CTNF 18/794,612 CTNF 84222 DETAILED ACTION 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. 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 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. Specification 07-29 AIA The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed . Appropriate correction is required. Double Patenting 08-30 AIA A rejection based on double patenting of the “same invention” type finds its support in the language of 35 U.S.C. 101 which states that “whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process... may obtain a patent therefor...” (Emphasis added). Thus, the term “same invention,” in this context, means an invention drawn to identical subject matter. See Miller v. Eagle Mfg. Co. , 151 U.S. 186 (1894); In re Vogel , 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Ockert , 245 F.2d 467, 114 USPQ 330 (CCPA 1957). A statutory type (35 U.S.C. 101) double patenting rejection can be overcome by canceling or amending the claims that are directed to the same invention so they are no longer coextensive in scope. The filing of a terminal disclaimer cannot overcome a double patenting rejection based upon 35 U.S.C. 101. Claim 1 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 as claiming the same invention as that of claim 1 of USPN 12085869 (reference patent). This is a statutory double patenting rejection. (see Claim-Comparison Table below) Claim Application#18794612 Claim USPN 12085869 1 An image forming apparatus to form an image on a recording medium, the image forming apparatus comprising: a photosensitive drum; 1 An image forming apparatus to form an image on a recording medium, the image forming apparatus comprising: a photosensitive drum; 1 a light-emitting chip including a light-emitting portion configured to emit light for exposing a surface of the photosensitive drum based on supply of a driving current to the light-emitting portion according to an image signal, and including a driving portion configured to drive the light-emitting portion; a substrate on which a plurality of light emitting chips are mounted; and 1 a light-emitting chip including a light-emitting portion configured to emit light for exposing a surface of the photosensitive drum based on supply of a driving current to the light-emitting portion according to an image signal, and including a driving portion configured to drive the light-emitting portion; a substrate on which a plurality of light emitting chips are mounted; and 1 a controller configured to control the driving portion by transmitting a signal to the light-emitting chip and to output a digital signal corresponding to a target amount of light of the light-emitting portion to the light-emitting chip, 1 a controller configured to control the driving portion by transmitting a signal to the light-emitting chip and to output a digital signal corresponding to a target amount of light of the light-emitting portion to the light-emitting chip, 1 wherein the light-emitting chip further includes: a voltage source configured to output a reference voltage, a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter configured to convert the digital signal into a voltage corresponding to the digital signal based on the reference voltage output from the voltage source, and wherein the light-emitting chip further includes: a voltage source configured to output a reference voltage, a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter configured to convert the digital signal into a voltage corresponding to the digital signal based on the reference voltage output from the voltage source, and 1 a switch configured to switch, based on a control signal from the controller, a connection state between the voltage source and the D/A converter to a first state where the voltage source and the D/A converter are connected to each other and the voltage source supplies the reference voltage to the D/A converter, and a second state where an electrical connection between the voltage source and the D/A converter is disconnected. 1 a switch configured to switch, based on a control signal from the controller, a connection state between the voltage source and the D/A converter to a first state where the voltage source and the D/A converter are connected to each other and the voltage source supplies the reference voltage to the D/A converter, and a second state where an electrical connection between the voltage source and the D/A converter is disconnected. Allowable Subject Matter Claim 1 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the statutory double patenting rejection. Regarding independent Claim 1; the Examiner found neither prior art cited in its entirety, nor based on the prior art, found any motivation to combine any of the said prior art that teaches: “wherein the light-emitting chip further includes: a voltage source configured to output a reference voltage, a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter configured to convert the digital signal into a voltage corresponding to the digital signal based on the reference voltage output from the voltage source, and a switch configured to switch, based on a control signal from the controller, a connection state between the voltage source and the D/A converter to a first state where the voltage source and the D/A converter are connected to each other and the voltage source supplies the reference voltage to the D/A converter, and a second state where an electrical connection between the voltage source and the D/A converter is disconnected” in combination with the other limitations of the independent claim. A closest prior art, Nakanashi US2022/0197176 discloses an image forming apparatus containing a photosensitive drum (Figure 2A, 2B), a driving portion to drive the light-emitting portion, (Figure 1, Component 6, 40) and a voltage source (Paragraph [0107]. However Nakanashi fail to teach “wherein the light-emitting chip further includes: a voltage source configured to output a reference voltage, a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter configured to convert the digital signal into a voltage corresponding to the digital signal based on the reference voltage output from the voltage source, and a switch configured to switch, based on a control signal from the controller, a connection state between the voltage source and the D/A converter to a first state where the voltage source and the D/A converter are connected to each other and the voltage source supplies the reference voltage to the D/A converter, and a second state where an electrical connection between the voltage source and the D/A converter is disconnected” Therefore Claim 1 is allowable over Nakanashi. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MING HON whose telephone number is (571)270-5245. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9am - 5pm. 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, Emily Terrell can be reached on 571-270-3717. 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. /MING Y HON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2666 Application/Control Number: 18/794,612 Page 2 Art Unit: 2666 Application/Control Number: 18/794,612 Page 3 Art Unit: 2666 Application/Control Number: 18/794,612 Page 4 Art Unit: 2666 Application/Control Number: 18/794,612 Page 5 Art Unit: 2666 Application/Control Number: 18/794,612 Page 6 Art Unit: 2666 Application/Control Number: 18/794,612 Page 7 Art Unit: 2666
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