DETAILED ACTION
1. This office action is in response to communication filed on 01/22/2026. Claims 1, 3, 11, 13, and 16Claims 1-20 are pending on this application.
Response to Arguments
2. Applicant’s arguments with respect to amended claims 1 and 11 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection in view of reference Kakamu Pub. No. 2014/0354458.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
3. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
4. Claims 1-6, 10-16, and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zare Hoseini et al. et al. Pub. No. 2019/0253062 in view of Kakamu Pub. No. 2014/0354458.
Regarding claim 1. Fig. 1 of Zare Hoseini et al. discloses A successive approximation register (SAR) analog-to-digital converter (paragraph 0027), configured to receive an input signal (Vin) and comprising: a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) array (1a/1b, 2a/2b,3a/3b), configured to receive the input signal (Vin) and comprising: three DACs (1a/1b, 2a/2b,3a/3b) configured to sample an input voltage level of the input signal (level of Vin), wherein each of the three DACs (1a/1b, 2a/2b,3a/3b) comprises a plurality of first capacitor switch circuits (capacitor switch circuits of each 1a/1b, 2a/2b, and 3a/3b) and three comparators (5, 6, 7) , respectively connected in series with the three DACs (1a/1b, 2a/2b,3a/3b), and configured to respectively generate a comparison result (result outputs of 5, 6, and 7); and a SAR logic circuit (4), coupled (13, 14, 15) to the DAC array (1a/1b, 2a/2b,3a/3b) and configured to generate the nth bit of a conversion result (bits output of SAR 4) according to the comparison result (result outputs of 5, 6, and 7) in an nth comparison stage (5, 6, 7), wherein in the nth comparison stage (5 or 6 or 7), the SAR logic circuit (4) is configured to: choose a first comparator (5) of the three comparators (5, 6, 7) to compare a sampling result of a first DAC (result of 1a, 1b) of the three DACs (1a/1b, 2a/2b,3a/3b)) with the voltage level (voltage level Vin) corresponding to a first (n-1) bits (paragraph 0038 discloses “voltage generator 1 and its comparator 5 can be used to distinguish between bit outcomes 00 and 01, voltage generator 2 and its comparator 6 can be used to distinguish between bit outcomes 01 and 10, and voltage generator 3 and its comparator 7 can be used to distinguish between bit outcomes 10 and 11”) of the conversion result (bits output of SAR 4), according to the comparison result of an (n-1) th comparison stage (5), to generate the comparison result (output of 5), and adjust sampling results (adjusting of 14 and 15) of a second DAC (2a/2b) and a third DAC (3a/3c) of the three DACs (1a/1b, 2a/2b,3a/3b)) corresponding to a second comparator (6) and a third comparator (7) of the three comparators (5, 6, 7) to the voltage levels (voltage level of Vin) respectively corresponding to the cases where the nth bit (bits output of SAR 4) of the conversion result is 0 and 1 (paragraph 0042), wherein n is a positive integer greater than 1 (paragraph 0041 discloses 12 bits).
However, Zare Hoseini et al. do not disclose wherein a number of the plurality of comparison stages is equal to a number of the plurality of first capacitor switch circuits of each of the three DACs.
Fig. 2 of Kakamu discloses a successive approximation register (SAR) ADC (paragraph 0015) comprising three DACs (11, 12, 13) comprises a plurality of first capacitor switch circuits (capacitor switch circuits of each DAC 11, 12, 13) and wherein a number of the plurality of comparison stages (3 comparison stages 14, 15, 16) is equal to a number of the plurality of first capacitor switch circuits (three capacitor switch circuits) of each of the three DACs (11, 12, 13).
Zare Hoseini et al. and Kakamu are common subject matter of the plurality of capacitor switch circuits for SAR ADC; therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of claimed invention to one ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertained to incorporate number of switch capacitor circuits of Kakamu into Zare Hoseini et al. for the purpose of providing SAR type AD conversion circuit, an increase in speed is demanded and the AD conversion circuit (paragraph 0004 of Kakamu).
Regarding claim 2. Zare Hoseini et al. and Kakamu applied to claim 1 above, Fig. 1 of Zare Hoseini et al. further discloses wherein the DAC array ((1a/1b, 2a,2b,3a/3b ) further comprises: three sampling switch circuits (three samples switches of 1a/1b, 2a,2b,3a/3b) respectively coupled between the input signal and the three DACs (1a/1b, 2a,2b,3a/3b), wherein the three DACs (1a/1b, 2a,2b,3a/3b) are configured to be turned on in a sampling stage according to a sampling signal to make the DAC array (1a/1b, 2a,2b,3a/3b ) sample the input signal (sampling signal for Vin), and configured to be turned off according to the sampling signal (Switching off from Vin for connection to Vref or Ground in each 1a/1b, 2a,2b,3a/3b ) in the plurality of comparison stages (5, 6, 7).
