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 .
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.
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer.
Claims 1-20are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-19 of U.S. Patent No. 12/340,741. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the claims of the current application is a broader version of the claims of patent 12/340,741.
Application:19/221,548
Patent:12,340,741
Claim 1
A transfer line comprising: a first part to which a first voltage is applied;
at least one capacitor including a first terminal connected to the first part and a second terminal that is grounded;
a branch line part including a branch part electrically connected to the first part and first and second branch lines branching and extending from the branch part;
a first contact part electrically connected to a first end of the first branch line spaced apart from the branch part;
and a second contact part electrically connected to a first end of the second branch line spaced apart from the branch part.
Claim 1
A rated voltage transfer line comprising: a rated voltage application part to which a first rated voltage is applied;
at least one capacitor including a first terminal connected to the rated voltage application part and a second terminal that is grounded;
a branch line part including a branch part electrically connected to the rated voltage application part and first and second branch lines branching and extending from the branch part;
a first contact part electrically connected to a first end of the first branch line spaced apart from the branch part;
and a second contact part electrically connected to a first end of the second branch line spaced apart from the branch part.
Claim 2,
wherein the transfer line is a rated voltage transfer line, the first part is a rated voltage application part, and the first voltage is a first rated voltage.
Claim 3,
at least one rated voltage transfer electrode disposed between the first part and the branch part, and electrically connecting the first part and the branch part to each other.
Claim 2,
at least one rated voltage transfer electrode disposed between the rated voltage application part and the branch part, and electrically connecting the rated voltage application part and the branch part to each other.
Claim 4,
at least one first bridge electrode disposed between the first contact part and the first end of the first branch line, and electrically connecting the first contact part and the first end of the first branch line to each other; and at least one second bridge electrode disposed between the second contact part and the first end of the second branch line, and electrically connecting the second contact part and the first end of the second branch line to each other.
Claim 3,
at least one first bridge electrode disposed between the first contact part and the first end of the first branch line, and electrically connecting the first contact part and the first end of the first branch line to each other; and at least one second bridge electrode disposed between the second contact part and the first end of the second branch line, and electrically connecting the second contact part and the first end of the second branch line to each other.
Claim 5,
wherein each of a length of a first voltage transfer path defined as a path through which the first rated voltage output from the first part is transferred to the first contact part and a length of a second voltage transfer path defined as a path through which the first rated voltage output from the first part is transferred to the second contact part is smaller than a length of a noise voltage transfer path from the first contact part to the second contact part.
Claim 4,
wherein, each of a length of a first voltage transfer path defined as a path through which the first rated voltage output from the rated voltage application part is transferred to the first contact part and a length of a second voltage transfer path defined as a path through which the first rated voltage output from the rated voltage application part is transferred to the second contact part is smaller than a length of a noise voltage transfer path from the first contact part to the second contact part.
Claim 6,
wherein the noise voltage transfer path includes a path sequentially passing through the first branch line, the branch part, and the second branch line.
Claim 5,
wherein the noise voltage transfer path includes a path sequentially passing through the first branch line, the branch part, and the second branch line.
Claim 7,
wherein the first voltage transfer path includes a path sequentially passing through the branch part and the first branch line, and the second voltage transfer path includes a path sequentially passing through the branch part and the second branch line.
Claim 6,
wherein the first voltage transfer path includes a path sequentially passing through the branch part and the first branch line, and the second voltage transfer path includes a path sequentially passing through the branch part and the second branch line.
Claim 8,
wherein the branch line part further includes: a third branch line branching and extending from the branch part.
Claim 7,
wherein the branch line part further includes: a third branch line branching and extending from the branch part.
Claim 9,
a third contact part electrically connected to a first end of the third branch line spaced apart from the branch part.
Claim 8,
a third contact part electrically connected to a first end of the third branch line spaced apart from the branch part.
Claim 10,
wherein a length of a third voltage transfer path defined as a path through which the first rated voltage output from the first part is transmitted to the third contact part is smaller than a length of a first noise voltage transfer path from the third contact part to the first contact part and is smaller than a length of a second noise voltage transfer path from the third contact part to the second contact part.
Claim 9,
wherein, a length of a third voltage transfer path defined as a path through which the first rated voltage output from the rated voltage application part is transmitted to the third contact part is smaller than a length of a first noise voltage transfer path from the third contact part to the first contact part and is smaller than a length of a second noise voltage transfer path from the third contact part to the second contact part.
