DETAILED ACTION
1. This is the first action on the merits relating to U.S. Application Serial No. 19/067,799 filed on February 28, 2025. Currently claims 1-20 remain in the examination.
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
2. The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
3. Applicant’s disclosure of related application as described in paragraph [0001] is acknowledged.
Drawings
4. Originally filed drawings are approved. However, figures 6-14 can be resubmitted with clarity improved drawings if Applicant wants.
Claim Objections
5. Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities:
Regarding claim 1, please remove “a.” “b.” “c.” “d.” “e.” and “f.” from the claim.
Appropriate correction is required.
Regarding claim 19, line 1: please replace “wherein” with “further comprising” since “vacuum cavities” are not disclosed in claim 1.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
6. 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.
7. 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.
Regarding claim 1, line 3, “a silicon substrate configured with an etched trench” is vague and indefinite.
Claim 1 is limited to a solid state electronic miniature clock apparatus comprising many component parts. Generally, “configured” is often used for example in system claim or a device claim where two items are operably connected or associated, and their physical arrangement is less important. However, in claim 1 of the instant application, an arrangement of the silicon substrate and the etched trench is a critical element in the claim and must be clearly limited.
“A silicon substrate configured with an etched trench” renders the claim vague and indefinite.
Claims 2-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being dependent on rejected base claim.
Regarding claim 3, line 1: “magnets’ should be amended to “third magnets” since “first magnet” and “second magnet” are already referred in claim 1.
Additional Remarks
8. Once 35 USC 112 rejection is overcome, either a prior art-related opinion will be issued or the case would be allowed.
Conclusion
The pertinent prior arts made of record but not relied are listed in the attached form PTO-892. These are considered pertinent to Applicant's disclosure. Applicant is respectfully suggested to carefully review these references.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Ahshik Kim whose telephone number is (571)272-2393. The examiner can normally be reached between the hours of 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday thru Friday. Examiner’s fax phone number is (571)273-2393.
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/AHSHIK KIM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2876
January 7, 2026