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 .
Rejection under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1)
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.
Claims 84-89 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Burns (2022/0093285).
Burns (2022/0093285) discloses, in figs. 1-5B, a neutron beam collimator and/or a method for varying a size of an aperture of a neutron beam collimator, which includes:
Regarding claims 84 and 89,
a neutron source 120, 220 for providing a neutron beam 121 (see figs. 1, 2A, 2B, [0029]);
an aperture 332 for passage of the neutron beam along a beam axis 126, 226, 326 (see fig.3, [0019], [0028], [0041], [0062], [0066], [0067], [0068]);
a frame 502 having an opening corresponding to a largest aperture (see figs. 5A, 5B);
one or more elements 504 moveable relative to the beam axis 126, 226, 326 to vary a size of the aperture 506 (see figs. 5A, 5B, [0086], [0088], [0089]);
one or more electro-mechanical actuators mechanically coupled to the one or more elements (see [0034], [0086], [0090], [0091]); and
an electronic controller communicatively coupled with the one or more electro- mechanical actuators, the electronic controller programmed to generate control signals that cause the one or more electro-mechanical actuators to move the one or more elements relative to the beam axis to vary the size of the aperture (see [0034], [0083], [0086]-[0091].
Regarding claim 85, wherein the one or more elements 504 comprise a plurality of plates arranged at different circumferential locations around the beam axis (see figs. 5A, 5B, [0086]-[0091]).
Regarding claim 86, wherein the frame 502 comprises a diaphragm iris 502 and the one or more elements comprise a plurality of iris blades 504 of the diaphragm iris 502 (see figs. 5A, 5B, [0086]-[0091]).
Regarding claim 87, having at least five iris blades (see figs. 5A, 5B, [0087]).
Regarding claim 88, wherein the iris blades are curved (see figs. 5A, 5B, [0087]).
Claims 1-83 are allowable.
The Reasons for Allowable Subject Matter
The prior art fails to disclose a neutron collimator assembly (NCA) and/or a method for collimating a neutron beam to a plurality of beam sizes using a neutron collimator assembly (NCA), which includes an electronic controller communicatively coupled with one or more electro- mechanical actuators, and programmed to generate control signals that cause the one or more electro-mechanical actuators to remove a first of neutron beam collimators, each collimator having an aperture of a different size, from a beam axis and to align a second of the neutron beam collimators with the beam axis as recited in claims 1 and 79; or an electronic controller communicatively coupled with one or more electro-mechanical actuators, and programmed to generate control signals that cause the one or more electro-mechanical actuators to move an adjustable platform relative to a beam axis to align a neutron beam collimator secured to the adjustable platform with the beam axis, wherein a mounting assembly attached to the adjustable platform and configured to releasably secure any of neutron beam collimators to the adjustable platform; and the one or more electro-mechanical actuators mechanically coupled to the adjustable platform as recited in claims 82 and 83.
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
1) Hill (4,450,578) discloses a variable aperture collimator for varying a size and shape of a neutron beam.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KIET TUAN NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)272-2479. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday 8-6.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Robert H. Kim can be reached on 571-272-2293. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 703-872-9306.
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).
/KIET T NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2881