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 .
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 01/06/2025 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the Examiner.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the width of the antenna (claim 9) and the planar focal surface (claim 20) must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities:
Para. [0032]: line 4 should read “may be .
Appropriate correction is required.
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer.
Claim 1 is rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 9 and 15 of U.S. Patent No. 12,080,946 (“the reference patent”) in view of IDS document Yang (US 2022/0109245).
Claim 1: The reference patent discloses a device (electromagnetic antenna) comprising: an antenna, wherein the antenna comprises: an antenna feed element (first feed); and a reflector or lens comprising at least one gradient-index (GRIN lens) (a focal lens, and an aperture lens, the aperture lens has a gradient-index (GRIN) profile), wherein the reflector or lens is further configured to focus a first signal generated by the antenna feed element (the focal lens being configured to squint a beam radiated from the first feed).
The reference patent does not disclose “a mobile computing device, a plurality of antennas, and wherein the reflector or lens is further configured to focus a second signal not generated by the antenna feed element onto the antenna feed element”.
Yang describes a lens antenna system for beam forming in an electronic device.
More specifically, Yang teaches (figs. 14 & 15) “a mobile computing device (¶25, “electronic device”), a plurality of antennas (lens antenna module 10), and wherein the reflector or lens is further configured to focus a second signal not generated by the antenna feed element (a received signal is not generated by the antenna feed element) onto the antenna feed element (¶103, “electromagnetic wave signals in space can be converged to the radiator 14)”.
It would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to provide the electromagnetic antenna of the reference patent in the mobile computing device of Yang, the device comprising a plurality of antennas, and wherein the reflector or lens is further configured to focus a second signal not generated by the antenna feed element. To do so is simply substituting one lens antenna for another lens antenna in a known mobile device to obtain predictable results.
Claims 11-17 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 9 and 15 of U.S. Patent No. 12,080,946 (“reference patent”) in view of IDS document Yang (US 2022/0109245) and further in view of IDS document Sadri et al. (US 2022/0021115; “Sadri”).
Claim 11: the modified reference patent teaches the mobile computing device of claim 1.
The reference patent does not disclose “wherein the reflector or lens comprises a plurality of GRIN lenses”.
Sadri teaches a lens antenna system for enabling a highly directive beam in RF and the millimeter-wave domain (¶3). Sadri further teaches (fig. 14 below) a cascade lens system (1400) comprises a plurality of GRIN lenses (¶88, “FIG. 14 illustrates a lens antenna system 1400 comprising a cascaded lens system using Maxwell's Fish-eye GRIN lens for lens L1/L2 and Luneburg GRIN lens for lens L3”).
It would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to apply the teachings of Sadri to the device of the reference patent in view of Yang, wherein the reflector or lens comprises a plurality of GRIN lenses. Doing so allows for lenses having different properties to be combined as a configurable system and allows for aberration-free wave-front transformations (¶88 of Sadri).
Claim 12: the modified reference patent teaches the mobile computing device of claim 11.
The modified reference patent teaches “wherein the plurality of GRIN lenses are positioned in series such that the first signal or the second signal passes through each of the plurality of GRIN lenses”.
The reference patent discloses wherein the lenses are positioned in series such that the first signal passes through the focal lens and an aperture (GRIN) lens (“an aperture lens disposed inside the channel near a second end thereof opposite to the first end; a focal lens disposed inside the channel at a predetermined location between the first feed and the aperture 20 lens, the focal lens being configured to squint a beam radiated from the first feed toward a center of the aperture lens, wherein the aperture lens outputs collimated beams”)”.
Sadri teaches the focal lens is a GRIN lens (¶88).
Claim 13: the modified reference patent teaches the mobile computing device of claim 11.
The modified reference patent teaches “wherein a first GRIN lens of the plurality of GRIN lenses is disposed inside a channel configured to serve as a waveguide for electromagnetic radiation, the first GRIN lens configured to receive electromagnetic radiation output from the antenna feed element”.
