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 .
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the “one or more resonators” recited in claim 7 must be shown 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.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities:
Paragraph [0005], line 9, “the noise filter” should be “the noise filter circuit”.
Appropriate correction is required.
The lengthy specification has not been checked to the extent necessary to determine the presence of all possible minor errors. Applicant’s cooperation is requested in correcting any errors of which applicant may become aware in the specification.
Claim Objections
Claims 1-20 are objected to because of the following informalities:
1. (Proposed Amendment) A radio frequency system comprising:
a power amplifier configured to generate an amplified radio frequency transmit signal having a first frequency range when the radio frequency system is configured in a first transmit mode in a first uplink band and having a second frequency range when the radio frequency system is configured in a second transmit mode to transmit in a second uplink band;
an uplink filter configured to filter the amplified radio frequency transmit signal, the uplink filter having a passband corresponding to a third frequency range that includes both the first and second frequency ranges; and
a noise filter circuit coupled between an output of the power amplifier and the uplink filter, the noise filter circuit configured to filter noise from the amplified radio frequency transmit signal.
2. (Proposed Amendment) The radio frequency system of claim 1 wherein the noise filter circuit includes a switch and a noise filter, the switch configured to selectively enable and disable the noise filter.
4. (Proposed Amendment) The radio frequency system of claim 2 wherein the switch and the noise filter are in a signal path extending from a first node to ground, the first node being coupled between the output of the power amplifier and the uplink filter.
8. (Proposed Amendment) The radio frequency system of claim 1 wherein the radio frequency system further comprises at least one receive path configured to process a radio frequency receive signal received by an antenna, the radio frequency receive signal is within a downlink band, and the noise filter circuit is configured to filter noise in the downlink band from the amplified radio frequency transmit signal.
13. (Proposed Amendment) A radio frequency module comprising:
a substrate;
a power amplifier supported by the substrate and configured to generate an amplified radio frequency transmit signal having a first frequency range when the radio frequency module is configured in a first transmit mode in a first uplink band and having a second frequency range when the radio frequency module is configured in a second transmit mode to transmit in a second uplink band;
a uplink filter supported by the substrate and configured to filter the amplified radio frequency transmit signal, the uplink filter having a passband corresponding to a third frequency range that includes both the first and second frequency ranges; and
a noise filter circuit supported by the substrate and coupled between an output of the power amplifier and the uplink filter, the noise filter circuit configured to filter noise from the amplified radio frequency transmit signal.
14. (Proposed Amendment) The radio frequency module of claim 13 wherein the noise filter circuit includes a switch and a noise filter, the switch configured to selectively enable and disable the noise filter.
16. (Proposed Amendment) The radio frequency module of claim 14 wherein the switch and the noise filter are in a signal path extending from a first node and ground, the first node being coupled between the output of the power amplifier and the uplink filter.
19. (Proposed Amendment) The radio frequency module of claim 14 wherein the radio frequency module further comprises at least one receive path configured to process a radio frequency receive signal received by an antenna, the radio frequency receive signal is within a downlink band, and the noise filter circuit is configured to filter noise in the downlink band from the amplified radio frequency transmit signal.
20. (Proposed Amendment) A mobile device comprising:
an antenna; and
a radio frequency system coupled to the antenna, the radio frequency system including:
a power amplifier configured to generate an amplified radio frequency transmit signal having a first frequency range when the radio frequency system is configured in a first transmit mode in a first uplink band and having a second frequency range when the radio frequency system is configured in a second transmit mode to transmit in a second uplink band;
an uplink filter configured to filter the amplified radio frequency transmit signal, the uplink filter having a passband corresponding to a third frequency range that includes both the first and second frequency ranges; and
a noise filter circuit coupled between an output of the power amplifier and the uplink filter, the noise filter circuit configured to filter noise from the amplified radio frequency transmit signal.
Claims 3, 5-7, and 9-12 depend indirectly to claim 1, therefore they are also objected.
Claims 15, 17, and 18 depend indirectly to claim 13, therefore they are also objected.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by King et al. (US 2022/0182084 A1), hereinafter “King”.
The applied reference has a common assignee with the instant application. Based upon the earlier effectively filed date of the reference, it constitutes prior art under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2). This rejection under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) might be overcome by: (1) a showing under 37 CFR 1.130(a) that the subject matter disclosed in the reference was obtained directly or indirectly from the inventor or a joint inventor of this application and is thus not prior art in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(A); (2) a showing under 37 CFR 1.130(b) of a prior public disclosure under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(B) if the same invention is not being claimed; or (3) a statement pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) establishing that, not later than the effective filing date of the claimed invention, the subject matter disclosed in the reference and the claimed invention were either owned by the same person or subject to an obligation of assignment to the same person or subject to a joint research agreement.
