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 .
Claim Objections
Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities: In the last line of the claim, the term “posited” should be correctly spelled, “positioned.” Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-7, 9 and 10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Iellici (U.S. Patent No. 10,305,182).
Iellici, in figures 24 and 25, discloses:
1. A switchable antenna assembly (240), the switchable antenna assembly comprising: a substrate (PCB, col. 9, lns. 17-30); a ground plane disposed on the substrate; a feed (26); a first planar antenna element (A) extending from the ground plane in a first direction, wherein the first planar antenna element is coupled to the feed by a first transmission line, wherein the first planar antenna element is configured to produce a first radiation pattern (330A, fig. 33); a second planar antenna (B) element extending from the ground plane in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction of first planar antenna element, wherein the second planar antenna element is configured to produce a second radiation pattern (330B, fig. 33); and a single pole—two-throw switching element (RF switch, col. 9, lns. 17-30) configured to selectively couple one of the first transmission line or the second transmission line to the feed; wherein the two-throw switching element is posited atop the first and second transmission lines (figs. 24 and 25).
2. The switchable antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the first planar antenna element and the second planar antenna element are configured to produce a signal between about 5 GHz and about 7.2 GHz (col. 7, lns. 48-51).
3. The switchable antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the two-throw switching element is controlled via a control circuit (col. 9, lns. 33-62).
4. The switchable antenna assembly of claim 3, wherein the switchable antenna assembly further comprises a data over coaxial circuit, and wherein the two-throw switching element is controlled via the control circuit based at least in part on a control signal carried via a data over coaxial circuit (col. 9, lns. 33-62).
5. The switchable antenna assembly of claim 4, wherein the control signal is modulated onto a radio frequency signal carried concurrently with the control signal via the data over coaxial circuit (col. 9, lns. 33-62).
6. The switchable antenna assembly of claim 5, wherein the switchable antenna assembly further comprises a radio frequency circuit, and wherein the control signal is demodulated from the radio frequency signal using the radio frequency circuit (col. 9, lns. 33-62).
7. The switchable antenna assembly of claim 5, wherein the radio frequency signal is defined within a first frequency band, and the control signal is defined within a second frequency band that is distinct from the first frequency band (col. 9, lns. 33-62).
9. The switchable antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the first radiation pattern is associated with a first polarization, the second radiation pattern is associated with a second polarization, the first polarization being different from the second polarization (fig. 33).
10. The switchable antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the first planar antenna element defines a first shape, and wherein the second planar antenna element defines a second shape identical to the first shape (col. 9, lns. 33-62).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claims 11 and 12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Iellici (U.S. Patent No. 10,305,182) in view of ZARIC (U.S. Publication No. 2019/0044231).
Claims 11 and 12: Iellici fails to disclose wherein the first shape of the first planar antenna element comprises: a straight first edge; a straight second edge parallel to the first edge; a straight third edge, wherein a first endpoint of the third edge contacts a first endpoint of the first edge and a second endpoint of the third edge contacts a first endpoint of the second edge; and a curved fourth edge, wherein a first endpoint of the fourth edge contacts a second endpoint of the first edge and a second endpoint of the fourth edge contacts a second endpoint of the second edge; and wherein the switchable antenna assembly is configured for 6e Wifi signaling. ZARIC discloses an UWB antenna capable of operating at 6E Wifi signaling (para. [0003]); and comprising a planar antenna element shape that comprises: a straight first edge; a straight second edge parallel to the first edge; a straight third edge, wherein a first endpoint of the third edge contacts a first endpoint of the first edge and a second endpoint of the third edge contacts a first endpoint of the second edge; and a curved fourth edge, wherein a first endpoint of the fourth edge contacts a second endpoint of the first edge and a second endpoint of the fourth edge contacts a second endpoint of the second edge (fig. 3E). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to have modified the invention of Iellici, and replaced the antennas of Iellici with the UWB antennas disclosed by ZARIC. Doing so would have enabled the device with ultrawideband wireless communication.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed October 21, 2025 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
On page 8, lines 3 and 4 of the Remarks, Applicant contends “The RF switch, which allegedly is the two-throw switching element, at best, discusses it's location of being in the area that is between the two antenna. Nowhere in FIGs. 24 and 25 and the corresponding discussions disclose that the RF switch is positioned atop of the transmission lines. As such, Iellici does not disclose the amended claim 1.” The Examiner respectfully disagrees with Applicant.
In response, in the context of the disclosure of Iellici, the combination of the subject matter shown in figures 24 and 25 are a clear teaching of the claim limitation, especially the structure shown in figure 25, which shows the physical switch 65 positioned atop the transmission lines of each respective antenna. As such, the rejection is maintained.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 ROBERT KARACSONY whose telephone number is (571)270-1268. The examiner can normally be reached 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, Monday - Friday.
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, Dimary Lopez can be reached at (571) 270-7893. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/Robert Karacsony/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2845
Prosecution Insights