The reference patent discloses “(a channel formed by two parallel plates and configured to serve as a waveguide for electromagnetic radiation; a first feed disposed inside the channel at a first end thereof, the first feed being configured to radiate electromagnetic waves into the channel; a focal lens disposed inside the channel at a predetermined location between the first feed and the aperture 20 lens)”.
Sadri teaches the focal lens is a GRIN lens (¶88).
Claim 14. the modified reference patent teaches the mobile computing device of claim 13.
The modified reference patent teaches “wherein a second GRIN lens of the plurality of GRIN lenses is disposed inside the channel and configured to receive the electromagnetic radiation output from the antenna feed element by way of the first GRIN lens”.
The reference patent discloses “wherein a second GRIN lens of the plurality of lenses is disposed inside the channel and configured to receive the electromagnetic radiation output from the antenna feed element by way of the first lens “(a first feed disposed inside the channel at a first end thereof, the first feed being configured to radiate electromagnetic waves into the channel; a focal lens disposed inside the channel at a predetermined location between the first feed and the aperture 20 lens; the focal lens being configured to squint a beam radiated from the first feed toward a center of the aperture lens)”.
The reference patent also discloses the second GRIN lens (wherein the aperture lens has a gradient-index (GRIN) profile.).
Sadri teaches the first (focal) lens is a GRIN lens (¶88).
Claim 15: the modified reference patent teaches the mobile computing device of claim 14.
The modified reference patent teaches “wherein first GRIN lens is a focal lens configured to squint a beam radiated from the antenna feed element toward the second GRIN lens”.
The reference patent discloses “wherein first lens is a focal lens configured to squint a beam radiated from the antenna feed element toward the second GRIN lens (a focal lens disposed inside the channel at a predetermined location between the first feed and the aperture lens, the focal lens being configured to squint a beam radiated from the first feed toward a center of the aperture lens)”.
Sadri teaches the first (focal) lens is a GRIN lens (¶88).
Claim 16: the modified reference patent teaches the mobile computing device of claim 15.
The modified reference patent teaches “wherein the second GRIN lens is an aperture lens configured to output collimated beams from an output of the first GRIN lens”.
The reference patent discloses “wherein the second GRIN lens is an aperture lens configured to output collimated beams from an output of the first GRIN lens (a focal lens disposed inside the channel at a predetermined location between the first feed and the aperture lens, the focal lens being configured to squint a beam radiated from the first feed toward a center of the aperture lens, wherein the aperture lens outputs collimated beams)”.
Sadri teaches the first (focal) lens is a GRIN lens (¶88).
Claim 17. The modified reference patent teaches the mobile computing device of claim 13.
The reference patent discloses “wherein the channel is formed by two parallel plates (a channel formed by two parallel plates)”.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-8, 10 and 18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by IDS document Yang (US 2022/0109245).
Claim 1: Yang discloses (figs. 14 & 15 below) “A mobile computing device (¶25, “electronic device”) comprising:
a plurality of antennas (lens antenna module 10), wherein each one of the plurality of antennas comprises:
an antenna feed element (radiator 14); and
a reflector or lens comprising at least one gradient-index (GRIN) lens (¶36, “the plane lens 2 includes a first lens portion 1. A refractive index of the first lens portion 2 to the electromagnetic waves gradually decreases from a middle to both sides in the first direction, so that the beam forming of the electromagnetic waves in the first direction can be achieved with aid of the first lens portion 2”),
wherein the reflector or lens (2, 16) is further configured to focus a first signal generated by the antenna feed element (¶101, “the dielectric lens 16 converges the electromagnetic wave signal in a short axis direction, so the energy of the electromagnetic wave signal is concentrated to form a well-directed beam to increase a gain of the electromagnetic wave signal”, ¶111, “the plane lens 2 of the disclosure achieves an electromagnetic wave convergence effect in the first direction, such that a beam scanned in the first direction is a narrow beam”) and
focus a second signal not generated by the antenna feed element (a received signal is not generated by the antenna feed element) onto the antenna feed element (¶103, “electromagnetic wave signals in space can be converged to the radiator 14)”.
PNG
media_image1.png
251
346
media_image1.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image2.png
396
288
media_image2.png
Greyscale
Claim 2: Yang discloses the mobile computing device of claim 1.
