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 .
DETAILED ACTION
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 2-3, 8, 12-15, 17-18 and 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.
Claim 2 recites the limitation " The wrist-worn electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:
a plurality of bezel conductive elements, each bezel conductive element providing an electrical connection from the printed circuit board to the bezel;
wherein the first slot antenna is further formed by:
a first bezel conductive element positioned at a first end of the first portion of the circumference of the bezel,
a second bezel conductive element positioned at a second end of the first portion of the circumference of the bezel" in lines 1-8 which renders the claim indefinite. It is not clear how the plurality of bezel conductive elements, each bezel conductive elements, the first and second bezel conductive elements related.
For the purpose of examination, Examiner interprets the claim as “The wrist-worn electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:
a plurality of bezel conductive elements, each of the plurality of bezel conductive elements providing an electrical connection from the printed circuit board to the bezel;
wherein the first slot antenna is further formed by:
a first bezel conductive element of the plurality of bezel conductive elements positioned at a first end of the first portion of the circumference of the bezel,
a second bezel conductive element of the plurality of bezel conductive elements positioned at a second end of the first portion of the circumference of the bezel, and
the first portion of the circumference of the bezel extending between the first end and the second end of the first portion of the circumference of the bezel".
Similar rejection would be applied to claims 17 and 18.
Claim 3 recites the limitation " The wrist-worn electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:
a plurality of bottom plate conductive elements, each bottom plate conductive element providing an electrical connection from the printed circuit board to the bottom plate; and
the second slot antenna is further formed by:
a first bottom plate conductive element positioned at a first end of the first portion of the circumference of the bottom plate,
a second bottom plate conductive element positioned at a second end of the first portion of the circumference of the bottom plate" in lines 1-9 which renders the claim indefinite. It is not clear how the plurality of bottom plate conductive elements, each bottom plate conductive elements, the first and second bottom plate conductive elements related.
For the purpose of examination, Examiner interprets the claim as “The wrist-worn electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:
a plurality of bottom plate conductive elements, each of the plurality of bottom plate conductive elements providing an electrical connection from the printed circuit board to the bottom plate; and
the second slot antenna is further formed by:
a first bottom plate conductive element of the plurality of bottom plate conductive elements positioned at a first end of the first portion of the circumference of the bottom plate,
a second bottom plate conductive element of the plurality of bottom plate conductive elements positioned at a second end of the first portion of the circumference of the bottom plate, and
the first portion of the circumference of the bottom plate extending between the first end and the second end of the first portion of the circumference of the bottom plate.”
Similar rejection would be applied to claim 20.
Claim 8 recites the limitation “a third bezel conductive element providing an electrical connection from the printed circuit board to the bezel and positioned at a first end of the second portion of the circumference of the bezel;
wherein the first bezel conductive element is positioned at a second end of the second portion of the circumference of the bezel " in lines 7-11 which renders the claim indefinite. There is insufficient antecedent basis for these limitations in the claim because the first and second bezel conductive elements have not been mentioned in the claim and it is not clear how this third bezel conductive element relates to the plurality of bezel conductive elements. Claim 8 should depend on claim 2 and recite “a third bezel conductive element of the plurality of the plurality of bezel conductive elements”.
