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 .
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 1-3 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.
Regarding claim 1, step (1) recites inputting “full matrix capture (FMC) data measured”. It is unclear as to where this FMC data is being measured from. In order for the metes and bounds of this limitation to be definite, the claim should describe where the FMC data is being measured from and as to whether or not this is previously measured data or if there exists a data measuring step required in the method.
Regarding claim 1, steps (3) and (6) refer to “any frequency not traversed”, “until all frequencies are traversed”, and “all the frequencies”. It is unclear as to whether or not this is supposed to refer to any frequency not traversed in a certain frequency range, or if it is supposed to cover an infinite number of frequencies. If the claim is meant to refer to any frequency not traversed within a specific frequency range, such a range should be described in the method steps.
Regarding claims 2-3, they are dependent on claim 1.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-3 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Regarding claim 1, the primary reason for the indication of allowable subject matter is the inclusion of the limitations regarding the specific method steps for obtaining an imaging result of an internal defect of a complex-shaped component using a search-vector imaging condition.
Regarding claims 2-3, they are dependent on claim 1.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. See PTO-892 attached.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DAVID Z HUANG whose telephone number is (571)270-5360. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM EST.
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/DAVID Z HUANG/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2855