`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMIVHSSIONER FOR PATENTS
`PO. Box 1450
`Alexandria1 Virginia 22313-1450
`www.uspto.gov
`
`
`
`
`
`14/131,122
`
`01/06/2014
`
`Toshifumi Nakatani
`
`734256.446USPC
`
`7472
`
`Seed Intellectual Property Law Group PLLC
`701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 5400
`Seattle, WA 98104
`
`SHIUE’ DONG-CHANG
`
`ART UNIT
`
`2648
`
`PAPER NUIVIBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`02/ 12/2016
`
`ELECTRONIC
`
`Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding.
`
`The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication.
`
`Notice of the Office communication was sent electronically on above—indicated "Notification Date" to the
`following e—mail address(es):
`
`patentinfo @ seedip.c0m
`
`PTOL—90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`
`Applicant(s)
`Application No.
` 14/131,122 NAKATANI, TOSHIFUMI
`
`
`AIA (First Inventor to File)
`Art Unit
`Examiner
`Office Action Summary
`
`
`DONG-CHANG SHIUE [SENS 2648
`-- The MAILING DA TE of this communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address --
`Period for Reply
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORY PERIOD FOR REPLY IS SET TO EXPIRE g MONTHS FROM THE MAILING DATE OF
`THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensions of time may be available under the provisions of 37 CFR1. 136( a).
`after SIX () MONTHS from the mailing date of this communication.
`If NO period for reply is specified above, the maximum statutory period will apply and will expire SIX (6) MONTHS from the mailing date of this communication.
`-
`- Failure to reply within the set or extended period for reply will, by statute, cause the application to become ABANDONED (35 U.S.C. § 133).
`Any reply received by the Office later than three months after the mailing date of this communication, even if timely filed, may reduce any
`earned patent term adjustment. See 37 CFR 1 .704(b).
`
`In no event, however, may a reply be timely filed
`
`Status
`
`1)IZI Responsive to communication(s) filed on 1/14/2016.
`El A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
`
`2b)|ZI This action is non-final.
`2a)|:l This action is FINAL.
`3)I:I An election was made by the applicant in response to a restriction requirement set forth during the interview on
`
`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
`
`4)|:| Since this application is in condition for allowance except for formal matters, prosecution as to the merits is
`
`closed in accordance with the practice under Exparte Quay/e, 1935 CD. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`
`5)IZI Claim(s) 1-8 and 10-13 is/are pending in the application.
`5a) Of the above claim(s)
`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`
`is/are allowed.
`6)I:I Claim(s)
`7)|Z| Claim(s) 1-83nd10- 13is/are rejected.
`8)|:I Claim(s)_ is/are objected to.
`
`
`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement.
`9)I:I Claim((s)
`* If any claims have been determined allowable, you may be eligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution Highway program at a
`
`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
`hit
`:/'/\W¢W.LISI>I‘.0. ov/ atentS/init events/
`
`
`
`iindex.‘s or send an inquiry to PPI-iieedback{®usgtc.00v.
`
`Application Papers
`
`10)I:l The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11)I:l The drawing(s) filed on
`is/are: a)I:I accepted or b)I:I objected to by the Examiner.
`Applicant may not request that any objection to the drawing(s) be held in abeyance. See 37 CFR 1.85(a).
`
`Replacement drawing sheet(s) including the correction is required if the drawing(s) is objected to. See 37 CFR 1.121 (d).
`
`Priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119
`
`12)I:| Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
`
`a)I:l All
`
`b)|:l Some” c)I:l None of the:
`
`1.I:I Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.|:l Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`3.|:| Copies of the certified copies of the priority documents have been received in this National Stage
`
`application from the International Bureau (PCT Rule 17.2(a)).
`** See the attached detailed Office action for a list of the certified copies not received.
`
`Attachment(s)
`
`
`
`3) D Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`1) D Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`Paper No(s)/Mai| Date.
`.
`.
`4) I:I Other'
`2) E InformatIon DIsclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`Paper No(s)/Mai| Date
`US. Patent and Trademark Office
`PTOL—326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20160202
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/131 ,122
`
`Page 2
`
`Art Unit: 2648
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`The present application is being examined under the pre-AIA first to invent provisions.
