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 .
Status of Claims
This Office Action is in response to the application filed 06/24/2025. Claims 1-9 are presently pending and are presented for examination.
Information Disclosure Statement
The Information Disclosure Statement filed on 06/24/2025 has been considered. An initialed copy of the Form 1449 is enclosed herewith.
The Information Disclosure Statement filed on 10/01/2025 has been considered. An initialed copy of the Form 1449 is enclosed herewith.
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.
Claim 7 is 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 7 recites the limitation "second mode” in the last line. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Allowable Subject Matter
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
Regarding claim 1
The recitation “and a second sensor placed on the second side surface and that measures a displacement of the transport robot with respect to the second opening, wherein the transport robot includes a marker that is sensed by the second sensor, the controller receives a second sensor signal from the second sensor and that includes information about the displacement of the transport robot,” overcomes the art of record, rendering the claims in manner specific enough to overcome the methods disclosed in the closest prior art, Hall et. al. (U.S. Publication No. 2007/0009345). The claims specifically overcome the art of record, because of the limitation directed to coupling a sensor to a loader device for a substrate for reading a marking mounted on a robot. For example, Hall discloses a load port module with a frame, opening, cavity, transport unit and a sensor connected to the frame for remotely sensing a feature of the transport container when moved by the shuttle and determining the position of the feature relative to the frame, however an additional sensor coupled to the load port for detecting a marker of a transport robot for accurate calculation of a displacement of the transport robot based on zero point coordinates vs detecting changes of a transport robot position with a camera, is neither disclosed or rendered reasonably obvious in view of the art record. The subject matter of the claims is therefore allowable.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Hall et. al. (U.S. Publication No. 2007/0009345) discloses a load port module for a substrate with a frame, cassette support, transport container, and a user interface. A sensor is connected to the frame for remotely sensing a feature of the transport container when moved by a shuttle and determining the position of the feature relative to the frame, see Hall Abstract, [0010], & [0060]-[0063].
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JERROD IRVIN DAVIS whose telephone number is (571)272-7083. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9:00 am - 7:00 pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Wade Miles can be reached at (571) 270-7777. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JERROD IRVIN DAVIS/Examiner, Art Unit 3656
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