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 § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(d):
(d) REFERENCE IN DEPENDENT FORMS.—Subject to subsection (e), a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, fourth paragraph:
Subject to the following paragraph [i.e., the fifth paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112], a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.
Claims 41-42 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(d) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, 4th paragraph, as being of improper dependent form for failing to further limit the subject matter of the claim upon which it depends, or for failing to include all the limitations of the claim upon which it depends. Both claims depend upon cancelled claim 19. Applicant may cancel the claim(s), amend the claim(s) to place the claim(s) in proper dependent form, rewrite the claim(s) in independent form, or present a sufficient showing that the dependent claim(s) complies with the statutory requirements.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 21-40 are allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
Regarding independent claim 21, the prior art of record neither shows nor suggests a method comprising: generating a pressure differential in a particle accelerator system using a pumping system, such that a first region of the particle accelerator system is at a higher pressure than a second region of the particle accelerator system; and directing an ion beam along a beam axis from an ion source of the particle accelerator system to a target chamber of the particle accelerator system, wherein the target chamber is in the first region of the particle accelerator system; a beam accelerator is in the second region of the particle accelerator system; a gas-deflector plate is positioned along the beam axis between the first region and the second region of the particle accelerator system; and jetting gas moves through a channel formed in the gas-deflector plate from the first region to the second region and enters the second region by exiting an asymmetric opening formed in the gas-deflector plate.
Due to their dependency, claims 22-28 are necessarily allowable.
Regarding independent claim 29, the prior art of record neither shows nor suggests a system comprising: a higher-pressure region and a lower pressure region; a plate with a first surface facing the higher-pressure region, a second surface facing the lower pressure region, a channel extending through the plate, and a beam axis extending through the channel; and a jet-deflector component coupled to the plate and extending outward from the plate into the lower pressure region.
Due to their dependency, claims 30-40 are necessarily allowable.
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.”
Contact Information
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JOSEPH L WILLIAMS whose telephone number is (571)272-2465. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th 6:30 AM- 5:00 PM.
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, JAMES R. GREECE can be reached at (571) 272-3711. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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JOSEPH L. WILLIAMS
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2875
/JOSEPH L WILLIAMS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2875
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