CTNF 18/769,008 CTNF 78600 Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 07-03-aia AIA 15-10-aia The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA. Allowable Subject Matter 12-151-07 AIA 07-97 12-51-07 Claim s 1-5, 6, 8-15, 17-18, and 20 are allowed. 13-03 AIA The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: The prior art fails to teach or suggest an ion source, comprising: an arc chamber having a first end, a second end and side walls connecting the first end and the second end, wherein a direction from the first end to the second end is defined as a width direction and a direction from a first sidewall to an opposite sidewall is defined as a height direction; a cathode disposed within the arc chamber at the first end; and an extraction plate disposed on the arc chamber, the extraction plate comprising: an extraction aperture; a first thicker portion disposed above the cathode, referred to as a cathode heat capture region; and a second thicker portion, referred to as a cathode heat conduction region, disposed in the width direction between the cathode heat capture region and the extraction aperture, wherein heat from the cathode travels through the cathode heat capture region and the cathode heat conduction region to an area around the extraction aperture to increase a temperature of the area as recited in claim 1 and similarly recited in claim 14. Claims 2-5, 6, 8-13, 15, 17-18, and 20 are allowable by virtue of their dependency . Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.” Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 07-30-02 AIA 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. 07-34-01 Claims 5, 7, 16, and 19 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. Where applicant acts as his or her own lexicographer to specifically define a term of a claim contrary to its ordinary meaning, the written description must clearly redefine the claim term and set forth the uncommon definition so as to put one reasonably skilled in the art on notice that the applicant intended to so redefine that claim term. Process Control Corp. v. HydReclaim Corp. , 190 F.3d 1350, 1357, 52 USPQ2d 1029, 1033 (Fed. Cir. 1999). The term “comprises a rectangular prism” in claim 5, 7, 16, and 19 is used by the claim to mean “defines a shape,” while the accepted meaning is “consist of” or “constitue” or “encompass.” The term is indefinite because the specification does not clearly redefine the term. The implication of the term is ambiguous because the conduction region does not additionally comprise a rectangular prism element. It defines the shape of a rectangular prism. This is contrasted with the other language the Applicant employs such as in claim 8, where when the Applicant seeks to define a shape, explicit language stating a region comprises a specific shape is employed. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DAVID A VANORE whose telephone number is (571)272-2483. The examiner can normally be reached Monday to Friday 7AM to 6 PM. Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Georgia EPPS can be reached at (571) 272-2328. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. DAVID A. VANORE Primary Examiner Art Unit 2881 /DAVID A VANORE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2878 Application/Control Number: 18/769,008 Page 2 Art Unit: 2878
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