DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 11/29/2024 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
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 §§ 706.02(l)(1) - 706.02(l)(3) 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 USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The 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/process/file/efs/guidance/eTD-info-I.jsp.
Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims of U.S. Patent No. 11,600,915 B2 (see Table below).
Instant Application (18/943760)
U.S. Patent No. 11,600,915 B2
1. An antenna apparatus comprising:
an antenna stack assembly,
wherein at least a portion of the antenna stack assembly generates or conducts heat when in operation; and
a radome assembly
including a radome spacer and a radome,
wherein the radome spacer includes a plurality of cells extending between a surface of the antenna stack assembly and the radome
such that each cell is in contact with the surface of the antenna stack assembly and the radome, and
wherein the radome assembly facilitates the flow of the heat conductively from the antenna stack assembly through at least some of the plurality of cells to a portion of the radome.
1. An antenna apparatus comprising:
a housing assembly including a radome portion and a lower enclosure portion, wherein the radome portion and lower enclosure portion are couplable to form an inner compartment for housing antenna components of the antenna apparatus;
an antenna stack assembly having a first surface and a second surface, the antenna stack assembly disposed within the inner compartment, wherein at least some components within or coupled to the antenna stack assembly generate or conduct heat when in operation, wherein the antenna stack assembly includes a plurality of antenna elements, wherein each of the plurality of antenna elements has a portion disposed on the first surface of the antenna stack assembly; and
a heat transfer system within the inner compartment configured to facilitate the conductive flow of heat toward the radome portion,
wherein the radome portion includes a radome and a radome spacer each having an outer perimeter portion and an interior portion,
wherein the radome spacer includes a plurality of cell walls extending substantially normal to the first surface of the antenna stack assembly, wherein the plurality of cell walls define a plurality of cells
such that each cell wall of the plurality of cell walls contacts at least one other cell wall of an adjacent cell, wherein each cell wall is in contact with the first surface of the antenna stack assembly and the radome, and wherein the heat transfer system facilitates the flow of the heat conductively from the antenna stack assembly through the plurality of cell walls to the interior portion of the radome.
2. The antenna apparatus of Claim 1,
wherein the antenna stack assembly includes a plurality of antenna elements coupled to the surface of the antenna stack assembly.
1. An antenna apparatus comprising:
…
wherein the antenna stack assembly includes a plurality of antenna elements, wherein each of the plurality of antenna elements has a portion disposed on the first surface of the antenna stack assembly;
…
3. The antenna apparatus of Claim 2, wherein the plurality of cells defines a plurality of apertures, and wherein the plurality of apertures are configured to align with the plurality of antenna elements in the antenna stack assembly.
9. The antenna apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of cells define a plurality of apertures, and wherein the plurality of apertures are configured to align with the plurality of antenna elements in the antenna stack assembly.
4. The antenna apparatus of Claim 1,
wherein the plurality of cells extend substantially normal to the surface of the antenna stack assembly.
1. An antenna apparatus comprising:
…
wherein the radome spacer includes a plurality of cell walls extending substantially normal to the first surface of the antenna stack assembly, …
5. The antenna apparatus of Claim 1, wherein the radome spacer is formed from a plastic having thermal conductive properties.
10. The antenna apparatus of claim 1, wherein the radome spacer is formed from a plastic having thermal conductive properties.
6. The antenna apparatus of Claim 1, wherein the radome spacer is formed from a plastic having a thermal conductivity value of greater than 0.35 W/m-K.
11. The antenna apparatus of claim 1, wherein the radome spacer is formed from a plastic having a thermal conductivity value of greater than 0.35 W/m-K.
7. The antenna apparatus of Claim 1, wherein the portion of the radome includes an outer perimeter of the radome.
3. The antenna apparatus of claim 2, wherein the thermally conductive feature is at least partially disposed at or near the outer perimeter portion of the radome portion.
8. An antenna apparatus comprising: a housing including a radome having a first side and a second side;
an antenna stack assembly disposed within the housing,
wherein at least a portion of the antenna stack assembly generates or conducts heat when in operation; and
a spacer disposed between the antenna stack assembly and the radome, wherein the spacer extends between the antenna stack assembly and the second side of the radome
such that the spacer is in contact with the antenna stack assembly and the second side of the radome, and wherein the spacer facilitates the flow of the heat conductively from the antenna stack assembly to a portion of the radome.
