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 .
Non-Final communication in response to communication filed 9/6/24.
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 1-7 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 pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention.
With respect to claim 1, the recitation “a data signal” in lines 17-18 is indefinite because it’s unclear if it’s the same as or in addition to the data signal of line 12.
With respect to claim 1, the recitation “the flip-flops” in lines 18 and 20 is indefinite because it’s unclear if it’s the same as or in addition to the plurality of cascaded flip-flops of line 17.
With respect to claim 1, the recitation “the data” in line 19, lacks antecedent basis.
With respect to claim 1, the recitation “adjacent flip-flops” in line 20, is indefinite because it’s unclear if they are part of the plurality of cascaded flip-flops or in addition to them.
With respect to claim 1, the recitation “the plurality of flip-flops” in line 22 is indefinite because it’s unclear if they are the same as or in addition to the plurality of cascaded flip-flops in line 17.
With respect to claim 1, the recitation “a high potential” in line 27-28 is indefinite because it’s unclear if it’s the same as the high potential of line 15.
Claims 2-7 include the deficiencies of claim 1.
With respect to claim 4, the recitation “a data communication signal transmitted for a external controller” in lines 4 and 5, is indefinite because it’s unclear if they are the same as or in addition to the data communication signal and external controller of claim 1.
With respect to claim 4, the recitation “a plurality of cascaded flip-flops” in line 6, is indefinite because it’s unclear if they are the same as or in addition the plurality of cascaded flip-flops in claim 1.
With respect to claim 4, the recitation “a second data signal” in lines 6-7, is indefinite because it’s unclear if it’s the same as the second data signal of line 3.
With respect to claim 4, the recitation “the data” in line 9, lack antecedent basis, also unclear if it’s the same as or in addition to the data of claim 1.
With respect to claim 4, the recitation “the flip-flops” in lines 7, 8, and 9, is indefinite because it’s unclear if they are the same as or in addition to the plurality of cascaded flip-flops of line 6 or claim 1.
With respect to claim 4, the recitation “adjacent flip-flops” in lines 9, is indefinite because it’s unclear if they are part of or in addition to the plurality of cascaded flip-flops of line 6 or claim 1.
With respect to claim 4, the recitation “the plurality of flip-flops” in lines 11, is indefinite because it’s unclear if they are part of or in addition to the plurality of cascaded flip-flops of line 6 or claim 1.
With respect to claim 6, the recitation “a plurality of cascaded flip-flops” in line 2, is indefinite because it’s unclear if they are the same as or in addition the plurality of cascaded flip-flops in claim 1.
With respect to claim 6, the recitation “the flip-flops” in lines 3, 4, and 5, is indefinite because it’s unclear if they are the same as or in addition to the plurality of cascaded flip-flops of line 2 or claim 1.
With respect to claim 6, the recitation “the data” in lines 5 and 11, lacks antecedent basis, also unclear if it’s the same as or in addition to the data of claim 1.
With respect to claim 6, the recitation “adjacent flip-flops” in lines 5-6, is indefinite because it’s unclear if they are part of or in addition to the plurality of cascaded flip-flops of line 2 or claim 1.
With respect to claim 6, the recitation “the flip-flops” in lines 9, 10, and 11, is indefinite because it’s unclear if they are the same as or in addition to the plurality of cascaded flip-flops of line 2 or 8 or claim 1.
With respect to claim 6, the recitation “adjacent flip-flops” in lines 11-12, is indefinite because it’s unclear if they are part of or in addition to the plurality of cascaded flip-flops of lines 2 or 8 or claim 1.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-7 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejections under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) set forth in the office action.
Claims 1-7 are allowable over the prior art of record because the art of record does not disclose nor render obvious a write signal generation unit to generate a write signal based on the drive signal and the enable signal; a second level shift unit operative in response to the write signal to level-shift information held in the low voltage side set value holding unit, in combination with the rest of the claimed limitations.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to RYAN C JAGER whose telephone number is (571)272-7016. The examiner can normally be reached on 8:30 - 5:30 PM.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Taelor Kim can be reached on 571-270-7166. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/RYAN JAGER/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2842
5/8/26
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