Regarding claim 3. Zare Hoseini et al. and Kakamu applied to claim 1 above, Fig. 1 of Zare Hoseini et al. further discloses: the plurality of first capacitor switch circuits (switching capacitors of each 1a, 2a,3a), wherein the plurality of first capacitor switch circuits (switching capacitor of 1a/1b) of each of the three DACs (1a/1b, 2a,2b,3a/3b) are coupled to each other in parallel and coupled to an input terminal of a corresponding one of the three comparators (+/- input terminals of each comparator 5, 6, 7), and are configured to be respectively coupled to a reference voltage or a ground voltage (Verf and ground of each switching capacitors) according to a plurality of control signals (13, 14, and 15).
Regarding claim 4. Zare Hoseini et al. and Kakamu applied to claim 3 above, Fig. 1 of Zare Hoseini et al. further discloses wherein the capacitance values of the plurality of first capacitor switch circuits of each of the three DACs form a geometric sequence (6C, 8C, 4C, 2C, C).
Regarding claim 5. Zare Hoseini et al. and Kakamu applied to claim 3 above, Fig. 3 of Zare Hoseini et al. further discloses wherein each of the three DACs further comprises a plurality of second capacitor switch circuits (switching capacitors of each 1b, 2b,3b), wherein the number of the plurality of second capacitor switch circuits (switching capacitors of each 1b, 2b,3b) is equal to the number of the plurality of first capacitor switch circuits (switching capacitors of each 1a, 2a,3a), wherein the plurality of second capacitor switch circuits (switching capacitors of each 1b, 2b,3b) of each of the three DACs (1a/1b, 2a/2b,3a/3b) are coupled to each other in parallel and coupled to an another input terminal (+/- terminals of 5, 6, 7) of the corresponding one of the three comparators (5, 6, 7) , and are configured to be respectively coupled to the reference voltage or the ground voltage (Vref and Ground) according to the plurality of control signals (13, 14, 15)
Regarding claim 6. Zare Hoseini et al. and Kakamu applied to claim 3 above, Fig. 1 of Zare Hoseini et al. further discloses wherein the number of the plurality of comparison stages (5, 6, 7) is equal to the number of the plurality of comparison results (3 results outputs of 5, 6, 7).
Regarding claim 10. Zare Hoseini et al. and Kakamu applied to claim 1 above, Fig. 1 of Zare Hoseini et al. further discloses wherein the conversion result (conversion result of SAR 4) is an array comprising a plurality of bits (paragraph 0022), and each of the plurality of comparison results respectively corresponds to each of the plurality of bits (paragraph 0038).
Regarding claim 11. Fig. 1 of Zare Hoseini et al. discloses An operation method for operating a SAR ADC (paragraph 0027) , wherein the SAR ADC (Fig. 1) is configured to receive an input signal (Vin) and comprises a DAC array (1a/1b, 2a,2b,3a/3b) and a SAR logic circuit (SAR 4) , and the operation method comprises: (a) in an nth comparison stage (5, 6, 7), choosing (13) a first comparator (5) of three comparators of the DAC array (1a/1b, 2a,2b,3a/3b) by the SAR logic circuit (4), to compare (5) a sampling result of a first DAC (1a/1b) of three DACs of the DAC array (1a/1b, 2a/2b,3a/3b) with a voltage level (Vin) corresponding to a first (n-1) bits of a conversion result (, according to the comparison result of an (n-1)th comparison stage (5, 6, 7), to generate a comparison result (result of 5, 6, 7), and adjusting (switching to Vref or Gnd) sampling results of a second DAC (2a/2b) and a third DAC (3a/3b) of the three DACs (1a/1b, 2a/2b,3a/3b) corresponding to a second comparator (6) and a third comparator (7) of the three comparators (5, 6, 7) to the voltage levels (levels of 1a/1b, 2a,2b,3a/3b) respectively corresponding to the cases where a nth bit of the conversion result is 0 and 1 (1 (paragraph 0035 discloses” The output of the comparator is passed to the logic unit 4 which establishes in dependence on the comparison whether the most significant bit of the desired digital representation is a 0 or a 1” ) by the SAR logic circuit (SAR 4); (b) comparing the input signal (Vin) with the voltage level corresponding to the first (n-1) bits of the conversion result (paragraph 0038 discloses “voltage generator 1 and its comparator 5 can be used to distinguish between bit outcomes 00 and 01) by the first comparator (5), to generate the comparison result (result of 5); (c) generating the nth bit of the conversion result (bits generate by SAR 4) according to the comparison result (result of 5, 6, 7) by the SAR logic circuit (SAR 4); and (d) repeating steps (a)-(c) (paragraphs 0021-0022) , wherein the DAC array (1a/1b, 2a,2b,3a/3b ) is coupled between the input signal (Vin) and the SAR logic circuit (4), and the three comparators (5, 6, 7) are respectively connected in series with the three DACs (1a/1b, 2a,2b,3a/3b), wherein n is a positive integer greater than 1 (paragraph 0041 discloses 12 bits).
