DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application is being examined under the pre-AIA first to invent provisions.
Specification
The lengthy specification has not been checked to the extent necessary to determine the presence of all possible minor errors. Applicant’s cooperation is requested in correcting any errors of which applicant may become aware in the specification.
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
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Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-20 of U.S. Patent No. 10,401,385. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the scope of the claimed invention of this application is covered by U.S. Patent No. 10,401,385 [known herein as ‘385].
The following is the relationship between this application and ‘385 [the difference is in bold, underline and italic] :
App # 19/091,542:
1. A method of testing integrated circuits of devices, comprising: holding the first device against a surface of a holder; moving a contactor board assembly relative to the holder to bring terminals of the contactor board assembly into contact with contacts on the first device; actuating first and second portions of an actuator to move a contactor support structure relative to an apparatus frame and create a pressure to urge terminals on the contactor support structure against contacts on the first device; providing signals through the terminals and contacts to an integrated circuit of the first device; reducing the pressure applied by the actuator that urges the terminals on the contactor support structure against the contacts on the first device while maintaining the terminals in contact with the contacts; moving the holder relative to the apparatus frame to disengage the terminals from the contacts while maintaining the first and second components of the actuator in a substantially stationary relationship relative to one another; replacing the first device with a second device by removing the first device from the holder and holding the second device against the surface of the holder; moving the holder relative to the frame to bring the terminals into contact with contacts of the second device while the first and second components of the actuator remain substantially in the stationary relationship relative to one another; increasing the pressure applied by the actuator that urges the terminals on the contactor support structure against the contacts on the second device to urge the terminals against the contacts on the second device; and providing signals through the terminals and the contacts of the second device to an integrated circuit of the second device.
US Patent ‘385:
1. A method of testing integrated circuits of devices, comprising: holding the first device against a surface of a holder; moving a contactor board assembly relative to the holder to bring terminals of the contactor board assembly into contact with contacts on the first device; allowing air through a fluid line to modify a size of a volume defined between the first and second portions of the actuator, thereby [see claim 2 of 19/091,542] actuating first and second portions of an actuator to move a contactor support structure relative to an apparatus frame and urge terminals on the contactor support structure against contacts on the first device; providing signals through the terminals and contacts to an integrated circuit of the first device; reducing a pressure in the internal volume while maintaining the terminals in contact with the contacts; moving the holder relative to the apparatus frame to disengage the terminals from the contacts while maintaining the first and second components of the actuator in a substantially stationary relationship with one another; replacing the first device with a second device by removing the first device from the holder and holding the second device against the surface of the holder; moving the holder relative to the frame to bring the terminals into contact with contacts of the second device while the first and second components of the actuator remain substantially in the stationary relationship relative to one another; increasing the pressure in the volume to urge the terminals against the contacts on the second device; and providing signals through the terminals and the contacts of the second device to an integrated circuit of the second device.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: allowing air through a fluid line to modify a size of a volume defined between the first and second portions of the actuator [located in claim 1 of ‘385]; closing an isolation valve while the first and second components are in the stationary relationship to isolate the internal volume; and opening the isolation valve before increasing the pressure in the volume to urge the terminals against the contacts on the second device.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
closing an isolation valve while the first and second components are in the stationary relationship to isolate the internal volume; and opening the isolation valve before increasing the pressure in the volume to urge the terminals against the contacts on the second device.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the terminals make contact with the contacts of the second device before and after closing the isolation valve.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the terminals make contact with the contacts of the second device before and after closing the isolation valve.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein the first and second portions of the actuator are a cylinder and a piston, respectively, the piston being located in the cylinder so that the cylinder and the piston jointly define the volume, further comprising: modifying a pressure of the volume and move the piston relative to the cylinder.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second portions of the actuator are a cylinder and a piston, respectively, the piston being located in the cylinder so that the cylinder and the piston jointly define the volume, further comprising: modifying a pressure of the volume and move the piston relative to the cylinder.
5. The method of claim 4, further comprising: adjusting the force of at least one spring that connects the piston to the cylinder to level the piston relative to the cylinder.