King illustrates an RF front end 310 in FIG. 10A or FIG. 10B each includes a power amplifier 702, a low noise amplifier 704, a transmit filter 706, a receive filter 708, a first switch 710, a second switch 712, a first supplemental filter 714, a second supplemental filter 716, and a common filter 718. King further teaches that the first supplemental filter 714 and the second supplemental filter 716 can be implemented as shunt filters or shunt notch filters.
Regarding claim 1, King illustrates a radio frequency system (mobile device 800 shown in FIG. 2 which includes the RF front end 310 shown in FIG. 10A or FIG. 10B) comprising:
a power amplifier (the power amplifier 702) configured to generate an amplified radio frequency transmit signal having a first frequency range when the radio frequency system is configured in a first transmit mode in a first uplink band and having a second frequency range when the radio frequency system is configured in a second transmit mode to transmit in a second uplink band;
an uplink filter (the common filter 718) configured to filter the amplified radio frequency transmit signal, the uplink filter having a passband corresponding to a third frequency range that includes both the first and second frequency ranges; and
a noise filter circuit (the first supplemental filter 714 or the second supplemental filter 716) coupled between an output of the power amplifier and the uplink filter, the noise filter circuit configured to filter noise from the amplified radio frequency transmit signal.
Applicant note although King does not explicitly show or teach that the amplified radio frequency transmit signal having a first frequency range when the radio frequency system is configured in a first transmit mode in a first uplink band and having a second frequency range when the radio frequency system is configured in a second transmit mode to transmit in a second uplink band, the common filter 718 having a passband corresponding to a third frequency range that includes both the first and second frequency ranges, and the first supplemental filter 714 or the second supplemental filter 716 is a noise filter circuit configured to filter noise from the amplified radio frequency transmit signal, the combination of “the supplemental filter 714 or 716 coupled between the power amplifier 702 and the common filter 718” is functionally identical to the claimed “noise filter circuit between an output of the power amplifier and the uplink filter”. For example, using the common filter (or uplink filter) to filter the amplified signal before an antenna, which covers multiple frequency ranges to manage noise across different transmit bands or to handle the signal in a common path, supporting multi-mode operation (first and second frequency ranges/bands), is a standard component in multi-band RF front-end modules. Further, in high-power multi-mode systems, power amplifiers inherently generate out-of-band noise (broadband noise) and harmonics, by placing a filter (“noise filter circuit”, “supplemental filter”, or “notch filter”) directly at the output of the power amplifier before the common switch/filter is a standard practice to suppress the noise, particularly when operating in multi-mode scenarios.
Regarding the apparatus claim 13 of a radio frequency module and claim 20 of a mobile device, the claim features recited in both claims 13 and 20 are similar to the claim subject matters recited in claim 1 for the similar reasons described in claim 1 above, wherein the RF front end 310 in FIG. 10A or FIG. 10B may consider as the substrate recited in claim 13 and the RF front end 803 shown in FIG. 2 is implemented in the mobile device 800 including the antenna 804.
Regarding claims 2 and 14, as shown in FIG. 10A or FIG. 10B, wherein the noise filter circuit includes a switch (switch 712) and a noise filter (the shunt notch filter 714 or 716), inherently, the switch is configured to selectively enable and disable the noise filter circuit.
Regarding claims 3 and 15, as shown in FIG. 10A or FIG. 10B, wherein the radio frequency system is configured to enable the noise filter circuit when the radio frequency system is operating in the first transmit mode and disable the noise filter circuit when the radio frequency system is operating in the second transmit mode since the Transmit/Receive (T/R switch 710 or the switch 712) switches and mode-dependent filter switching to handle different frequency bands or modes are well-known standard techniques for antenna management.
Regarding claims 4-5 and 16-17, as shown in FIG. 10A or FIG. 10B, wherein the switch 712 and the noise filter (common filter 718) are in a signal path extending from a first node to ground, the first node being coupled between the output of the power amplifier 702 and the uplink filter 718, and wherein the noise filter implements a notch filter.
Regarding claims 6 and 18, as shown in FIG. 10A or FIG. 10B, wherein the noise filter circuit is configured to attenuate radio frequency noise from the amplified radio frequency transmit signal in a passband of the notch filter by at least 10 dBm, it is inherent or well-known in the art that 10 dBm reduction is a standard performance metric for passive filters protecting sensitive receiver components.
