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 Status
Claims 7-16 are under consideration
Claims 1-6 and 17-21 are withdrawn
Election/Restrictions
Claims 1-6 and 17-21 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to nonelected inventions, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Applicant timely traversed the restriction (election) requirement in the reply filed on 05/26/2026.
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 7-16 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.
Regarding independent claim 7, the instant claim discloses that a first array direction is an array direction of through holes belonging to the first through-hole group and arranged along the first side edge, and a second array direction is an array direction of through holes belonging to the second through-hole group and arranged along the first side edge, where the first side edge extends in a first direction, thus the first array direction and second array direction are each aligned with the first direction, resulting in a first angle formed by the first array direction and the second array direction which would necessarily be 0°. However, the instant claim further discloses that the first angle is 0.00042° or greater.
Regarding claim 8, the instant claim further discloses that the plurality of through-hole groups are arranged in the first direction, where the first and second array directions are each aligned with the first direction, resulting in a first angle of 0°, outside the claimed range of 0.00042° or greater.
Claims 9-16 depend on instant claim 7.
As the claims are written, it is unclear how the array directions of the through-hole groups are oriented with respect to the mask.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. CN 113359387 A, TW 202022142 A, US 20210242405 A1, US 20200152463 A1, and US 20200019056 A1 each teach deposition masks similar to those of the instant disclosure.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Alexander Lee whose telephone number is (571)272-2261. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th 7:30-5:30 EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Keith Walker can be reached at (571) 272-3458. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Alexander N. Lee/Examiner, Art Unit 1737
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