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 § 102
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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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.
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1, 2, 6, 8-11, 15, 22-25 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Jerez (US 2012/0013249 A1).
With respect to claim 1: Jerez teaches “a cathode filament device (30) for an indirectly heated cathode (20), the cathode filament device comprising: a first filament rod (32+41) having a first end (end facing 31) and a second end (end facing 34) along a first axis (see Fig. 5), wherein the first filament rod comprises a first engagement portion (41) proximate to the first end thereof (see Fig. 5), wherein the first engagement portion comprises a first engagement body (41) and a first positioning feature extending from the first engagement body (unlabeled flange between 41 and 32); and a filament (34) operably coupled to the first filament rod proximate to the second end of the first filament rod (see Fig. 6)”.
With respect to claim 2: Jerez teaches “the cathode filament device of claim 1 (see above), further comprising a first clamping member (31), wherein the first engagement body is configured to selectively mate with the first clamping member (see Figs. 6, 8), and wherein the first positioning feature is configured to limit a translation of the first filament rod with respect to the first clamping member in at least a first direction along the first axis (see Fig. 8, paragraph 65)”.
With respect to claim 6: Jerez teaches “the cathode filament device of claim 2 (see above), wherein the first engagement portion is cylindrical having a first engagement diameter (see Fig. 5), and wherein the first positioning feature comprises a first flange having a first positioning diameter (see Fig. 5), wherein the first positioning diameter is greater than the first engagement diameter (see Figs. 5, 8)”.
With respect to claim 8: Jerez teaches “the cathode filament device of claim 1 (see above), further comprising a second filament rod (32+41; see Fig. 5) having a third end and a fourth end along a second axis (see Fig. 5), wherein the second filament rod comprises a second engagement portion (41) proximate to the third end (see Fig. 5), and wherein the filament is operably coupled to the second filament rod proximate to the fourth end of the second filament rod (see Fig. 6)”.
With respect to claim 9: Jerez teaches “the cathode filament device of claim 8 (see Fig. 1), wherein the second filament rod, when viewed perpendicular to the second axis, is identical to the first filament rod when viewed perpendicular to the first axis (see Figs. 5, 7)”.
With respect to claim 10: Jerez teaches “a cathode filament device (30) for an indirectly heated cathode (20), the cathode filament device comprising: a first filament rod (32+41) having a first end and a second end along a first axis (see Fig. 5), wherein the first filament rod comprises a first engagement portion (41) proximate to the first end thereof (see Fig. 5), wherein the first engagement portion comprises a first engagement body (42) and a first positioning feature (unlabeled flange between 32 and 41) extending from the first engagement body (see Figs. 5, 8); a second filament rod (32+41; see Fig. 5) having a third end and a fourth end along a second axis (see Fig. 5), wherein the second filament rod comprises a second engagement portion (41) proximate to the third end (see Fig. 5) and having a second engagement body (unlabeled flange between 32 and 41); a first clamping member (31) having a first clamping surface (40) configured to selectively engage the first engagement body (see Figs. 6, 8), and wherein the first positioning feature is configured to limit a translation of the first filament rod with respect to the first clamping member in at least a first direction along the first axis (see Fig. 8, paragraph 65); a second clamping member (31) configured to selectively engage the second engagement body (see Fig. 5); and a filament (34) operably coupled to the first filament rod proximate to the second end of the first filament rod (see Fig. 6) and to the second filament rod proximate to the fourth end of the second filament rod (see Fig. 6)”.
With respect to claim 11: Jerez teaches “the cathode filament device of claim 10 (see above), wherein the second filament rod, when viewed perpendicular to the second axis, is substantially identical to the first filament rod when viewed perpendicular to the first axis (see Fig. 5)”.
With respect to claim 15: Jerez teaches “the cathode filament device of claim 10 (see above), wherein the first engagement portion is cylindrical having a first engagement diameter (see Fig. 5), and wherein the first positioning feature comprises a first flange having a first positioning diameter (see Figs. 5, 8), wherein the first positioning diameter is greater than the first engagement diameter (see Figs. 5, 8)”.
With respect to claim 17: Jerez teaches “the cathode filament device of claim 10 (see above), wherein the second engagement portion of the second filament rod comprises a third positioning feature extending from the second engagement body (see Fig. 5), wherein the third positioning feature is configured to limit a translation of the second filament rod with respect to the second clamping member in at least the first direction along the second axis (see Figs. 5, 8)”.
