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 .
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 1-11 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 4 states “the first filter comprises at least one resonant cavity, with the 1st resonant cavity of the first filter…” and line 6 states “the second filter comprises at least one resonant cavity, with the 1st resonant cavity of the second filter…”. It is unclear as to how many resonant cavities are in each of the filters since there is a discrepancy between “at least one” and “the 1st “. For examination purposes, the claim will be interpreted as “the first filter comprises at least one resonant cavity, with [[the]] a 1st resonant cavity of the first filter…” and “the second filter comprises at least one resonant cavity, with [[the]] a 1st resonant cavity of the second filter…” respectively.
Regarding Claim 7, lines 4-7 state “the first filter comprises at least one resonant cavity; the second filter comprises at least one resonant cavity; the common resonant cavity is located between [[a]]the 1st resonant cavity of the first filter and [[a]]the 1st resonant cavity of the second filter”. It is unclear as to how many resonant cavities are in each of the filters since there is a discrepancy between “at least one” and “the 1st “. For examination purposes, the claim will be interpreted as “the first filter comprises at least one resonant cavity; the second filter comprises at least one resonant cavity; the common resonant cavity is located between a [[the]] 1st resonant cavity of the first filter and a [[the]] 1st resonant cavity of the second filter”.
Regarding Claim 10, lines 4-6 state “the first filter comprises at least one resonant cavity, the second filter comprises at least one resonant cavity, and the ground control assembly is connected to the 1st resonant cavity of the second filter;”. It is unclear as to how many resonant cavities are in each of the filters since there is a discrepancy between “at least one” and “the 1st “. For examination purposes, the claim will be interpreted as “the first filter comprises at least one resonant cavity, the second filter comprises at least one resonant cavity, and the ground control assembly is connected to a [[the]] 1st resonant cavity of the second filter;”.
Claims 2-6, 8-9, and 11 are also rejected under 112(b) due to their respective dependencies on Claims 1, 7, and 10.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to John W Poos whose telephone number is (571)270-5077. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th 8-5.
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/JOHN W POOS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2843
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