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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on February 26, 2025 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on July 21, 2026 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Claim Objections
Claims 1, 2, 6, 13, and 19 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Regarding claim 1, 2, 6, 13, and 19: To correct grammar, change “an other” to “another”.
Regarding claim 1 and 19: To correct grammar, change “that receives” to “receiving” in claim 1.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention.
Regarding claim 1 and 19: Each of the claims includes an embodiment, wherein the plurality of switches are connected in parallel and an end of each of the plurality of switches is connected to the same first node between the same two adjacent resistors of the second resistors without the connection being through one of the second resistors since “a first node” was used and not “a respective first node” but such an embodiment was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor had possession of the claimed invention. Claims 2-18 depend on claim 1. Claim 20 depends on claim 19.
To accurately claim the invention, Examiner suggests amending the claim as follows (using claim 1 as an example, wherein any impact on the dependent claims should also be considered):
Claim 1: A semiconductor device comprising:
an operational amplifier including a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal, the operational amplifier that outputs a first voltage from the output terminal;
a first resistor including one end connected to the first input terminal and another end connected to the output terminal;
at least three second resistors including one end connected to the first input terminal, the plurality of second resistors connected in series;
a plurality of switches each including one end connected to a respective first node between two adjacent resistors of the plurality of second resistors and another end connected to a second node, the plurality of switches receiving a digital code; and
a current source circuit connected between the second node and a third node, wherein
a switch out of the plurality of switches is turned on based on the digital code, and
the current source circuit causes a first current to flow from a part or all of the plurality of second resistors to the third node via the switch in an on state.
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 3-7 and 13 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.
Regarding claim 3: Since N is undefined then the claim is indefinite. Claims 4-7 depend on claim 3.
Regarding claim 5: The phrase “the number of resistors that are not present between the one end of the plurality of second resistors and the switch” is undefined negative limitation with no limits. The number may be zero ore ven infinity. Also, this term may be viewed as lacking sufficient antecedent basis.
Regarding claim 13: The Greek letter alpha “α” is not defined. Also, “the variable ratio of a” is not defined.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JAY W RADKE whose telephone number is (571)270-1622. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9-6 EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Amir Zarabian can be reached at 272-1852. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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JAY W. RADKE
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2827
/JAY W. RADKE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2827
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