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 1-15 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.
Regarding claim 1 and 2-15 by dependency
“bar-type” is unclear as it there is no definition for how close to a “bar” a conductor must be to be a “bar-type”?
“partially overlapping fashion” is unclear as how much and how much two things be overlapping to be in an “overlapping FASHION”.
“at least substantially over time” is indefinite. How long must something run to be “at least substantially over time”?
Regarding claim 2
“at least substantially over time” is indefinite. How long must something run to be “at least substantially over time”?
Regarding claim 6
“At least substantially constant over time” is indefinite. How long must something run and how constant must it be to be “at least substantially constant over time”?
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-15 would be allowable if rewritten in such a way so as to overcome the rejection under 35 USC §112b.
US 2021/04020518 is the closest prior art, but fails to teach the specific laser intensities and averaging as required in the initial/main/end phases.
Conclusion
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/WOODY A LEE JR/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3761