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 .
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed on 05/11/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Regarding claim 1, Applicant argued CHEN fails to disclose the newly added limitation.
The Examiner respectfully submits that CHEN discloses RF transceiver 20 (figure 3, [0039]) including first process channel of LTE network standard and second process channel of NR network standard to read on the claimed first and second transmitting interfaces to process signals; and the switch 50 (figure 3) to read on the claimed pathway selection switch to route signals. CHEN further discloses PAMID ([0065]).
However CHEN fails to mention transceiver 20 and switch 50 are included in one RFIC.
This teaching is disclosed by KANG (US 20210297103 A1) (figures 3B, 7A and 8, [0172]: “a single pole double throw (SPDT) type switch may be provided in the RFIC corresponding to the controller 1250 to select transmitters (TXs) of two different communication systems”; RFIC 1250 includes the SPDT switch and TX chains 1200a and 1200b). Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate the selection techniques taught by KANG into the art of CHEN as to integrate circuits to reduce circuitry size and/or as an alternative embodiment.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
5. The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
6. Claim(s) 1-19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over CHEN (US 20250286566 A1) in view of KANG (US 20210297103 A1).
For claim 1. CHEN discloses (figure 8, [0039]-[0047], [0079]) A radio frequency (RF) front-end module, comprising: an RF transceiver, comprising a first transmitting interface (LB TX0), a second transmitting interface (LB TX1), a third transmitting interface (MB TX0), and a fourth transmitting interface (UHB TX1); a pathway selection switch ([0046], [0053], switch 50), connected to the first transmitting interface and the second transmitting interface, for selecting, from among the first and second transmitting interfaces, an interface matching with a frequency of a network cell in which the RF transceiver is currently located ([0039] e.g. the first group of transmit channels are 4G LTE signal; the second group of transmit channels are 5G NR signal); and a first amplifier module ([0053], figure 8 power amplification module 301), wherein the first transmitting interface and the second transmitting interface are selectively connected to the first amplifier module via the pathway selection switch ([0053], figure 8), wherein one of the first transmitting interface and the third transmitting interface is used as an interface for a first transmitting pathway ([0039] the first group of transmit channels are 4G LTE signal, figure 8 LB TX0 and MB TX0), and one of the second transmitting interface and the fourth transmitting interface is used as an interface for a second transmitting pathway ([0039] the second group of transmit channels are 5G NR signal, figure 8 LB TX1 and UHB TX1), wherein the first transmitting interface, the second transmitting interface, and the pathway selection switch configured to process and route signals received by the RF transceiver (figure 3, [0039], transmitting interfaces of transceiver 20 and switch 50), and wherein the first amplifier module includes a Power Amplifier Module Integrated Duplexer (PAMID) ([0065]).
However CHEN fails to mention wherein the first transmitting interface, the second transmitting interface, and the pathway selection switch are included in a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC).
This teaching is disclosed by KANG (figures 3B, 7A and 8, [0172]: “a single pole double throw (SPDT) type switch may be provided in the RFIC corresponding to the controller 1250 to select transmitters (TXs) of two different communication systems”; RFIC 1250 includes the SPDT switch and TX chains 1200a and 1200b).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate the selection techniques taught by KANG into the art of CHEN as to integrate circuits to reduce circuitry size and/or as an alternative embodiment.
For claim 2. CHEN in combination with KANG substantially teaches the RF front-end module according to claim 1, CHEN discloses further comprising: a second amplifier module connected to the third transmitting interface; and a third amplifier module connected to the fourth transmitting interface ([0065], [0079], figure 8, power amplification modules 302 and 303).
For claim 3. CHEN in combination with KANG substantially teaches the RF front-end module according to claim 2, CHEN discloses wherein the first amplifier module is a low frequency amplifier module, the second amplifier module is a medium-high frequency amplifier module, and the third amplifier module is a high frequency amplifier module ([0065], [0079], figure 8).
For claim 4. CHEN in combination with KANG substantially teaches the RF front-end module according to claim 1, CHEN discloses wherein the first transmitting interface is a long term evolution transmitting interface, the second transmitting interface is a 5G low frequency transmitting interface, the third transmitting interface is a medium-high frequency transmitting interface, and the fourth transmitting interface is an ultra-high frequency transmitting interface ([0039], [0065], [0079], figure 8).
For claim 5. CHEN in combination with KANG substantially teaches the RF front-end module according to claim 1, CHEN discloses wherein the first transmitting pathway and the second transmitting pathway are in an operating state simultaneously ([0037], [0042]).
For claim 6. CHEN in combination with KANG substantially teaches the RF front-end module according to claim 1, CHEN discloses wherein the first amplifier module is selectively used for long-term evolution signal transmission and 5G low-frequency signal transmission ([0041], [0042], [0053], figure 8).
