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 1-20 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.
Independent claims 1 and 19-20 recite language to the effect of first or second optical characteristics that are “converted”. No characteristics are claimed. The Specification in no way clearly defines or articulates every possible characteristic to support such claim language. Further, the claim recites that a first converter converts a first signal light into a second with a second optical characteristic. The claim does not require that the first characteristic even be altered or changed. Examiner is left to guess as to whether this is to solely mean that the polarization states (TE/TM) are converted and changed or if there is another optical characteristic that may be changed or altered.
Remaining claims are rejected on the basis of dependency. However, again, Examiner is left to guess the “optical characteristics” since both a rotator and a beam splitter is recited in dependent claims. Both would output a signal that has an optical characteristic different from an input.
Claim Objections
Claim 19 is objected to because of the following informalities: Line 11 of this claim mis-spells “convertor”. Appropriate correction is required.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Eric K Wong whose telephone number is (571)272-2363. The examiner can normally be reached M-Tu, Th-F 8A-6P.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Thomas Hollweg can be reached at 571-270-1739. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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ERIC K. WONG
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2874
/Eric Wong/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2874
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