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 8-20 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.
Claims 8 and 15 both recite the limitation "the base" in lines 6-7 and 7, respectively. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. The limitation “a base terminal” was previously introduced in each claim, but it is unclear if “the base” refers to the same element as “a base terminal” or not. Claims 9-14 and 16-20 respectively depend from claims 8 and 15 and inherit the deficiencies of claims 8 and 15.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-7 are allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: Regarding claims 1-7, the prior art, alone or in combination, fails to teach or suggest that a barrier layer between an emitter and base layer is discontinuous.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Herner et al. (U.S. Publication No. 2006/0006495) teaches an ultrathin dielectric barrier layer between an emitter and base (Fig. 7, barrier 206), but does not teach it is discontinuous. Burton (U.S> Publication No. 2021/0217875) also teaches a barrier layer between an emitter and base, but does not teach it is discontinuous (Fig. 5, barrier 125b).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Evan G Clinton whose telephone number is (571)270-0525. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday at 8:30am to 5:30pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Zandra Smith can be reached at 571-272-2429. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/EVAN G CLINTON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2899
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