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 Objections
Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 1 lines 3, 4 recited “a central vertical axis”. However, such limitation should be changed to –[[a]] the central vertical axis--, because the “a central vertical axis” was already recited in line 1.
Appropriate correction is required.
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 14, 16 and 18-20 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.
Claim 14 recites the limitation "the plurality of axial adjustment actuators" in lines 2-3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 16 recites the limitation "the plurality of axial adjustment actuators" in lines 5-6. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claims 18, 19 and 20 also recites the limitation " the plurality of levitation actuators" and “the plurality of axial adjustment actuators”. There is insufficient antecedent basis for these limitation in the claim.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-13, 15 and 17 are allowed.
RE claim 1, the prior-art does not teach, inter alia, a machine assembly for rotating at least one object about a central vertical axis, the machine assembly comprising: an annular rotor formed of a ferromagnetic material, being rotatable about a central vertical axis and configured to support the at least one object; a plurality of levitation actuators spaced circumferentially about the central vertical axis and radially outwardly from the rotor, each levitation actuator including a permanent magnet and being configured to exert an attractive force on the rotor so as to levitate the rotor above a base surface, the attractive force of each levitation actuator having a vertical component along the central vertical axis; and a plurality of axial adjustment actuators spaced circumferentially about the central vertical axis and radially outwardly from the rotor, each axial adjustment actuator including an electromagnet and being configured to exert an attractive force on the rotor so as to adjust the position of the rotor along the central vertical axis, the attractive force of each axial adjustment actuator having a vertical component along the central vertical axis directed in a same axial direction or an opposing axial direction from the vertical component of the attractive force of each one of the levitation actuators.
Claims 2-12 are allowable for their dependency on claim 1.
Claims 13, 15, 17 are allowable for similar reason as claims 1-12.
Claims 14, 16 and 18-20 would be allowable if rewritten 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 and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to THOMAS TRUONG whose telephone number is (571)270-5532. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9AM-6PM EST.
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, Seye Iwarere can be reached at (571) 270-5112. 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.
/THOMAS TRUONG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2834
Prosecution Insights