UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 2231371450
`www.uspto.gov
`
`15/990,006
`
`05/25/2018
`
`Kenji NISHIKAWA
`
`PANDP0282US
`
`3884
`
`MARK D. SARALINO (PAN)
`RENNER, OTTO, BOISSELLE & SKLAR, LLP
`1621 EUCLID AVENUE
`19TH FLOOR
`CLEVELAND, OH 441 15
`
`KIM JAE K
`
`ART UNIT
`2845
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`07/09/2019
`
`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):
`
`ipdoeket@rennerotto.eom
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`0/7709 A0170” Summary
`
`Application No.
`15/990,006
`Examiner
`JAE K KIM
`
`Applicant(s)
`NISHIKAWA etal.
`Art Unit
`AIA (FITF) Status
`2845
`Yes
`
`- The MAILING DA TE of this communication appears on the cover sheet wit/7 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 CFR 1.136(a). In no event, however, may a reply be timely filed after SIX (6) MONTHS from the mailing
`date of this communication.
`|f 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).
`
`Status
`
`1). Responsive to communication(s) filed on 5/25/2018.
`[:1 A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
`
`2a)D This action is FINAL.
`
`2b)
`
`This action is non-final.
`
`3)[:] 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 Expat/7e Quay/e, 1935 CD. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`5)
`Claim(s)
`
`1—12 is/are pending in the application.
`
`5a) Of the above claim(s)
`
`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`
`E] Claim(s)
`
`is/are allowed.
`
`Claim(s) fl is/are rejected.
`
`[:1 Claim(s) _ is/are objected to.
`
`) ) ) )
`
`6 7
`
`8
`
`
`
`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement
`[j Claim(s)
`9
`* If any claims have been determined aflowabie. 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
`
`http://www.uspto.gov/patents/init events/pph/index.jsp or send an inquiry to PPeredback@uspto.gov.
`
`Application Papers
`10)[:] The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`
`11). The drawing(s) filed on 5/25/2018 is/are: a). accepted or b)E] 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). Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
`
`a). All
`
`b)D Some**
`
`C)D None of the:
`
`1.. Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`
`2.[:] 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)
`
`1)
`
`Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`
`Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`2)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Datew.
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`3) C] Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`4) CI Other-
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20190624
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/990,006
`Art Unit: 2845
`
`Page 2
`
`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.
`
`Examiner Notes
`
`This is the 1St action in the application in response to the correspondence filed on
`
`5/25/2018.
`
`Examiner appreciates Applicant’s time and efforts in the compact prosecution of
`
`this Application.
`
`If Applicant sees benefit in an interview or of any further appropriate
`
`assistance, Examiner encourages the Applicant to call the number below.
`
`Intormation Disclosure Statement
`
`The information disclosure statements (IDS) submitted on 4/5/2019, 5/25/2019
`
`are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information
`
`disclosure statement has been considered by the examiner.
`
`Priority
`
`Acknowledgment is made of applicant's claim for foreign priority under 35
`
`U.S.C. 119(a)-(d). Receipt is acknowledged of papers submitted under 35
`
`U.S.C. 119(a)-(d), which papers have been placed of record in the file.
`
`Claim Re'ections - 35 USC 112
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/990,006
`Art Unit: 2845
`
`Page 3
`
`The following is aquotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
`(b) CONCLUSION—Thespecification shallconcludewith oneormoreclaims particularly
`pointing outanddistinctlyclaimingthesubjectmatterwhichtheinventororajointinventor
`regards as the invention.
`
`Claim 4, 7 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b), as being indefinite for failing to
`
`particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint
`
`inventor, or for pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention.
`
`Claim 4, 7 recites “high” and “low” impedance. The metes and bounds that
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`encompass the term “high” and “low” is not clear. What level is required to be
`
`considered “high”/”|ow”? Examiner reads the impedance created by reactive
`
`components of the prior art to be “high”/”|ow”.
