DETAILED ACTION
Claims 1-20 are pending.
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.
Specifically, claim 1 recites the term “the replaceable electronic components” throughout the claim. It is not clear if this term is referring back to the previously recited term “at least one replaceable electronic component”. It can be noted that term “at least one replaceable electronic component”. Claim language consistency throughout the claim is important to avoid confusion when interpreting the claim.
Claim 1 Lines 16-17, recites the term “the presence”. Claim 12 Line 4, recites the term “the Modbus 8N1 serial format”. Claim 15 Lines 2-3, recites the term “the same time”. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 1 Line 26, recites the term “thereby”. It is not clear what feature/limitation this term is referring back to.
Claim 2 Line 3, Claim 3 Line 6, Claim 14 Line 6, recites the term “in particular”. The meaning of this term in the claim is not clear. This term renders the claim indefinite because it is unclear whether the invention functions only with the features/components following this term.
Claim 10 Line 3, Claim 11 Line 3, Claim 15 Line 2, recites the term “several”. The scope/limits of this term/limitation is not clear.
Regarding claim 17, it is not clear what components/parts are part of the claimed electronic component.
Regarding claim 18, it is not clear what components/parts are part of the claimed system.
Claim 20 Line 1, starts with the term “Method”. It seems to be that it should start with term “The method”, in order avoid confusion regarding what claim it is referring back to.
A better claim interpretation and prior art search will be possible when said deficiencies are corrected.
Citation of Pertinent Prior Art
The following prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
1. González, Isaías, et al. "Integration of sensors, controllers and instruments using a novel OPC architecture." Sensors 17.7 (2017): 1512.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CARLOS R ORTIZ RODRIGUEZ whose telephone number is (571)272-3766. The examiner can normally be reached on Mon-Fri 10:00 am- 6:30 pm.
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/CARLOS R ORTIZ RODRIGUEZ/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2119