`
`Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1. 1 14
`
`A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set
`
`forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this
`
`application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set
`
`forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action
`
`has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on
`
`12/14/2015 has been entered.
`
`Response to Amendment
`
`. Claim 9 is canceled.
`
`. Claims 1, 10, and 12 are amended.
`
`. Claims 1-8 and 10-13 are pending.
`
`Response to Arguments
`
`On pages 8-9, in regard to claim 1 and Toshio reference, Applicant submits that
`
`The Examiner cites to Toshio as disclosing element of claim 1 as previously pending.
`
`Toshio discloses that “a capacitor Cx is provided in parallel to a resistor Rx between a
`
`hybrid transformer Th and 90-degree phase difference circuit, and two signals having
`
`the same phase are given from the hybrid transformer Th”; (paragraph [0012]). That is,
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/131 ,122
`
`Page 3
`
`Art Unit: 2648
`
`Toshio specifies that two in-phase signals having the same phase are received from the
`
`hybrid transformer (alleged transformer of claim 1) to the 90-degree phase difference
`
`circuit of Toshio (alleged first and second phase shifters of claim 1). The disclosure of
`
`Toshio is contrary to the recitation of amended claim 1. Toshio does not disclose or
`
`suggest the phase difference relationship between the “in-phase signal”; and the
`
`“signal”; as recited claim 1. Toshio does not disclose or suggest “a first phase shifter
`
`that is connected to the second terminal and configured to receive an in-phase signal
`
`having a same phase as the input signal”; and “a second phase shifter that is connected
`
`to the third terminal and configured to receive a signal having a phase difference of 90
`
`degrees in relation to the input signal.”
`
`The examiner respectfully disagrees. Toshio indeed discloses that in-phase and
`
`90 degree phase shifting functions are performed at terminal 2 and 3 of Fig. 1,
`
`respectively. The same two phase shifting functions are also performed at l3 and I4 in
`
`Fig. 4. Omission of the drawings of these two phase shifters does not warrant that
`
`phase shifting is not conducted by the lumped circuit comprising inductors, capacitors,
`
`and resistors, as depicted in Figs. 1 and 4 of Toshio. An input signal can be applied to
`
`terminal 1 of Fig. 1 or l1 of Fig. 4 and the output signals having an in-phase (0 degree)
`
`and quadrature (90 degrees) phase will appear at these two terminals. Because of the
`
`nature of the lumped circuit that comprises passive elements, such as, but not limited
`
`to, inductors, capacitors, and resistors, two input signals of various phases can be
`
`inputted to terminals 2 and 3 of Fig. 1 or l3 and I4 of Fig. 4 and a combined output
`
`signal will appear at terminal 1 or l1. The lumped circuit is bi-directional in nature.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/131 ,122
`
`Page 4
`
`Art Unit: 2648
`
`Further, it has been held that a recitation with respect to the manner in which a
`
`claimed apparatus is intended to be employed does not differentiate the claimed
`
`apparatus from a prior art apparatus satisfying the claimed structural limitations (EX
`
`parte Masham 2 USPQZd 1647 1987). In claim 1, the claimed invention is the structure
`
`with its associated features instead of the input signals. The input signals of disparate
`
`characteristics can be applied at terminals 2 and 3 or l3 and I4. The combined output
`
`signal at terminal 1 of Fig. 1 or l1 of Fig. 4 will vary depending on the input signals'
`
`characteristics, such as phase and/or amplitude difference between them.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) which forms the basis for all
`
`obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
`
`(a) A patent may not be obtained though the invention is not identically disclosed or described
`as set forth in section 102 of this title, if the differences between the subject matter sought to
`be patented and the prior art are such that the subject matter as a whole would have been
`obvious at the time the invention was made to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which
`said subject matter pertains. Patentability shall not be negatived by the manner in which the
`invention was made.
`
`1.
`
`Claims 1, 8, and 10 are rejected under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being
`
`unpatentable over JP 06-284043 (Toshio) in view of JP 61 -12521 5 (Toshiaki).
