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 .
Response to Amendment
The amendment filed August 3rd, 2026 does not place the application in condition for allowance.
The previous 112(b) rejections of record are mostly withdrawn from the Non-Final dated May 1st, 2026 except for claims 9-14, and 16-20 which are maintained or have a new basis for 112(b) rejections.
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 9, 14, and 16-20 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 9, Applicant recites, “one or more solar cells”. Its unclear if this also includes the solar cell already recited. Appropriate action is required.
Regarding Claim 14, Applicant recites, “the solar cells”. Its unclear if this corresponds to the originally introduced solar cell or if a different solar cell is being introduced. Appropriate action is required.
Regarding Claim 16, Applicant recites, “positioning the supported one set of the plurality of sets”. Its unclear if this is referencing the one set of a plurality of sets of solar cells and wire jigs or different distinct plurality of sets. Appropriate action is required.
Regarding Claim 16, Applicant recites, “supporting another set of the plurality of sets”. Its unclear if this is referencing the one set of a plurality of sets of solar cells and wire jigs or different distinct plurality of sets. Appropriate action is required.
Regarding Claim 16, Applicant recites, “wherein the supporting of the and the position on the wire are repeated”. Its unclear if this phrase is further limiting the positioning the supported one set of the plurality of sets and supporting another set of the plurality of sets. Appropriate action is required.
Regarding Claim 18, Applicant recites, “supporting of the one set of the plurality of sets”. Its unclear if this is referencing the one set of a plurality of sets of solar cells and wire jigs or different distinct plurality of sets. Appropriate action is required.
Regarding Claim 18, Applicant recites, “a first solar cell of the plurality of solar cells”. Its unclear if the plurality of solar cells is part of the one set of a plurality of sets of solar cells. Appropriate action is required.
Regarding Claim 19, Applicant recites, “wherein at least two of the aligning, the inspecting, and the dividing are performed simultaneously”. Its unclear if this is further limiting the aligning the first solar cell, the inspecting the first solar cell, and/or the dividing the first solar cell. Appropriate action is required.
Regarding Claim 20, Applicant recites, “the first solar cell”. Its unclear if this is the first solar cell of the plurality of solar cells or a new distinct first solar cell. Appropriate action is required.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-8, and 10-13 are allowed.
Claims 9, 14-20 would be allowable if rewritten 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 and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Citation of Pertinent Prior Art
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Wu (CN-216488103-U).
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DANIEL P MALLEY JR. whose telephone number is (571)270-1638. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8am-430pm EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jeffrey T Barton can be reached at 571-272-1307. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/DANIEL P MALLEY JR./Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1726