Claim 12 recites the limitation " a plurality of bezel conductive elements, each bezel conductive element providing an electrical connection from the printed circuit board to the bezel;
a plurality of bottom plate conductive elements, each bottom plate conductive element providing an electrical connection from the printed circuit board to the bottom plate;
a first slot antenna configured to transmit a first wireless signal, receive the first wireless signal, or both, the first wireless signal having a first frequency, the first slot antenna formed in part by:
a first bezel conductive element positioned at a first end of a first portion of the circumference of the bezel,
a second bezel conductive element positioned at a second end of the first portion of the circumference of the bezel,
the first portion of a circumference of the bezel extending between the first end and the second end of the first portion of the circumference of the bezel, and
the ground plane of the printed circuit board; and
a second slot antenna configured to transmit a second wireless signal, receive the second wireless signal, or both, the second wireless signal having a second frequency, the second slot antenna formed in part by:
a first bottom plate conductive element positioned at a first end of a first portion of the circumference of the bottom plate,
a second bottom plate conductive element positioned at a second end of the first portion of the circumference of the bottom plate,
a first portion of a circumference of the bottom plate extending between the first end and the second end of the first portion of the circumference of the bottom plate" in lines 7-29 which renders the claim indefinite. It is not clear how the plurality of bezel conductive elements, each bezel conductive elements, the first and second bezel conductive elements related and how the plurality of bottom plate conductive elements, each bottom plate conductive elements, the first and second bottom plate conductive elements related. The first portion of a circumference of the bottom plate have been mentioned twice in lines 27 and 30. For the purpose of examination, Examiner interprets the claim as " a plurality of bezel conductive elements, each of the plurality of bezel conductive elements providing an electrical connection from the printed circuit board to the bezel;
a plurality of bottom plate conductive elements, each of the plurality of bottom plate conductive elements providing an electrical connection from the printed circuit board to the bottom plate;
a first slot antenna configured to transmit a first wireless signal, receive the first wireless signal, or both, the first wireless signal having a first frequency, the first slot antenna formed in part by:
a first bezel conductive element of the plurality of bezel conductive elements positioned at a first end of a first portion of the circumference of the bezel,
a second bezel conductive element of the plurality of bezel conductive elements positioned at a second end of the first portion of the circumference of the bezel,
the first portion of a circumference of the bezel extending between the first end and the second end of the first portion of the circumference of the bezel, and
the ground plane of the printed circuit board; and
a second slot antenna configured to transmit a second wireless signal, receive the second wireless signal, or both, the second wireless signal having a second frequency, the second slot antenna formed in part by:
a first bottom plate conductive element of the plurality of bottom plate conductive elements positioned at a first end of a first portion of the circumference of the bottom plate,
a second bottom plate conductive element of the plurality of bottom plate conductive elements positioned at a second end of the first portion of the circumference of the bottom plate ,
[[a]] the first portion of a circumference of the bottom plate extending between the first end and the second end of the first portion of the circumference of the bottom plate".
Claims 13-15 inherit the indefiniteness of claim 12 and are subsequently rejected.
Claim 15 recites the limitation “a third bezel conductive element providing an electrical connection from the printed circuit board to the bezel and positioned at a first end of the second portion of the circumference of the bezel" in lines 7-9 which renders the claim indefinite. it is not clear how this third bezel conductive element relates to the plurality of bezel conductive elements recited in claim 12. For the purpose of examination, Examiner interprets the claim as “a third bezel conductive element of the plurality of the plurality of bezel conductive elements”.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1, 4-7, 9-11, 16 and 19 are allowed.
Claim 12 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, set forth in this Office action.
Regarding claim 1, patentability exists, at least in part, with the claimed features of “the second slot antenna formed in part by: a first portion of a circumference of the bottom plate, and the ground plane of the printed circuit board.”
Regarding claim 12, patentability exists, at least in part, with the claimed features of “the second slot antenna formed in part by: a first bottom plate conductive element positioned at a first end of a first portion of the circumference of the bottom plate, a second bottom plate conductive element positioned at a second end of the first portion of the circumference of the bottom plate, a first portion of a circumference of the bottom plate extending between the first end and the second end of the first portion of the circumference of the bottom plate, and the ground plane of the printed circuit board”.
Regarding claim 16, patentability exists, at least in part, with the claimed features of “the first GNSS antenna formed in part by: a first portion of a circumference of the bezel, and the ground plane of the printed circuit board” and “the communication antenna formed in part by: a first portion of a circumference of the bottom plate, and the ground plane of the printed circuit board”.
Han et al (US-20190198984-A1), Liu et al (US-11329365-B2), Varjonen et al (US-20190245271-A1), Vanjani (US-20170358850-A1) and Ji et al (US-20240113430-A1) are all cited as teaching some elements of the claimed invention including a housing including a circumferential side wall, a bezel coupled to an upper surface of the side wall, and a bottom plate coupled to a lower surface of the side wall, the bezel and the bottom plate each formed from electrically conductive material; a printed circuit board positioned within the housing between the bezel and the bottom plate, the printed circuit board at least partially forming a ground plane; a first slot antenna configured to transmit a first wireless signal, receive the first wireless signal, or both, the first wireless signal having a first frequency, the first slot antenna formed in part by: a first portion of a circumference of the bezel, and the ground plane of the printed circuit board.
However, the prior art of record, when taken alone or in combination, cannot be construed as reasonably teaching or suggesting all of the elements of the claimed invention as arranged, disposed, or provided in the manner as claimed by the Applicant.
Claims 4-7, 9-11 and 19 are considered allowable due to their respective dependencies.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANH N HO whose telephone number is (571)272-4657. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:00-5:00.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Dameon Levi can be reached at (571)272-2105. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/DAMEON E LEVI/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2845
/ANH N HO/Examiner, Art Unit 2845