With respect to claim 22: Jerez teaches “an indirectly heated cathode apparatus (20+30), comprising: a cathode (13) having a blind hole (19) defined therein, wherein the blind hole extends along a cathode axis (see Figs. 1, 4); a filament rod (32+41) extending from a first end to a second end thereof (see Figs. 5, 8), wherein the filament rod comprises: a first engagement portion (41) proximate to the first end (see Fig. 5); and one or more positioning features extending outwardly from the first engagement portion (unlabeled flange between 32 and 41; see Figs. 5, 8); a filament (34) operably coupled to the filament rod proximate to the second end of the filament rod (see Fig. 6); and a clamping member (31) having a clamping surface (40), wherein the clamping member is configured to selectively clamp the first engagement portion of the filament rod to the clamping surface (see Figs. 6, 8), and wherein the one or more positioning features are further configured to selectively mate with the clamping member (see Figs. 6, 8), thereby selectively positioning the filament with respect to the cathode axis within the blind hole (paragraphs 64-65; see Fig. 8)”.
With respect to claim 23: Jerez teaches “The indirectly heated cathode apparatus of claim 22 (see above), wherein the one or more positioning features comprise one or more of a tab, a rod, a collar, a flange (see Figs. 5, 8), and a step extending outwardly from the first engagement portion (see Fig. 5)”.
With respect to claim 24: Jerez teaches “the indirectly heated cathode apparatus of claim 22 (see above), wherein the one or more positioning features are configured to fixedly position the filament at an aligned position with respect to the cathode axis (see Fig. 8, paragraph 64), whereby the aligned position defines a predetermined gap distance (‘g’; see Fig. 8) between the filament and a bottom surface of the blind hole of the cathode (paragraph 65)”.
With respect to claim 25: Jerez teaches “the indirectly heated cathode apparatus of claim 24 (see above), wherein the aligned position further defines a predetermined sidewall gap between the filament and an internal diameter of the blind hole of the cathode (see Figs. 7, 8)”.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claims 3-5, 7, 12-14, 16, 18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jerez as applied to claims 1, 2, 6, 10, 15, 17 above, and further in view of Wong (US 5675152).
With respect to claim 3: Jerez teaches “The cathode filament device of claim 2 (see above)”.
Jerez does not specifically teach “wherein the first filament rod further comprises a second positioning feature extending from the first engagement portion, wherein the second positioning feature is configured to limit a translation of the first filament rod with respect to the first clamping member in a second direction along the first axis, wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction”.
However, Wong teaches “wherein the first filament rod (20+40+60) further comprises a second positioning feature (60) extending from the first engagement portion (part of 20 that engages 30, 50), wherein the second positioning feature is configured to limit a translation of the first filament rod (see Fig. 3) with respect to the first clamping member (50) in a second direction (down in Fig. 2) along the first axis (see Fig. 2), wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction (as shown in Fig. 3, the second positioning feature 60 and the first positioning feature 40 are on opposite sides of the clamping member 50 and thus restrict movement in opposite directions)”.
It would have been obvious at the time the application was effectively filed for one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the cathode filament device of Jerez by adding a second positioning feature as taught by Wong in order to help hold the assembly together (Wong column 3 lines 61-65).
With respect to claim 4: Jerez in view of Wong teaches “The cathode filament device of claim 3 (see above)”.
Jerez further teaches “wherein the first positioning feature comprises one or more of a tab, a rod, a collar, a flange (see Figs. 5, 8), and a step extending outwardly from the first engagement portion (see Fig. 5)
Jerez does not specifically teach “the second positioning feature comprises one or more of a tab, a rod, a collar, a flange, and a step extending outwardly from the first engagement portion”.
However, Wong teaches “the second positioning feature comprises one or more of a tab, a rod, a collar (see Fig. 2), a flange, and a step extending outwardly from the first engagement portion (see Fig. 3)”.
It would have been obvious at the time the application was effectively filed for one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the cathode filament device of Jerez by adding a second positioning feature as taught by Wong in order to help hold the assembly together (Wong column 3 lines 61-65).
With respect to claim 5: Jerez in view of Wong teaches “the cathode filament device of claim 3 (see above)”.
Jerez further teaches “wherein the first engagement portion defines a first diameter of the first filament rod (see Figs. 5, 8), and wherein the first positioning feature define a second diameter of the first filament rod (see Figs. 5, 8), wherein the second diameter is greater than the first diameter (see Figs. 5, 8)”.
Jerez does not specifically teach “wherein the second positioning feature define a second diameter of the first filament rod, wherein the second diameter is greater than the first diameter”.
However, Wong teaches “wherein the second positioning feature define a second diameter of the first filament rod (see Fig. 3), wherein the second diameter is greater than the first diameter (see Fig. 3)”.
It would have been obvious at the time the application was effectively filed for one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the cathode filament device of Jerez by adding a second positioning feature as taught by Wong in order to help hold the assembly together (Wong column 3 lines 61-65).
With respect to claim 7: Jerez teaches “The cathode filament device of claim 6 (see above)”.