Regarding claim 7, acoustic resonators (e.g., BAW or SAW filters) are widely used for compact, high-performance filters in modern mobile devices. As shown in FIG. 10A or FIG. 10B, the combination of a power amplifier output and a switchable, parallel shunt notch filter arrangement (“two supplemental filters... between the power amplifier and the common filter”) is a well-established practice to achieve high rejection in specific frequency bands, as illustrated by general RF design principles for harmonic suppression. Therefore, the noise filter inherently includes one or more acoustic resonators.
Regarding claims 8 and 19, as shown in FIG. 10A or FIG. 10B, wherein the radio frequency system further comprises at least one receive path (receive filter 708 and LNA 704) configured to process a radio frequency receive signal received by an antenna, the radio frequency receive signal is within a downlink band, and the noise filter circuit is configured to filter noise in the downlink band from the amplified radio frequency transmit signal. As shown in FIG. 10A or FIG. 10B, the structure, which uses a “noise filter circuit” to filter noise in the downlink band from the amplified TX signal (using a common filter and parallel filters), is well-known standard practice for reducing RX noise floor degradation.
Regarding claims 9 and 10, as shown in FIG. 10A or FIG. 10B, the described scenario of a downlink band being adjacent to one or both of the first and second uplink bands of claim 9 and spaced by about 30 MHz or less of claim 10 from the uplink bands is inherently applied to a fundamental challenge addressed by high-rejection frontend filters.
Regarding claim 11, as shown in FIG. 10A or FIG. 10B, having two supplemental filters 714 and 716 in parallel to support different or partially overlapping uplink bands is a common well-known technique to achieve higher selectivity.
Regarding claim 12, as shown in FIG. 10A or FIG. 10B, maintaining spurious emissions in the downlink band at or below -50 dBm/MHz is a well-known standard requirement for FDD systems to avoid self-interference or interference with adjacent band operators.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
UEJIMA illustrates a radio frequency module 1 in FIG. 1 comprising: a transmission power amplifier 11; a matching circuit 31; a switch 51; transmission filters 61T and 62T form a first transmission circuit that outputs radio frequency transmission signals of communication band A and communication band B toward common terminal 100; a transmission power amplifier 12; a matching circuit 32; a switch 52; and transmission filters 63T and 641 form a second transmission circuit that outputs radio frequency transmission signals of communication band C and communication band D toward common terminal 100.
Pehlke relates to a radio frequency circuit comprising: a first power amplifier; a second power amplifier; a low noise amplifier; and a plurality of switches. The first power amplifier is configured to amplify signals of a first frequency band. The second power amplifier is configured to amplify signals of at least one of a second frequency band and a third frequency band, where the first frequency band is disposed between the second and the third frequency bands. The low noise amplifier is configured to amplify signals of the first, the second, and the third frequency bands. The plurality of switches is configured to route the signals through at least one of the first power amplifier, the second power amplifier, and the low noise amplifier.
TAKEUCHI et al. relates to a radio-frequency module includes a first power amplifier, a second power amplifier, a switch, a plurality of first filters, and a second filter. The first power amplifier amplifies a transmission signal of a first frequency band and outputs the amplified transmission signal. The second power amplifier amplifies a transmission signal of a second frequency band and outputs the amplified transmission signal. The pass bands of the plurality of first filters are contained within the first frequency band. The pass band of the second filter is contained within the second frequency band. The second power amplifier has a greater output power level than the first power amplifier. The first output terminal of the first power amplifier is switchable connectable to the plurality of first filters via the switch. The second output terminal of the second power amplifier is connected to the second filter without the switch interposed therebetween.
LEE et al. relates to an electronic device and a method for wireless communication including: a radio frequency processing module comprising radio frequency circuitry; a first power amplification circuit connected to the radio frequency processing module; a second power amplification circuit connected to the radio frequency processing module and the first power amplification circuit; and a front-end module comprising circuitry connected to the second power amplification circuit and an antenna and configured to transmit a signal, wherein the second power amplification circuit is configured to acquire, from the first power amplification circuit, a first signal obtained by amplifying a signal output from the radio frequency processing module and a second signal by amplifying a signal output from the radio frequency processing module, based on a combination of frequency bands for a first communication scheme and a second communication scheme, and switch at least one of the first signal or the second signal to at least one output port connected to the front-end module, based on a first frequency band of the first signal and a second frequency band of the second signal.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Young T. Tse whose telephone number is (571)272-3051. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 10:30am-7pm.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Chieh M Fan can be reached at 571-272-3042. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Young T. Tse/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2632
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