`
`Regarding claim 1, Toshio discloses that “A quadrature hybrid coupler
`
`comprising:
`
`a transformer that includes a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal and
`
`a fourth terminal (Toshio, Fig. 4: transformer Th has four terminals), the transformer
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/131 ,122
`
`Page 5
`
`Art Unit: 2648
`
`is configured to receive an input signal at the first terminal (Toshio, Fig. 4: terminal l1
`
`receives input signal);
`
`a first coupling capacitor that is provided between the first terminal and the third
`
`terminal (Toshio, Fig. 4: a first coupling capacitor Cc is provided between
`
`terminals l1 and l2);
`
`a second coupling capacitor that is provided between the second terminal and
`
`the fourth terminal (Toshio, Fig. 4: a second coupling capacitor Cc is provided
`
`between terminals l3 and I4);
`
`a first shunt capacitor, a second shunt capacitor, a third shunt capacitor and a
`
`fourth shunt capacitor that are respectively provided with the first terminal, the second
`
`terminal, the third terminal and the fourth terminal (Toshio, Fig. 4: four shunt
`
`capacitors Co are provided with the four terminals);
`
`a termination resistance that is connected to the fourth terminal (Toshio, Fig. 4:
`
`a termination resistor R is connected to the second terminal, wherein it is to be
`
`noted that the numbering of the terminals can be changed so that l2 becomes l4
`
`and I1 becomes l3);
`
`a first phase shifter that is connected to the second terminal (Toshio, Fig. 1: a
`
`first phase shifter comprising inductor L1 and capacitor C1 is connected to the
`
`second terminal; and also in Fig. 4: a first phase shifter is connected to l3 which
`
`can be designated as the second terminal) and configured to receive an in-phase
`
`signal having a same phase as the input signal (Toshio, Fig. 1: terminal 2 has built-in
`
`phase shifter; and Fig. 4: l3 performs in phase shifting in relation to l4. It is
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/131 ,122
`
`Page 6
`
`Art Unit: 2648
`
`construed that terminal 2 of Fig. 1 and I3 of Fig. 4 both can receive an in-phase
`
`signal having a same amplitude as the input signal); and
`
`a second phase shifter that is connected to the third terminal (Toshio, Fig. 1:
`
`Toshio, Fig. 1: a second phase shifter comprising inductor L2 and capacitor C2 is
`
`connected to the third terminal; and also in Fig. 4: a second phase shifter is
`
`connected to l4 which can be designated as the third terminal) and configured to
`
`receive a signal having a phase difference of 90 degrees in relation to the input signal
`
`(Toshio, Fig. 1: terminal 3 has built-in 90 degree phase shifter; and Fig. 4: l3
`
`performs 90 degree phase shifting in relation to l3. It is construed that terminal 3
`
`of Fig. 1 and I4 of Fig. 4 both can receive a signal having a phase difference of 90
`
`degrees in relation to the input signal), wherein
`
`a phase delay amount of the second phase shifter is larger than a phase delay
`
`amount of the first phase shifter (Toshio, Fig. 1: the phase shifting amount at
`
`terminal 3 is 90 degrees which is larger than 0 degree of terminal 2's first phase
`
`shifter; and Fig. 4: the phase shifting amount at I4 is 90 degrees which is larger
`
`than 0 degree of l3‘s first phase shifter), and two output signals having a same
`
`amplitude and a phase difference of 90 degrees therebetween are respectively output
`
`from the first shifter and the second phase shifter (Toshio, Figs. 1 & 4 and [0003]: two
`
`output signals from outputs 2 and 3 of the first and second phase shifters,
`
`respectively, have a same amplitude and a phase difference of 90 degrees)”
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/131 ,122
`
`Page 7
`
`Art Unit: 2648
`
`But, Toshio does not expressly disclose that a termination capacitor that is
`
`connected to the fourth terminal and is connected in parallel with the termination
`
`resistance.
`
`However, Toshiaki teaches that “a termination capacitor that is connected to the
`
`fourth terminal and is connected in parallel with the termination resistance (Toshiaki,
`
`Fig. 2: a termination capacitor C0 is provided with terminal D and is connected in
`
`parallel with the termination resistance).”
