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 .
Drawings
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(5) because they do not include the following reference sign(s) mentioned in the description:
“301” (see, for example, page 4, line 31; Table 1);
“302” (see, for example, page 4, line 32; Table 1);
“301 to 310” (see, for example, page 5, line 2; Table 1)
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). 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. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
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.
Claims 1-10 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 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.
Fig. 4 depicts virtual grid points Vg which are described as provided on each virtual path [see, for example, page 6, lines 9-19]. As per claim 1, the claimed step of providing a plurality of via holes on the virtual grid points [for example, lines 20-25] recites “the via hole of each trace is located on the virtual path corresponding to” [for example, lines 21-22, 23]; as per claim 7, “the corresponding via hole” [for example, line 3]; as per claim 9, “the via hole” [for example, line 4]; and as per claim 10, the corresponding via hole [for example, line 2]. However, the subject matter disclosed for the via hole so corresponding, or the corresponding via hole, raises doubt as to possession of the claimed invention at the time of filing because it is not conclusive how via holes correspond. Taking FIG. 5A as exemplary, the subject matter is not properly described for how via hole 408 was determined to be where it is depicted, in other words, it is not properly described how or why via hole 408 is located as depicted instead of, for example, one or more virtual grid point(s) to the right. Merely disclosing that the traces cannot be interleaved before or after layer switching [for example, page 8], or that they correspond, does not properly describe the result obtained. How is layer switching determined or otherwise obtained? Taking FIG. 7D as an exemplary result, there is no subject matter disclosed that describes how each of the via holes 401-410 are determined other than merely “corresponding.” Thus, the claimed subject matter is not properly described and consequently raises doubt as to possession of the claimed invention at the time of filing. [Note: although not claimed there may also be questions regarding possession of a setting module (for example, page 6), a calculation module (for example, page 7), a classification and execution module (for example, page 7)].
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. See, for example, OHTSUKA et al. [US 2013/0031525 A1] at (entire document), particularly paragraph [0069].
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LEIGH M GARBOWSKI whose telephone number is (571)272-1893. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9-5 EST.
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, Jack Chiang can be reached at 571-272-7483. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/LEIGH M GARBOWSKI/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2851
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