For claim 7. CHEN discloses (figure 8, [0039]-[0047], [0079]) A method of transmitting signals based on a radio frequency (RF) front-end module, the RF front-end module comprising an RF transceiver, a pathway selector switch ([0046], [0053], switch 50), and a first amplifier module ([0053], figure 8 power amplification module 301), wherein the RF transceiver comprises a first transmitting interface (LB TX0), a second transmitting interface (LB TX1), a third transmitting interface (MB TX0), and a fourth transmitting interface (UHB TX1), the first transmitting interface and the second transmitting interface being selectively connected to the first amplifier module via the pathway selector switch, the method comprising: selecting a first signal transmitting interface from among the first transmitting interface and the second transmitting interface of the RF transceiver and selecting a second signal transmitting interface from among the third transmitting interface and the fourth transmitting interface of the RF transceiver, based on a frequency of a network cell in which the RF transceiver is currently located (figure 8, [0037], [0042], [0039] e.g. the first group of transmit channels are 4G LTE signal; the second group of transmit channels are 5G NR signal); controlling the pathway selector switch to establish a first transmitting pathway by connecting the first signal transmitting interface to the first amplifier module ([0039], [0046], [0053], figure 8); and transmitting a first signal through the first transmitting pathway and transmitting a second signal through a second transmitting pathway corresponding to the second signal transmitting interface ([0039], [0046], [0053], figure 8), wherein the first transmitting interface, the second transmitting interface, and the pathway selection switch configured to process and route signals received by the RF transceiver (figure 3, [0039], transmitting interfaces of transceiver 20 and switch 50), and wherein the first amplifier module includes a Power Amplifier Module Integrated Duplexer (PAMID) ([0065]).
However CHEN fails to mention wherein the first transmitting interface, the second transmitting interface, and the pathway selection switch are included in a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC).
This teaching is disclosed by KANG (figures 3B, 7A and 8, [0172]: “a single pole double throw (SPDT) type switch may be provided in the RFIC corresponding to the controller 1250 to select transmitters (TXs) of two different communication systems”; RFIC 1250 includes the SPDT switch and TX chains 1200a and 1200b).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate the selection techniques taught by KANG into the art of CHEN as to integrate circuits to reduce circuitry size and/or as an alternative embodiment.
For claim 8. CHEN in combination with KANG substantially teaches the method according to claim 7, CHEN discloses wherein the RF front-end module further comprises: a second amplifier module connected to the third transmitting interface; and a third amplifier module connected to the fourth transmitting interface ([0065], [0079], figure 8, power amplification modules 302 and 303).
For claim 9. CHEN in combination with KANG substantially teaches the method according to claim 8, CHEN discloses wherein the first amplifier module is a low frequency amplifier module, the second amplifier module is a medium-high frequency amplifier module, and the third amplifier module is a high frequency amplifier module ([0065], [0079], figure 8).
For claim 10. CHEN in combination with KANG substantially teaches the method according to claim 7, CHEN discloses wherein the first transmitting interface is a long term evolution transmitting interface, the second transmitting interface is a 5G low frequency transmitting interface, the third transmitting interface is a medium high frequency transmitting interface, and the fourth transmitting interface is an ultra-high frequency transmitting interface ([0039], [0065], [0079], figure 8).
For claim 11. CHEN in combination with KANG substantially teaches the method according to claim 7, CHEN discloses wherein the first transmitting pathway and the second transmitting pathway are in an operating state simultaneously ([0037], [0042]).
For claim 12. CHEN in combination with KANG substantially teaches the method according to claim 7, CHEN discloses wherein the first amplifier module is selectively used for long-term evolution signal transmission and 5G low-frequency signal transmission ([0041], [0042], [0053], figure 8).
For claim 13. CHEN discloses (figure 8, [0039]-[0047], [0079]) A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of an electronic device including an RF front-end module, the RF front-end module comprising an RF transceiver, a pathway selector switch ([0046], [0053], switch 50), and a first amplifier module ([0053], figure 8 power amplification module 301), wherein the RF transceiver comprises first, second, third and fourth transmitting interfaces (figure 8, LB TX0, LB TX1, MB TX0, UHB TX1), the first transmitting interface and the second transmitting interface being selectively connected to the first amplifier module via the pathway selector switch, cause the electronic device to:
selecting a first signal transmitting interface from among the first transmitting interface and the second transmitting interface of the RF transceiver and selecting a second signal transmitting interface from among the third transmitting interface and the fourth transmitting interface of the RF transceiver, based on the frequency of the network cell in which the RF transceiver is currently located (figure 8, [0037], [0042], [0039] e.g. the first group of transmit channels are 4G LTE signal; the second group of transmit channels are 5G NR signal); controlling the pathway selector switch to establish a first transmitting pathway by connecting the first signal transmitting interface to the first amplifier module ([0039], [0046], [0053], figure 8); and transmitting a first signal through the first transmitting pathway and transmitting a second signal through a second transmitting pathway corresponding to the second signal transmitting interface ([0039], [0046], [0053], figure 8), wherein the first transmitting interface, the second transmitting interface, and the pathway selection switch configured to process and route signals received by the RF transceiver (figure 3, [0039], transmitting interfaces of transceiver 20 and switch 50), and wherein the first amplifier module includes a Power Amplifier Module Integrated Duplexer (PAMID) ([0065]).
