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 .
This office action is responsive to the Request for Continued Examination filed 15 May 2026, whereby the Amendment and Remarks filed 27 April 2026 was entered. Claims 1-10 remain pending and presently under consideration in this application.
Response to Amendment
Applicants have amended the base independent claim as follows and argue that said amendment sufficiently distinguishes the liquid crystal composition of the present claims from that of the prior art of record:
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Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed in response to the rejection of claims under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112(pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as set forth in paragraph 10 of the previous FINAL office action on the merits, said arguments to the effect that “applicant’s claimed method is thereby specified in a clear and definite manner”, have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Initially, the Examiner notes that the first step in the claimed method, i.e.,
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appears to be missing an active step between the recitation of “comprising:” and (a) self-assembling bent-shaped liquid crystal molecules”. Amended claim 1 fails to particularly point out and distinctly claim the active step necessary to obtain a helical nanofilaments (HNF) having a twisted layered structure from the self-assembling bent-shaped liquid crystal molecules. It appears as if the step of irradiating the HNF photonic crystal structure with linearly polarized light should be designated as “(c)”, in light of the amendment introducing the step designations of “(a)” and “(b)”. Also, the claim is drawn to a method of making a physical unclonable function structure, but yet the ultimate line of the claim recites that “HNF photonic crystal structure is in the form of a film or a flake”, with no apparent nexus.
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 1-10 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.
Amended claim 1 is rejected as being vague and indefinite when it recites
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Amended claim 1 fails to particularly point out and distinctly claim the sequence of active, positive steps delimiting the claimed method of making a physical unclonable function structure. Amended claim 1 fails to particularly point out and distinctly claim the active step necessary in “(a)” to obtain a helical nanofilaments (HNF) having a twisted layered structure from the self-assembling bent-shaped liquid crystal molecules. Also, in light of the amendment introducing the step designations of “(a)” and “(b)”, it appears as if the step wherein linearly polarizing light is irradiated on the HNF photonic crystal structure should be designated as “(c)”. As mentioned in the previous FINAL office action on the merits, the claim is drawn to a “method of making a physical unclonable function (PUF) structure” (emphasis added), but yet the ultimate line simply recites that the “HNF photonic crystal structure is in the form of a film or a flake”; what is the nexus between the “HNF photonic crystal structure is in the form of a film or a flake” and the “physical unclonable function (PUF) structure”?
Claims 2 and 7 are rejected as being vague and indefinite when they each recite “wherein the bent-shaped liquid crystal molecule is at least one selected from the group consisting of an azobenzene dimer, MHOBOW of Chemical Formula 1, and NOBOW of Chemical Formula 2” (emphasis added); the scope of the protection sought by each of “MHOBOW” and “NOBOW” is not clear. Claims 2 and 7 each fail to particularly point out and distinctly claim the bent-shaped liquid crystal molecule utilized in the claimed method of making a physical unclonable function structure.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Geraldina Visconti whose telephone number is (571)272-1334. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Anthony J Zimmer can be reached at (571)270-3591. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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GERALDINA VISCONTI
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 1737
/GERALDINA VISCONTI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1737
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