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 17-20are 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.
The last line of claim 17 recites, “a mating module”. However, claim 1, line 3 already recites, “a mating module”. Therefore, it is not clear whether “a mating module” of claims 1 and 17 are the same mating module or two different mating modules.
Claim 19 recites the limitation "the mating module" in 29. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 19, lines 1-28 do not recite, “a mating module”.
Claim 19, line 30 recites, “a mating module”, but line 29 already recites, “the mating module”. Therefore, it is not clear whether “a mating module” of line 30 and “the mating module” of line 29 are the same mating module or two different mating modules.
Claim 19, line 29 recites, “a first metal grounding plate”, but line 34, recites, “a plurality of layers of metal grounding plates”. Therefore, it is not clear whether the first metal grounding plate of line 29 is a part of or not part of the plurality of layers of metal grounding plates of line 34.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-16 are allowed.
Claim 19 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.
Reason for Allowance
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: In combination with all the limitations recited in the independent claim, the prior art of record does not anticipate nor render obvious an electrical connector, comprising: an insulating body comprising a mating surface and a mating slot extending through the mating surface; the mating slot receiving at least part of a mating module along an insertion direction; a plurality of first terminal modules, each first terminal module comprising a first insulating block and a plurality of first conductive terminals fixed to the first insulating block; each first conductive terminal fixed to the first insulating block and having a first contact portion of a first elastic arm protruding into the mating slot; the plurality of first conductive terminals comprising a first signal terminal and a second signal terminal adjacent to the first signal terminal along a first direction, together forming a terminal group; a first metal shielding sheet located on a first side of the terminal group; a second metal shielding sheet located on a second side of the terminal group, which is opposite to the first metal shielding sheet; a third metal shielding sheet located on a third side of the terminal group, which is between the first metal shielding sheet and the second metal shielding sheet; and a fourth metal shielding sheet located on a fourth side of the terminal group, which is between the first metal shielding sheet and the second metal shielding sheet and opposite to the third metal shielding sheet; wherein the first metal shielding sheet, the second metal shielding sheet, the third metal shielding sheet and the fourth metal shielding sheet are disposed around a periphery of the terminal group; and wherein the second metal shielding sheet comprises a first abutting portion protruding into the mating slot along a second direction opposite to the insertion direction; the first abutting portion is configured to be electrically connected to an end surface of a first metal grounding plate of the mating module.
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 HAE MOON HYEON whose telephone number is (571) 272-2093. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 9:30 am - 6:00 pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Abdullah A Riyami can be reached at 571-270-3119. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/hmh/
/Hae Moon Hyeon/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2831
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