antenna elements 410”) arranged on front surfaces, respectively, of the multiplicity of RF filters (430); at least one reflector (first PCB 420) arranged between each of the multiplicity of RF filters (430) and each of the multiplicity of radiation element modules (430) and grounding (GND) the radiation element module (¶87, “At least one ground plane is provided on the first PCB 420, and may function as a reflector for the plurality of antenna elements 410”); and a radome cover combined with the front surfaces, respectively, of the multiplicity of RF filters (430) and protecting the multiplicity of radiation element modules, respectively, from the outside.
Kim does not teach, or suggest, a front housing arranged to close the installation space in the rear housing and separate the installation space in the rear housing and an outside space; and an RF module assembly arranged in front of the front housing; at least one reflector grill pin arranged between each of the multiplicity of RF filters, outside air being introduced from in front of each of the multiplicity of RF filters to in back of each of the multiplicity of RF filters or being discharged from in back of each of the multiplicity of RF filters to in front of each of the multiplicity of RF filters through the at least one reflector grill pin, and a multiplicity of radome covers combined with the front surfaces of the multiplicity of RF filters.
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 ANNA N HAMADYK whose telephone number is (703)756-1672. The examiner can normally be reached 7:30 am - 5:00 pm.
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/ANNA N HAMADYK/Examiner, Art Unit 2845
/DIMARY S LOPEZ CRUZ/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2845