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 .
Drawings
The drawings are objected to because of the following problems.
Paragraph [0026], line 4 describes, “a cable end 124 and a mating end 126”. However, in Figure 3, it seems that the reference number 124 is pointing at the mating end and the reference number 126 is pointing at the cable end.
“An array of signal pads” recited in claim 1, line 8 is not identified in the drawings with an assigned reference number and a line pointing at the array of signal pads. Therefore, it is not clear what the array of signal pads is.
“a ground plane” recited in claim 1, line 9 is not identified in the drawings with an assigned reference number and a line pointing at the ground plane. Therefore, it is not clear what this ground plane is.
“a cable strain relief” recited in claim 10 is not shown in the drawings with an assigned reference number.
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(5) because they do not include the following reference sign(s) mentioned in the description: “308” for a pressure plate described in Paragraph [0024], line 13.
In Figure 3, it seems that the reference number “122” is pointing at wrong place in view of the reference number “122” shown in Figures 6-7 and 9-10.
Compare between Figures 3 and 4, it looks like the reference numbers “150” in Figures 3 and 4 are pointing two different places.
In Figure 8, it seems that the reference number “140” with a line without an arrowhead should be -- 142 -- because while the reference number “140” with the arrowhead is pointing at the whole mounting tab and the reference number “140” without the arrowhead is pointing at the main body of the mounting tab.
In Figure 10, it seems that the reference number “132” should be -- 312 --.
In Figures 10 and 15, each Figure shows two of the reference numbers “201” pointing at two different places.
Figure 10 shows two of the reference numbers “206” pointing at two different places.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities:
Paragraph [0032], lines 1-2, the examiner suggests the applicant to change “circuit conductors 164 (shown in Figure 7)” to -- circuit conductors 164 (shown in Figures 10 and 15) -- because the reference number 164 is not shown in Figure 7.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Objections
Claims 14 and 16-19 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 14, line 1 recites that claim 14 is depended on claim 15. A prior claim cannot be depended on a succeeding claim. In view of claim 13, it seems that claim 14 should be depended on claim 1.
Claims 16 and 17 also depended on a succeeding claim 18. It seems that claims 16 and 17 should be depended on claim 15.
Claim 18 is depended on claim 18 itself. A claim cannot be depended on itself. It seems that claim 18 should be depended on claim 15.
Claim 19 is depended on a preceding claim 18, which is proper dependency. However, in view of claims 16-18, it seems that claim 19 should be depended on claim 15 instead of claim 18.
Appropriate correction is required.
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 1-20 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 1, lines 8-9 and Claim 15, lines 10-11 recite that the circuit card has an array of signal pads and a ground plane. recite that the circuit card has an array of signal pads and a ground plane. However, because the array of signal pads and the ground plane are not assigned with their corresponding reference numbers and lines pointing at them, the array of signal pads and the ground plane cannot be clearly identified in the drawings. Also, claims 1 and 15 do not recite how the array of signal pads and the ground plane are structurally related to each other to form as parts of the circuit card.
Claim 3, line 2 recites, “a base” of the shell, but claim 5 depended on claim 3 also recites, “a base” of the shell. Therefore, it is not clear whether the base of claim 5 is the same or different from the base of claim 1.
Claim 10, line 2 recites, “a cable strain relief”. However, because this cable strain relief is not assigned with a reference number and a line pointing at the cable strain relief, this cable strain relief cannot be clearly identified in the drawings and how the cables are provided with a strain relief.
Claim 14, lines 1-2 recite, “the compliant pins extending pin distance from the mating end”. Is claim 14 reciting two different pins, the compliant pins and an extending pin? If claim 14 is reciting that the compliant pins are extending a pin distance, then the pin distance is extending from the mating end to where?
Claim 18 also has the same problem as claim 14 stated above.
Claim 20 also recites, “array of signal pads” in line 11 and “a ground plane” in line 18. Therefore, the same rejection applied to claims 1 and 15 stated above also applies to claim 20. In addition, since claim 20 recites a first array of signal pads on a first surface of the circuit card and a second array of signal contacts on a second surface of the circuit card, it is not clear how the ground plane is structurally related with both first array of signal pads on the first surface and the second array of signal contacts of the second surface.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1, 15 and 20 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.
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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