Claim 11,
wherein the first noise voltage transfer path includes a path sequentially passing through the third branch line, the branch part, and the first branch line, and the second noise voltage transfer includes a path sequentially passing through the third branch line, the branch part, and the second branch line.
Claim 10,
wherein the first noise voltage transfer path includes a path sequentially passing through the third branch line, the branch part, and the first branch line, and the second noise voltage transfer includes a path sequentially passing through the third branch line, the branch part, and the second branch line.
Claim 12,
wherein the third voltage transfer path includes a path sequentially passing through the branch part and the third branch line.
Claim 11,
wherein the third voltage transfer path includes a path sequentially passing through the branch part and the third branch line.
Claim 13
wherein the first part, the first contact part, and the second contact part are disposed in a same layer as each other.
Claim 12,
wherein the rated voltage application part, the first contact part, and the second contact part are disposed in a same layer as each other.
Claim 14,
wherein the first part, the first contact part, and the second contact part are spaced apart from each other.
Claim 13,
wherein the rated voltage application part, the first contact part, and the second contact part are spaced apart from each other.
Claim 15,
A voltage transfer system comprising: a power net including a first power source that provides a first voltage;
a timing controller generating different types of driving control signals by using the first voltage;
and a transfer line electrically connecting the first power source to the timing controller,
wherein the transfer line includes: a first part electrically connected to the first power source;
at least one capacitor including a first terminal connected to the first part and a second terminal that is grounded;
a branch line part including a branch part electrically connected to the first part and first and second branch lines branching and extending from the branch part;
a first contact part electrically connected to a first end of the first branch line spaced apart from the branch part;
and a second contact part electrically connected to a first end of the second branch line spaced apart from the branch part.
Claim 14,
A rated voltage transfer system comprising: a power net including a first power source that provides a first rated voltage;
a timing controller generating different types of driving control signals by using the first rated voltage;
and a rated voltage transfer line electrically connecting the first power source to the timing controller,
wherein the rated voltage transfer line includes: a rated voltage application part electrically connected to the first power source;
at least one capacitor including a first terminal connected to the rated voltage application part and a second terminal that is grounded;
a branch line part including a branch part electrically connected to the rated voltage application part and first and second branch lines branching and extending from the branch part;
a first contact part electrically connected to a first end of the first branch line spaced apart from the branch part
and a second contact part electrically connected to a first end of the second branch line spaced apart from the branch part.
Claim 16,
wherein the voltage transfer system is a rated voltage transfer system, the transfer line is a rated voltage transfer line, the first part is a rated voltage application part, and the first voltage is a first rated voltage.
Claim 17,
wherein each of a length of a first voltage transfer path defined as a path through which the first rated voltage output from the first part is transferred to the first contact part and a length of a second voltage transfer path defined as a path through which the first rated voltage output from the first part is transferred to the second contact part is smaller than a length of a noise voltage transfer path from the first contact part to the second contact part.
Claim 15,
wherein, each of a length of a first voltage transfer path defined as a path through which the first rated voltage output from the rated voltage application part is transferred to the first contact part and a length of a second voltage transfer path defined as a path through which the first rated voltage output from the rated voltage application is transferred to the second contact part is smaller than a length of a noise voltage transfer path from the first contact part to the second contact part.
Claim 18,
wherein the noise voltage transfer path includes a path sequentially passing through the first branch line, the branch part, and the second branch line.
Claim 16,
wherein the noise volta transfer path includes a path sequentially passing through the first branch line, the branch part, a the second branch line.
Claim 19,
wherein the first voltage transfer path includes a path sequentially passing through the branch part and the first branch line, and the second voltage transfer path includes a path sequentially passing through the branch part and the second branch line.
Claim 17,
wherein the first voltage transfer path includes a path sequentially passing through the branch part and the first branch li and the second voltage transfer path includes a path sequentially passing through the bran part and the second branch line.
Claim 20,
wherein the first part, the first contact part, and the second contact part are disposed in a same layer as each other
Claim 18,
wherein the rated volta application part, the first contact part, and the second contact part are disposed in a same layer each other.
Claim 19,
wherein the rated volta application part, the first contact part, and the second contact part are spaced apart from each other.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANDRE L MATTHEWS whose telephone number is (571)270-5806. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 9:00-6:00.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Amr Awad can be reached at 571-272-7764. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/ANDRE L MATTHEWS/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2621