5. The method of claim 4, further comprising: adjusting the force of at least one spring that connects the piston to the cylinder to level the piston relative to the cylinder.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the actuator includes inflatable and deflatable bladder, the first and second portions of the actuator being opposing sides of the bladder.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the actuator includes inflatable and deflatable bladder, the first and second portions of the actuator being opposing sides of the bladder.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the contactor support structure includes a distribution board substrate and a contactor substrate mounted to the distribution board substrate.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the contactor support structure includes a distribution board substrate and a contactor substrate mounted to the distribution board substrate.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising: removably mounting a cartridge frame of a cartridge to the apparatus frame, the contactor board assembly forming part of the cartridge; and connecting a surface of a connector interface to a surface of a contactor interface.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising: removably mounting a cartridge frame of a cartridge to the apparatus frame, the contactor board assembly forming part of the cartridge; and connecting a surface of a connector interface to a surface of a contactor interface.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the cartridge includes a common subassembly and a first unique contactor subassembly, further comprising: replacing the first unique contactor subassembly with a second unique contactor subassembly.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the cartridge includes a common subassembly and a first unique contactor subassembly, further comprising: replacing the first unique contactor subassembly with a second unique contactor subassembly.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising: reducing a pressure in an area between the common subassembly and the second unique contactor subassembly.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising: reducing a pressure in an area between the common subassembly and the second unique contactor subassembly.
11. An apparatus for testing integrated circuits of devices, comprising: an apparatus frame; a holder for the first device, secured to the apparatus frame; a contactor support structure; a plurality of terminals held by the contactor support structure; an actuator connected between the apparatus frame and the contactor support structure, having first and second portions that are movable relative to one another to move the contactor support structure relative to the apparatus frame and toward the surface of the holder so that the terminals are urged against contacts of the first device; a power source; a power electrical path connecting the power source to a power terminal of the terminals held by the support structure; a signal source; a plurality of signal electrical paths, each connecting the signal source to a respective signal terminal of the terminals held by the support structure; a processor; a memory connected to the processor; and a computer program stored in the memory and executable by the processor to carry out a method comprising: reducing the pressure applied by the actuator that urges the terminals on the contactor support structure against the contacts on the first device while maintaining the terminals in contact with the contacts; moving the holder relative to the apparatus frame to disengage the terminals from the contacts while maintaining the first and second components of the actuator in a substantially stationary relationship relative to one another to allow for the first device to be replaced with a second device by removing the first device from the holder and holding the second device against the surface of the holder; moving the holder relative to the frame to bring the terminals into contact with contacts of the second device while the first and second components of the actuator remain substantially in the stationary relationship relative to one another; increasing the pressure applied by the actuator that urges the terminals on the contactor support structure against the contacts on the second device urge the terminals against the contacts on the second device; and providing signals through the terminals and the contacts of the second device to an integrated circuit of the second device.
