DETAILED ACTION
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 (claims 1-4 and 9-23) and Species 3 (corresponding to claims 9-23) in the reply filed on 6/1/26 is acknowledged.
The traversal is on the grounds that the applicant believes that, after searching for the elected claims, there is no significant additional effort required for searching for the unelected claims (i.e., Species 1 and Species 2).
This is not found persuasive because Species 1 is drawn to a thermocouple assembly for calculating, measuring, and/or indicating a temperature as though an input was received from a type of thermocouple and Species 2 is drawn to a thermocouple assembly for outputting a voltage difference that can be used for determining and/or indicating a temperature, whereas Species 3 is drawn to a structure of a thermocouple translator device for use in a temperature measurement system. Therefore, the characteristic of a thermocouple assembly for calculating, measuring, and/or indicating a temperature as though an input was received from a type of thermocouple and the characteristic of a thermocouple assembly for outputting a voltage difference that can be used for determining and/or indicating a temperature, and a structure of a thermocouple translator device for use in a temperature measurement system are mutually exclusive characteristics between Species 1 and Species 2 with Species 3. Hence, there is a serious search and/or examination burden for the patentably distinct species as set forth above because the species or groupings of patentably indistinct species require a different field of search (e.g., searching different classes/subclasses or electronic resources, or employing different search strategies or search queries).
Therefore, claims 1-8 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim.
The requirement is still deemed proper and is therefore made FINAL.
Claim Objections
Claims 9-23 are objected to because of the following informalities:
In claim 9, --,-- should be added after “third” in line 13; parentheses should be added around “VD1,” “VD2,” and “T” in corresponding lines 15-19 and 23; and “a type 1” should be changed to --the type 1-- in line 19.
In claim 10, parentheses should be added around “VD1” in line 2.
Claims 11-23 are objected to for being dependent on an objected base claim.
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 13 and 14 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.
In claims 13 and 14, it is not clear how one end of both thermocouple wires are attached to the first terminal and how the opposing end of both thermocouple wires are attached to the second terminal, as recited in lines 1-4 (it is disclosed that the each thermocouple wire has one end that is respectively attached to the first terminal and the second terminal).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 9-23 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejections under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, and the objections set forth in this Office action.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
The prior art of record does not disclose or suggest the following in combination with the remaining limitations of the claims:
A thermocouple translator device (TTD) for use in a temperature measurement system comprising: an enclosure; first and second terminals on or in the enclosure, wherein the processor is configured to measure a voltage difference VD1 between the first and second terminals; determine or estimate a temperature T for a type 1 thermocouple that correlates to the voltage difference VD1; determine or estimate a voltage difference VD2 for a type 2 thermocouple for the temperature T, wherein a type 2 thermocouple is not the same as a type 1 thermocouple; and output third and fourth voltages to the third and fourth terminals, respectively, wherein a difference in voltage between the third and fourth voltages is approximately equal to the voltage difference VD2 (claim 9).
Conclusion
The references made of record and not relied upon by the examiner are considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure by disclosing a thermocouple adapter/translator, but do not disclose the allowable subject matter stated above.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MIRELLYS JAGAN whose telephone number is (571)272-2247. The examiner can normally be reached Tuesday-Friday 8-6.
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/MIRELLYS JAGAN/
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2855
6/13/26
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