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 .
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, last line reciting “the first flexible layer has a Flexural modulus in a range of 0.01 to 10.0” is indefinite, since it’s unclear what unit the range “0.01 to 10.0” is being referred to. In other words, flexural modulus is often used to indicate bending resistance of a material in Pascals (Pa), Megapascals (MPa), Gigapascals (GPa) or pounds per square in (psi). However, it’s NOT understood which, if any of these units, is being referred to for the indefinite claimed range.
Last line of claims 2-6, respectively, and last two lines of claim 8 are indefinite for the same aforementioned reason(s).
Rest of the claims are rejected for depending on claim 1.
The spec. discloses, e.g., in ¶ [0065] of the printed publication:
[0065] In some embodiments, the flexible layers (e.g., the first flexible layer FL1, the second flexible layer FL2, the third flexible layer FL3, the fourth flexible layer FL4, the fifth flexible layer FLS, and/or the sixth flexible layer FL6) have a Flexural modulus in a range of 0.01 to 10.0, e.g., 0.01 to 0.05, …, or 9.5 to 10.0. Various appropriate flexible materials may be used for making the flexible layers (e.g., the first flexible layer FL1, the second flexible layer FL2, the third flexible layer FL3, the fourth flexible layer FL4, the fifth flexible layer FL5, and/or the sixth flexible layer FL6). Examples of appropriate flexible materials for making the flexible layers includes polyimide (having a Flexural modulus in a range of 2.0 to 4.0 (Pa), polymethyl methacrylate (having a Flexural modulus in a range of 2.5 to 3.5 GPa), polyethylene terephthalate (having a Flexural modulus in a range of 2.0 to 4.0 GPa), polyethylene naphthalate (having a Flexural modulus in a range of 4.0 to 6.0 GPa), polyvinyl chloride (having a Flexural modulus in a range of 2.0 to 4,0 GPa), polyurethane (having a Flexural modulus in a range of 0.5 to 10.0 GPa), or polydimethylsiloxane (having a Flexural modulus in) a range of 0.01 to 0.5 GPa).
As such, for examination purposes, last line of claim 1 will be interpreted as --the first flexible layer has a Flexural modulus in a range of 0.01 to 10.0 GPa--.
There should be a clear recitation of interrelated structure in order to provide a complete and operable antenna.
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:
1. (Currently Amended) An antenna, comprising:
a feed line structure;
a first low dielectric constant layer on the feed line structure;
a first flexible layer on a side of the first low dielectric constant layer away from the feed line structure;
a phase shifter on a side of the first flexible layer away from the first low dielectric constant layer;
a first ground plate on a side of the phase shifter away from the first flexible layer; and
a radiating plate on a side of the first ground plate away from the phase shifter;
wherein the first low dielectric constant layer has a dielectric constant in a range of 1.5 to 3; and
the first flexible layer has a Flexural modulus in a range of 0.01 to 10.0 GPa.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 1 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 1, none of the prior art shows, teaches or fairly suggests the features of “a first ground plate on a side of the phase shifter away from the first flexible layer; and a radiating plate on a side of the first ground plate away from the phase shifter; wherein the first low dielectric constant layer has a dielectric constant in a range of 1.5 to 3; and the first flexible layer has a Flexural modulus in a range of 0.01 to 10.0 GPa.”
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Haziza (US 11011854)
Jia (US 12100890)
Yang (US 11799197)
Hauhe (US 7298235)
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.
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/HASAN ISLAM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2845