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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of claims 9-19 (Species III) is acknowledged.
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 9-19 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.
Claim 9 reciting “at least three the patch antenna structure, wherein the patch antenna structure comprises” are indefinite, since (a) “the patch antenna structure” lacks antecedent basis, and (b) it’s not understood which patch antenna structure is being referred to by “the patch antenna structure comprises”.
Claim 9 reciting “wherein two adjacent patch antenna structures are connected via dielectric substrates thereof” are indefinite, since (c) it’s not understood whether these “two adjacent patch antenna structures” are related (or in addition) to “at least the patch antenna structure” earlier claimed, and (d) it’s unclear whether these “dielectric substrates” are related (or in addition) to “a dielectric substrate” earlier claimed.
Claim 9 reciting “antenna elements in adjacent rows are arranged to mirror each other” is indefinite, since it’s not understood which antenna elements are being referred to.
In view of the aforementioned, scope of claim 9 cannot be ascertained.
Claims 10-19 depend therefrom.
Claim 12 reciting “a second rectangular radiator” is indefinite, since a first rectangular radiator has NOT been claimed. It appears this claim should depend on claim 11, which recites “a first rectangular radiator”.
There should be a clear recitation of interrelated structure in order to provide a complete and operable UWB antenna.
The following claim, drafted by the examiner to read on Fig. 21 of the invention, and considered to distinguish patentably over the art of record in this application, is presented to applicant for consideration:
9. (Currently Amended) An ultra-wideband (UWB) antenna, comprising:
at least three stacked patch antenna structures, wherein each of the three stacked patch antenna structures comprises:
a dielectric substrate, having a first surface and a second surface that face away from each other;
a metal ground layer, attached to the first surface of the dielectric substrate and provided with a plurality of slots; and
an array of antenna elements, composed of four antenna elements and disposed on the second surface of the dielectric substrate;
wherein in the array of antenna elements, a spacing between centers of two adjacent antenna elements in a same row is less than a predetermined the array antenna elements in adjacent rows are arranged to mirror each other;
[[;]] wherein two adjacent patch antenna structures of the three stacked patch antenna structures are connected via dielectric substrates thereof
wherein second surfaces of the dielectric substrates define an outer surface of the UWB antenna, and first surfaces of the dielectric substrates define an inner surface of the UWB antenna.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 14-15 and 19 would be allowable if rewritten 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 and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Ishizaka (US 5510803)
Tajima (US 8907848)
Sudo (US 12095163)
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HASAN ISLAM whose telephone number is (571)270-1719. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Thu 9AM-7PM EST.
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/HASAN ISLAM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2845
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