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 .
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1-6, 8-13, 15, 19, 22, 24-25, 27, 29, 32, 34-35, 37, 39, 44-45 & 47-48 have been considered but are moot because of the new ground of rejection.
Claims 32 & 35 have been amended by the applicant which raises new issue. Claim 44 has been deleted by some limitations which cause Claim 47 raise new issue.
Claim Objections
Claims 34 & 37 are objected to because of the following informalities:
In Claim 34, line 3, the recitation of “the input signal” should correctly be ---the analog input signal---.
In Claim 37, line 10, the recitation of “the input pin” should correctly be ---an input pin---.
Appropriate correction is required.
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 32, 35 & 47 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.
In Claim 32, the recitation of “an input pin for receiving the gain control signal, the gain control signal comprising a plurality of synchronization signals” is unclear because the gain control signal is not clearly defined and lack of antecedent basis. It is not clear which the gain control signal is the applicant referring to and as to how single signal as the gain control signal would comprise a plurality of synchronization signals. It is noted that there are first external gain control signal and first internal gain control signal which cited in claim 1. Further clarification is needed.
In Claim 35, line 1, the recitation of “the synchronization module is configured to generate the synchronization control signal so as to prevent artifacts” is unclear because the synchronization module is not clearly defined and lack of antecedent basis. It is noted that “a synchronization module” as previously cited in claim 34, but deleted. Further clarification is needed.
In Claim 47, line 1, the recitation of “the synchronization module” is unclear because the synchronization module is not clearly defined and lacks antecedent basis. Further clarification is needed.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-6, 8-13,15,19, 22, 24-25, 27, 29, 34, 37, 39, 44-45 & 48 are allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
Independent claims 1, 34 & 44 are allowable for the same reasons as discussed in the previous office action mailed on 07/21/2026.
Claims 2-6, 8-13, 15, 19, 22, 24-25, 27, 29 & 38 are allowable because they depend on claim 1.
Claim 45 is allowable because they depend on claim 44.
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.”
Claim 32 & 35 would be allowable if rewritten 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 and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no case, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KHIEM D NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)270-3941. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 8:00 AM-5:00 PM EST.
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, Jessica Han can be reached at (571) 272-2078. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/KHIEM D NGUYEN/Examiner, Art Unit 2843
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