`
`Claim Re'ections - 35 USC 102
`
`In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35
`
`U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect,
`any correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new
`
`ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the
`rejection, would be the same under either status.
`
`The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that
`
`form the basis forthe rejections underthis section made in this Office action:
`
`A person shall be entitledto a patentunless—
`
`A person shall be entitledto a patentunless—
`
`(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, orin
`public use, on sale orothenNise availableto the public before the effective filingdateof
`the claimed invention.
`
`Claim 1
`
`is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Hui (US
`
`2010/0123640).
`
`As for claim 1, 8, Hui teaches (Par. [0001]—[0002]):
`
`o
`
`a conductive ground plate (Fig. 4, e1. 32};
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/990,006
`Art Unit: 2845
`
`Page 4
`
`.
`
`o
`
`e titet entehne etentent (Fig. 4, ei. taut};
`
`enti e eeeenti entenne eieinent (Fig. (ii, ei.
`
`t8____2),
`
`o whetetn the titet entenne etet‘nent inetheee e titet entt eenneetett tn e
`
`teettteeint enti e eeeentt entt eehtetntng en enen enet (Fig. 4, et, 183),
`
`o whetetn e nett et the titet entenhe etentent te eiieneeett eteng the
`
`eenetietive gtenntt hiete (Fig. 4, ei.
`
`'18 17:3
`
`. Wheteth the eeeehti entehhe etetnent htehehee ett the titet entehne etei‘nent
`
`at e hteneh neint en the titet entenne etetnent (Fig. 4, ei. 182”}, i831).
`
`.
`
`enei the eeeenti entenne eietnent ie ttieneeett hetween the heat et the tiret
`
`entenne eietnent eieneeett etehg the eenehetiee gtenhti niete entt the
`
`o Wheteth the titet entenhe eientent teeenetee at e titet trenneney (Fig. 4, ei.
`
`“€83,
`
`per. {0089;},
`
`o
`
`enei whetetn the eeeenti entenne eietnent and e segment hetween the titet
`
`et‘tt‘ii end the hteneh neiht et the titet entenne eiei‘nent teeehete at e
`
`eeeentt ttenneney that ie highet then the tttet tteetiehey (Fig. 4, per. {008%}.
`
`As for claim 2, Hui teaches:
`
`as
`
`further eentntieing e titet neeeiee eietnent having e titet entt entt e eeeenet
`
`end, the titet neeetve eien‘tent heingt eiieneeett tetethte tn the iit‘et entenne
`
`etentent eneh that the titet enti et the titet neeehte eietnent ie
`
`eteettet‘negnetteethii eennieei tn the enen ehei et the first entenne etethent
`
`anti the eeeehti ehei hi the titet neeehte etetnent ie tethetet hen: the
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/990,006
`Art Unit: 2845
`
`Page 5
`
`teetteetrtt three the tiret ehet hi the tiret eeeetee eterheht te, whereth the ttret
`
`heeetve eterrteht hee he eteetrteet eehheetteh with the eehehettve gtehhtt
`
`etete, ehtt the ttret eeeehte eterheht reeehetee at e thtret trettttehey ether
`
`then the tiret heat the eeeehtt treehehetee (Fig. 4, {tattereht sized et. 34____t,
`
`etectricet eehhectieh depehdihg taper: switch peeitieh et :34).