Yang discloses “wherein the mobile computing device is a smart phone, a virtual reality headset, a tablet computing device, a portable gaming console, or a laptop computing device (¶25, “The electronic device 100 may be a tablet computer, a mobile phone, a notebook computer, an in-vehicle device, a wearable device, a base station, a customer premise equipment (CPE), intelligence appliance, or any other products with antennas.”)”.
Claim 3: Yang discloses the mobile computing device of claim 1.
Yang discloses (fig. 15) “wherein the plurality of antennas (10) comprises at least a first antenna and a second antenna (one antenna module 10 is disposed on each long side of the device 100), the first antenna has a first radiating aperture, and the second antenna has a second radiating aperture (beams of fig. 15 emitted via plane lens 2 – a person of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that the plane lenses 2 form radiating apertures)”.
Claim 4: Yang discloses the mobile computing device of claim 3.
Yang discloses (fig. 15) “wherein the first radiating aperture (plane lens 2) aligns with a first edge (middle frame 201) or surface of the mobile computing device (electronic device 100)”.
Claim 5: Yang discloses the mobile computing device of claim 4.
Yang discloses (fig. 15) “wherein the second radiating aperture aligns with a second edge or surface of the mobile computing device that is different from the first edge or surface (¶124, “two mm-Wave lens antenna modules can be symmetrically arranged on two opposite sides of the electronic device 100”)”.
Claim 6: Yang discloses the mobile computing device of claim 5.
Yang discloses “wherein the first edge or surface is normal to the second edge or surface (¶88, “each of the four sides of the mobile phone can be provided with the lens antenna module 10. In this way, signal coverage angles of the four lens antenna modules 10 can be superimposed to reach a coverage of 360 degrees”)”.
Claim 7. Yang discloses the mobile computing device of claim 5.
Yang discloses (see fig. 15) “wherein the first edge or surface is parallel to the second edge or surface”.
Claim 8: Yang discloses the mobile computing device of claim 7.
Yang discloses “wherein the plurality of antennas comprises a third antenna having a third radiating aperture that aligns with a third edge or surface of the mobile computing device that is different from both of the first edge or surface and the second edge or surface, and further wherein the third edge or surface is normal to both of the first edge or surface and the second edge or surface (¶88, “each of the four sides of the mobile phone can be provided with the lens antenna module 10. In this way, signal coverage angles of the four lens antenna modules 10 can be superimposed to reach a coverage of 360 degrees”)”.
Claim 10. Yang discloses the mobile computing device of claim 1.
Yang discloses (fig. 15) “wherein each of the plurality of antennas (10) are shaped as a planar plate (¶28, “the plane lens 2 is a plate dielectric lens”. Antenna lens module 10 is a planar plate shape) and the plurality of antennas are mounted in or on the mobile computing device within a same plane (see fig. 15 where lens antenna modules 10 are both mounted in the X-Y plane)”.
Claim 18: Yang discloses the mobile computing device of claim 1.
Yang discloses (figs. 14 & 15) “wherein each one of plurality of antennas comprises multiple antenna feed elements (each plane lens 2 can have multiple antenna feed elements 14)”.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claims 11-17 and 19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yang in view of IDS document Sadri et al. (US 2022/0021115; “Sadri”).
Claim 11: Yang discloses the mobile computing device of claim 1.
Yang discloses (figs. 14 & 15) a first dielectric lens (¶95, “the antenna element 11 includes a dielectric lens 16”) and a second GRIN lens (plane lens 2), but does not explicitly disclose “wherein the reflector or lens comprises a plurality of GRIN lenses”.
Sadri teaches a lens antenna system for enabling a highly directive beam in RF and the millimeter-wave domain (¶3). Sadri further teaches (fig. 14 below) a cascade lens system (1400) comprises a plurality of GRIN lenses (¶88, “FIG. 14 illustrates a lens antenna system 1400 comprising a cascaded lens system using Maxwell's Fish-eye GRIN lens for lens L1/L2 and Luneburg GRIN lens for lens L3”).