Jerez does not specifically teach “wherein the first filament rod further comprises a second positioning feature extending from the first engagement body, wherein the second positioning feature defines a second positioning diameter, wherein the second positioning diameter is greater than the first engagement diameter, and wherein the second positioning feature is configured to limit a translation of the first filament rod with respect to the first clamping member in a second direction along the first axis, wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction”.
However, Wong teaches “wherein the first filament rod (20+40+60) further comprises a second positioning feature (60) extending from the first engagement body (see Fig. 3), wherein the second positioning feature defines a second positioning diameter (see Fig. 3), wherein the second positioning diameter is greater than the first engagement diameter (see Fig. 3), and wherein the second positioning feature is configured to limit a translation of the first filament rod with respect to the first clamping member in a second direction along the first axis (see Fig. 3), wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction (see Fig. 3)”.
It would have been obvious at the time the application was effectively filed for one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the cathode filament device of Jerez by adding a second positioning feature as taught by Wong in order to help hold the assembly together (Wong column 3 lines 61-65).
With respect to claim 12: Jerez teaches “The cathode filament device of claim 10 (see above)”.
Jerez does not specifically teach “wherein the first filament rod further comprises a second positioning feature extending from the first engagement portion, wherein the second positioning feature is configured to limit a translation of the first filament rod with respect to the first clamping member in a second direction along the first axis, wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction”.
However, Wong teaches “wherein the first filament rod (20+40+60) further comprises a second positioning feature (60) extending from the first engagement portion (part of 20 that engages 30, 50), wherein the second positioning feature is configured to limit a translation of the first filament rod (see Fig. 3) with respect to the first clamping member (50) in a second direction (down in Fig. 2) along the first axis (see Fig. 2), wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction (as shown in Fig. 3, the second positioning feature 60 and the first positioning feature 40 are on opposite sides of the clamping member 50 and thus restrict movement in opposite directions)”.
It would have been obvious at the time the application was effectively filed for one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the cathode filament device of Jerez by adding a second positioning feature as taught by Wong in order to help hold the assembly together (Wong column 3 lines 61-65).
With respect to claim 13: Jerez in view of Wong teaches “The cathode filament device of claim 12 (see above)”.
Jerez further teaches “wherein the first positioning feature comprises one or more of a tab, a rod, a collar, a flange (see Figs. 5, 8), and a step extending outwardly from the first engagement portion (see Fig. 5)
Jerez does not specifically teach “the second positioning feature comprises one or more of a tab, a rod, a collar, a flange, and a step extending outwardly from the first engagement portion”.
However, Wong teaches “the second positioning feature comprises one or more of a tab, a rod, a collar (see Fig. 2), a flange, and a step extending outwardly from the first engagement portion (see Fig. 3)”.
It would have been obvious at the time the application was effectively filed for one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the cathode filament device of Jerez by adding a second positioning feature as taught by Wong in order to help hold the assembly together (Wong column 3 lines 61-65).
With respect to claim 14: Jerez in view of Wong teaches “the cathode filament device of claim 12 (see above)”.
Jerez further teaches “wherein the first engagement portion defines a first diameter of the first filament rod (see Figs. 5, 8), and wherein the first positioning feature define a second diameter of the first filament rod (see Figs. 5, 8), wherein the second diameter is greater than the first diameter (see Figs. 5, 8)”.
Jerez does not specifically teach “wherein the second positioning feature define a second diameter of the first filament rod, wherein the second diameter is greater than the first diameter”.
However, Wong teaches “wherein the second positioning feature define a second diameter of the first filament rod (see Fig. 3), wherein the second diameter is greater than the first diameter (see Fig. 3)”.
It would have been obvious at the time the application was effectively filed for one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the cathode filament device of Jerez by adding a second positioning feature as taught by Wong in order to help hold the assembly together (Wong column 3 lines 61-65).
With respect to claim 16: Jerez teaches “the cathode filament device of claim 15 (see above)”
Jerez does not specifically teach “wherein the first filament rod further comprises a second positioning feature extending from the first engagement body, wherein the second positioning feature defines a filament rod diameter, wherein the filament rod diameter is greater than the first engagement diameter, and wherein the second positioning feature is configured to limit a translation of the first filament rod with respect to the first clamping member in a second direction along the first axis, wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction”.
However, Wong teaches “wherein the first filament rod (20+40+60) further comprises a second positioning feature (60) extending from the first engagement body (20), wherein the second positioning feature defines a filament rod diameter (see Fig. 3), wherein the filament rod diameter is greater than the first engagement diameter (see Fig. 3), and wherein the second positioning feature is configured to limit a translation of the first filament rod with respect to the first clamping member in a second direction along the first axis, wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction (see Fig. 3)”.
