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 .
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).
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Claims 2-21 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-20 of U.S. Patent No. 12,132,260 B2. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because both are claiming an antenna comprising a radiating element and a ground conductor supported by a substrate. Examiner considers the limitation “ground resonator” to be equivalent to limitation “ground sub-element” and limitation “projects” is equivalent to limitation “extends”. Comparison of the claims shown below:
Application 18/921408
US Patent 12,132,260 B2
2. An antenna, comprising:
a substrate comprising a top portion, a left portion, a bottom portion and a right portion; a radiating element supported by the substrate, with at least a portion of the radiating element being disposed proximate the top portion and the right portion of the substrate;
a ground conductor supported by the substrate, with at least a portion of the ground conductor being disposed proximate the left portion and the bottom portion of the substrate, the ground conductor further comprising:
a first ground sub-element having a first length;
a second ground sub-element having a second length that is greater in length than the first length of the first ground sub-element, the first ground sub-element located between the second ground sub-element and the radiating element; and
a third ground sub-element having a third length that is greater in length than the first length of the first ground sub-element, the second ground sub-element located between the third ground sub-element and the first ground sub-element.
1. An antenna, comprising:
a substrate comprising a top portion, a left portion, a bottom portion and a right portion; a radiating element supported by the substrate, with at least a portion of the radiating element being disposed proximate the top portion and the right portion of the substrate;
a ground conductor supported by the substrate, with at least a portion of the ground conductor being disposed proximate the left portion and the bottom portion of the substrate, the ground conductor further comprising:
a first ground resonator having a first length;
a second ground resonator having a second length that is greater in length than the first length of the first ground resonator, the first ground resonator located between the second ground resonator and the radiating element; and
a third ground resonator having a third length that is greater in length than the first length of the first ground resonator, the second ground resonator located between the third ground resonator and the first ground resonator.
3. The antenna of Claim 2, wherein the first ground sub-element further comprises:
a first segment that extends from adjacent the left portion of the substrate towards the right portion of the substrate; and
a second segment that extends from an end of the first segment towards the bottom portion of the substrate.
2. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the first ground resonator further comprises:
a first segment that projects from adjacent the left portion of the substrate towards the right portion of the substrate; and
a second segment that projects from an end of the first segment towards the bottom portion of the substrate.
4. The antenna of Claim 3, wherein the second ground sub-element further comprises:
a third segment that extends from adjacent the left portion of the substrate towards the right portion of the substrate;
a fourth segment that extends from an end of the third segment towards the top portion of the substrate; and
a fifth segment that extends from an end of the fourth segment towards the right portion of the substrate.
4. The antenna of Claim 3, wherein the second ground resonator further comprises:
a third segment that projects from adjacent the left portion of the substrate towards the right portion of the substrate;
a fourth segment that projects from an end of the third segment towards the top portion of the substrate; and
a fifth segment that projects from an end of the fourth segment towards the right portion of the substrate.
5. The antenna of Claim 4, wherein the third ground sub-element further comprises:
a sixth segment that extends from adjacent the left portion of the substrate towards the right portion of the substrate, the sixth segment also being disposed adjacent the bottom portion of the substrate; and
a seventh segment that extends from an end of the sixth segment towards the top portion of the substrate, the seventh segment also being disposed adjacent the right portion of the substrate.
4. The antenna of Claim 3, wherein the third ground resonator further comprises:
a sixth segment that projects from adjacent the left portion of the substrate towards the right portion of the substrate, the sixth segment also being disposed adjacent the bottom portion of the substrate; and
a seventh segment that projects from an end of the sixth segment towards the top portion of the substrate, the seventh segment also being disposed adjacent the right portion of the substrate.
6. The antenna of Claim 5, wherein the radiating element further comprises a feed point that is disposed at a corner of the radiating element that is positioned towards the left portion of the substrate and adjacent the first ground sub-element.
5. The antenna of claim 4, wherein the radiating element further comprises a feed point that is disposed at a corner of the radiating element that is positioned towards the left portion of the substrate and adjacent the first ground resonator.
7. The antenna of Claim 6, wherein the feed point of the radiating element marks a line of demarcation between a first radiating arm of the radiating element and a second radiating arm of the radiating element.
6. The antenna of claim 5, wherein the feed point of the radiating element marks a line of demarcation between a first radiating arm of the radiating element and a second radiating arm of the radiating element.
8. The antenna of Claim 7, wherein the first radiating arm further comprises a first radiating arm segment that extends from the feed point of the radiating element towards the right portion of the substrate.
