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 Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim 1 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Van Den Berg et al (US 2019/0362936; herein Van Den Berg). Regarding claim 1:
Van Den Berg teaches the apparatus of claim 1 in the Abstract, paragraphs 0026-0037, and Figures 1-4. There is a power supply (paragraph 0032) which would have a cathode and anode. The electron 102 is biased by the power supply, otherwise it would not operate. There is a plasma source 160, a powder bed 123, and a controller 110. The controller operates the apparatus as claimed in the Abstract and paragraphs 0027-0028. The mitigation occurs as claimed per paragraphs 0036-0037 and Figures 3 and 4.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TIMOTHY J KENNEDY whose telephone number is (571)270-7068. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 8am-5pm..
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Galen Hauth can be reached at 571-270-5516. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/TIMOTHY KENNEDY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1743
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