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 .
Response to Remarks:
Regarding the 112b rejections:
Based on the amendments to the claims, these rejections are hereby withdrawn.
Regarding the 102 rejection:
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The examiner respectfully disagrees with the applicants’ position. Although the applicant agrees that both the PFS and VDL apply phase changes, the applicant states that Ivanov doesn’t teach that the phase change elements “arrive at the slower reacting first phase change device which maintains an envelope alignment by correcting for the timing error to ensure that the second phase change device operates within its frequency range without phase slipping to ensure amplitude alignment by correcting for an optical phase error”. In response to applicant's argument that the references fail to show certain features of the invention, it is noted that the features upon which applicant relies (i.e., first phase change device which maintains an envelope alignment by correcting for the timing error to ensure that the second phase change device operates within its frequency range without phase slipping to ensure amplitude alignment by correcting for an optical phase error) are not recited in the rejected claim(s). Although the claims are interpreted in light of the specification, limitations from the specification are not read into the claims. See In re Van Geuns, 988 F.2d 1181, 26 USPQ2d 1057 (Fed. Cir. 1993).
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, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 19, 20 and 21 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by Ivanov (Adaptive Phase Stabilization System for Microwave Signals Transmitted via Fiber Optic).
Regarding claim 1 and similar claim 20, Ivanov teaches an optical phase change apparatus (Fig. 2) comprising: an optical fiber link along which an optical signal propagates (Fig. 2, fiber link FL); a first phase change device coupled with a first fiber portion of the optical fiber link and configured for imparting a phase changing contribution to the first fiber portion via said coupling, the first phase change device operating within a first response frequency range (Fig. 2, first phase change device PFS; Page 36, Col. 1, paragraph 1, The PFS compensates for relatively fast fluctuations of a small amount of delay, benefiting from a short response time and precise adjustment); a second phase change device coupled with a second fiber portion of the optical fiber link (Fig. 2, second phase change device VDL) and configured for imparting a phase changing contribution to the second fiber portion via said coupling, the second phase change device operating within a second response frequency range, the second response frequency range having a maximum response frequency value greater than a maximum response frequency value of the first response frequency range (Page 36, Col. 1, paragraph 1, Slow changes of large magnitude delays are compensated by VDL having a large range of delay variations…; paragraph 2, A line of type VDL-001 (General Photonics, USA) [10] was used as manually tuned delay line with a delay range 0– 330 ps and extended optical wavelength range 1260-1650 nm); and a controller communicatively connected to the first and second phase change devices (Fig. 2, controller PC+USRP), the controller configured for: upon determining that said optical signal experiences a given phase change (Page 35, Col. 2, paragraph 5, As noted above, for active compensations of the link’s electrical length changes as part of the closed-loop automatic control system there are generally used: thermally controlled fiber coil, tunable wavelength laser and tunable delay line or fiber piezoelectric stretcher) including a given frequency value greater than the first response frequency range causing one or more of a timing error and an optical phase error (Fig. 4 also shows errors before and after compensation), instructing the first phase change device to impart, along the first fiber portion, a first phase change at a first response frequency value within the first response frequency range (Page 37, Col. 1, paragraph 2, Input signals of ACS controller are a reference microwave signal VNA and manageable microwave signal from the receiving module Rc output) to apply a timing adjustment (Fig. 2, first phase change device PFS; Page 36, Col. 1, paragraph 1, The PFS compensates for relatively fast fluctuations of a small amount of delay, benefiting from a short response time and precise adjustment); and instructing the second phase change device to impart (Page 36, Col. 1, paragraph 2, If for changing the length of tunable delay line a precision servo is used, VDL can be used as part of a controller of a closed-loop automatic control system), along the second fiber portion, a second phase change at a second response frequency value within the second response frequency range and greater than the first response frequency range (Page 36, Col. 1, paragraph 2, A line of type VDL-001 (General Photonics, USA) [10] was used as manually tuned delay line with a delay range 0– 330 ps and extended optical wavelength range 1260-1650 nm) to apply an optical phase adjustment (Page 36, Col. 1, paragraph 1, Slow changes of large magnitude delays are compensated by VDL having a large range of delay variations), the first and second phase changes corresponding to the given phase change (Page 37, Col. 2, paragraph 1, At the first stage of testing, a harmonic disturbing signal with an amplitude close to the maximum permissible and a frequency of 0.03 Hz was fed to the control input of the stretcher Ch1-2. This signal created a corresponding phase modulation in the FOL with an amplitude of 5.25 degrees. Input of stretcher Ch3-4 was used to feed a control signal to control the regulator of the closed-loop ACS) wherein the timing adjustment corrects for the timing error and the optical phase adjust corrects for the optical phase error (as noted above).
Regarding claim 4, Ivanov teaches the optical phase change apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first phase change device operates within a first phase range and the second phase change device operates within a second phase range, the first phase range greater than the second phase range, said first phase change imparted within the first phase range and said second phase change imparted within the second phase range (Page 36, Col. 1, paragraph 1, The PFS compensates for relatively fast fluctuations of a small amount of delay, benefiting from a short response time and precise adjustment. Slow changes of large magnitude delays are compensated by VDL having a large range of delay variations i.e. the coarse and fine responses discloses a slow and fast response thus two different phase ranges).
Regarding claim 9, Ivanov teaches the optical phase change apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first phase change device has an electro-mechanical actuator mechanically coupled to the first fiber portion (Page 36, Col. 3, paragraph 3, For piezoelectric control we have used the model FST-001- B (General Photonics Corp., USA) [10] as fiber stretcher coupled with a driver. The optical signal delay variations in this stretcher are based on the reverse piezoelectric effect in the spool on which a fiber coil is wound. The stretcher has 4 sequentially connected executive channels with independent control of each channel).
