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.
Claim 18 is 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.
Claim 18 recites “the system of Claim 17” and “the system of claim 1” and a period. The claim 18 should be split/separate into two individual claims.
Double Patenting
A rejection based on double patenting of the “same invention” type finds its support in the language of 35 U.S.C. 101 which states that “whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process... may obtain a patent therefor...” (Emphasis added). Thus, the term “same invention,” in this context, means an invention drawn to identical subject matter. See Miller v. Eagle Mfg. Co., 151 U.S. 186 (1894); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Ockert, 245 F.2d 467, 114 USPQ 330 (CCPA 1957).
A statutory type (35 U.S.C. 101) double patenting rejection can be overcome by canceling or amending the claims that are directed to the same invention so they are no longer coextensive in scope. The filing of a terminal disclaimer cannot overcome a double patenting rejection based upon 35 U.S.C. 101.
Claims 1-17 and 19-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 as claiming the same invention as that of claims 1-17 and 19 respectively of prior U.S. Patent No. 12/139,400 B2. This is a statutory double patenting rejection.
Claim 18 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 as claiming the same invention as that of claims 18 and 20 respectively of prior U.S. Patent No. 12/139,400 B2. This is a statutory double patenting rejection.
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.
Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-17, 18/19 and 20-21 respectively of U.S. Patent No. 10,246,327 B2. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because claims 1-17, 18/19 and 20-21 of the U.S. Patent No. 10,246,327 B2 discloses all the limitations of the present Claims 1-20 respectively.
Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-6, 1,7, 9, 10, 10-16, 16/17, 18, and 19 respectively of U.S. Patent No. 10,544,043 B2. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because claims 1-6, 1,7, 9, 10, 10-16, 16/17, 18, and 19 of the U.S. Patent No. 10,544,043 B2 discloses all the limitations of the present Claims 1-20 respectively.
Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 14, 1, 5, 7, 7, 8-14, 14/15, and 16-17 respectively of U.S. Patent No. 10,919,764 B2. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because claims 1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 14, 1, 5, 7, 7, 8-14, 14/15, and 16-17 of the U.S. Patent No. 10,919,764 B2 discloses all the limitations of the present Claims 1-20 respectively.
Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-5, 14, 1, 7-8, 10, 12, 9-14, 14/15, 16, and 17 respectively of U.S. Patent No. 11,485,638 B2. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because claims 1-5, 14, 1, 7-8, 10, 12, 9-14, 14/15, 16, and 17 of the U.S. Patent No. 11,485,638 B2 discloses all the limitations of the present Claims 1-20 respectively.
Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-5, 16, 1, 7-16, 16/17, 18, and 19 respectively of U.S. Patent No. 11,772,968 B2. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because claims 1-5, 16, 1, 7-16, 16/17, 18, and 19 of the U.S. Patent No. 11,772,968 B2 discloses all the limitations of the present Claims 1-20 respectively.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HUY-TRAM NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)270-3167. The examiner can normally be reached M-W, 7:00am - 3pm, EST.
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/HUY TRAM NGUYEN/Examiner, Art Unit 1774
