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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant's election with traverse of the invention corresponding to group I (claims 1-19), and the invention corresponding to species D, shown in figure 3D (claims 1-7 and 10), in the reply filed on October 1, 2025 is acknowledged. The traversal is on the ground(s) that it would not be a burden for the Examiner since a proper search and examination of the elected group and species would cover substantially the same search classes/subclasses as a search and examination of the non-elected claim and species. This is not found persuasive because while a proper search and examination of the elected group and species would cover substantially the same search classes/subclasses as a search and examination of the non-elected claim and species, there still exists the need to employ separate search strategies/queries that cover only the non-elected claim and species.
The requirement is still deemed proper and is therefore made FINAL.
Specification
The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
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 1-7 and 10 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: The limitation “a pair of radiators comprising two radiators” is confusing language rendering the scope of the claim indefinite. The usage of the same term, “radiators,” to refer to two different elements is confusing, especially when the specification does not describe the invention this way. In paragraph [0022] of the specification, the invention is described as “the radiators 100 include radiators 100-1, 100-2, 100-3 and 100-4 separated from each other. In addition, the radiators 100 may jointly function as a plurality of dipoles.” For the purposes of applying prior art, the Examiner interprets the claim as follows:
Claim 1: An antenna, comprising:
a plurality of dipoles, each comprising two radiators located beside a geometric origin and separated from each other, wherein the geometric origin is located between two radiators of a corresponding dipole;
[[a]]at least one pair of feeding elements located below the two radiators of the corresponding dipole and configured to feed signals to the two radiators, wherein the pair of feeding elements comprise a first feeding element and a second feeding element separated from each other, wherein the first feeding element has a first geometric configuration, and the second feeding element has a second geometric configuration asymmetric to the first geometric configuration;
a first feeding port electrically connected to the first feeding element; and
a second feeding port separated from the first feeding port and electrically connected to the second feeding element.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-7 and 10 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Jia (U.S. Patent No. 11,962,092) and Chiang et al. (U.S. Publication No. 2021/0013610) disclose antennas relevant to the present invention.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ROBERT KARACSONY whose telephone number is (571)270-1268. The examiner can normally be reached 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, Monday - Friday.
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, Dimary Lopez can be reached at (571) 270-7893. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/Robert Karacsony/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2845