However, Zare Hoseini et al. do not disclose wherein a number of the plurality of comparison stages is equal to a number of the plurality of first capacitor switch circuits of each of the three DACs.
Fig. 2 of Kakamu discloses a successive approximation register (SAR) ADC (paragraph 0015) comprising three DACs (11, 12, 13) comprises a plurality of first capacitor switch circuits (capacitor switch circuits of each DAC 11, 12, 13) and wherein a number of the plurality of comparison stages (3 comparison stages 14, 15, 16) is equal to a number of the plurality of first capacitor switch circuits (three capacitor switch circuits) of each of the three DACs (11, 12, 13).
Zare Hoseini et al. and Kakamu are common subject matter of the plurality of capacitor switch circuits for SAR ADC; therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of claimed invention to one ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertained to incorporate number of switch capacitor circuits of Kakamu into Zare Hoseini et al. for the purpose of providing SAR type AD conversion circuit, an increase in speed is demanded and the AD conversion circuit (paragraph 0004 of Kakamu).
Regarding claim 12. Zare Hoseini et al. and Kakamu applied to claim 11 above, Fig. 3 of Zare Hoseini et al. further comprising: (e) in a sampling stage (sampling for Vin) , turning on three sampling switch circuits (sampling switches for Vin of 1a/1b, 2a/2b,3a/3b) of the DAC array (1a/1b, 2a/2b,3a/3b ) by a sampling signal (sampling signal for switching on/off Vin), to make the DAC array (1a/1b, 2a/2b, and 3a/3b) sample the input signal (Vin), and in the plurality of comparison stages (5, 6, 7) , turning off the three sampling switch circuits (switching off from Vin) by the sampling signal (sampling signal for switch on/off Vin), wherein the three sampling switch circuits sampling switch 1a/1b, 2a/2b,3a/3b) are respectively coupled between the input signal (Vin) and the three DACs (1a/1b, 2a/2b,3a/3b).
Regarding claim 13. Zare Hoseini et al. and Kakamu applied to claim 11 above, Fig. 1 of Zare Hoseini et al. discloses wherein step (a) further comprises: respectively coupling a plurality of first capacitor switch circuits (switching capacitors circuit 1a, 2a, 3a) of the three DACs (1a, 2a, 3a) to a reference voltage or a ground voltage (Vref or Ground) by a plurality of control signals (13, 14, 15), wherein the plurality of first capacitor switch circuits (switching capacitor circuits) of each of the three DACs (switching capacitor circuits ) are coupled to each other in parallel and coupled to an input terminal (+/- terminal or each 5, 6, 7) of a corresponding one of the three comparators (5, 6, 7).
Regarding claim 14. Zare Hoseini et al. and Kakamu applied to claim 13 above, Fig. 1 of Zare Hoseini et al. further discloses wherein the capacitance values of the plurality of first capacitor switch circuits (switching capacitors of 1a, 2a, 3a) of the three DACs (1a/1b, 2a/2b,3a/3b) form a geometric sequence (6C, 8C, 4C, 2C, C).
Regarding claim 15. Zare Hoseini et al. and Kakamu applied to claim 11 above, Fig. 1 of Zare Hoseini et al. further discloses wherein step (a) further comprises: respectively coupling a plurality of second capacitor switch circuits (switching capacitor circuits 1b, 2b, 3b) of the three DACs (1a/1b, 2a/2b,3a/3b) to the reference voltage or the ground voltage (Vref or Ground) by the plurality of control signals (13, 14, 15), wherein the number of the plurality of second capacitor switch circuits ( is equal to the number of the plurality of first capacitor switch circuits, wherein the plurality of second capacitor switch circuits (1b, 2b, 3b) of each of the three DACs (1a/1b, 2a/2b,3a/3b) are coupled to each other in parallel and coupled to an another input terminal (+/- input terminal of 5, 6, 7) of the corresponding one of the three comparators (5, 6, 7).
