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 .
EXAMINER’S AMENDMENT
The application has been amended as follows:
In claim 5, line 1, “the metasurface device of claim 4” has been changed to -- the metasurface device of claim 3--.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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.
Claim(s) 1-2, 23 and 31-32 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by OPPENLÄNDER (WO-2018007210-A1).
Regarding claims 1 and 23, OPPENLÄNDER disclose a metasurface device (phase-controlled antenna array, Abstract, Fig. 1 to Fig. 2) and a method (Waveguide radiator (2) for a specific operating frequency band the known methods of antenna technology, page 7) comprising:
a substrate (substrate 81 in Fig. 2, top view, page 5), and a metal layer (a waveguide radiator is a metalsurface, see (2) in Fig. 2) on the substrate and having a plurality of openings (four opening shown in Fig. 1) therein; and
a plurality of phase control structures (four phase-controlled antenna elements, Abstract) on a side of the metal layer away from the substrate, and in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of openings (each opening has its own drive unit 7 rotating around axis 11, Fig. 1); and
wherein each of the plurality of phase control structures comprises a baffle (a drive unit (7) which is attached to a support (9) and which is connected to the phase actuator (3) via the connection element (6) such that the drive unit (7) can rotate the phase actuator (3) about an axis (11) of the waveguide emitter (2), Abstract) and at least one micro-mechanical driver (drive unit (7)), the baffle is connected to the at least one micro-mechanical driver, which is configured to actuate (the phase control of the Antenna element (1) is the dependence of Phase angle difference between outgoing (14c) and incoming (14a) circular wave from the rotation of the phase actuator (3), page 4) the baffle (polarizer 5 in Fig. 1) to shield a corresponding opening in response to a received signal.
Regarding claim 2, OPPENLÄNDER disclose metasurface device of claim 1, wherein the at least one micro-mechanical driver each comprises:
a stator fixed at one side of the corresponding opening (second additional polarizer (16) is fixed, page 12); and
a rotor opposite to the stator, wherein one end of the rotor is fit with the stator, and the other end of the rotor is connected to the baffle (first additional polarizer (15) is rotatable, page 12, Fig. 8).
Regarding claims 31-32, OPPENLÄNDER disclose the metasurface device of claim l and a feeding unit (feed network (12), Abstract, Fig. 1) on one side of the metasurface device, for providing a microwave to the metasurface device and a communication device, comprising the antenna of claim 31 (a phase array antenna is for communication device use).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 3, 5, 8-10, 12-18, 24, 26-27 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HARRY K LIU whose telephone number is (571)270-1338. The examiner can normally be reached on every M-F 10 AM to 6:30 PM.
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/HARRY K LIU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3645 Tel: (571) 270-1338
Fax: (571) 270-2338
Email: harry.liu@uspto.gov