Regarding claim 10, Ivanov teaches the optical phase change apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first fiber portion extends along at least 1 m (Abstract: transmission over a fiber-optic communication link with a length of up to 1 km with the developed closed-loop automatic control system are presented).
Regarding claim 11, Ivanov teaches the optical phase change apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller monitors a current phase signal indicative of a current phase of the optical signal, said instructing being based on said monitored current phase signal (Abstract: The regulator of the developed closed-loop automatic control system includes a three-channel radio system made of technology software defined radio with frequency range up to 6 GHz and PID controller, the output of which is fed to the fiber stretcher driver. The basic parameters of volt-degree characteristic of piezoelectric stretcher which determine how it should work in the channel of signal phase control have been experimentally investigated. The results of measuring the statistical characteristics of the microwave signal phase fluctuations during its transmission over a fiber-optic communication link with a length of up to 1 km with the developed closed-loop automatic control system are presented).
Regarding claim 12, Ivanov teaches a method of changing a phase of an optical signal, the method comprising: propagating the optical signal along an optical fiber link (Fig. 2, fiber link FL); coupling a first fiber portion of the optical fiber link to a first phase change device, the first phase change device configured for imparting a phase changing contribution to the first fiber portion via said coupling, the first phase change device operating within a first response frequency range (Fig. 2, first phase change device PFS; Page 36, Col. 1, paragraph 1, The PFS compensates for relatively fast fluctuations of a small amount of delay, benefiting from a short response time and precise adjustment); coupling a second fiber portion of the optical fiber link to a second phase change device (Fig. 2, second phase change device VDL), the second phase change device configured for imparting a phase changing contribution to the second fiber portion via said coupling, the second phase change device operating within a second response frequency range, the second response frequency range having a maximum response frequency value greater than a maximum response frequency value of the first response frequency range (Page 36, Col. 1, paragraph 1, Slow changes of large magnitude delays are compensated by VDL having a large range of delay variations…; paragraph 2, A line of type VDL-001 (General Photonics, USA) [10] was used as manually tuned delay line with a delay range 0– 330 ps and extended optical wavelength range 1260-1650 nm); and upon determining that said optical signal experiences a given phase change (Page 35, Col. 2, paragraph 5, As noted above, for active compensations of the link’s electrical length changes as part of the closed-loop automatic control system there are generally used: thermally controlled fiber coil, tunable wavelength laser and tunable delay line or fiber piezoelectric stretcher) including a frequency greater than the first response frequency range causing one or more of a timing error and an optical phase error (Fig. 4 also shows errors before and after compensation): the first phase change device imparting, along the first fiber portion, a first phase change at a first response frequency value within the first response frequency range (Page 37, Col. 1, paragraph 2, Input signals of ACS controller are a reference microwave signal VNA and manageable microwave signal from the receiving module Rc output) to apply a timing adjustment (Fig. 2, first phase change device PFS; Page 36, Col. 1, paragraph 1, The PFS compensates for relatively fast fluctuations of a small amount of delay, benefiting from a short response time and precise adjustment), and the second phase change device imparting (Page 36, Col. 1, paragraph 2, If for changing the length of tunable delay line a precision servo is used, VDL can be used as part of a controller of a closed-loop automatic control system), along the second fiber portion, a second phase change at a second response frequency value within the second response frequency range and greater than the first response frequency range to apply an optical phase adjustment (Page 36, Col. 1, paragraph 1, Slow changes of large magnitude delays are compensated by VDL having a large range of delay variations), the first and second phase changes corresponding to the given phase change (Page 36, Col. 1, paragraph 2, A line of type VDL-001 (General Photonics, USA) [10] was used as manually tuned delay line with a delay range 0– 330 ps and extended optical wavelength range 1260-1650 nm), the first and second phase changes corresponding to the given phase change (Page 37, Col. 2, paragraph 1, At the first stage of testing, a harmonic disturbing signal with an amplitude close to the maximum permissible and a frequency of 0.03 Hz was fed to the control input of the stretcher Ch1-2. This signal created a corresponding phase modulation in the FOL with an amplitude of 5.25 degrees. Input of stretcher Ch3-4 was used to feed a control signal to control the regulator of the closed-loop ACS) wherein the timing adjustment corrects for the timing error and the optical phase adjust corrects for the optical phase error (as noted above).
Regarding claim 15, Ivanov teaches the method of claim 12 wherein the first phase change device operates within a first phase range and the second phase change device operates within a second phase range, the first phase range greater than the second phase range, said first phase change imparted within the first phase range and said second phase change imparted within the second phase range (Page 36, Col. 1, paragraph 1, The PFS compensates for relatively fast fluctuations of a small amount of delay, benefiting from a short response time and precise adjustment. Slow changes of large magnitude delays are compensated by VDL having a large range of delay variations i.e. the coarse and fine responses discloses a slow and fast response thus two different phase ranges).
Regarding claim 19, Ivanov teaches the method of claim 12 further comprising monitoring a current phase signal indicative of a current phase of the optical signal, said operating based on said monitored current phase signal (As taught within the teachings of claim 12, the measurements for the compensation are made based on the current phase signal indicative of a current measured phase).
Regarding claim 21, Ivanov teaches the optical phase change apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first fiber portion extends along at least 250 m (Abstract: transmission over a fiber-optic communication link with a length of up to 1 km with the developed closed-loop automatic control system are presented).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2, 3, 5-8, 13, 14 and 16-18 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
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. See the notice of reference cited (PTO-892).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PRANESH K BARUA whose telephone number is (571)270-1017. The examiner can normally be reached on Mon-Sat: 11-8pm.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, David Payne can be reached on 5712723024. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/PRANESH K BARUA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2635
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