CTNF 18/774,031 CTNF 83286 DETAILED ACTION 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. 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 2 and 3 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 1 recites “a laser light having a single wavelength emitted from a single light source ”. Claim 2 recites “ a light source to emit the laser light having the single wavelength”. It is unclear if the “light source” of claim 2 is the same element or a different element from the “single light source” of claim 1. For examination these will be considered the same element consistent with the disclosure. Claim 1 recites “ branched lights obtained by branching a laser light”. Claim 2 recites “a multimode interference waveguide to branch the emitted laser light into three or more branched lights ”. It is unclear if the “three or more branched lights” are the same or different from the “branched lights” of claim 1. For examination all of these recitations of branched light will be considered the same branched lights which are from branching the emitted laser light, as disclosed. Claim 1 recites “optical modulators to optically modulate intensities of branched lights”. Claim 2 recites “wherein the optical modulators optically modulate the branched lights” without specifying that it is the light intensities which are modulated. Therefore it is unclear if the recitation of light modulation of claim 2 is modulating the intensities of the branched lights, as recited in claim 1, or if the modulation of claim 2 is modulating a different characteristic of the branched lights. For examination it is assumed that only the intensities of the breached lights are being modulated. Claim 3 claims a method for optical transmission which includes a first “generating” step followed by a “optically modulating intensities” step, a first adjusting powers step, a second adjusting powers step and finally a multiplexing step. Read as a whole the claimed method is not understood. First, the claimed method relies on the elements of the optical transmitter, such as a light source/laser, a branching device/splitter, optical modulators, optical power adjusters including a power controller, a multiplexer and a modulation signal generator. Only some of these elements are positively recited leaving gaps in the claim regarding how each of the claimed method steps are performed. Second, the wording of each method step is confusing and not clear. For example the generating step reads “generating a same number of channel signals each including signals independent of each other as a number of optical modulators, to output the generated channel signals as channel signals independent of each other to the optical modulators”. The optically modulating intensities method step reads “optically modulating intensities of branched lights obtained by branching a laser light having a single wavelength emitted from a single light source by the channel signals independent of each other respectively, to output the optically modulated branched lights as optical signals”. Each of these method steps are written unclearly. The first of these steps discusses “channel signals” and the second step discusses “branched lights” which are obtained by “branching a laser light having a single wavelength emitted from a single light source by the channel signals”. It is not clear how the light signal is being generated, how it is being split or branched, how it is being modulated, how the power is being adjusted, etc. The claimed method steps do not clearly describe any of the optical treatments of the signal light. Third, the two optical power adjustment steps are not understood. One skilled in the art cannot understand what it means to adjust the optical power “of the output optical signals to output the adjusted optical signals” and then to adjust the optical power “freely”. It is recommended that if a method of operating the disclosed optical transmission device wish to be claimed, that the method step follow the description in the disclosure. For examination purposes claim 3 will be interpreted as a general method of operating the disclosed transmission device. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 07-06 AIA 15-10-15 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. 07-07-aia AIA 07-07 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 – 07-08-aia AIA (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. 07-15 AIA Claim s 1-3 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102( a)(1 ) as being anticipated by Hayashi et al., JP 2017153068 A . With regard to claim 1, Hayashi, in at least figs. 1 and 3 discloses an optical transmission device comprising: an optical transmitter comprising: optical modulators (100/101/102) to optically modulate intensities of branched lights (branching unit 2) obtained by branching a laser light (laser source 1) having a single wavelength emitted from a single light source (1) by respective channel signals independent of each other, and output the optically modulated branched lights as optical signals; optical power adjusters (201/202) to adjust respective optical powers of the optical signals output from the optical modulators (101/102), and output the adjusted optical signals; and a modulation light multiplexer (207) to multiplex the optical signals output from the optical power adjusters (201/202) and output a multiplexed optical signal; a modulation signal generator (modulation signal generated by modulation unit 100), connected in parallel to the optical modulators, to generate a same number of channel signals each including signals independent of each other as a number of the optical modulators, and output the generated channel signals as the channel signals independent of each other to the optical modulators (101/102); and an optical power controller (205/206/405), connected in parallel to the optical power adjusters (201/202), to adjust optical powers output from the optical power adjusters freely (see associated text). With regard to claim 2, Hayashi, in at least figs. 1 and 3 discloses the optical transmitter further comprising: a light source (1) to emit the laser light having the single wavelength; and a multimode interference waveguide (2) to branch the emitted laser light into three or more branched lights, wherein the optical modulators (101/102) optically modulate the branched lights branched by multimode interference waveguide (see associated text). With regard to claim 3, Hayashi, in at least figs. 1 and 3 disclose 3. an optical transmission method comprising: generating a same number of channel signals (by laser source 1, branched at 2) each including signals independent of each other as a number of optical modulators (101/102), to output the generated channel signals as channel signals independent of each other to the optical modulators (101/102); optically modulating intensities (at modulators 101/102) of branched lights obtained by branching a laser light having a single wavelength emitted from a single light source (1) by the channel signals independent of each other respectively, to output the optically modulated branched lights as optical signals; adjusting respective optical powers (at 201/202) of the output optical signals to output the adjusted optical signals; adjusting the output optical powers freely(at 201/202); multiplexing the optical signals (at 207) whose optical power is adjusted to output a multiplexed optical signal (see associated text). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Thomas A Hollweg whose telephone number is (571)270-1739. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8-4. 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, Matthew W Such can be reached at (571)272-1570. 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. /THOMAS A HOLLWEG/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2874 Application/Control Number: 18/774,031 Page 2 Art Unit: 2874 Application/Control Number: 18/774,031 Page 3 Art Unit: 2874 Application/Control Number: 18/774,031 Page 4 Art Unit: 2874 Application/Control Number: 18/774,031 Page 5 Art Unit: 2874 Application/Control Number: 18/774,031 Page 6 Art Unit: 2874
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