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the
`
`time the invention was made to implement Toshiaki’s teaching in the coupler of Toshio
`
`in order to correct the impedance (abstract).
`
`Regarding claim 8, Toshio further discloses that “The quadrature hybrid coupler
`
`according to claim 1, wherein the fourth shunt capacitor and the termination capacitor
`
`are a common capacitor having a capacitance value larger than that of each of the first,
`
`second and third shunt capacitors (Toshio, Fig. 4: the resistor R is connected in
`
`parallel with only one shunt capacitor, wherein the examiner construes that the
`
`fourth shunt capacitor and the termination capacitor can be a common capacitor.
`
`Further, the structure is disclosed by Toshio and Toshiaki and the value of a
`
`capacitor is a design choice which is not a patentable distinction)”
`
`Regarding claim 10, the claim is interpreted and rejected for the same reason
`
`as set forth in claim 1 above.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/131 ,122
`
`Page 8
`
`Art Unit: 2648
`
`2.
`
`Claim 2 is rejected under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over
`
`JP 06-284043 (Toshio) and JP 61-125215 (Toshiaki) in view of US 6046655 (Cipolla),
`
`and further in view of Examiner’s Official Notice.
`
`Regarding claim 2, Toshio and Toshiaki disclose the features of claim 1, but
`
`do not disclose that The quadrature hybrid coupler according to claim 1, wherein the
`
`first phase shifter is configured using a first transmission line, the second phase shifter
`
`is configured using a second transmission line.
`
`However, Cipolla teaches that “The quadrature hybrid coupler according to claim
`
`1, wherein
`
`the first phase shifter is configured using a first transmission line (Cipolla, col. 1,
`
`lines 38-41:
`
`depends on the relative phase delays of the transmission lines
`
`running between the antenna and the quadrature hybrid),
`
`the second phase shifter is configured using a second transmission line (Cipolla,
`
`col. 1, lines 38-41:
`
`depends on the relative phase delays of the transmission
`
`lines running between the antenna and the quadrature hybrid).”
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the
`
`time the invention was made to implement the teachings of Cipolla in the coupler of
`
`Toshio and Toshiaki in order to connect radio frequency signals between antenna and
`
`modulator/demodulator without signal degradation due to very high frequency.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/131 ,122
`
`Page 9
`
`Art Unit: 2648
`
`The combination of Toshio and Toshiaki, as modified by Cipolla, does not
`
`expressly disclose that a line length of the second transmission line is longer than a line
`
`length of the first transmission line.
`
`Cipolla teaches that the transmission line can be used as a phase shifter, but
`
`does not expressly teaches that a line length of the second transmission line is longer
`
`than a line length of the first transmission line.
`
`However, one of ordinary skill in the art would readily recognize that the length of
`
`a transmission line is not a patentable distinction, as the phase shifting is relative. It is
`
`the relative phase difference between these two transmission lines that matters.
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the
`
`time the invention was made to incorporate a phase shifting system comprising two
`
`transmission lines in the coupler of Toshio and Toshiaki, and Cipolla so that the relative
`
`phase delays between these two transmission lines meet the requirement. Which
`
`transmission line is longer causes no structural difference and merely is a choice.
`
`3.
`
`Claim 3 is rejected under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over
`
`JP 06-284043 (Toshio), JP 61-125215 (Toshiaki), US 6046655 (Cipolla), and
`
`Examiner’s Official Notice in view of US 20060109192 (Weigand).
`
`Regarding claim 3, The combination of Toshio and Toshiaki, Cipolla and
`
`Examiner's Official Notice discloses that features of claim 2, but does not expressly
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/131 ,122
`
`Page 10
`
`Art Unit: 2648
`
`disclose that The quadrature hybrid coupler according to claim 2, wherein each of the
`
`first and second transmission lines is configured using a coplanar transmission line.
`
`However, Weigand teaches that “The quadrature hybrid coupler according to
`
`claim 2, wherein each of the first and second transmission lines is configured using a
`
`coplanar transmission line (Weigand, [0056]:
`
`a pair of coplanar transmission
`
`lines separated by gap 9, may be provided
`
`to connect the antenna to a radio
`
`front end).”
