DETAILED ACTION
As per MPEP 2111 and 2111.01, the claims are given their broadest reasonable interpretation and the words of the claims are given their plain meaning consistent with the specification without importing claim limitations from the specification.
In responding to this Office action, the applicant is requested to include specific references (figures, paragraphs, lines, etc.) to the drawings/specification of the present application and/or the cited prior arts that clearly support any amendments/arguments presented in the response, to facilitate consideration of the amendments/arguments.
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 .
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Should applicant desire to obtain the benefit of foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d) prior to declaration of an interference, a certified English translation of the foreign application must be submitted in reply to this action. 37 CFR 41.154(b) and 41.202(e). Failure to provide a certified translation may result in no benefit being accorded for the non-English application.
Specification
The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
The following title is suggested: --VOLTAGE SUPPLY CIRCUIT CONTROLLING A VOLTAGE COMPARATOR IN RESPONSE TO A CHIP SELECTION SIGNAL--
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.
Claim(s) 1-3 is/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 pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention.
Claim(s) 1 recite(s) the language (emphasis added) “provide an internal voltage to be used in a standby mode in response to the active mode enable signal of a low state and a standby mode enable signal of a high state generated using the outside application voltage”, where “a high state” is already recited in the claim and it is unclear if the limitations are different from one another.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 4-7 are allowed
Claims 1-3 would 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
The prior art does not appear to disclose (as recited in claim 1):
an output voltage controller connected to the input voltage controller, and configured to adjust the feedback voltage in response to an active mode enable signal of a high state generated based on a chip selection signal input from the external device, provide the adjusted feedback voltage to the voltage comparator, and provide an internal voltage to be used in a standby mode in response to the active mode enable signal of a low state and a standby mode enable signal of a high state generated using the outside application voltage.
The prior art does not appear to disclose (as recited in claim 4):
the output voltage controller connected to the input voltage controller and configured to provide an internal voltage to be used in a standby mode in response to a standby mode enable signal of the high state generated using the external voltage; and
a comparison controller configured to control the voltage comparator to output the comparison signal of the high state in response to an active mode enable signal of the high state generated based on a chip selection signal input from the external device.
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.”
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Itoh, US 20080150501 A1 does not appear to disclose a chip selection signal.
Lee, US 20210358558 A1 is not prior art.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JEROME LARRY LEBOEUF whose telephone number is (571)272-7612. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th: 8:00AM - 6:00PM EST.
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/JEROME LEBOEUF/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2824 - 08/28/2026
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