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 .
Specification
The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
Applicant is reminded of the proper content of an abstract of the disclosure.
A patent abstract is a concise statement of the technical disclosure of the patent and should include that which is new in the art to which the invention pertains. The abstract should not refer to purported merits or speculative applications of the invention and should not compare the invention with the prior art.
If the patent is of a basic nature, the entire technical disclosure may be new in the art, and the abstract should be directed to the entire disclosure. If the patent is in the nature of an improvement in an old apparatus, process, product, or composition, the abstract should include the technical disclosure of the improvement. The abstract should also mention by way of example any preferred modifications or alternatives.
Where applicable, the abstract should include the following: (1) if a machine or apparatus, its organization and operation; (2) if an article, its method of making; (3) if a chemical compound, its identity and use; (4) if a mixture, its ingredients; (5) if a process, the steps.
Extensive mechanical and design details of an apparatus should not be included in the abstract. The abstract should be in narrative form and generally limited to a single paragraph within the range of 50 to 150 words in length.
See MPEP § 608.01(b) for guidelines for the preparation of patent abstracts.
Abstract appears like claim language.
Examiner suggests applicant rewrite abstract to describe novelty of invention.
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 provisionally rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 1 of copending Application No. 19019571 (reference application). Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because both applications recite substantially similar claim limitations.
This is a provisional nonstatutory double patenting rejection because the patentably indistinct claims have not in fact been patented.
18937084
19019571 (reference application)
1. A radio-frequency circuit comprising:
a first antenna terminal;
a splitter having a first input port, a first output port, and a second output port, the splitter being configured to split a fundamental signal of a transmit band of a first band that is input to the first input port, configured to output from the first output port a first split signal, and configured to output from the second output port a second split signal that has a phase of +90° relative to the first split signal;
a first power amplifier having a second input port and a third output port, the second input port being coupled to the first output port;
a second power amplifier having a third input port and a fourth output port, the third input port being coupled to the second output port;
a combiner circuit having a fourth input port, a fifth input port, and a fifth output port, the combiner circuit being configured to combine in phase a third split signal input from the fourth input port and a fourth split signal input from the fifth input port to generate an output signal and configured to output the output signal from the fifth output port;
a first phase shifter circuit coupled between the third output port and the fourth input port;
a second phase shifter circuit coupled between the fourth output port and the fifth input port;
a first harmonic phase shifter circuit coupled between the third output port and the fourth input port and/or a second harmonic phase shifter circuit coupled between the fourth output port and the fifth input port; and
a first filter coupled between the fifth output port and the first antenna terminal, the first filter having a pass band that includes the transmit band, wherein
the first phase shifter circuit and the second phase shifter circuit are configured such that
a forward phase of a fundamental wave of the transmit band in the second phase shifter circuit in a direction from the fourth output port to the fifth input port is −90° relative to a forward phase of the fundamental wave in the first phase shifter circuit in a direction from the third output port to the fourth input port, and
the first phase shifter circuit, the second phase shifter circuit, the first harmonic phase shifter circuit, and the second harmonic phase shifter circuit are configured such that
a difference between a first reflection phase of the fundamental wave assuming the fifth output port is observed from the third output port and a second reflection phase of the fundamental wave assuming the fifth output port is observed from the fourth output port is 180°, and
a difference between a third reflection phase of at least one of harmonic waves of the transmit band assuming the fifth output port is observed from the third output port and a fourth reflection phase of the at least one of the harmonic waves assuming the fifth output port is observed from the fourth output port is 180°.
1. A radio-frequency circuit comprising:
a first antenna terminal;
a splitter that has a first input end, a first output end, and a second output end, and is configured to separate a signal in a transmission band of a first band input to the first input end to output a first sub-band signal from the first output end and output a second sub-band signal from the second output end, the second sub-band signal having a phase relatively +90° with respect to the first sub-band signal;
a first power amplifier that has a second input end and a third output end, the second input end connected to the first output end;
a second power amplifier that has a third input end and a fourth output end, the third input end connected to the second output end;
a combiner circuit that has a fourth input end, a fifth input end, and a fifth output end, and is configured to output, from the fifth output end, an output signal in the first band generated by combining in phase a third sub-band signal in the first band input from the fourth input end and a fourth sub-band signal in the first band input from the fifth input end;
a first phase-shifting circuit connected between the third output end and the fourth input end;
a second phase-shifting circuit that is connected between the fourth output end and the fifth input end, and is configured such that a passband phase of the signal in the transmission band of the first band becomes relatively −90° with respect to the first phase-shifting circuit;
a first filter that is connected between the fifth output end and the first antenna terminal or between the first phase-shifting circuit and the fourth input end, and has a passband containing the transmission band of the first band; and
a second filter that is connected to a path connecting the first antenna terminal and the first filter, and has a passband containing a reception band of a second band that can be transmitted simultaneously with the first band,
wherein the first phase-shifting circuit and the second phase-shifting circuit are configured such that
a difference between a first reflection phase in the reception band of the second band upon viewing the fifth output end from the third output end and a second reflection phase in the reception band of the second band upon viewing the fifth output end from the fourth output end becomes 180°.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1 - 20 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the double patenting rejection(s) set forth in this Office action.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
Regarding claims 1, 15:
The closest prior art is Larsen et al. (US 20210184709 A1).
