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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on May 22, 2026, has been entered.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the following features must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s):
“a first signal transmission path”, see Claim 1, line 24.
“a second signal transmission path”, see Claim 1, lines 29-30.
“a transmission path length”, see Claim 2, lines 1-2 and 3.
“a first signal transmission path”, see Claim 18, line 19.
“a second signal transmission path”, see Claim 18, lines 24-25.
“a transmission path length”, see Claim 19, lines 1-2 and 3.
No new matter should be entered.
The drawings are objected to because:
The unlabeled “extending direction”, as described in the specifications, ¶ 0059, line 5.
The unlabeled “longitudinal width”, as described in the specifications, ¶ 0059, line 7.
The unlabeled “one end”, as described in the specifications, ¶ 0032, line 5.
The unlabeled “another end”, as described in the specifications, ¶ 0032, line 6.
should be provided with descriptive reference character.
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:
The unlabeled “extending direction”, as described in the specifications, ¶ 0059, line 5.
The unlabeled “longitudinal width”, as described in the specifications, ¶ 0059, line 7.
The unlabeled “one end”, as described in the specifications, ¶ 0032, line 5.
The unlabeled “another end”, as described in the specifications, ¶ 0032, line 6.
When there are drawings, there shall be a brief description of the several views of the drawings and the detailed description of the invention shall refer to the different views by specifying the numbers of the figures and to the different parts by use of reference letters or numerals (preferably the latter). (see MPEP 37 CFR 1.74 ).
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claims 1-2 and 18-19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention.
Independent claims 1 and 18 each recite “one end of each of the first grounding arm and the second grounding arm is directly connected to the first radiating portion, and another end of each of the first grounding arm and the second grounding arm is directly connected to the switching circuit”; “the signal is transmitted along a first signal transmission path extending from the feeding portion, through a part of the first radiating portion, and then through the first grounding arm to the first path of the switching circuit, where the signal is grounded”; and “the signal is transmitted along a second signal transmission path extending from the feeding portion, through a part of the first radiating portion, and then through the second grounding arm to the second path of the switching circuit, where the signal is grounded”.
The limitations were not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention. The Specification in paragraphs 0028 and 0034-0036, states:
[0028] The first grounding arm 224 and the second grounding arm 225 are connected to the first radiating portion 222. The switching circuit S is electrically connected to the first grounding arm 224 and the second grounding arm 225.
[0034] In response to the switching circuit S being switched to a first mode, the first switch SW1 is in the conducting state. The signal passes through the feeding portion 221, a part of the first radiating portion 222, and the first grounding arm 224, and is grounded through the first path P1, such that the first radiating portion 222 is coupled with the first parasitic radiation element 23 to generate a first operating frequency band. The path traveled by the signal in the first mode is shown by a dotted line SP1 in FIG. 2.
[0035] In response to the switching circuit S being switched to a second mode, the second switch SW2 is in the conducting state. The signal passes through the feeding portion 221, a part of the first radiating portion 222, and the second grounding arm 225, and is grounded through the second path P2, such that the first radiating portion 222 is coupled with the first parasitic radiation element 23 to generate a second operating frequency band. The path traveled by the signal in the second mode is shown by a dotted line SP2 in FIG. 2.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 5, in the first mode, the signal is grounded from the feeding end 32 through the first grounding arm 224 (i.e., the dotted line SP1). Meanwhile, the first operating frequency band generated by the antenna structure 2 is affected by the second grounding arm 225. Similarly, in the second mode, the signal is grounded from the feeding end 32 through the second grounding arm 225 (i.e., the dotted line SP2). Meanwhile, the second operating frequency band generated by the antenna structure 2 is affected by the fust grounding arm 224. Since a length of the first grounding arm 224 is greater than a length of the second grounding arm 225, the second operating frequency band is shifted to a lower frequency range than the first operating frequency band. Therefore, a center frequency of the first operating frequency band will be higher than a center frequency of the second operating frequency band. For example, the first operating frequency band covers a LTE band 5, and the second operating frequency band covers a LTE band 71.
Therefore, claims 1 and 18 are rejected because they contain subject matter not described in the specification to reasonably convey to one skilled in the art that the inventor, or a joint inventor, had possession of the claimed invention at the time the application was filed.
