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 § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-6, 10-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by Boutayeb (US-20180219299-A1).
Regarding claims 1, 10 and 16, Boutayeb discloses method (a method of beam steering RF signals, paragraph 0006), non-transitory machine-readable storage medium encoded with instructions (control circuit 258 comprises a microcontroller 259 that includes a processor and a storage carrying instructions that configure the control circuit 258 to selectively apply different DC current magnitudes to the different control lines 252 in order to achieve beam steering paragraph 0028, Fig. 4) for generating a set of slot activation configurations for a holographic radial line slot antenna array (reconfigurable Radial-line slot antenna array RLSA, title) comprising multiple slots defining a preconfigured slot pattern, each slot activation configuration defining a beam pattern for a signal to be emitted by the antenna array (A radio frequency (RF) probe is disposed in the waveguide region for generating RF signals, and a plurality of radiating slot antenna elements are disposed on the first surface for emitting the RF signals from the waveguide region, paragraph 0004), the method comprising:
generating a measure for the-mutual coupling between the multiple slots in the presence of a signal to be applied to the antenna array (interface connector 262 that allows an RF input and/or output line to be connected to antenna 200, paragraph 0029), the measure comprising a set of scattering parameters defining a scattering matrix for the antenna array (perform beamsteering to manipulate the direction of a main lobe of a radiation pattern and achieve enhanced spatial selectivity, paragraph 0002)(beamsteering is a scattering matrix);
using the measure for the mutual coupling, generating a set of impedance parameters (RF choke coupled through a variable capacitance and an inductive line to a respective one of the conductive elements, Abstract) for the antenna array;
controlling the resonance (a response from combination of inductor and capacitor use) of at least one of the multiple slots by regulating a value of capacitance of a variable capacitance device provided across the slot;
measuring a value for antenna gain (DC control lines connected to tunable elements, Abstract) of a beam pattern associated with the value of capacitance;
selecting a final value of capacitance resulting in the highest measure of gain for the beam pattern (FIG. 4, interface circuit 254 is connected to a control circuit 258 that is configured to selectively apply varying DC current levels from a DC current source 260 to each of the DC control lines 252, paragraph 0028)(configure the control circuit 258 to selectively apply different DC current magnitudes to the different control lines 252 in order to achieve beam steering); and
selecting a slot activation configuration for the beam pattern on the basis of the selected final value of capacitance (see Fig. 6, activation of each slot depends on DC control line and applied tunable elements selected).
Regarding claims 2-6, 11-15, 17-18, Boutayeb discloses “control circuit 258 comprises a microcontroller 259 that includes a processor and a storage carrying instructions that configure the control circuit 258 to selectively apply different DC current magnitudes to the different control lines 252 in order to achieve beam steering, Varying the current on DC control lines 252 causes a corresponding change in the variable capacitance of the respective variable capacitive elements 246, which in turn can be used to effect beam steering within the antenna 200”, paragraph 0028). By controlling the DC current magnitude and varying capacitance is a response of measuring radiated power, peak gain, updated current flow in order to achieve beam steering among the multiple slot antennas. Also the change/adjust of capacitance, inductance is a step of optimizing resonant.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 7-9, 19-20 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HARRY K LIU whose telephone number is (571)270-1338. The examiner can normally be reached on every M-F 10 AM to 6:30 PM.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, please leave a voice message with application serial number and nature of call, a response within 24 hours can be expected during regular business days. Also, the Examiner’s supervisor Hodge, Robert W. can be reached at (571) 272-6496. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-270-2338.
Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/HARRY K LIU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3645 Tel: (571) 270-1338
Fax: (571) 270-2338
Email: harry.liu@uspto.gov