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
Applicant’s amendments, filed March 5, 2026, have been fully considered.
Claims 2-3, 6, 8, and 12 are cancelled.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112(b)
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.
Claims 10 and 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) 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.
Regarding claim 10, the parenthesis surrounding the phrase "film-peeling electrostatic voltage" renders the claim indefinite, because it is unclear whether the limitations of the phrase are part of the claimed invention. See MPEP § 2173.05(d). Claim 15 depends from Claim 10.
Claims 16-24 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) 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 16 recites the limitation "according to claim 2" in line 1. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 17 recites the limitation "according to claim 2" in line 1. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 18 recites the limitation "according to claim 2" in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 19 recites the limitation "according to claim 2" in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 20 depends from Claim 19. Claim 24 depends from Claim 20.
Claim 21 recites the limitation "according to claim 2" in line 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 22 depends from Claim 21. Claim 23 depends from Claim 22.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments (See Applicant’s Remarks, filed 03/05/2026) have been fully considered and are persuasive. The rejections of Claims 1-2, 4-5, 7, 9-11, and 13-24 in the previous Office action, mailed December 18, 2025 have been withdrawn. Claims 1, 4-5, 7, 9, 11, 13-14 are allowed.
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 Crystal J. Lee whose telephone number is (571)272-6242. The examiner can normally be reached M-F from 8:00am - 5:00pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Doug Hutton can be reached at (571) 272-4137. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/CRYSTAL J LEE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3674
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