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 – 11 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.
As to claim 1, applicant attempts to define the subject matter in terms of the result to be achieved (“the shield plate has a thickness greater than a skin depth for an electromagnetic wave equal in frequency to signals flowing through the first signal pattern and the second signal pattern”), but in so doing merely states the problem to be solved, without indicating the technical features or steps necessary for achieving this result. Due to lack of essential features or steps it is unclear how is it being determined that the shield plate has a thickness greater than a skin depth for an electromagnetic wave equal in frequency to signals flowing through the first signal pattern and the second signal pattern. It is unclear which signals are flowing through the first signal pattern and the second signal pattern?
As to claim 6, applicant attempts to define the subject matter in terms of the result to be achieved (“the shield plate has a thickness greater than a skin depth for an electromagnetic wave equal in frequency to signals flowing through the first pin and the second pin”), but in so doing merely states the problem to be solved, without indicating the technical features or steps necessary for achieving this result. Due to lack of essential features or steps it is unclear how is it being determined that the shield plate has a thickness greater than a skin depth for an electromagnetic wave equal in frequency to signals flowing through the first pin and the second pin. It is unclear which signals are flowing through the first signal pattern and the second signal pattern?
Claims 2 - 5 are rejected by virtue of their dependency on claim 1.
Claims 7 - 11 are rejected by virtue of their dependency on claim 6.
Claims 1 - 11 have not been rejected over the prior art because, in light of the 35 U.S.C. 112 rejections supra, the claims are vague such that no meaningful search can be performed at this time, hence, it would not be proper to reject the claims on the basis of prior art. However, any subsequently presented claims, in definite form will be subject to prior art rejection.
Prior Art of Record
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant s disclosure.
Shi et al. (10,057,976) is cited for its disclosure of a power-ground co-reference transceiver structure to deliver ultra-low crosstalk comprising a first one or more conductors configured to carry power signals extending vertically from the first semiconductor component; a second one or more conductors configured to carry data signals extending vertically from the first semiconductor component; a third one or more conductors configured to carry ground signals extending vertically from the first semiconductor component, wherein the first one or more conductors are further configured to shield and separate the second one or more conductors.
KIM et al. (2012/0081869) is cited for its disclosure of a printed circuit board for reducing crosstalk, having a capacitive impedance component connected between signal and ground patterns, the printed circuit board comprising: signal patterns including a first signal pattern transferring low frequency signals and a second signal pattern transferring high frequency signals; ground patterns including a first ground pattern connected to the first signal pattern and a second ground pattern connected to the second signal pattern which are separated from each other; and a conductive shielding film connected between the first and second ground patterns and shielding electromagnetic waves generated from the printed circuit board..
Hammond, Jr. et al. (7,232,340) is cited for its disclosure of methods and systems for minimizing alien crosstalk between connectors.
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/REENA AURORA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2858
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