The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: Page 2, in paragraph [6], last line therein, note that the term “present” should be rewritten as --presented-- for idiomatic clarity. Page 2, in the heading immediately following paragraph [6], note that the recitation of “Detailed Description” should be rewritten as --Summary-- for consistency with PTO guidelines. At all occurrences throughout the specification, note that the terminologies of “outer surface is drawn”, of “a rake shape” and of “coupled by being caught” are respectively vague in meaning and thus appropriate clarification is needed. Page 5, in the heading immediately preceding paragraph [27], note that --the-- should be inserted after “of” for an appropriate characterization. Page 6, in paragraph, in paragraph [39], note that it is unclear whether the recitation of “illustrating an inside of a housing” would be consistent with what is depicted in FIG. 14 and thus appropriate clarification is needed. Page 19, in paragraph [119], third line therein, note that --to be-- should be inserted after “235” for idiomatic clarity. Page 22, in paragraph [135], third line therein, note that the reference to “FIGS. 1 to 10” should be rewritten as just --FIG. 1-- for a more appropriate characterization of what is described in this paragraph. Page 22, in paragraph [137], third line therein; page 23, in paragraph [142], third line therein; page 15, in paragraph [147], 4th line therein; page 25, in paragraph [148], first line therein: note that the respective recitation of “controller 20” does not appear to be consistent with the recitation of “controller 600”, described elsewhere in the specification and thus appropriate clarification is needed. Page 29, in paragraph [168], last line therein, note that the recitation of “conversion without slipping” is vague in meaning and thus appropriate clarification is needed. Page 34, in paragraph [184], first line therein, note that a --,-- should be inserted after “200” for idiomatic clarity. In general, for the description of individual drawing figures in the detail description, applicants’ should review such descriptions to ensure that reference labels described are consistent with what is depicted in those drawings and thus inconsistent reference labels should be reference with respect to drawing(s) in which those reference labels actually appear for clarity and completeness of description. Appropriate correction is required.
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: Note that the following reference labels appearing in the indicated drawings need to be corresponding describe in the specification description of the indicated drawings for clarity and completeness of description: FIG. 1 (500, B); FIG. 5, “300”; FIG. 12 (20, 550); FIGS. 16, 18, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, “246”; FIGS. 21, 22, 23, 28, 37, 38, in their entirety include all labeled elements/features therein; FIGS. 22, 23, “238”. Appropriate correction is required.
The drawings are objected to because of the following: In FIGS. 16, 18, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, note that reference label (230) appears to be improperly used to designate two distinct features therein and thus appropriate clarification is needed.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
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 1-12; 13; 14 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 pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention.
In claim 1, line 7 and in claim 4, line 2, note that it is unclear as to which one of the “plurality of second circuit boards” is intended by the respective recitation of “the second circuit board”, at these instances and thus appropriate clarification is needed.
In claim 5, line 2 and in claim 13, lines 12 & 13, note that the recitation of “an outer surface is drawn” is vague in meaning, respectively at these instances and thus appropriate clarification is needed.
In claim 6, note that it is unclear as to which one of the “one or more slits”, as recited in claim 4, is intended by the recitation of “the slit” and thus appropriate clarification is needed.
In claim 8, line 4 and in claim 14, line 14, note that it is unclear, even in light of the specification, as to what characterizes “in a rake shape”, respectively at these instances and thus appropriate clarification is needed.
In claim 11, line 4, note that it is unclear as to which one of the “plurality of pairs of cantilever shapes” is intended by the recitation of “the cantilever shape” and thus appropriate clarification is needed.
In claim 14, line 15, note that it is unclear, even in light of the specification, as to what characterizes the the recitation of “is coupled by being caught” and thus appropriate clarification is needed.
The following claims have been found to be objectionable for reasons set forth below:
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1; 13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being clearly anticipated by Moon et al (cited by applicants’).
Moon et al (i.e. Figs. 1-7) discloses a phase conversion unit, comprising: a first circuit board (i.e. fix plate (14) in Figs. 2 & 7) having a plurality of circuit patterns (i.e. phase shifting patterns (i1, i2, f1, f2, l1, l2, q1, q2) in Fig. 7); a plurality of second boards (i.e. sub-plates (124) in Fig. 6) having second circuit patterns (i.e. phase shifting patterns (124a-124d) in Fig. 7) configured to overlap with the first circuit patterns (i1, 12, f1, f2, l1, l2, q1, q2) as evident from Fig. 7; a plurality of movable members (i.e. springs (125) in Fig. 6) arranged between the second board and a mobile plate (i.e. 12), such that the springs (125) press the second circuit boards toward the first circuit board, when the mobile board (12) moves the second circuit patterns as to overlap with the first circuit patterns, as evident from Fig. 7; and a housing (i.e. 10) disposed on the first circuit board (14) and arranged to accommodate the plurality of second circuit boards (124), as evident from Figs. 1-3. Regarding claim 13, note that the inner walls of the housing have a slit such as to engage the mobile board (12) that include the movable members (125) in an elastic manner.
Claims 1, 2; 13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being clearly anticipated by So et al (cited by applicants’).
So et al (i.e. FIGS. 3-6) discloses a phase conversion unit, comprising: a first circuit board (i.e. fix board (14’) in related FIG. 1A) having a plurality of circuit patterns (i.e. circuit patterns (114’) in related FIG. 1A); a plurality of second boards (i.e. sub-boards (12) in FIG. 4) having second circuit patterns (i.e. conductive strip patterns (12a) in FIG. 4) configured to overlap with the first circuit patterns (114’) as evident from FIG. 3; a plurality of movable members (i.e. leaf springs as described in paragraph [0043]) arranged between the second board and a moving board (i.e. 4), such that the leaf springs press the second circuit boards toward the first circuit board, when the moving board (4) moves the second circuit patterns as to overlap with the first circuit patterns, as evident from Fig. 3; and a housing (i.e. 30) disposed on the first circuit board (14’) and arranged to accommodate the plurality of second circuit boards (123), as evident from FIG. 6. Regarding claim 2, note that a partition (i.e. rib (60) in FIG. 4) separates a plurality of accommodating members that receive the leaf spring and the sub-boards (12) therein. Regarding claim 13, note that the inner walls of the housing have a slit such as to engage the moving board (4) through rollers (i.e. 104) in an elastic manner.
Any inquiry concerning this communication should be directed to Benny Lee at telephone number 571 272 1764.
/BENNY T LEE/PRIMARY EXAMINER
ART UNIT 2843
B. Lee