11. An apparatus for testing integrated circuits of devices, comprising: an apparatus frame; a holder for the first device, secured to the apparatus frame; a contactor support structure; a plurality of terminals held by the contactor support structure; an actuator connected between the apparatus frame and the contactor support structure, having first and second portions that are movable relative to one another and a volume defined between the first and second portions and a fluid line connected to the volume to allow air through the volume and thereby modify a size of the volume and move the contactor support structure relative to the apparatus frame to move the contactor support structure relative to the apparatus frame and toward the surface of the holder so that the terminals are urged against contacts of the first device; a fluid line connected to the volume to allow air through the volume and thereby modify a size of the volume and move the contactor support structure relative to the apparatus frame toward the holder so that the terminals are urged against contacts of the first device [see claim 12 of 19/091,542]; a power source; a power electrical path connecting the power source to a power terminal of the terminals held by the support structure; a signal source; a plurality of signal electrical paths, each connecting the signal source to a respective signal terminal of the terminals held by the support structure; a processor; a memory connected to the processor; and a computer program stored in the memory and executable by the processor to carry out a method comprising: reducing a pressure in the internal volume while maintaining the terminals in contact with the contacts; moving the holder relative to the apparatus frame to disengage the terminals from the contacts while maintaining the first and second components of the actuator in a substantially stationary relationship with one another; replacing the first device with a second device by removing the first device from the holder and holding the second device against the surface of the holder; moving the holder relative to the frame to bring the terminals into contact with contacts of the second device while the first and second components of the actuator remain substantially in the stationary relationship relative to one another; increasing the pressure in the volume to urge the terminals against the contacts on the second device; and providing signals through the terminals and the contacts of the second device to an integrated circuit of the second device.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: a volume defined between the first and second portions; a fluid line connected to the volume to allow air through the volume and thereby modify a size of the volume and move the contactor support structure relative to the apparatus frame [see claim 11 of ‘835]; an isolation valve that can be closed while the first and second components are in the stationary relationship to isolate the internal volume, and can be opened before increasing the pressure in the volume to urge the terminals against the contacts on the second device.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:
an isolation valve that can be closed while the first and second components are in the stationary relationship to isolate the internal volume, and can be opened before increasing the pressure in the volume to urge the terminals against the contacts on the second device.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the terminals make contact with the contacts of the second device before and after closing the isolation valve.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the terminals make contact with the contacts of the second device before and after closing the isolation valve.
14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first and second portions of the actuator are a cylinder and a piston, respectively, the piston being located in the cylinder so that the cylinder and the piston jointly define a volume, further comprising, the fluid line being connected to the volume to modify a pressure of the volume and move the piston relative to the cylinder.
14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first and second portions of the actuator are a cylinder and a piston, respectively, the piston being located in the cylinder so that the cylinder and the piston jointly define a volume, further comprising, the fluid line being connected to the volume to modify a pressure of the volume and move the piston relative to the cylinder.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising: a spring; and a spring adjustment mechanism having a first portion secured to the piston and a second portion connected to the spring, the spring adjustment mechanism being adjustable to adjust a force of the spring and level the piston relative to the cylinder.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising: a spring; and a spring adjustment mechanism having a first portion secured to the piston and a second portion connected to the spring, the spring adjustment mechanism being adjustable to adjust a force of the spring and level the piston relative to the cylinder.
16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the actuator includes inflatable and deflatable bladder, the first and second portions of the actuator being opposing sides of the bladder.
16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the actuator includes inflatable and deflatable bladder, the first and second portions of the actuator being opposing sides of the bladder.
17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the contactor support structure includes a distribution board substrate and a contactor substrate mounted to the distribution board substrate.
17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the contactor support structure includes a distribution board substrate and a contactor substrate mounted to the distribution board substrate.
18. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: a cartridge including a cartridge frame that is removably mountable to the apparatus frame, the contactor board forming part of the cartridge; a contactor interface on the contactor support structure; and a connector interface having a surface for connecting to a surface of the contactor interface.
18. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: a cartridge including a cartridge frame that is removably mountable to the apparatus frame, the contactor board forming part of the cartridge; a contactor interface on the contactor support structure; and a connector interface having a surface for connecting to a surface of the contactor interface.
19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the cartridge includes a common subassembly and a first unique contactor subassembly that is replaceable with a second unique contactor subassembly.
19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the cartridge includes a common subassembly and a first unique contactor subassembly that is replaceable with a second unique contactor subassembly.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising: a pressure reduction passage in communication with an area between the common subassembly and the second unique contactor subassembly and having an outlet on an external side of the cartridge; and a pump connected to the outlet of the pressure reduction passage so as to reduce a pressure in the area between the common subassembly and the second unique contactor subassembly.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising: a pressure reduction passage in communication with an area between the common subassembly and the second unique contactor subassembly and having an outlet on an external side of the cartridge; and a pump connected to the outlet of the pressure reduction passage so as to reduce a pressure in the area between the common subassembly and the second unique contactor subassembly.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JERMELE M HOLLINGTON whose telephone number is (571)272-1960. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 7:00am-3:30pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Lee E Rodak can be reached at 571-270-5628. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JERMELE M HOLLINGTON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2858