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the
`
`time the invention was made to incorporate Weigand’s teaching in the coupler of Toshio
`
`and Toshiaki, Cipolla, and Examiner’s Official Notice in order to connect the antenna to
`
`a radio front end that employs differential input/output connections ([0056]) in a
`
`broadband or very high frequency environment.
`
`4.
`
`Claim 4 is rejected under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over
`
`JP 06-284043 (Toshio) and JP 61-125215 (Toshiaki) in view of Examiner’s Official
`
`Notice.
`
`Regarding claim 4, Toshio and Toshiaki disclose the features of claim 1, and
`
`further disclose that “The quadrature hybrid coupler according to claim 1, wherein
`
`each of the first and second phase shifters is configured using a plurality of
`
`inductors and a plurality of shunt capacitors (Toshio, Fig. 1: a first phase shifter
`
`comprising inductor L1 and capacitor C1 is connected to the second terminal and
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/131 ,122
`
`Page 11
`
`Art Unit: 2648
`
`a second phase shifter comprising inductor L2 and capacitor C2 is connected to
`
`the third terminal, wherein the examiner construes that the L1 +C1 and L2+C2 may
`
`generate different phase delay amounts depending upon their values in
`
`inductance and capacitance).”
`
`But, Toshio and Toshiaki do not expressly disclose that “a capacitance value of
`
`the shunt capacitors of the second phase shifter is larger than a capacitance value of
`
`the shunt capacitors of the first phase capacitor.”
`
`However, one of ordinary skill in the art would readily recognize that the value of
`
`a capacitor is not a patentable distinction, as the phase shifting is relative. It is
`
`notoriously well known in the art that different capacitance values would cause different
`
`phase shifts or delays. The capacitance value of a shunt capacitor of the second phase
`
`shifter and that of a shunt capacitor of the first phase shifter are merely a design choice
`
`so long as the relative phase difference between these phase shifters meet the design
`
`requirement. It is the relative phase difference between these two phase shifters that
`
`matters.
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the
`
`time the invention was made to design two phase shifters each having different values
`
`in the shunt capacitors in order to adjust the impedance or phase between the two
`
`phase shifter as close to 90 degrees as possible.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/131 ,122
`
`Page 12
`
`Art Unit: 2648
`
`5.
`
`Claims 5 and 6 are rejected under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being
`
`unpatentable over JP 06-284043 (Toshio) and JP 61-125215 (Toshiaki) in view of US
`
`5883550 (Watanabe).
`
`Regarding claim 5, Toshio and Toshiaki disclose the features of claim 1, but do
`
`not expressly disclose that the quadrature hybrid coupler according to claim 1, wherein
`
`the termination resistance is a variable resistance, and the termination capacitor is a
`
`variable capacitor, wherein the termination resistance and the termination capacitor are
`
`adiusted in accordance with frequency characteristics of a phase difference between
`
`the first phase shifter and the second phase shifter.
`
`However, Watanabe teaches that “The quadrature hybrid coupler according to
`
`claim 1, wherein the termination resistance is a variable resistance, and the termination
`
`
`capacitor is a variable capacitor wherein the termination resistance and the termination
`
`capacitor are adiusted in accordance with frequency characteristics of a phase
`
`difference between the first phase shifter and the second phase shifter (Watanabe,
`
`Figs. 2 & 3: thermistor and varicap, wherein the resistance and capacitance vary
`
`with changes in temperature and hence the frequency response change
`
`according the values of resister and capacitor; therefore it is construed that the
`
`termination resistance and the termination capacitor can be adjusted in
`
`accordance with the frequency characteristics affecting the phase difference
`
`since the amplitude and phase responses are a function of frequnency).”
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/131 ,122
`
`Page 13
`
`Art Unit: 2648
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the
`
`time the invention was made to incorporate Watanabe’s teaching in the coupler of
`
`Toshio and Toshiaki in order to adjust the impedance or phase between the two phase
`
`shifter as close to 90 degrees as possible.
