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 .
Status of the Claims
Claims 1-19 are pending in the application and are currently being examined.
Claim Objections
Claim 9 objected to because of the following informalities: Lines 11-12 reads “with the second patterned photoresist depositing thereon”. This appears to be a typo meant to say “with the second patterned photoresist deposited thereon. 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 1-19 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.
Claim 1 recites the limitation “the remained second mask portion” in lines 13 and 16. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. This appears to draw back to the “while remaining the second mask portion” of line 8. For the purposes of examination, claim 1 will be interpreted to read “while maintaining a remained second mask portion” in line 8.
Claim 7 recites the limitation “the remained second mask portion” in line 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. This appears to draw back to the “while remaining the second mask portion” of claim 1 line 8. For the purposes of examination, claim 1 will be interpreted to read “while maintaining a remained second mask portion” in line 8.
Claim 9 recites the limitation “the remained second mask portion” in line 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. This appears to draw back to the “while remaining the second mask portion” of claim 1 line 8. For the purposes of examination, claim 1 will be interpreted to read “while maintaining a remained second mask portion” in line 8.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the at least one area of the second metal pattern" in lines 19 and 22-23. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. This appears to draw back to the “at least one area of a top surface of the second metal pattern” of claim 1 lines 11-12. For the purposes of examination, claim 1 will be interpreted to read “the at least one area of a top surface of the second metal pattern” in lines 19 and 22-23.
Claim 5 recites the limitation "the at least one area of the second metal pattern" in lines 1-2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. This appears to draw back to the “at least one area of a top surface of the second metal pattern” of claim 1 lines 11-12. For the purposes of examination, claim 5 will be interpreted to read “the at least one area of a top surface of the second metal pattern” in lines 1-2.
Claim 16 recites the limitation "the at least one area of the second metal pattern" in lines 1-2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. This appears to draw back to the “at least one area of a top surface of the second metal pattern” of claim 1 lines 11-12. For the purposes of examination, claim 16 will be interpreted to read “the at least one area of a top surface of the second metal pattern” in lines 1-2.
Claims 2-19 are also rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) as being indefinite for further limiting and being dependent on indefinite claim 1.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-19 as interpreted are allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
Claims 1-19 as interpreted are allowed primarily because the prior art of record cannot anticipate or render obvious the limitation as recited and interpreted in claim 1 in its entirety. The closest prior art of record, Applicant’s own co-pending application (Chen et al. US 2025/0188638 A1) teaches a method of forming an electrode with an anodized part but fails to teach the method steps as stated in claim 1 of the current application. The claims will be allowable should the above rejections and objections be overcome.
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.”
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SAMMANTHA K SALAZ whose telephone number is (571)272-2484. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 8:00am-5:00pm.
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/SAMMANTHA K SALAZ/Examiner, Art Unit 2892
/ERIC W JONES/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2892
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