Regarding claim 16. Zare Hoseini et al. and Kakamu applied to claim 13 above, Fig. 1 of Zare Hoseini et al. further discloses wherein the number of the plurality of comparison stages (5, 6, 7) is equal to the number of the plurality of comparison results (3 results outputs of 5, 6, 7).
Regarding claim 20. Zare Hoseini et al. and Kakamu applied to claim 11 above, Fig. 1 of Zare Hoseini et al. further discloses wherein step (c) comprises: generating the conversion result (conversion result of SAR 4) comprising an array (array of comparators 5, 6, 7) with a plurality of bits ((paragraph 0038 discloses “voltage generator 1 and its comparator 5 can be used to distinguish between bit outcomes 00 and 01, voltage generator 2 and its comparator 6 can be used to distinguish between bit outcomes 01 and 10, and voltage generator 3 and its comparator 7 can be used to distinguish between bit outcomes 10 and 11”) according to the conversion result by the SAR logic circuit (conversion result of SAR 4) , wherein each of the plurality of comparison results (results of 5, 6, 7) respectively corresponds to each of the plurality of bits (paragraph 0038 discloses “voltage generator 1 and its comparator 5 can be used to distinguish between bit outcomes 00 and 01, voltage generator 2 and its comparator 6 can be used to distinguish between bit outcomes 01 and 10, and voltage generator 3 and its comparator 7 can be used to distinguish between bit outcomes 10 and 11”).
5. Claims 9 and 19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zare Hoseini et al. and Kakamu applied to claims 1 and 11 above, in view of Pelgrom et al. Pub. No. 2008/0309541.
Zare Hoseini et al. and and Kakamu applied to claims 1 and 11 above, respectively, Fig. 3 of Zare Hoseini et al. further discloses wherein in a first comparison stage (5), the SAR logic circuit (4) is configured to choose at least one of the three comparators (5, 6, 7) for performing a comparison (5, 6, 7).
However, Zare Hoseini et al does not disclose choose a random one of the three comparators for performing a comparison
Fig. 1 of Pelgrom et al. discloses a logic circuit (CO) is configured to choose a random one (paragraph 004 discloses “each comparator is selected to discriminate many or all input levels in accordance with a (pseudo) random mismatch-mitigating algorithm”) of the three comparators ( C1, C2, C3) for performing a comparison (comparison of C1, C2, C3).
Zare Hosein et al., Kakamu and Pelgrom et al. are common subject matter of plurality comparators of ADC; therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of claimed invention to one ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains to incorporate random selection of each comparator of Pelgrom et al. into comparators of Zare Hosein et al./ Kakamu for the purpose of mismatch-mitigating (paragraph 0004 of Pelgrom et al.).
Allowable Subject Matter
6. Claims 7 and 8 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim (if the based claim overcome the above rejection of antecedent basis), and but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Prior arts do not teach: wherein when the input signal is greater than or equal to the voltage level corresponding to the first (n-1) bits of the conversion result, the SAR logic circuit chooses the third comparator corresponding to the third DAC to perform a comparison in a (n+1)th comparison stage, and synchronously adjusts the two sampling results of the first DAC and the second DAC to the voltage level corresponding to the case where the nth bit of the conversion result is 1.
7. Claims 17 and 18 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim (if the based claim overcome the above rejection of antecedent basis), and but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Prior arts do not teach: wherein when the input signal is greater than or equal to the voltage level corresponding to the first (n-1) bits of the conversion result, the SAR logic circuit chooses the third comparator corresponding to the third DAC to perform a comparison in a (n+1)th comparison stage, and synchronously adjusts the two sampling results of the first DAC and the second DAC to the voltage level corresponding to the case where the nth bit of the conversion result is 1 by the SAR logic.
Conclusion
8. 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.
Contact Information
9. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Linh Van Nguyen whose telephone number is (571) 272-1810. The examiner can normally be reached from 8:30 – 5:00 Monday-Friday.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Mr. Dameon E. Levi can be reached at (571) 272-2105. The fax phone numbers for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned are (571-273-8300) for regular communications and (571-273-8300) for After Final communications.
03/13/2026
/LINH V NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2845