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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant's election with traverse of Group I, encompassing claims 1-7, and 10, in the reply filed on 4/15/2026 is acknowledged.
Applicant's election with traverse is acknowledged. The traversal is on the ground(s) that that the invention is novel by the underlined technical features. This is not found persuasive because a national stage application shall relate to one invention only or to a group of inventions so linked as to form a single general inventive concept (“requirement of unity of invention”). However, the groups of inventions do not relate to a single general inventive concept under PCT Rule 13.1 because, under PCT Rule 13.2, they lack the same or corresponding special technical features. The special technical feature linking the inventions does not provide a contribution over the prior art, such as shown in U.S. 4,400,270 and PG-PUB US 2020/0214306, and no single general inventive concept exists. Therefore, the restriction is appropriate.
Furthermore, applicant must provide reasons in support the ground that the inventions have unity of invention (37 CFR 1.475(a)). Applicant may submit evidence or identify such evidence now of record showing the inventions to be obvious variants or clearly admit on the record that this is the case. Where such evidence or admission is provided by applicant, if the examiner finds one of the inventions unpatentable over the prior art, the evidence or admission may be used in a rejection under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) of the other invention.
Moreover, applicants’ attention is drawn to the fact that the search for method claims requires the identification of processing steps while the search for apparatus claims requires the identification of structural elements, which introduces additional search and examination burden.
The requirement is still deemed proper and is therefore made FINAL.
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 1-7, and 10 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.
Claims 1 and 10 recite the limitation of “one or more UV sensors configured to monitor an UV output … and provide an output accordingly”. It is not clear
(i) what “an output” is regarded;
(ii) if “an UV output” is the same as or different from “an output” (e.g., there is insufficient antecedent basis for the limitation of “an output”);
(iii) how “one or more UV sensor” could provide an output (e.g., a UV sensor is known for measuring/sensing/detecting UV light intensity from an UV emitting device);
(iv) what “accordingly” is referred to.
The same applies to the limitation of “at least one flow sensor, … and provide an output accordingly” in the claims.
Appropriate correction/clarification is required.
Claim 1 recites the limitation of “the one or more UV sensors directly or indirectly measure a UV light intensity substantially proportional to the UV light intensity illuminating the one or more spiral-shaped tubes”. It is not clear what parameter “the one or more UV sensors” measure (e.g., measuring UV light intensity from “one or more UV light source” or UV light intensity radiated onto the spiral-shaped tubes). Also, each of the claim does not define “a UV light intensity”. Thus, there is insufficient antecedent basis for the limitation of “the UV light intensity illuminating …”. Appropriate correction/clarification is required.
Claim 4 recites the limitation of “the additional internal UV light sensors are configured to monitor an UV output … and provide an output accordingly”. It is not clear
(i) what “an output” is regarded;
(ii) if “an UV output related to …” is the same as or different from “an output” (e.g., there is insufficient antecedent basis for the limitation of “an output”);
(iii) how “one or more UV sensor” could provide an output (e.g., a UV sensor is known for measuring/sensing/detecting UV light intensity from an UV emitting device);
(iv) what “accordingly” is referred to.
Appropriate correction/clarification is required.
Claim 5 recites the limitation "the UV output related to …" in line 6. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Appropriate correction/clarification is required.
Due to the dependency to the parent claim, claims 2-7 are rejected.
Conclusion
Claims 1-7 and 10 are rejected. Claims 8-9, and 11-16 are withdrawn.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to XIUYU TAI whose telephone number is (571)270-1855. The examiner can normally be reached Mon.-Fri. 9:00-5:00.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Luan Van can be reached at 571-272-8521. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/XIUYU TAI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1795
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