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 .
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities:
In paragraph [0020], line 1, the specification refers to Fig. 5; However, no figure labeled Fig.5 is present in any drawings. Instead, the drawings include Figs. 5A, 5B, and 5C, which needs to be
correspondingly described in the brief description of the drawings.
In paragraph [0049], line 2, the specification refers to “a diode connected load” in fig 6B; However, fig. 6B does not identify or label any such element and as such renders such an element vague in meaning.
In paragraph [0050], line1, the specification refers to transistors MR0… MR3 in Fig 6B; However, such label does not appear in Fig. 6B and thus renders such a label vague in meaning.
In paragraph [0050], line 2, the specification refers to a “variable resistor of the first set 612” in Fig. 6B; However, such label does not appear in Fig. 6B and thus renders such a label vague in meaning.
In paragraph [0050], line 3, the specification refers to “control voltage ramps”; However, no control voltage ramps are clearly labeled in Fig. 6B and thus renders such a label vague in meaning.
In paragraph [0050], line 3, the specification refers to “VGC” in Fig. 6B; However, such label does not appear in Fig. 6B and thus renders such a label vague in meaning.
In paragraph [0050], line 3 and again in line 5, the specification refers to “RF” in Fig. 6B; However, fig. 6B doesn’t clearly identify “RF”. Cross -figure reliance, Fig. 6A explaining Fig. 6B, must still be clear and explicit and thus renders such a label vague in meaning.
In paragraph [0051], line 1, the specification refers to Fig. 6; However, no figure labeled Fig. 6 is present in any drawings and thus renders such a label vague in meaning. Instead, the drawings include Fig. 6A, 6B, and 6C, which needs to be correspondingly described in the brief description of the drawings.
In paragraph [0056], line 10, the specification refers to element VCCS 826 in Fig. 8: however, there is no such element labeled VCCS 826 shown in Fig. 8. Accordingly, those labels should reference drawings in which those labels appear for clarity and completeness of description.
Appropriate corrections are required.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to because:
Fig. 6A, and Fig. 7 does not clearly illustrate how the control circuit described with respect to Fig. 2 comprises or is operatively connected to the ramp generator in Fig. 6A and Fig. 7.
Fig. 6A., Fig. 7, and Fig. 8 are not clearly legible, thereby rendering it difficult to discern the interconnections, components and especially certain designated labeling of the illustrated circuitry. Features of drawings should have sufficient clarity and resolution to permit understanding of the illustrated circuitry.
Fig. 6B fails:
To clearly label and identify the elements constituting the diode-connected load;
To have VCCS 632 properly labeled in Fig 6B as described in the specification [0047] line 7;
The upper portion of the circuit includes unlabeled components whose function and correspondence to the specifications are unclear. Therefore, appropriate clarification is needed.
Fig. 8 includes an element 626 without clear identification or explanation of what the element represents in this drawing, such that its reference to the circuit drawing in Fig. 8 is unclear.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. The drawings do not clearly show all of the features of the claimed invention. Claim 1 recites a transimpedance amplifier comprising a control circuit, including a ramp generator configured to generate, responsive to an output voltage of the control circuit, a plurality of ramp voltages such that each of the voltages adjusts a corresponding one of the variable-resistors of the first set and the reference set. Figures 6A, 7, and 8 do not clearly illustrate the claimed ramp generator, its integration with the control circuit as indicated in claim 1, and the drawings do not depict how the plurality of ramp voltages correspondingly adjust the variable resistors of both the first set and the reference set, or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
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 1-14 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.
Claim 1, line 10: “a plurality of ramp voltages such that each of the voltages adjusts a corresponding one of the variable-resistors of the first set and the reference set.” It is unclear whether the recited ramp generator is part of the TIA, part of the control circuit, or a separate component.
Claim 11 – Line 2: The phrase “approximately proportionally to an inverse of the resistance of the reference set” is unclear. There’s no apparent disclosure of such an arrangement in the detailed description, thereby rendering such as aspect as being vague and indefinite. Clarification is necessary.
Claim 13 – Line 4: recites “an offset voltage Vrefj”; However, note that such a limitation is not positively defined in the specification, thereby rendering such as aspect as being vague and indefinite. Accordingly, clarification Is needed.
Appropriate correction is required.
Dependent claims 2 -10, 12, and 14 inherit the deficiencies of independent claim 1 and thus are also rejected.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Nogami et al. (PGPub Number US 2004/01,454,419 A1) fig 4, page 5, discloses an amplifier with the Ramp generator that controls the reference set of variable resistors indirectly, in the control circuit. However, the applicant teaches a ramp generator that generates multiple ramp voltages that directly and individually control both the reference set and the first set of variable resistors in a coordinated, exponential/DB-linear scheme.
Mashimo et al. (PGPub Number US 2011/0291,766 A1) fig 9, discloses gain switching in a TIA using threshold-based control logic, it does not teach a ramp generator producing multiple ramp voltages that sequentially control individual variable resistors.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NATASHA Y MARANO whose telephone number is (571)272-9512. The examiner can normally be reached Mon - Fri 7:30am - 3:30pm.
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NATASHA Y. MARANO
Examiner
Art Unit 2843
/ANDREA LINDGREN BALTZELL/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2843