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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 6/5/2026 has been 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 1-5, 7, 11-18 and 21-24 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 1 does not properly define adsorption sites; it is established that an inhibitor layer is formed on a first surface and a modifying agent to adsorb inhibitor molecules contained in the modifying agent on the first surface. However, this does not establish the existence of adsorption sites on the inhibitor layer. Further, it is worded in a confusing manner – does the modifying agent adsorb the same inhibitor molecules from the inhibitor layer or are they different? Are the adsorption sites on the inhibitor layer or the modifying agent? Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 1 requires a modifying agent to adsorb inhibitor molecules that are contained in the modifying agent. It is unclear how the modifying agent absorbs itself or where the inhibitor molecules are initially located.
Claim 1 further defines a, b and c, and states two possible relationships between a, b, and c but does not state if the relationship is required by the claims or not, making this clause indefinite.
Claim 1 recites the limitation “the interval”. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
As to claim 7, it is unclear if this is a separate step or is repetitive as the density of the adsorption sites are adjusted in claim 1.
Claim 21 refers to a regulating step in claim 1 when that was amended to be an adjusting step.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KELLY M GAMBETTA whose telephone number is (571)272-2668. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9-5:30.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Gordon Baldwin can be reached at 571-272-5166. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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KELLY M. GAMBETTA
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 1718
/KELLY M GAMBETTA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1718
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