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 1-21 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.
The claims recite the term “extending substrate,” for example see claim 1, line 2. It is unclear what “extending” means in the context of the claims. An extending substrate is not a known term of art and is not defined by the instant application.
Conclusion
Claims 1-21 have not been rejected under 35 USC 102 nor 103, but have been rejected under 35 USC 112b, as further explained above. As no reasonable definite meaning can be ascribed to the claim language it would be improper to rely on speculative assumptions regarding the meaning of a claim and base a rejection under 35 USC 103 on these assumptions (MPEP 2143.03(I)).
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Liang et al. (US 2025/0221078) teaches an image sensing assembly that includes a stack of a lens (for example 44), Infrared filter (for example 42), circuit board (30), and sensing chip (for example 10).
Baker (US 5,239,179) teaches an infrared detector device including a lens (55), substrate (3), and infrared sensitive semiconductor material (1; 2).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Carolyn Fin whose telephone number is (571)270-1286. The examiner can normally be reached Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Uzma Alam can be reached at 571-272-3995. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/CAROLYN FIN/Examiner, Art Unit 2884
