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
Acknowledgment is made of applicant’s claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 (a)-(d). The certified copy has been filed in Application No. 18876643, filed on 12/18/2024.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 12/18/2024 was filed on the filing date of the application on 12/18/2024. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement has been considered by the examiner.
Claim Objections
Claim 26 is objected to because of the following informalities:
Regarding claim 26, line 3 “a method” should be “the method” as it depends on claim 19.
Appropriate correction is required.
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 19-34 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.
Regarding claim 19, it is unclear if the limitation after “in particular” is required by the claim or not. Similar issues for claim 34.
Claims Not Subject to Prior Art Rejection
Patentability for claims 19-34 cannot be determined at this time due to the 112b issues. Currently there are no art rejections for claims 19-34, since amendments to overcome the 112b issue can change the scope of the invention for claims 19-34.
Regarding claim 19, Kameda (US 5779402) teaches a method of suctioning off particles when cutting workpieces out of a board material (see Figures 1-2), and in particular when cutting individual printed circuit boards out of a circuit board panel (unclear if this limitation is required), characterized in that for the cutting out the workpiece and when suctioning off of the particles arising when cutting out (unclear if this limitation is required), a compressed air flow pulsating at a pulse frequency is directed at the workpiece in such a way that the particles adhering to the workpiece are detached (via 20, see Figures 1-2), and that the workpiece is set into vibration due to an impinging pulsating compressed air flow (unclear if this limitation is required), wherein a vibration frequency of the workpiece is measured during a suction process (unclear if this limitation is required), and wherein the pulse frequency is regulated depending on the vibration frequency (unclear if this limitation is required).
Regarding claim 19, Russ (Us 20190166487 A1) teaches a measuring vibration in the system (paragraph 0027).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LIANG DONG whose telephone number is (571)270-0479. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Thursday 8 AM-6 PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Ashley Boyer can be reached at 571-272-4502. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/LIANG DONG/Examiner, Art Unit 3724 9/03/2026
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