1. An antenna apparatus comprising: a housing assembly including a radome portion and a lower enclosure portion, wherein the radome portion and lower enclosure portion are couplable to form an inner compartment for housing antenna components of the antenna apparatus;
an antenna stack assembly having a first surface and a second surface, the antenna stack assembly disposed within the inner compartment,
wherein at least some components within or coupled to the antenna stack assembly generate or conduct heat when in operation, wherein the antenna stack assembly includes a plurality of antenna elements, wherein each of the plurality of antenna elements has a portion disposed on the first surface of the antenna stack assembly; and a heat transfer system within the inner compartment configured to facilitate the conductive flow of heat toward the radome portion, wherein the radome portion includes
a radome and a radome spacer each having an outer perimeter portion and an interior portion, wherein the radome spacer includes a plurality of cell walls extending substantially normal to the first surface of the antenna stack assembly, wherein the plurality of cell walls define a plurality of cells such that each cell wall of the plurality of cell walls contacts at least one other cell wall of an adjacent cell, wherein each cell wall is in contact with the first surface of the antenna stack assembly and the radome, and wherein the heat transfer system facilitates the flow of the heat conductively from the antenna stack assembly through the plurality of cell walls to the interior portion of the radome.
9. The antenna apparatus of Claim 8, wherein the antenna stack assembly defines a surface, and wherein the antenna stack includes a plurality of antenna elements coupled to the surface.
1. An antenna apparatus comprising:…
an antenna stack assembly having a first surface and a second surface, … wherein the antenna stack assembly includes a plurality of antenna elements, wherein each of the plurality of antenna elements has a portion disposed on the first surface of the antenna stack assembly; …
10. The antenna apparatus of Claim 9, wherein the spacer includes a plurality of cells.
1. An antenna apparatus…
wherein the radome spacer includes a plurality of cell walls…
11. The antenna apparatus of Claim 10, wherein the plurality of cells defines a plurality of apertures, and wherein the plurality of apertures are configured to align with the plurality of antenna elements in the antenna stack assembly.
9. The antenna apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of cells define a plurality of apertures, and wherein the plurality of apertures are configured to align with the plurality of antenna elements in the antenna stack assembly.
12. The antenna apparatus of Claim 10, wherein the plurality of cells extend substantially normal to the surface of the antenna stack assembly.
1. An antenna apparatus comprising:
…
wherein the radome spacer includes a plurality of cell walls extending substantially normal to the first surface of the antenna stack assembly, …
13. The antenna apparatus of Claim 8, wherein the radome spacer is formed from a plastic having thermal conductive properties.
10. The antenna apparatus of claim 1, wherein the radome spacer is formed from a plastic having thermal conductive properties.
14. The antenna apparatus of Claim 1, wherein the radome spacer is formed from a plastic having a thermal conductivity value of greater than 0.35 W/m-K.
11. The antenna apparatus of claim 1, wherein the radome spacer is formed from a plastic having a thermal conductivity value of greater than 0.35 W/m-K.
15. The antenna apparatus of Claim 1, wherein the portion of the radome includes an outer perimeter of the radome.
3. The antenna apparatus of claim 2, wherein the thermally conductive feature is at least partially disposed at or near the outer perimeter portion of the radome portion.
Regarding claim 16, this claim has substantially the same subject matter as that in claim 1. Therefore, claim 16 is rejected under the same rationale as claim 1 above.
Regarding claim 17, this claim has substantially the same subject matter as that in claim 3. Therefore, claim 17 is rejected under the same rationale as claim 3 above.
Regarding claim 18, this claim has substantially the same subject matter as that in claim 8. Therefore, claim 18 is rejected under the same rationale as claim 4 above.
Regarding claim 19, this claim has substantially the same subject matter as that in claim 6. Therefore, claim 19 is rejected under the same rationale as claim 6 above.
Regarding claim 20, this claim has substantially the same subject matter as that in claim 7. Therefore, claim 20 is rejected under the same rationale as claim 7 above.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SEOKJIN KIM whose telephone number is (571)272-1487. The examiner can normally be reached M-F: 8:30am-5:00pm.
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/SEOKJIN KIM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2844