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 .
Priority
Acknowledgment is made of applicant’s claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 (a)-(d). The certified copy has been filed in parent Application No. FR 2306475, filed on 22 June 2023.
Election/Restrictions
The Restriction/Election requirement dated 7 April 2026 is withdrawn in its entirety.
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 – 12 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 Claims 1 and 6, the claims recite “a first and second waveguide that are suitable for propagating microwave waves and DC currents”. It is unclear as to if the waveguides are merely capable or configured to propagate microwave waves and DC currents, thus rendering the claim indefinite.
Regarding Claims 1 and 6, the claims recite “a cloud of ultracold atoms near said XY plane”. It is unclear as to what distances can be considered “near”, thus rendering the claim indefinite.
Regarding Claim 1, the claim recites “when the sensor is implemented”. It is unclear as to when the sensor can be considered “implemented”, thus rendering the claim indefinite.
Regarding Claim 1, the claim recites “a detection system suitable for measuring”. It is unclear as to if the detection system is merely capable or configured to measure, thus rendering the claim indefinite.
Regarding Claims 11 and 12, the claims recite the limitation "the movement step". There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Regarding Claims 11 and 12, the claim recites “gradually turning off”. It is unclear as to what rates of turning off can be considered “gradual”, thus rendering the claim indefinite.
Claims dependent upon a rejected claim are therefore rejected as well.
Conclusion
Due to the 112(b) Rejections as outlined above, a complete search and consideration of the claims was not possible. Upon applicant’s clarification of the claims, a comparison with the prior art will again be made.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ALEXANDER MERCADO whose telephone number is (571)270-7094. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Thursday 9am - 4pm 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, Laura Martin can be reached at (571) 272-2160. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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ALEXANDER A. MERCADO
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2855
/ALEXANDER A MERCADO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2855
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