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
Foreign priority is not claimed for this application.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statements (IDS) submitted on 08/01/2024 and 01/16/2026 are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statements are being considered by the examiner.
Claim Objections
Claim 4 is objected to because of the following informalities:
It isn’t dependent on any claim before it. For examination purposes, examiner interprets it to be dependent on claim 1.
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 1-20 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.
Regarding claim 1, line 2 says “multiple power cells,” line 6 says “at least two power cells,” then line 8 again says “at least two power cells.” This language makes it seem like they are all different power cells, and it makes the claim unclear and indefinite. Appropriate correction is required. Claims 2-7 and 11-12 inherit this rejection.
Claims 8 and 9 have the same issue as claim 1. Appropriate correction is required. Claims 10 and 13-20 inherit this rejection.
Regarding claim 3, line 3 says “one or more transmission lines connected in series,” however if there is only one, how is it connected in series? The claim language is unclear and indefinite. Appropriate correction is required.
Claims 11 and 16 have the same issue as claim 3. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-4, 8-12, and 15-17 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and (a)(2) as being anticipated by KR 100835057 by Kim et al.
Regarding claim 1, Kim teaches a power combiner for combining output powers from multiple power cells comprised in a power amplifier (Fig. 7), the power combiner comprising:
a current combiner (210, 220) configured to combine output currents from at least two power cells (110, 120) comprised in the power amplifier;
a voltage combiner (BAL-OUT) configured to combine output voltages from at least two power cells (500, 600) comprised in the power amplifier; and
the voltage combiner and current combiner being connected in cascade (output of the current combiner feeds into the voltage combiner).
Regarding claim 2, Kim teaches the power combiner according to claim 1, wherein:
an input terminal of the voltage combiner (BAL-OUT) is connected to an output terminal of the current combiner (210,220) and an output terminal of the voltage combiner is connected to a load of the power amplifier (OUT terminal leads to load).
Regarding claim 3, Kim teaches the power combiner according to claim 1, wherein the current combiner comprises one or more transmission lines connected in series and output terminals of the at least two power cells for current combining are connected to the transmission lines (Fig. 7 output of 110 /120 connected to 210/220).
Regarding claim 4, Kim teaches the power combiner, wherein the voltage combiner (BAL-OUT) comprises one or more transformer or coupled transmission lines, and wherein each transformer or coupled transmission line comprises a primary transmission line (primary winding connected to output of current combiner) having a first input terminal and a first output terminal and a secondary transmission line (secondary winding connected to OUT) having a second input terminal and a second output terminal.
Regarding claim 8, Kim teaches a power amplifier comprising a power combiner, the power combiner for combining output powers from multiple power cells comprised in the power amplifier (Fig. 7), the power combiner comprising:
a current combiner (210, 220) configured to combine output currents from at least two power cells (110, 120) comprised in the power amplifier;
a voltage combiner (BAL-OUT) configured to combine output voltages from at least two power cells comprised in the power amplifier; and
the voltage combiner and current combiner being connected in cascade (output of the current combiner feeds into the voltage combiner).
Regarding claim 9, Kim teaches an electronic device comprising a power amplifier, the power amplifier comprising a power combiner, the power combiner for combining output powers from multiple power cells comprised in the power amplifier (Fig. 7), the power combiner comprising:
a current combiner (210, 220) configured to combine output currents from at least two power cells (110, 120) comprised in the power amplifier;
a voltage combiner (BAL-OUT) configured to combine output voltages from at least two power cells comprised in the power amplifier; and
the voltage combiner and current combiner being connected in cascade (the output of the current combiner feeds into the voltage combiner).
Regarding claim 10, Kim teaches the electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the electronic device is any one of a transmitter, a transceiver, a base station, a mobile device, a user equipment, a radar, a wireless communication device for a communication system (Background art).
Regarding claim 11, Kim teaches the power combiner according to claim 2, wherein the current combiner comprises one or more transmission lines connected in series and output terminals of the at least two power cells for current combining are connected to the transmission lines (Fig. 7 output of 110 /120 connected to 210/220).
Regarding claim 12, Kim teaches the power combiner according to claim 2, wherein the voltage combiner (BAL-OUT) comprises one or more transformer or coupled transmission lines, and wherein each transformer or coupled transmission line comprises a primary transmission line (primary winding connected to output of current combiner) having a first input terminal and a first output terminal and a secondary transmission line (secondary winding connected to OUT) having a second input terminal and a second output terminal.
Regarding claim 15, Kim teaches the power amplifier according to claim 8 wherein:
an input terminal of the voltage combiner (BAL-OUT) is connected to an output terminal of the current combiner (210, 220) and an output terminal of the voltage combiner is connected to a load of the power amplifier (OUT terminal leads to load);
or an input terminal of the current combiner is connected to an output terminal of the voltage combiner and an output terminal of the current combiner is connected to a load of the power amplifier.
