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 5 is objected to because of the following informalities: Claim 5 recites the limitation “the reference surface…”, however, it appears to be a minor oversight and that it should recite the common reference surface. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 6 is objected to because of the following informalities: Claim 6 recites the limitation “the reference surface…”, however, it appears to be a minor oversight and that it should recite the common reference surface. 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 1-10 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 1 recites the limitation "an input signal", however, since an input signal was previously introduced in the preamble, it is unclear if it was intended to refer to it or a different input signal. Thus the claim is rendered indefinite. Dependent claims 2-10 are likewise rejected.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "a respective matching circuit", however, since a matching circuit was previously introduced for each of the fourth antenna paths, it is unclear if it was intended to refer to one of them or each respective one, or a different matching circuit. Thus the claim is rendered indefinite. Dependent claims 2-10 are likewise rejected.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "a respective divider circuit", however, since a divider circuit was previously introduced for each of the fourth antenna paths, it is unclear if it was intended to refer to one of them or each respective one, or a different divider circuit. Thus the claim is rendered indefinite. Dependent claims 2-10 are likewise rejected.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the control circuit", however, since a control circuit was previously introduced for each of the fourth antenna paths, it is unclear if it was intended to refer to one of them or each respective one, or a different control circuit. Thus the claim is rendered indefinite. Dependent claims 2-10 are likewise rejected.
Claim 10 recites the limitation "each include the matching circuit, the divider circuit, the control circuit and the dipole antenna element" however, it is unclear how additional antenna paths introduced in claim 10 “more than four antenna paths…” include the same matching circuit, the divider circuit, the control circuit and the dipole antenna element from the four antenna paths of claim 1. It appears that the additional paths should each have a respective matching circuit, a divider circuit, a control circuit and a dipole antenna element based on the specification Par. 0033. Therefore, this renders the claim indefinite.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-10 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:
Regarding Claim 1, patentability exists, at least in part, with the claimed features of “each of the four antenna paths having a matching circuit, a divider circuit, a control circuit and a dipole antenna element”; “wherein a respective divider circuit has two divider lines between an input point and two output points of the respective divider circuit with a common reference surface, and the respective divider circuit is further configured to symmetrically divide a signal provided to the input point via the matching circuit and to supply said signal to the respective output point of the respective divider circuit, which is connected to the respective dipole antenna element” and “wherein the control circuit includes two electronically controllable impedances for which in each case at least two predetermined reflection factors is settable, each one of the two divider lines of the divider circuit being connected to the common reference surface of the respective divider circuit in each case via one of the two electronically controllable impedances, the two electronically controllable impedances each being arranged in opposite directions, and the control circuit being configured to provide respective control voltages to the respective electronically controllable impedances such that different reflection factors are set between the two electronically controllable impedances to switch the signal provided by the matching circuit and control an antenna pattern of the switchable broadband antenna”. Claims 2-10 depend therefrom.
Patriotis et al. (A Four-Element Antenna Array System With 15 Reconfigurable Radiation Patterns) is cited as teaching some elements of the claimed invention: A switchable broadband antenna having an antenna feed point for feeding in an input signal (Abstract Fig. 1), the switchable broadband antenna comprising: four antenna paths connected in parallel with respect to the antenna feed point (feeding network Block 2 Fig. 1 P. 108580), each of the four antenna paths having a matching circuit (dynamic matching sections P. 108580), a divider circuit (power divider block 3 Fig. 1 P. 108580), and a dipole antenna element (dipoles block 1a-1d Fig. 1 P. 108580); wherein in each case two dipole antenna elements are arranged in a first polarization direction, and a further two dipole antenna elements are arranged in a second polarization direction aligned normally to the first polarization direction (Fig. 1); wherein a respective matching circuit is configured to establish impedance matching for an input signal between the antenna feed point and the divider circuit (dynamic matching sections P. 108580).
However, the prior art, when taken alone or in combination, cannot be construed as reasonably teaching or suggesting all of the elements of the claimed invention as arranged, disposed, or provided in the manner as claimed by the Applicant.
Conclusion
The cited art in PTO-892 was found during the examiner's search, but was not relied upon for this office action. However it is still considered pertinent to the applicant's disclosure.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MICHAEL M BOUIZZA whose telephone number is (571)272-6124. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm, EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Dimary Lopez can be reached at (571) 270-7893. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/MICHAEL M BOUIZZA/Examiner, Art Unit 2845
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