It would have been obvious at the time the application was effectively filed for one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the cathode filament device of Jerez by adding a second positioning feature as taught by Wong in order to help hold the assembly together (Wong column 3 lines 61-65).
With respect to claim 18: Jerez teaches “the cathode filament device of claim 17 (see above)”.
Jerez does not specifically teach “wherein the second filament rod further comprises a fourth positioning feature extending from the second engagement body, wherein the fourth positioning feature defines a filament rod diameter, wherein the second engagement body defines a second engagement diameter, and wherein the filament rod diameter is greater than the second engagement diameter, wherein the fourth positioning feature is configured to limit a translation of the second filament rod with respect to the second clamping member in a second direction along the second axis, wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction”.
However, Wong teaches “wherein the second filament rod (20+40+60) further comprises a fourth positioning feature (60) extending from the second engagement body (20), wherein the fourth positioning feature defines a filament rod diameter (see Fig. 3), wherein the second engagement body defines a second engagement diameter (see Fig. 3), and wherein the filament rod diameter is greater than the second engagement diameter (see Fig. 3), wherein the fourth positioning feature is configured to limit a translation of the second filament rod with respect to the second clamping member in a second direction along the second axis, wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction (see Fig. 3)”.
It would have been obvious at the time the application was effectively filed for one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the cathode filament device of Jerez by adding a fourth positioning feature as taught by Wong in order to help hold the assembly together (Wong column 3 lines 61-65).
Claims 19-21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jerez in view of Wong.
With respect to claim 19: Jerez teaches “a cathode filament device (30) for an indirectly heated cathode (20), the cathode filament device comprising: a first filament rod (32+41) having a first end and a second end along a first axis (see Fig. 5), wherein the first filament rod comprises a first engagement portion (41) proximate to the first end thereof (see Fig. 5), wherein the first engagement portion comprises a first engagement body (41) and a first positioning feature (unlabeled flange between 41 and 32) extending from the first engagement body (see Fig. 5); a second filament rod (see Fig. 5) having a third end and a fourth end along a second axis (see Fig. 5), wherein the second filament rod comprises a second engagement portion (41) proximate to the third end (see Fig. 5), wherein the second engagement portion comprises a second engagement body (41) and a third positioning feature (unlabeled flange between 32 and 41) extending from the second engagement body (see Fig. 5); a first clamping member (31) having a first clamping surface (40) configured to selectively engage the first engagement body (see Fig. 6), and wherein the first positioning feature is configured to limit a translation of the first filament rod with respect to the first clamping member along the first axis (see Fig. 8); a second clamping member (31; see Fig. 5) configured to selectively engage the second engagement body (see Fig. 6), wherein the third positioning feature is configured to limit a translation of the second filament rod with respect to the second clamping member along the second axis (see Figs. 6, 8); and a filament (34) operably coupled to the first filament rod proximate to the second end of the first filament rod and to the second filament rod proximate to the fourth end of the second filament rod (see Fig. 6)”.
Jerez does not specifically teach a second positioning feature and a fourth positioning feature.
However, Wong teaches positioning feature 60 corresponding to the second positioning feature when applied to Jerez’s first filament rod and the fourth positioning feature when applied to Jerez’s second filament rod.
It would have been obvious at the time the application was effectively filed for one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the cathode filament device of Jerez by adding second and fourth positioning features as taught by Wong in order to help hold the assembly together (Wong column 3 lines 61-65).
With respect to claim 20: Jerez in view of Wong teaches “the cathode filament device of claim 19 (see above)”.
Jerez further teaches “wherein one or more of the first positioning feature, the second positioning feature, the third positioning feature and the fourth positioning feature comprise one or more of a tab, a rod, a collar, a flange (see Fig. 5), and a step extending outwardly from the respective first engagement portion and the second engagement portion (see Fig. 5)”.
With respect to claim 21: Jerez in view of Wong teaches “the cathode filament device of claim 19 (see above)”.
Jerez further teaches “wherein one or more of the first positioning feature, the second positioning feature, the third positioning feature, and the fourth positioning feature are configured to fix a position of the filament with respect to one or more of the first clamping member and the second clamping member (see Figs. 6, 8)”.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Bright et al. (US 5262652), which teaches an ion implantation apparatus.
Farley et al. (US 2004/0061068 A1), which teaches an indirectly heated cathode structure.
Contact Information
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NATHANIEL J. LEE whose telephone number is (571)270-5721. The examiner can normally be reached 9-5 EST M-F.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, ABDULMAJEED AZIZ can be reached at (571)270-5046. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/NATHANIEL J LEE/ Examiner, Art Unit 2875
/ABDULMAJEED AZIZ/ Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2875