`
`Regarding claim 6, Watanabe further teaches that “The quadrature hybrid
`
`coupler according to claim 1 further comprising:
`
`a temperature sensor, configured to detect an ambient temperature of the
`
`quadrature hybrid coupler (Watanabe, Fig. 37 and col. 18, lines 51-57: a temperature
`
`detecting circuit 3); and
`
`a voltage control circuit, configured to output a control voltage for control of a
`
`resistance value and a capacitance value of the termination resistance and the terminal
`
`capacity according to the ambient temperature (Watanabe, Fig. 37 and col. 18, lines
`
`58-64: the detected temperature offset adjusting circuit the detected voltage
`
`signal Vremp produced by the temperature detecting circuit 3).”
`
`6.
`
`Claim 7 is rejected under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over
`
`JP 06-284043 (Toshio) and JP 61-125215 (Toshiaki) in view of US 5883550
`
`(Watanabe), and further in view of US 20080055012 (Lim).
`
`Regarding claim 7, Toshio, Toshiaki, and Watanabe disclose the features of
`
`claim 6, and further disclose that “The quadrature hybrid coupler according to claim 6,
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/131 ,122
`
`Page 14
`
`Art Unit: 2648
`
`wherein the voltage control circuit generates the control voltage by which the
`
`capacitance value of the variable capacitor is decreased as the ambient temperature is
`
`increased (Watanabe, Figs. 10 & 11, around 25 degrees C, the varicap control
`
`voltage increases as ambient temperature increases (Fig. 11) and capacitance
`
`decreases as varicap control voltage increases (Fig. 10). It is a nature of a varicap
`
`or varactor that its capacitance is inversely proportional to the square root of
`
`applied voltage)”
`
`But, Toshio, Toshiaki, and Watanabe do not expressly disclose that wherein the
`
`voltage control circuit generates the control voltage by which the resistance value of the
`
`variable resistance is increased.
`
`However, Lim teaches that “wherein the voltage control circuit generates the
`
`control voltage by which the resistance value of the variable resistance is increased
`
`(Lim, Fig. 4B and [0053]: resistor Rnwell has proportional resistance to a
`
`temperature change)”
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the
`
`time the invention was made to implement the teaching of Lim in the coupler of Toshio,
`
`Toshiaki, and Watanabe in order to adjust the impedance or phase between the two
`
`phase shifter based on the change in temperature.
`
`7.
`
`Claim 11 is rejected under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over
`
`US 20110121912 (Kim) in view of JP 06-284043 (Toshio) and JP 61-125215
`
`(Toshiaki).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/131 ,122
`
`Page 15
`
`Art Unit: 2648
`
`Regarding claim 11, Kim discloses that “An amplifier comprising: a main
`
`amplifier, configured to amplify one output signal from the quadrature hybrid coupler
`
`(Kim, Fig. 1 and [0013]: carrier amplifier 120 amplifies one output signal from
`
`hybrid coupler 110, wherein the examiner construes that carrier amplifier is a
`
`main amplifier);
`
`a peak amplifier, configured to amplify the other output signal from the
`
`quadrature hybrid coupler (Kim, Fig. 1 and [0013]: peaking amplifier 130 amplifies
`
`the other output signal from hybrid coupler 110); and
`
`a 1/4 wavelength line, configured to delay phase of the output signal from the
`
`main amplifier by 90 degrees (Kim, Fig. 1 and [0013]: a A/4 transmission line 140 for
`
`producing transmitted signals having a phase difference of 90 degrees).”
`
`But, Kim does not expressly disclose that the quadrature hybrid coupler
`
`according to claim 1.
`
`However, Toshio and Toshiaki teach the quadrature hybrid coupler according
`
`claim 1 as cited above.
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the
`
`time the invention was made to implement the teachings of Toshio and Toshiaki in the
`
`amplifier of Kim in order to improve efficiency at intermediate output ([0013]).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/131 ,122
`
`Page 16
`
`Art Unit: 2648
`
`8.
`
`Claim 12 and 13 are rejected under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being
`
`unpatentable over US 6127884 (Rishi) in view of JP 06-284043 (Toshio) and JP 61-
`
`125215 (Toshiaki).
