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 .
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.
Claims 1-20 are 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.
The term “substantially” in claims 1, 7, 8, 12 and 18 is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite. The term “substantially” is not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention.
Claim 1 recites the limitations “substantially parallel” and “substantially perpendicular”. By definition, both parallel and perpendicular have specific and clear definitions. Specifically, something is either parallel or it is not, likewise, something is either perpendicular or is not. There is no clear definition to the scope that is to be applied to ‘substantially”. Specifically, the scope is not clear as to how far away from parallel and perpendicular an element can go while still meeting the scope of the term substantially. As such the scope of the claim is indefinite.
Claim 7 recites “the foldable housing is substantially fully folded”. The scope of this limitation is unclear and indefinite. Again, something is either fully folded or it is not, and there is nothing to make clear at what degree of folding the scope of substantially fully folded been met. Moreover, this limitation relates to alignment as well. If something is aligned, then additional folding or less folding would result in a breaking of the alignment. As such the scope of the claim is indefinite.
Claim 8 recites a “direction substantially perpendicular”. Again, the scope is not clear as to how far away from perpendicular a direction can go while still meeting the scope of the term substantially. As such the scope of the claim is indefinite.
Claim 12 recites a “direction substantially perpendicular”. Again, the scope is not clear as to how far away from perpendicular a direction can go while still meeting the scope of the term substantially. As such the scope of the claim is indefinite.
Claim 18 recites the limitations “substantially parallel” and “substantially perpendicular”. By definition, both parallel and perpendicular have specific and clear definitions. Specifically, something is either parallel or it is not, likewise, something is either perpendicular or is not. There is no clear definition to the scope that is to be applied to ‘substantially”. Specifically, the scope is not clear as to how far away from parallel and perpendicular an element can go while still meeting the scope of the term substantially. As such the scope of the claim is indefinite.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-20, specifically independent claims 1 and 18, would be allowable if rewritten or amended 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The prior art of record fails to anticipate or render obvious the limitations of the above cited claims. Re claim 1, the prior art fails to explicitly disclose the flexible display across the foldable housing comprising a hinge element that itself contain a conductive element as well as the specified layout of the conductive and non-conductive portions as well as the specified physical connection to the hinge with the specified electrical connections to the wireless communication circuit and the associated ground element. Re claim 18, the prior art fails to explicitly disclose the two-panel display provided one to each side of the foldable housing comprising a hinge element that itself contain a conductive element as well as the specified layout of the conductive and non-conductive portions as well as the specified physical connection to the hinge with the specified electrical connections to the wireless communication circuit and the associated ground element.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
The following prior art documents are relevant to the scope of the claims but fail to anticipate or render obvious the specific limitations as claimed:
Barrera (US Pub 20190356051)
Endo (US Pub 20150261259)
Waltho (US Pub 20070194994)
Hashizume (US Pub 20060194462)
Shoji (US Pub 20040106428)
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MICHAEL R NEFF whose telephone number is (571)270-1848. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 5:30am-2:00pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Hannah S. Wang can be reached at (571) 272-9018. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/MICHAEL R NEFF/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2631
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