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 .
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the “wherein the first square-wave signal generator and the second square-wave signal generator comprise a microcontroller” as recited in claim 2; the “wherein a separate EMC filter is provided for each actuation circuit connected to an output” as recited in claims 6, 10, 13 and 15; and the “at least two capacitive loads” with the recited connections as recited in claims 7, 11, 14, and 16 must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
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.
Claims 1-20 are 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.
For claim 1, the recitation “applied voltage” on lines 3-4 is indefinite because it is not clear if “applied voltage” is the same as “an AC voltage” recited earlier on line 2 of the claim, or a different voltage. Further, the recitation “AC voltage” on line 13 is unclear antecedent basis with “an AC voltage” recited earlier on line 2 of the claim. Further, the recitation “whereby a gradient of switching edges of a square-wave signal is set” on line 20 is indefinite because it is not clear “a square-wave signal” in the above phrase is for which generator (i.e., is it for the first square-wave signal generator or is it for the second square-wave signal generator?) Further, the recitation “an output connection of the first actuation circuit and the second actuation circuit” recited on lines 23-24 is indefinite because it is not clear if it is the same as “an output connection of the first actuation circuit” and “an output connection of the second actuation circuit” (see lines 8-10). Further, the recitation “the generated square-wave signals” on lines 28-29 is indefinite because it lacks clear antecedent basis and it is unclear which generator(s) generates the square-wave signals; and it is also unclear if “the generated square-wave signals” relates to “a square-wave signal” recited earlier on line 20. Clarification and/or appropriate correction is required.
Claims 2-20 are indefinite because they depend on claim 1.
Also, for claims 6, 10, 13 and 15, the recitation “wherein a separate EMC filter is provided for each actuation circuit connected to an output” is indefinite because it is not clear if “a separate EMC filter” relates to “at least one EMC filter” recited earlier in claim 1 (see claim 1, line 26); and “connected to an output” in the above phrase is indefinite because it is not clear “an output of” what. Clarification and/or appropriate correction is required.
Also, for claims 7, 11, 14, and 16, the recitation “wherein at least two capacitive loads are configured to be actuated, wherein the first connections of the capacitive loads are connected to one another and to the first actuation circuit” on lines 1-3 is indefinite because it is not clear if “at least two capacitive loads” are in addition to “capacitive load” recited earlier in claim 1 (see claim 1, line 1-2); and “the first connections of the capacitive loads” lacks clear antecedent basis since the claim only recited “the capacitive load comprising a first connection and a second connection” (see claim 1, line 2). Further, the recitation “wherein the circuit arrangement has a respective second actuation circuit for each capacitive load, wherein each second actuation circuit is connected to the second connection of an assigned capacitive load” on lines 3-6 is indefinite because it is not clear what applicant means by “a respective second actuation circuit” since claim 1 already recited that the circuit arrangement comprises “a second actuation circuit” (claim 1, line 5) so it is not clear what it means by “by “a respective second actuation circuit for each capacitive load, wherein each second actuation circuit is connected to the second connection of an assigned capacitive load”. Clarification and/or appropriate correction is required.
Also, for claim 17, the recitation “the square-wave signals” on lines 4-5 lacks clear antecedent basis, and it is not clear if it is the same as “the generated square-wave signals” recited earlier in claim 1 (see claim 1, lines 28-29), and it is not clear who “the square-wave signals” are generated. Further, the recitation “an AC voltage” on line 10 is unclear antecedent basis (see claim 1, line 2). Clarification and/or appropriate correction is required.
Also, for claim 18, the recitation “the two square-wave signals” on line 3 lacks clear antecedent basis, and it is not clear if it is the same “the square-wave signals” recited earlier in claim 17 (see claim 17, lines 4-5). Clarification and/or appropriate correction is required.
Also, for claims 19 and 20, the recitation “the signals” on line 2 lacks clear antecedent basis, and it is not clear if it is the same “the square-wave signals” recited earlier in claim 17 (see claim 17, lines 4-5) and/or “the two square-wave signals” in claim 18 (see claim 18, line 3). Clarification and/or appropriate correction is required.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-20would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directly to Examiner Long Nguyen whose telephone number is (571) 272-1753. The Examiner can normally be reached on Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 5:00pm.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Lincoln Donovan, can be reached at (571) 272-1988. The fax number for this group is (571) 273-8300.
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/Long Nguyen/
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2842