`
`Regarding claim 12, Rishi discloses that “a local signal generator, configured to
`
`generate a local signal (Rishi, Fig. 1 and col. 3, lines 42-45: local oscillator);
`
`first and second quadrature hybrid couplers
`
`configured to output two signals
`
`having a same amplitude and a phase difference of 90 degrees therebetween based on
`
`the generated local signal (Rishi, Fig. 1 and col. 3, lines 42-49: the two outputs of
`
`the 90-degree phase shifter which is a quadrature hybrid coupler, wherein the two
`
`output signals have a phase difference of 90 degrees based on the generated
`
`local signal 20),
`
`a quadrature modulator, configured to quadrature-modulate a transmission signal
`
`based on two output signals from the first quadrature hybrid coupler (Rishi, Fig. 1 and
`
`col. 3, lines 42-49: the quadrature modulator 15 comprises two mixers, 16 and 22,
`
`that have two input signals from the two outputs of the 90-degree phase shifter
`
`which is a quadrature hybrid coupler); and
`
`a quadrature-demodulator, configured to quadrature-demodulate a reception
`
`signal based on two output signals from the second quadrature hybrid coupler (Rishi,
`
`Fig. 1 and col. 4, lines 22-33: the demodulator 31 comprises two mixing means, 33
`
`and 36, that take two input signals from the two output of a second 90-degree
`
`phase shifter 39 which is the second quadrature hybrid coupler).”
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/131 ,122
`
`Page 17
`
`Art Unit: 2648
`
`But, Rishi does not expressly disclose that first and second quadrature hybrid
`
`couplers according to claim 1.
`
`However, Toshio and Toshiaki teach the quadrature hybrid coupler according
`
`claim 1 as cited above.
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the
`
`time the invention was made to implement the teachings of Toshio and Toshiaki in the
`
`device of Rishi in order to provide 90-degree phase shift for proper quadrature
`
`modulation and de-modulation.
`
`Regarding claim 13, Rishi discloses that “A wireless communication device
`
`comprising:
`
`a local signal generator, configured to generate a local signal (Rishi, Fig. 1 and
`
`col. 3, lines 42-45: local oscillator);
`
`a quadrature modulator, configured to quadrature-modulate two input signals
`
`having a phase difference of 90 degrees therebetween based on the generated local
`
`signal (Rishi, Fig. 1 and col. 3, lines 42-49: the quadrature modulator 15 comprises
`
`two mixers, 16 and 22, that have two input signals respectively from the two
`
`outputs of the 90-degree phase shifter which is a quadrature hybrid coupler,
`
`wherein the two signals from the outputs of the 90-degree phase shifter have a
`
`phase difference of 90 degrees based on the generated local signal 20);
`
`the quadrature hybrid coupler
`
`configured to advance or delay, by 90 degrees,
`
`the phase of one input signal among the two quadrature-modulated input signals having
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/131 ,122
`
`Page 18
`
`Art Unit: 2648
`
`the phase difference of 90 degrees therebetween (Rishi, Fig. 1 and col. 3, lines 42-49:
`
`the two outputs of the 90-degree phase shifter which is a quadrature hybrid
`
`coupler, wherein the two output signals have a phase difference of 90 degrees
`
`based on the generated local signal 20); and
`
`a transmission RF amplifier, configured to amplify an output signal from the
`
`quadrature hybrid coupler (Rishi, Fig. 1: Tx-Power Amplifier 28).”
`
`But, Rishi does not expressly disclose that the quadrature hybrid coupler
`
`according to claim 10.
`
`However, Toshio and Toshiaki teach the quadrature hybrid coupler according
`
`claim 10 as cited above.
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the
`
`time the invention was made to implement the teachings of Toshio and Toshiaki in the
`
`device of Rishi in order to provide 90-degree phase shift for proper quadrature
`
`modulation and de-modulation.
`
`Conclusion
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to DONG-CHANG SHIUE whose telephone number is
`
`(313)446-6552. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday; 8 - 4:30
`
`EST.
`
`