It would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to apply the teachings of Sadri to the device of Yang, wherein the reflector or lens comprises a plurality of GRIN lenses. Doing so allows for lenses having different properties to be combined as a configurable system and allows for aberration-free wave-front transformations (¶88 of Sadri).
PNG
media_image3.png
294
471
media_image3.png
Greyscale
Claim 12: the modified Yang teaches the mobile computing device of claim 11.
Yang does not explicitly disclose “wherein the plurality of GRIN lenses are positioned in series such that the first signal or the second signal passes through each of the plurality of GRIN lenses”. However, Yang teaches (figs. 12 & 13) a first dielectric lens (16) and a second GRIN lens (2) positioned in series such that the first (transmitted) signal or the second (received) signal passes through each of the plurality of lenses (16, 2).
Sadri teaches (see fig. 14) “wherein the plurality of GRIN lenses (L1/L2 and L3) are positioned in series such that the first signal or the second signal passes through each of the plurality of GRIN lenses”.
It would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to apply the teachings of Sadri to the device of Yang in view of Sadri, wherein the plurality of GRIN lenses are positioned in series such that the first signal or the second signal passes through each of the plurality of GRIN lenses. Doing so allows for lenses having different properties to be combined as a configurable system and allows for aberration-free wave-front transformations (¶88 of Sadri).
Claim 13: the modified Yang teaches the mobile computing device of claim 11.
The modified Yang teaches “wherein a first GRIN lens of the plurality of GRIN lenses is disposed inside a channel configured to serve as a waveguide for electromagnetic radiation, the first GRIN lens configured to receive electromagnetic radiation output from the antenna feed element”.
Yang teaches (fig. 13 and fig. 14 below) that the first dielectric lens (16) is disposed inside a channel (¶97, “The first metal plate 15 is fixed on the top surface 163 of the dielectric lens 16, and the second metal plate 17 is fixed on the bottom surface 164 of the dielectric lens 16”) configured to serve as a waveguide for electromagnetic radiation and to receive electromagnetic radiation output from the antenna feed element (¶97, “The first metal plate 15 and the second metal plate 17 form a parallel metal plate waveguide, which is used to guide an electromagnetic wave signal emitted/received by the radiator 14 to propagate in the dielectric lens 16 between the first metal plate 15 and the second metal plate 17.”).
PNG
media_image4.png
278
419
media_image4.png
Greyscale
Sadri teaches that the first dielectric lens is a GRIN lens (¶88, “a lens antenna system 1400 comprising a cascaded lens system using Maxwell's Fish-eye GRIN lens for lens L1/L2”).
It would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to modify the device of Yang in view of Sadri wherein a first GRIN lens of the plurality of GRIN lenses is disposed inside a channel configured to serve as a waveguide for electromagnetic radiation, the first GRIN lens configured to receive electromagnetic radiation output from the antenna feed element. Doing so not only provides a waveguide channel, but plays a role in protecting the dielectric lenses (¶97 of Yang).
Claim 14: the modified Yang teaches the mobile computing device of claim 13.
Yang does not disclose “wherein a second GRIN lens of the plurality of GRIN lenses is disposed inside the channel and configured to receive the electromagnetic radiation output from the antenna feed element by way of the first GRIN lens”.
Yang discloses that the plane (GRIN) lens (2) is configured to receive the electromagnetic radiation output from the antenna feed element by way of the first dielectric lens (16) (¶116, “the beam of the semi-elliptical lens antenna 16 has a larger irradiation area on the plane lens 2”).
Although Yang does not disclose that the second GRIN lens is disposed inside the channel, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art that the entire Sadri GRIN lens combination (1400) (which comprises first L1/L2 and second L3 GRIN lenses) could be disposed inside the channel. The motivation to do so is not only to provide a waveguide channel to direct the antenna beam, but also to protect the GRIN lenses (¶97 of Yang).
Claim 15. The modified Yang teaches the mobile computing device of claim 14.
Yang does not explicitly disclose “wherein first GRIN lens is a focal lens configured to squint a beam radiated from the antenna feed element toward the second GRIN lens”.
However, Yang does teach that the first dielectric lens (16) converges the electromagnetic wave (¶101) towards the plane lens (2) (the second GRIN lens).
