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 .
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments regarding claim 11 have been considered but are moot in view of the 35 USC 112b rejection as follows.
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 11-15 are 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 11, last clause reciting “a plurality of second electrical conductors” and “a second side of the flange” are indefinite, since it’s unclear how such second electrical conductors and such second side may be present absent “a plurality of first electrical conductors” and “a first side of the flange”.
Claims 12-15 depend therefrom.
There should be a clear recitation of interrelated structure in order to provide a complete and operable antenna device.
The following claim, drafted by the examiner and considered to distinguish patentably over the art of record in this application, is presented to applicant for consideration:
11. (Currently Amended) A phased array antenna device, comprising:
a carrier comprising a first main body, the first main body having a first surface and a second surface disposed opposite to the first surface;
a main circuit board comprising a third surface and a fourth surface disposed opposite to the third surface;
a modular scalable antenna package structure disposed on the third surface of the main circuit board; and
a signal control module disposed on the main circuit board;
wherein the modular scalable antenna package structure comprises [[a]] the carrier, a plurality of antenna radiation elements, and a plurality of radio frequency front-end circuits;
wherein the antenna radiation elements are disposed on the first surface;
wherein the radio frequency front-end circuits are disposed on the second surface and are electrically connected to the antenna radiation elements and the signal control module;
wherein the carrier further comprises a flange which is disposed on the second surface of the first main body, and is extended away from the second surface;
wherein the modular scalable antenna package structure further comprises a plurality of first electrical conductors, wherein the first electrical conductors are disposed on a first side of the flange, and the first side of the flange is disposed distant from the first main body.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1, 3-4, 6-7, 8-10 and 16-17 allowed.
Claim 11 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Regarding claim 11, none of the prior art shows, teaches or fairly suggests the features of “wherein the carrier further comprises a flange which is disposed on the second surface of the first main body, and is extended away from the second surface; wherein the modular scalable antenna package structure further comprises a plurality of first electrical conductors, wherein the first electrical conductors are disposed on a first side of the flange, and the first side of the flange is disposed distant from the first main body.”
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.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HASAN ISLAM whose telephone number is (571)270-1719. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Thu 9AM-7PM EST.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, DAMEON LEVI can be reached at (571)272-2105. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/HASAN ISLAM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2845
Prosecution Insights