[0136] discloses The front end 1305 may include various digital and analog components, some of which, for brevity, are not described herein. In various embodiments, these digital and analog components may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of both, and may include one or more radio frequency filters, one or more signal splitters 1308, one or more signal combines 1309, radio frequency switching circuits 1307, power amplifiers 1306, and the like. The front end 1305 may include one or more wired or wireless input/output (I/O) interfaces configurable to communicate with base stations, mobile stations, or other devices configured to transmit and, in some cases, receive radio frequency signals, including radio frequency signals generated through the conversion of baseband signals. In at least some embodiments, the front end 1305 may receive radio frequency signals from an antenna communicatively coupled to the front end 1305 (not shown), optionally filter the signals using one or more radio frequency filters, and pass them to the transceiver 1310. Likewise, the front end 1305 may receive radio frequency signals from the transceiver 1310, optionally filter the signals using one or more radio frequency filters, pass the signals through one or more power amplifiers 1306 and corresponding RF switching circuits 1307, as described herein, and transmit them via the antenna. In some embodiments, system 1300 may include multiple power amplifiers 1306 and RF switching circuits 1307 in respective parallel paths and may include multiple splitter/combiner pairs 1308/1309 to route the signals, or portions thereof, to each of the parallel paths.
However, the prior art does not teach or suggest either singularly or in combination the specifically claimed, “a second power amplifier having a third input port and a fourth output port, the third input port being coupled to the second output port; a combiner circuit having a fourth input port, a fifth input port, and a fifth output port, the combiner circuit being configured to combine in phase a third split signal input from the fourth input port and a fourth split signal input from the fifth input port to generate an output signal and configured to output the output signal from the fifth output port; a first phase shifter circuit coupled between the third output port and the fourth input port; a second phase shifter circuit coupled between the fourth output port and the fifth input port; a first harmonic phase shifter circuit coupled between the third output port and the fourth input port and/or a second harmonic phase shifter circuit coupled between the fourth output port and the fifth input port; and a first filter coupled between the fifth output port and the first antenna terminal, the first filter having a pass band that includes the transmit band, wherein the first phase shifter circuit and the second phase shifter circuit are configured such that a forward phase of a fundamental wave of the transmit band in the second phase shifter circuit in a direction from the fourth output port to the fifth input port is -90° relative to a forward phase of the fundamental wave in the first phase shifter circuit in a direction from the third output port to the fourth input port, and the first phase shifter circuit, the second phase shifter circuit, the first harmonic phase shifter circuit, and the second harmonic phase shifter circuit are configured such that a difference between a first reflection phase of the fundamental wave assuming the fifth output port is observed from the third output port and a second reflection phase of the fundamental wave assuming the fifth output port is observed from the fourth output port is 180°, and a difference between a third reflection phase of at least one of harmonic waves of the transmit band assuming the fifth output port is observed from the third output port and a fourth reflection phase of the at least one of the harmonic waves assuming the fifth output port is observed from the fourth output port is 180°.", in the context of the rest of the claimed limitations.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
US 20200014113 discloses:
[0162] The present disclosure can be widely used as an antenna element having a band-pass-filter function for communication devices such as millimeter-wave-band mobile communication systems and massive MIMO systems. [0163] 1, 1A, 1B, 1C antenna module [0164] 2 BBIC [0165] 5 communication device [0166] 10 array antenna (antenna) [0167] 10M second simulation model [0168] 20 dielectric substrate [0169] 20a substrate element assembly [0170] 21 to 24 side surface [0171] 30 sealing member [0172] 31A, 31B, 31C, 31D, 33A, 33B, 33C, 33D, 37 switch [0173] 32AR, 32BR, 32CR, 32DR low-noise amplifier [0174] 32AT, 32BT, 32CT, 32DT power amplifier [0175] 34A, 34B, 34C, 34D attenuator [0176] 35A, 35B, 35C, 35D phase shifter
US 20240313426 A1 discloses:
[0033] Note that the phase adjustment circuit 140 is not necessarily indispensable. A phase difference between transmission signals to be input to each hybrid circuit may be adjusted by adjusting the degrees of phase shift of the phase shifters 115A to 115H disposed in respective signal paths. Furthermore, when phase differences between transmission signals to be supplied to radiating elements on the individual substrates are adjusted by the phase shifters 115A to 115H, radio waves to be output from the individual substrates can be subjected to beamforming.
US 11336237 B1 discloses power amplifier on abstract.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHUN-NAN LIN whose telephone number is (571)272-5646. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Thursday 7:30am - 6pm.
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, Benjamin C Lee can be reached at 571-2722963. 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.
/CHUN-NAN LIN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2629
Prosecution Insights