Regarding claim 16, Lim teaches the power amplifier according to claim 8, wherein the current combiner comprises one or more transmission lines connected in series and output terminals of the at least two power cells for current combining are connected to the transmission lines (Fig. 7 output of 110 /120 connected to 210/220).
Regarding claim 17, Kim teaches the power amplifier according to claim 8, wherein the voltage combiner (BAL-OUT) comprises one or more transformer or coupled transmission lines, and wherein each transformer or coupled transmission line comprises a primary transmission line (primary winding connected to output of current combiner) having a first input terminal and a first output terminal and a secondary transmission line (secondary winding connected to OUT) having a second input terminal and a second output terminal.
Claim(s) 1-2, 4, 8-10, 12, 15, and 17 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and (a)(2) as being anticipated by JP 2012080218 by Kawai.
Regarding claim 1, Kawai teaches a power combiner for combining output powers from multiple power cells comprised in a power amplifier (Fig. 10), the power combiner comprising:
a current combiner (20) configured to combine output currents from at least two power cells (amp 1-4) comprised in the power amplifier;
a voltage combiner (22) configured to combine output voltages from at least two power cells (amp 1-4) comprised in the power amplifier; and
the voltage combiner and current combiner being connected in cascade (output of the current combiner feeds into the voltage combiner).
Regarding claim 2, Kawai teaches the power combiner according to claim 1, wherein:
an input terminal of the voltage combiner (22) is connected to an output terminal of the current combiner (20) and an output terminal of the voltage combiner (OUT) is connected to a load of the power amplifier; or
an input terminal of the current combiner is connected to an output terminal of the voltage combiner and an output terminal of the current combiner is connected to a load of the power amplifier.
Regarding claim 4, Kawai teaches the power combiner, wherein the voltage combiner (22) comprises one or more transformer or coupled transmission lines, and wherein each transformer or coupled transmission line comprises a primary transmission line (primary winding that is connected to nodes b and d) having a first input terminal (nodes b and d) and a first output terminal (ground) and a secondary transmission line (secondary winding connected to output node) having a second input terminal and a second output terminal (Pout).
Regarding claim 8, Kawai teaches a power amplifier (Background art) comprising a power combiner, the power combiner for combining output powers from multiple power cells comprised in the power amplifier (Fig. 10), the power combiner comprising:
a current combiner (20) configured to combine output currents from at least two power cells comprised in the power amplifier (Amp 1-4);
a voltage combiner (22) configured to combine output voltages from at least two power cells comprised in the power amplifier (Amp 1-4); and
the voltage combiner and current combiner being connected in cascade (the output of 20 feeds into the input of 22).
Regarding claim 9, Kawai teaches an electronic device comprising a power amplifier (background art), the power amplifier comprising a power combiner (Fig. 10), the power combiner for combining output powers from multiple power cells comprised in the power amplifier, the power combiner comprising:
a current combiner (20) configured to combine output currents from at least two power cells comprised in the power amplifier (amp 1-4);
a voltage combiner (22) configured to combine output voltages from at least two power cells comprised in the power amplifier (amp 1-4); and
the voltage combiner and current combiner being connected in cascade (the output of 20 feeds into the input of 22).
Regarding claim 10, Kawai teaches the electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the electronic device is any one of a transmitter, a transceiver, a base station, a mobile device, a user equipment, a radar, a wireless communication device for a communication system (Background art).
Regarding claim 12, Kawai teaches the power combiner according to claim 2, wherein the voltage combiner (Fig. 10 #22) comprises one or more transformer or coupled transmission lines, and wherein each transformer or coupled transmission line comprises a primary transmission line (primary windings connected to nodes b and d) having a first input terminal and a first output terminal and a secondary transmission line having a second input terminal and a second output terminal (secondary windings connected to ground and Pout).
Regarding claim 15, Kawai teaches the power amplifier according to claim 8, wherein:
an input terminal of the voltage combiner (22) is connected to an output terminal of the current combiner (20) and an output terminal of the voltage combiner (OUT) is connected to a load of the power amplifier;
or an input terminal of the current combiner is connected to an output terminal of the voltage combiner and an output terminal of the current combiner is connected to a load of the power amplifier.
Regarding claim 17, Kawai teaches the power amplifier according to claim 8, wherein the voltage combiner (Fig. 10 #22) comprises one or more transformer or coupled transmission lines, and wherein each transformer or coupled transmission line comprises a primary transmission line (primary windings connected to nodes b and d) having a first input terminal and a first output terminal and a secondary transmission line having a second input terminal and a second output terminal (secondary windings connected to ground and Pout).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 5-7, 13-14, and 18-20 would be allowable if rewritten 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 and to include 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 NAREH SHAMIRYAN whose telephone number is (703)756-4616. The examiner can normally be reached M-F: 7:00AM-4:00PM PT.
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/NAREH SHAMIRYAN/Examiner, Art Unit 2843
/ANDREA LINDGREN BALTZELL/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2843
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