Claims 2-17, and 19-20 are rejected due to their dependence therefrom.
Dependent claim 2 recite “wherein a transmission path length of the signal from the feeding end to the grounding element via the first grounding arm is greater than a transmission path length of the signal from the feeding end to the grounding element via the second grounding arm”.
The limitations were not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention. The Specification in paragraphs 0033 and 0036, states:
[0033] In the antenna structure 2 of the present disclosure, the signal passes through signal coupling paths with different lengths or different equivalent impedances by the switching circuit S being switched among different modes.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 5, in the first mode, the signal is grounded from the feeding end 32 through the first grounding arm 224 (i.e., the dotted line SP1). Meanwhile, the first operating frequency band generated by the antenna structure 2 is affected by the second grounding arm 225. Similarly, in the second mode, the signal is grounded from the feeding end 32 through the second grounding arm 225 (i.e., the dotted line SP2). Meanwhile, the second operating frequency band generated by the antenna structure 2 is affected by the fust grounding arm 224. Since a length of the first grounding arm 224 is greater than a length of the second grounding arm 225, the second operating frequency band is shifted to a lower frequency range than the first operating frequency band. Therefore, a center frequency of the first operating frequency band will be higher than a center frequency of the second operating frequency band. For example, the first operating frequency band covers a LTE band 5, and the second operating frequency band covers a LTE band 71.
Therefore, if claim 1 is found allowable, claim 2 will be rejected because it contains subject matter not described in the specification to reasonably convey to one skilled in the art that the inventor, or a joint inventor, had possession of the claimed invention at the time the application was filed.
Dependent claim 19 recite “wherein a transmission path length of the signal from a feeding end of the feeding element to the grounding element via the first grounding arm is greater than a transmission path length of the signal from the feeding end to the grounding element via the second grounding arm”.
The limitations were not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention. The Specification in paragraphs 0033 and 0036, states:
[0033] In the antenna structure 2 of the present disclosure, the signal passes through signal coupling paths with different lengths or different equivalent impedances by the switching circuit S being switched among different modes.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 5, in the first mode, the signal is grounded from the feeding end 32 through the first grounding arm 224 (i.e., the dotted line SP1). Meanwhile, the first operating frequency band generated by the antenna structure 2 is affected by the second grounding arm 225. Similarly, in the second mode, the signal is grounded from the feeding end 32 through the second grounding arm 225 (i.e., the dotted line SP2). Meanwhile, the second operating frequency band generated by the antenna structure 2 is affected by the fust grounding arm 224. Since a length of the first grounding arm 224 is greater than a length of the second grounding arm 225, the second operating frequency band is shifted to a lower frequency range than the first operating frequency band. Therefore, a center frequency of the first operating frequency band will be higher than a center frequency of the second operating frequency band. For example, the first operating frequency band covers a LTE band 5, and the second operating frequency band covers a LTE band 71.
Therefore, if claim 18 is found allowable, claim 19 will be rejected because it contains subject matter not described in the specification to reasonably convey to one skilled in the art that the inventor, or a joint inventor, had possession of the claimed invention at the time the application was filed.
Citation of Pertinent Prior Art
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
US-20250309543 by Jian-Zhong Chen et al.
US-20250132488 by Chia-Hao Chang et al.
US-20240313400 by Hsieh-Chih Lin et al.
US-20240266733 by Shih-Chiang Wei et al.
US-20240113424 by Shih-Chiang Wei et al.
US-20230178887 by Cheng-Wei Chiang et al.
US-20210351509 by Hsieh-Chih Lin et al.
US-20150180124 by Jin-Bo Chen et al.
US-20150155616- by Yen-Hui Lin et al.
US-20130154888 by Hsiao-Yi Lin et al.
US-20070229372 by Laurent Desclos et al.
US-6700540 by Howard E. Holshouser et al.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JOSE A. MIRANDA GONZALEZ whose telephone number is (571)272-6070. The examiner can normally be reached Monday through Friday, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, ET.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Dameon E. 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.
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/DAMEON E LEVI/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2845
/JOSE A. MIRANDA GONZALEZ/ Examiner, Art Unit 2845
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