Sadri teaches (fig. 14 & fig. 16) “wherein first GRIN lens (L1/L2) is a focal lens configured to squint a beam radiated from the antenna feed element toward the second GRIN lens (L3) (¶88, “In the embodiment of FIG. 14, the quasi-collimates lens L1 and the focusing lens L2 are integrated as a single lens.”)”.
It would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to apply the teachings of Sadri to the device of Yang in view of Sadri, wherein first GRIN lens is a focal lens configured to squint a beam radiated from the antenna feed element toward the second GRIN lens. Doing so can enhance the gain of the device and support 2D beam steering (¶63 of Sadri).
Claim 16: the modified Yang teaches the mobile computing device of claim 15.
Yang discloses “wherein the second GRIN lens (plane lens 2) is an aperture lens (see fig. 15, where beams are emitted to the outside of the device via plane lens 2)”.
Yang does not disclose “configured to output collimated beams from an output of the first GRIN lens”.
Sadri teaches (¶60, “In some embodiments, cascaded lensing system uses multiple lenses to achieve quasi-collimation, focusing and real collimation of feed-antenna EM-radiation pattern”) the second GRIN lens (L3) is configured to output collimated beams from an output of the first GRIN lens (L1/L2) (see collimated beams in fig. 14).
It would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to apply the teachings of Sadri to the device of Yang in view of Sadri, wherein the second GRIN lens is configured to output collimated beams from an output of the first GRIN lens. Doing so allows for the generation of a highly directive radiation profile (¶60 of Sadri).
Claim 17: the modified Yang teaches the mobile computing device of claim 13.
Yang discloses “wherein the channel is formed by two parallel plates (¶97, “The first metal plate 15 and the second metal plate 17 form a parallel metal plate waveguide”)”.
Claim 19: Yang discloses (figs. 14 & 15) “a method comprising:
focusing, with a reflector or lens (plane lens 2 and/or dielectric lens 16) of a mobile computing device (electronic device 100), a first signal not generated by an antenna feed element (14) of the mobile computing device onto the antenna feed element (the received signal is directed through the plane lens 2, through the dielectric lens 16 and then focused onto the antenna feed element 14 located at the end of the channel defined by plates 15 and 17);
controlling the antenna feed element to generate a representation of the first signal (received signal), wherein the first signal has a nominal wavelength (¶108, “the radiator 14 of the lens antenna module 10 can emit/receive antenna signals in the millimeter wave band, sub-millimeter band, and even terahertz wave band);
controlling the antenna feed element (14) to generate a second signal (¶128, “The transfer switch 13 is configured to switch the mm-Wave antenna element that is connected with the RF transceiver chip 12, so that the mm-Wave signals emitted/received by the multiple mm-Wave antenna elements are capable of achieving scanning in the first direction with aid of the plane lens 2”); and
focusing, with the reflector or lens, the second signal generated by the antenna feed element to emit the second signal (¶101, “the dielectric lens 16 converges the electromagnetic wave signal in a short axis direction, so the energy of the electromagnetic wave signal is concentrated to form a well-directed beam to increase a gain of the electromagnetic wave signal”, ¶111, “the plane lens 2 of the disclosure achieves an electromagnetic wave convergence effect in the first direction, such that a beam scanned in the first direction is a narrow beam”)”.
Yang does not explicitly disclose “controlling, by a controller or processor of the mobile computing device”.
Sadri teaches a controller or other processing device, such as a microprocessor (¶52).
It would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to utilize the controller or processor of Sadri to carry out the controlling steps in the method of Yang. Doing so allows for the method to be carried out using hardware or software methods or on different devices (¶52 of Sadri).
Claim 9 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yang in view of Garcia (NPL “High-efficiency, wideband GRIN lenses with intrinsically matched unit cells”, published August 2020; “Garcia”).
Claim 9: Yang discloses the mobile computing device of claim 1.
Yang does not explicitly disclose “wherein each of the plurality of antennas has a width of less than 0.5 millimeters (mm)”.
