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 Amendment
The preliminary amendment filed on 15 December 2023 has been accepted and entered.
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 15, 18, and 23 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.
With respect to claim 15, the terms alpha and beta do not appear to be defined, thus the angles are unclear.
With respect to claim 18, it is unclear what is meant by the usage of “>>”.
With respect to claim 23, the claim recites “wherein said ratio is lower than 1/100, preferably lower than 1/100”, which is unclear. If applicant intended this to recite “preferably lower than 1/1000” as recited in par. [0022] of the specification, this claim would be rejected for reciting a broad limitation followed by a narrow limitation.
Drawings
Figure 1A-1B should be designated by a legend such as --Prior Art-- because only that which is old is illustrated. See MPEP § 608.02(g). Corrected drawings in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. The replacement sheet(s) should be labeled “Replacement Sheet” in the page header (as per 37 CFR 1.84(c)) so as not to obstruct any portion of the drawing figures. 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.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 13-14, 16-17, 19-22 and 24 are allowed.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Newman (US 2019/0107635 A1, cited by Applicant) discloses a directional gamma ray detector (abstract) comprising beveled road scintillators (701, par. [0122]).
With respect to claims 13 and 16, Newman does not appear to disclose or reasonably suggest that the device is adapted to trap luminescent light by total internal reflection, nor does Newman disclose the claimed invariance of the normal to said side faces by rotation.
Claims 14, 17, 19-22 and 24 are allowable for reasons of dependency.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MARK R GAWORECKI whose telephone number is (571)272-8540. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8 AM-6 PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, DAVID MAKIYA can be reached at 571-272-2273. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/MARK R GAWORECKI/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2884 14 May 2026
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