However CHEN fails to mention wherein the first transmitting interface, the second transmitting interface, and the pathway selection switch are included in a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC).
This teaching is disclosed by KANG (figures 3B, 7A and 8, [0172]: “a single pole double throw (SPDT) type switch may be provided in the RFIC corresponding to the controller 1250 to select transmitters (TXs) of two different communication systems”; RFIC 1250 includes the SPDT switch and TX chains 1200a and 1200b).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate the selection techniques taught by KANG into the art of CHEN as to integrate circuits to reduce circuitry size and/or as an alternative embodiment.
For claim 14. CHEN in combination with KANG substantially teaches the computer-readable storage medium according to claim 13, CHEN discloses wherein the RF front-end module further comprises: a second amplifier module connected to the third transmitting interface; and a third amplifier module connected to the fourth transmitting interface ([0065], [0079], figure 8, power amplification modules 302 and 303).
For claim 15. CHEN in combination with KANG substantially teaches the computer-readable storage medium according to claim 14, CHEN discloses wherein the first amplifier module is a low frequency amplifier module, the second amplifier module is a medium-high frequency amplifier module, and the third amplifier module is a high frequency amplifier module ([0065], [0079], figure 8).
For claim 16. CHEN in combination with KANG substantially teaches the computer-readable storage medium according to claim 13, CHEN discloses wherein the first transmitting interface is a long term evolution transmitting interface, the second transmitting interface is a 5G low frequency transmitting interface, the third transmitting interface is a medium high frequency transmitting interface, and the fourth transmitting interface is an ultra-high frequency transmitting interface ([0039], [0065], [0079], figure 8).
For claim 17. CHEN in combination with KANG substantially teaches the computer-readable storage medium according to claim 13, CHEN discloses wherein the first transmitting pathway and the second transmitting pathway are in an operating state simultaneously ([0037], [0042]).
For claim 18. CHEN in combination with KANG substantially teaches the computer-readable storage medium according to claim 13, CHEN discloses wherein the first amplifier module is selectively used for long-term evolution signal transmission and 5G low-frequency signal transmission ([0041], [0042], [0053], figure 8).
For claim 19. CHEN in combination with KANG substantially teaches the RF front-end module according to claim 1, CHEN discloses wherein the RFIC further includes a plurality of transmitting chains, each of the plurality of transmitting chains configured to process and route signals having a compatible signal different from each other ([0066], [0067], figure 6).
7. Claim(s) 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over CHEN (US 20250286566 A1) in view of KANG (US 20210297103 A1) and Nitsche (US 20090315746 A1).
For claim 20. CHEN in combination with KANG substantially teaches the RF front-end module according to claim 1, CHEN discloses wherein the RFIC comprises a digital front end (DFE), a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), and an upconverter ([0039] LTE and New Radio (NR) protocol standards).
But fails to mention a DC offset cancellation (DCOC) circuit, an adder.
This teaching is disclosed by Nitsche ([0036]-[0039], figure 1, c.sub.I(t)=a.sub.I(t)+V*E.sub.I).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate the selection techniques taught by Nitsche into the art of CHEN as modified by KANG as to reduce DC offset and improve transmit signal.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any response to this Office Action should be faxed to (571) 273-8300, submitted online via the USPTO's Electronic Filing System-Web (EFS-Web) (Registered eFilers only, Registered users of the USPTO's EFS-Web system may submit a response electronically through EFS-Web at https://efs.uspto.gov/TruePassSample/AuthenticateUserLocalEPF.html), or mailed to:
Commissioner for Patents
P.O. Box 1450
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Rui Meng Hu whose telephone number is 571-270-1105, email is ruimeng.hu@uspto.gov. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., EST.
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, Jinsong Hu can be reached on (571)272-3965. 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 Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR 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.
/Rui Meng Hu/
R.H./rh
May 27, 2026
/JINSONG HU/ Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2643
Prosecution Insights