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 under 37 CFR 1.83(a) because they fail to show the first and second coupling plates (13 and 23) as described in the specification. For example, in Fig. 5 (and in some of the other Figures), elements 13 and 23 are not shown. Further, if 15 and 25 are one of the first and one of the second coupling plates, where are the second of the first and second coupling plates? What cross-section is this taken from?
Further, Fig. 5 also shows L1 as being a vertical distance. However, in Fig. 1 and the Specification, L1 is defined as the axis between the first and second chip.
Any structural detail that is essential for a proper understanding of the disclosed invention should be shown in the drawing. MPEP § 608.02(d). 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.
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 1-15 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.
Regarding Claim 1, Examiner is unable to interpret the meaning of “wherein the two first coupling plates and the two second coupling plates are vertically separate from each other and are partially and vertically overlapped with each other respectively”.
Examiner will explain the approach that was taken to try to determine the meaning of this limitation.
Examiner first looked at Figure 1, which is marked below. Applicant recites two first coupling plates 13. However, from the drawing, it appears as though the two first coupling plates merge into one coupling plate (see the box below). The same applies for the two second coupling plates.
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Examiner then turned to Fig. 5, which is marked below. However, Fig. 5 does not even show first coupling plates 13 and second coupling plates 23. Even if element 15 is taken as one of the first coupling plates and element 25 is taken as one of the second coupling plates, where is the other first coupling plate and the other second coupling plate? Also, what is the relationship between Fig. 5 and Fig. 1 for example? If Fig. 5 is a cross-section of Fig. 1, where is the cross-section taken?
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Examiner finally turned to Fig. 4, which is shown below beside Fig. 2. Fig. 4 shows end portions of the two first coupling plates 131 and end portions of the two second coupling plates 231. Examiner is unsure which embodiment this pertains to. The closest one seems to be Fig. 2, since in Fig. 1, the two first coupling plates and the two second coupling plates are only located on one side of L1. In that case, Examiner does not see how Fig. 4 can represent Fig. 2, which does not seem to show two end portions coming out of 30 on either side.
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After examining these Figures and the associated explanations in the Specification, Examiner is not able to provide a meaningful interpretation of the limitation “wherein the two first coupling plates and the two second coupling plates are vertically separate from each other and are partially and vertically overlapped with each other, respectively.” Are the two first coupling plates vertically separate from one another? Or is one first coupling plate vertically separate from one second coupling plate? If it is the latter, where is this shown (if Fig. 5 shows it, where is the second first coupling plate and the second second coupling plate)? How does Fig. 1 (or 2) clarify this?
Because Examiner is not able to meaningfully interpret the claim, any prior art search would be speculative. For this reason, Examiner is rejecting all the claims under 112(b) only, and asking Applicant to fix the issues mentioned above (including the Drawing objections). See also MPEP 2143.03(I).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ROHIT PARTHASARATHY whose telephone number is (571)272-2572. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8:30a-5p.
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, Dale Page can be reached at 5712707877. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ROHIT PARTHASARATHY/Examiner, Art Unit 2899 /DALE E PAGE/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2899
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