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 1-5 and 11-20 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.
Regarding claims 1, 11, and 16, they claim that the second switch SW2 has a sixth terminal [presumably 128?] between the fourth terminal [124], the fifth terminal [126], the sixth terminal, the seventh terminal [130], and the eighth terminal [132]. First, it is unclear how the sixth terminal is between . . . the sixth terminal . . . among other terminals. Second, if the sixth terminal is 128, it is unclear how it is between 126 and 130. For example, FIG. 2A shows an operation of the circuit where 128 is between 124 and 132. FIG. 2B then shows another operation where 128 is not connected to any of the other terminals of the second switch. It is unclear if the term “between” is being construed in a physical sense, where 128 is physically between the other terminals of the second switch, since it does not appear to be electrically between them.
Regarding claims 2-5, 12-15, and 17-20, these claims are rejected since they depend on claims above.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1, 11, and 16 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Conclusion
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/SIBIN CHEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2896