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 .
Attorney’s Docket Number: 55037-0039001
Filling Date: 05/31/23
Priority Date: 11/10/21
Applicant(s): Torige et al
Examiner: Bilkis Jahan
DETAILED ACTION
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
1. 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.
2. Claims 1-8 and 9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as failing to set forth 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.
3. Claim 1 in lines 10-12 recites “Analog-to-Digital (AD) conversion circuit configured to convert a digital signal to an analog signal”.
However, AD does digital signal to Analog signal conversion not digital signal to an analog signal. This is not clear language.
Claim 9 in lines 12-14 recites “Analog-to-Digital (AD) conversion circuit configured to convert a digital signal to an analog signal”.
However, AD does digital signal to Analog signal conversion not digital signal to an analog signal. This is not clear language.
Claims 2-8 are dependent from claim 1. Therefore, claims 2-8 are also rejected under 112 2nd rejection.
Remark
4. Claims 1-9 will be allowed (if no new matter added) after 112 2nd rejection is overcome.
Allowable Subject Matter
5. Claims 1-8 and 9 are allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
6. The applied prior arts neither anticipate nor render the claimed subject matter obvious because they fail to teach the claimed dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), comprising, comprising: a plurality of ineffective pixels DR between the plurality of effective pixels APR and the plurality of light-shielding pixels DR, wherein the plurality of ineffective pixels is not connected to the AD conversion circuit, and the reflection unit is in an ineffective pixel region in which the plurality of ineffective pixels is on the semiconductor layer in combination with all other limitations as recited in claim 1.
7. The applied prior arts neither anticipate nor render the claimed subject matter obvious because they fail to teach the claimed ranging device, comprising: the plurality of light-shielding pixels, wherein the plurality of ineffective pixels is not connected to the AD conversion circuit, and the reflection unit is in an ineffective pixel region in which the plurality of ineffective pixels is on the semiconductor layer in combination with all other limitations as recited in claim 9.
8. Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Response to Arguments
9. Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1-9 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Conclusion
10. 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 BILKIS JAHAN whose telephone number is (571)270-5022. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 8:00 am-5 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, Marlon T Fletcher can be reached at (571)272-2063. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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BILKIS . JAHAN
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2817
/BILKIS JAHAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2817
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