However, Garcia teaches (p. 5965 final para. to p. 5966 first para.) “Where homogeneous dielectric lenses are constrained in terms of geometry, a GRIN lens can theoretically achieve wave collimation with any geometry given a sufficient range of refractive index (i.e., an extreme enough GRIN profile)”.
It would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to apply the teachings of Garcia to the device of Yang, wherein each of the plurality of antennas has a width of less than 0.5 millimeters (mm). Doing so allows for lower form-factor/weight/cost: lenses can be made thinner (¶1, p. 5966 of Garcia).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 20 is allowable.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The pertinent prior art, as a whole, or in combination, cannot be reasonably construed as adequately teaching or suggesting the elements and features of the claimed invention(s) as arranged, disposed, or provided in the manner as claimed by the Applicant.
For example, Yang (US 2022/0109245) discloses (fig. 15) “An electromagnetic antenna (lens antenna module 10) of a mobile computing device (¶25, “electronic device”) comprising:
an antenna feed element (radiator 14) configured to radiate a first signal, the first signal having a first frequency, a first amplitude, and a first phase (inherent for electromagnetic waves);
a channel (fig. 14, 161) formed by two parallel plates (15, 17) spaced apart by a predetermined distance and the two parallel plates form a channel serving as a waveguide for electromagnetic radiation (¶97, “The first metal plate 15 and the second metal plate 17 form a parallel metal plate waveguide, which is used to guide an electromagnetic wave signal emitted/received by the radiator 14”);
an electromagnetic lens (16) configured to focus the first signal;
a planar focal surface (fig. 14, rectangular surface 162) on which the antenna feed element (14) is mounted; and wherein the radiating aperture is positioned along an edge of a surface of the mobile computing device (see fig. 15, where radiating aperture comprises lens 2).
Yang does not teach, or suggest, the two parallel plates are spaced apart by a predetermined distance less than 1 λ, wherein λ is a wavelength of the first signal emitted by the electromagnetic antenna, an electromagnetic lens configured to focus the first signal for transmission, wherein the electromagnetic lens comprises a compound lens having first and second lens elements arranged in series, and wherein each of the first and second lens elements comprises a gradient-index (GRIN) lens; and wherein an end of the channel from which the first signal is emitted comprises a radiating aperture of the electromagnetic antenna.
Sadri (US 2022/0021115) discloses (fig. 14, 15) an electromagnetic antenna (lens antenna system, abstract) of a mobile computing device (¶3, “5G”) comprising:
an antenna feed element (¶89, “feed antenna”) configured to radiate a first signal, the first signal having a first frequency, a first amplitude, and a first phase (inherent for electromagnetic waves); and
an electromagnetic lens (Luneburg lenses L1/L2 and L3) configured to focus the first signal for transmission (¶89, “a highly energy concentrated beam generation with improved angular EM radiation is generated”), wherein the electromagnetic lens comprises a compound lens having first and second lens elements arranged in series, wherein the compound lens focuses the first signal, and wherein each of the first and second lens elements comprises a gradient-index (GRIN) lens (¶88, FIG. 14 illustrates a lens antenna system 1400 comprising a cascaded lens system using Maxwell's Fish-eye GRIN lens for lens L1/L2 and Luneburg GRIN lens for lens L3. In the embodiment of FIG. 14, the quasi-collimates lens L1 and the focusing lens L2 are integrated as a single lens).
Sadri does not teach, or suggest, a channel formed by two parallel plates spaced apart by a predetermined distance less than 1 λ, wherein λ is a wavelength of the first signal emitted by the electromagnetic antenna, and the two parallel plates form a channel serving as a waveguide for electromagnetic radiation; a planar focal surface on which the antenna feed element is mounted; and wherein an end of the channel from which the first signal is emitted comprises a radiating aperture of the electromagnetic antenna, wherein the radiating aperture is positioned along an edge of a surface of the mobile computing device.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANNA N HAMADYK whose telephone number is (703)756-1672. The examiner can normally be reached 7:30 am - 5:00 pm. 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, Dimary Lopez can be reached at (571) 270-7893. 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.
/ANNA N HAMADYK/Examiner, Art Unit 2845
/DIMARY S LOPEZ CRUZ/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2845