DETAILED ACTION
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of group “a”, claims 1-3 and 8-11, in the reply filed on November 26, 2025 is acknowledged.
Specification
The lengthy specification has not been checked to the extent necessary to determine the presence of all possible minor errors. Applicant’s cooperation is requested in correcting any errors of which applicant may become aware in the specification.
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.
Claim 8 is 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 8 recites the limitation "the silica glass rod" in line 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 8 recites a second removing step of removing the silica glass rod after the removing step. Claim 8 depends on claim 1, and claim 1 fails to recite a silica glass rod. Thus, it is unclear what glass rod is being referenced or if a glass rod is required.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-3 and 9-11 are allowed. Claim 8 would also be allowed once the 112 issues have been resolved.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: Prior art that suggests the doping of a silica glass tube include Schultz et al. (3,711,262). Schultz teaches a method for manufacturing an optical fiber preform, the method comprising preparing a silica glass tube (col. 4 lines 69-75, col. 5 lines 1-5), filling the silica glass tube with a powder body containing metal component and silica powder (col.5 lines 65-75, col. 6 lines 1-13) and diffusing the alkali metal or alkaline earth metal into the silica glass tube from the powder body through a heat treatment (col. 4 lines 10-24, col. 5 lines 24-29). However, these prior art fails teach a removal step for removing the powder body that is not fixed to the silica glass tube. On the contrary, the is no intention of removing any of the powder body, as Schultz teaches sintering the powder so as become part of the optical fiber preform, thereby fixing all of the powder body to the tube (col. 6 lines 10-15, col. 7 lines 37-43). Schultz also fails to suggests doping with an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal component. Dorn (4,867,774) also teaches a method for producing an optical fiber preform comprising similar steps, wherein a silica glass tube (col. 2 lines 30-33) is filled with a powder body comprising a dopant and silica powder (col. 1 lines 65-68, col. 2 lines 59-65). Similar to Schultz, Dorn also fails to teach a removal step or doping with an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal component. Kitamura (2018/0370841) also teaches filling a silica glass tube with a powder body comprising an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal component and silica powder ([0091], and diffusing the alkali metal or alkaline earth metal into the silica glass tube from the powder body through a heat treatment ([0023], [0030], [0093]). Kitamura also further teaches cladding an outer periphery of the silica glass tube in which the alkali metal or alkaline earth metal is diffused ([0072]-[0074]). However, Kitamura also fails to suggest removing the powder body that is not fixed to the silica glass tube. Aiso et al. (2017/0137316) teaches using a silica glass rod doped with an alkali metal for diffusing the alkali metal into a silica glass layer via a heat treatment ([0025]), and subsequently removing the silica glass rod and producing a silica glass tube diffused with alkali metal ([0026]). Aiso further teaches forming a cladding portion surrounding an outer periphery of the silica glass tube in which the alkali metal or alkaline earth metal is diffused ([0056]). While Aiso teaches removing the source of the alkali metal after diffusing, Aiso does not suggest filling a silica glass tube with a silica powder body comprising an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal and diffusing the alkali metal or alkaline earth metal into the silica glass tube. Accordingly, the prior art fails to suggest the combining the steps of diffusing an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal into a silica glass tube by filling the silica glass tube with a silica glass powder body having and alkali metal or alkaline earth metal component and heat treating to effect the diffusion of the alkali metal or alkaline earth metal, and the step of removing the powder body that is not fixed to the silica glass tube.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to QUEENIE S DEHGHAN whose telephone number is (571)272-8209. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8:00-4:30.
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/QUEENIE S DEHGHAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1741