7. The antenna of claim 6, wherein the first radiating arm further comprises a first radiating arm segment that projects from the feed point of the radiating element towards the right portion of the substrate.
9. The antenna of Claim 8, wherein the first radiating arm further comprises a second radiating arm segment that extends from an end of the first radiating arm segment towards the top portion of the substrate.
8. The antenna of claim 7, wherein the first radiating arm further comprises a second radiating arm segment that projects from an end of the first radiating arm segment towards the top portion of the substrate.
10. The antenna of Claim 9, wherein the first radiating arm further comprises a third radiating arm segment that extends from an end of the second radiating arm segment towards the left portion of the substrate.
9. The antenna of claim 8, wherein the first radiating arm further comprises a third radiating arm segment that projects from an end of the second radiating arm segment towards the left portion of the substrate.
11. The antenna of Claim 10, wherein the first radiating arm further comprises a fourth radiating arm segment that extends from an end of the third radiating arm segment towards the top portion of the substrate.
10. The antenna of claim 9, wherein the first radiating arm further comprises a fourth radiating arm segment that projects from an end of the third radiating arm segment towards the top portion of the substrate.
12. The antenna of Claim 11, wherein the first radiating arm further comprises a fifth radiating arm segment that extends from an end of the fourth radiating arm segment towards the right portion of the substrate.
11. The antenna of claim 10, wherein the first radiating arm further comprises a fifth radiating arm segment that projects from an end of the fourth radiating arm segment towards the right portion of the substrate.
13. The antenna of Claim 12, wherein the first radiating arm further comprises a sixth radiating arm segment that extends from an end of the fifth radiating arm segment towards the bottom portion of the substrate.
12. The antenna of claim 11, wherein the first radiating arm further comprises a sixth radiating arm segment that projects from an end of the fifth radiating arm segment towards the bottom portion of the substrate.
14. The antenna of Claim 13, wherein the first radiating arm further comprises a seventh radiating arm segment that extends from an end of the sixth radiating arm segment towards the left portion of the substrate.
13. The antenna of claim 12, wherein the first radiating arm further comprises a seventh radiating arm segment that projects from an end of the sixth radiating arm segment towards the left portion of the substrate.
15. The antenna of Claim 14, wherein the second radiating arm further comprises a first radiating arm segment that extends from the feed point of the radiating element towards the top portion of the substrate.
14. The antenna of Claim 13, wherein the second radiating arm further comprises a first radiating arm segment that projects from the feed point of the radiating element towards the top portion of the substrate.
16. The antenna of Claim 15, wherein the second radiating arm further comprises a second radiating arm segment that extends from an end of the first radiating arm segment of the second radiating arm towards the top portion of the substrate.
15. The antenna of claim 14, wherein the second radiating arm further comprises a second radiating arm segment that projects from an end of the first radiating arm segment of the second radiating arm towards the top portion of the substrate.
17. The antenna of Claim 16, wherein the second radiating arm further comprises a third radiating arm segment that extends from an end of the second radiating arm segment of the second arm towards the bottom portion of the substrate.
16. The antenna of claim 15, wherein the second radiating arm further comprises a third radiating arm segment that projects from an end of the second radiating arm segment of the second arm towards the bottom portion of the substrate.
18. The antenna of Claim 17, wherein the second radiating arm further comprises a fourth radiating arm segment that extends form an end of the third radiating arm segment towards the left portion of the substrate.
17. The antenna of claim 16, wherein the second radiating arm further comprises a fourth radiating arm segment that projects form an end of the third radiating arm segment towards the left portion of the substrate.
19. The antenna of Claim 18, wherein the second radiating arm further comprises a fifth radiating arm segment that extends from an end of the fourth radiating arm segment towards the left portion of the substrate.
18. The antenna of claim 17, wherein the second radiating arm further comprises a fifth radiating arm segment that projects from an end of the fourth radiating arm segment towards the left portion of the substrate.
20. The antenna of Claim 19, wherein the fifth radiating arm segment of the first radiating arm is positioned adjacent the first radiating arm segment of the second radiating arm.
19. The antenna of claim 18, wherein the fifth radiating arm segment of the first radiating arm is positioned adjacent the first radiating arm segment of the second radiating arm.
21. The antenna of Claim 20, wherein the sixth radiating arm segment of the first radiating arm is positioned the fifth radiating arm segment of the second radiating arm.
20. The antenna of claim 19, wherein the sixth radiating arm segment of the first radiating arm is positioned the fifth radiating arm segment of the second radiating arm.
Conclusion
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/HOANG V NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2845