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 Objections
Claims 1-4 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Regarding claim 1, line 2, “by means of a phase OTDR” should be changed to either --by means a phase optical time-domain reflectometry (OTDR) system--, --by means of a phase optical time-domain reflectometry (OTDR) method--, or --by means of phase optical time-domain reflectometry (OTDR) --.
Regarding claim 1, line 28, “[Math. C1]” should be deleted.
Regarding claim 2, it is dependent on claim 1.
Regarding claim 3, line 2, “by means of a phase OTDR” should be changed to either --by means a phase optical time-domain reflectometry (OTDR) system--, --by means of a phase optical time-domain reflectometry (OTDR) method--, or --by means of phase optical time-domain reflectometry (OTDR) --.
Regarding claim 3, line 7, “the optical frequency” should be changed to --the optical frequency in the specific optical pulse pair--.
Regarding claim 3, line 27, “[Math. C2]” should be deleted.
Regarding claim 4, it is dependent on claim 3.
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 1-4 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, the last paragraph states that “Aave,c represents an average value of the gradients Ak,c with respect to k, provided that, when the optical frequency multiplexing for suppressing fading noise is not performed, the averaging process for suppressing fading noise is not performed in the above-mentioned procedures.” It is unclear as to what is being referred to. There are no previous limitations which explicitly describes any steps of optical frequency multiplexing for suppressing fading noise. The claim describes suppressing fading noise by averaging signals of different optical frequencies (which seems to be referred to by “the averaging process” from the quoted limitation above). The claim also generally describes making optical pulses incident on a sensing fiber, which can be broadly interpreted as optical frequency multiplexing. It is unclear as to what exactly “the optical frequency multiplexing for suppressing fading noise” is referring to.
Regarding claim 2, the claim recites acquiring a signal from “a normal optical pulse pair other than the specific optical pulse pair”. It is unclear as to where this normal optical pulse pair is from. There is no method step of making this normal optical pulse pair previously recited. Based on the rest of the limitations in the claim, it appears as though this normal optical pulse is also incident on the same sensing fiber as the specific optical pulse pair. Is the normal optical pulse incident on the sensing fiber at the same time as the specific optical pulse pair, or is the normal optical pulse pair introduced at a separate time than the specific optical pulse pair?
Regarding claim 2, line 5, the claim recites “detecting the phase value of the optical pulse pair”. It is unclear as to whether or not this is referring to the normal optical pulse pair or the specific optical pulse pair.
Regarding claim 3, the last paragraph states that “Aave,c represents an average value of the gradients Ak,c with respect to k, provided that, when the optical frequency multiplexing for suppressing fading noise is not performed, the averaging process for suppressing fading noise is not performed in the above-mentioned procedures.” It is unclear as to what is being referred to. There are no previous limitations which explicitly describes any steps of optical frequency multiplexing for suppressing fading noise. The claim describes suppressing fading noise by averaging signals of different optical frequencies (which seems to be referred to by “the averaging process” from the quoted limitation above). The claim also generally describes making optical pulses incident on a sensing fiber, which can be broadly interpreted as optical frequency multiplexing. It is unclear as to what exactly “the optical frequency multiplexing for suppressing fading noise” is referring to.
Regarding claim 4, the claim appears to be directed to a single claim which claims both an apparatus and method steps of using the apparatus [apparatus according to claim 3, wherein (recited method steps)]. A single claim which claims both an apparatus and the method steps of using the apparatus is indefinite under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, second paragraph - see MPEP 2173.05(p). Examiner suggests amending the claim so that it is clear what structure of the apparatus from claim 3 is further configured for each specific limitation (light receiver, signal processing unit, etc.).
Regarding claim 4, the claim recites acquiring a signal from “a normal optical pulse pair other than the specific optical pulse pair”. It is unclear as to where this normal optical pulse pair is from. There is no limitation configured for making this normal optical pulse pair previously recited. Based on the rest of the limitations in the claim, it appears as though this normal optical pulse is also incident on the same sensing fiber as the specific optical pulse pair. Is the normal optical pulse created by the same light source and is it incident on the sensing fiber at the same time as the specific optical pulse pair, or is the normal optical pulse pair introduced at a separate time than the specific optical pulse pair?
Regarding claim 4, line 4, the claim recites “the phase value of the optical pulse pair is detected”. It is unclear as to whether or not this is referring to the normal optical pulse pair or the specific optical pulse pair.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-4 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 and claim objections, set forth in this Office action.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Regarding claims 1 and 3, the primary reason for the indication of allowable subject matter is the inclusion of the limitations regarding the specifically claimed steps of calculating, plotting, and correcting the phase values, in combination with the rest of the limitations found in the claims.
Regarding claims 2 and 4, they are dependent on claims 1 and 3.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. See PTO-892 attached.
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/DAVID Z HUANG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2855