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.
Claims 1-13 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 regards as the invention.
Regarding claim 1, it is unclear what is represented by the limitation of “a content of a compound having a molecular weight of 10,000 or less per unit volume of the cholesteric liquid crystal layer is less than 44 mg/cm3”. Does it represent a mass of the compound having a molecular weight of 10,000 or less in terms of mg per cm3 of the cholesteric liquid crystal layer, or does it represent a total mass of the compound having a molecular weight of 10,000 or less that occupies the unit volume? Furthermore, is a zero amount of the compound included?
Claims 2-9 depend on and include all the subject matter of claim 1, but fail to provide any solutions to the indefinite issues described above.
Regarding claim 10, it is unclear whether the liquid crystal compound having a polymerizable group, can also have a second polymerizable group, such that it is include in the limitation of “a total amount of a compound having two polymerizable groups in the composition”.
Claims 11-13 depend on and include all the subject matter of claim 10, but fail to provide any solutions to the indefinite issues described above.
Clarification and amendment with relevant citation(s) from the specification are required.
Any inquiry concerning this communication should be directed to Sow-Fun Hon whose telephone number is (571)272-1492. The examiner is on a flexible schedule but can usually be reached during a regular workweek between the hours of 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's supervisor, Aaron Austin, can be reached at (571)272-8935. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is (571)273-8300.
Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Center (https://patentcenter.uspto.gov). Should you have any questions on the Patent Center system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/Sophie Hon/
Sow-Fun Hon
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1782
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