`
`As for claim 3, Hui teaches:
`
`. htrther eer‘r‘rerieihg e eeeehe heeetve eteh‘teht hevthg e ttret ehtt eteetrteetty
`
`eerrheetett te e eehheetteh hetht eh the eehtteettee greeted etete erect e
`
`eeeehet ehtt that its ttteeeeeet ee ee te he eteettemeghetteetty eeeetett te the
`
`eeeh ehtt et the ttret ehtehhe etetheht: whereth the eeeehtt heeetve eteh‘terrt
`
`te eteeeeett retethte te the thet ehterthe etemeht eeeh thet the ttret erttt et the
`
`eeeehtt heeetve eterrtertt te tetheter tree“: the teeeeetht there the eeeehtt ehtt
`
`et the eeeehtt heeetve eterheht teEr heat the eeeehe heeehre eterhertt reeehetee
`
`et e teerth treehehey ether theh the ttret ehtt the eeeehtt treeeeheiee (Fig. 4,
`
`differeht Sized e3. 34____2, eieetrieei eermectieh depending taper: switch peeitieh et
`
`34):
`
`As for claim 4, Hui teaches:
`
`o whereth the eeeehtt heeetve etehteht Ee eehheeteet te the eehethetive
`
`grehhtt etete eta e reeetehee etreett, ehe whereth the reeetehee etretttt
`
`exhthtte high tmeectehee at the tiret treehehey (Fig. 4, per. {0093]}.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/990,006
`Art Unit: 2845
`
`Page 6
`
`As for claim 6, Hui teaches:
`
`tarther eeaiprisihg a seeehei passive eieirieht havihg a tirst ehti eteetrieeiiy
`
`eehheeteei is a eehheetieri paiht art the eeheaetive grease piste aha a
`
`seeehti sari that is tiispeseti as as ta he eisetrethagrietieaihi° seapieti is the
`
`spear shit at the first ahtehhe eierrieht, wherein the seeeria passive eieiheht
`
`is tiispaseei reiative is the tirst ariteriria eierrierit seeh that the tirst east at
`
`the seeehti passive eieirieht is rei'rieter treat the ieesipeiht their the seeehei
`
`east at the seeehti passive eterrieht is, ahti the seeehti passive eierrteht
`
`reseriates at a tearth treatieriev ether than the tirst arts the seeeritt
`
`treeaeheies: whereih the first passive eiei'rierit is tiispeseri sierra the
`
`spheaetive grease piate, whereih a part at the assessed passive sierheht is
`
`siispeseri starts the eehaaetive grease piste, aria whereih the first passive
`
`eieirieht is tiispeeee hetvveeh the part at the seeeriti passive eierheht
`
`titspeseti starts the sehrieetive grease piste and the eeheastive prettrati
`
`piate (Fig: 4, different sized at. 3:352, eieetricat eehhectieh depending seer:
`
`switch pesitieh at 34).
`
`As for claim 7, Hui teaches:
`
`a passive eieirierit having a tirst ehti that is eieetrisaiiv eeririesteai is a
`
`epitheetieri paint art the eeheaetive greatest piate via a resistance sireait she
`
`a seeerie shit that is tiiepeseri se as is he eieetreihaghetieaiiy eeepieri te the
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`erase east at the iirst ahteriria eierrierit, wherein the passive eierheht is
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/990,006
`Art Unit: 2845
`
`Page 7
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`eiieheeee teiethte te the first ehtehhe etetheht eheh that the first end ei the
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`heeeive eietheht ie teetetet hem the teeeteeiht that: the eeeehet ehe et the
`
`eeeeiee eieiheht ie, Wheteih the teeetehee eitettit exhihite high teteeetehee at
`
`e thitet heehehey ether theh the titet ehtt the eeeehei heeheheiee ehtt tew
`
`imeettehee at e tehtth tteetiehey ether thee the first! the eeeehti, ehtt the
`
`thitei heehehetee, ehtt wheteih the heeeitte eteiheht teeehetee at the third
`
`ehtt the tehtth heehehetee (Fig. 4, part {00%]}.
`
`h The eieettehie ttevtee eeeetttthg te etehh 83 eethhrtethg:
`
`“it?
`
`35
`
`hit. The eteettehte deviee eeeetttihg te eieiht h,
`
`~t‘i. The eieettehieeeviee eeeetttihg te eieith 9,
`
`”t2. The eteettehie device eeeeteihg te etehh h,
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/990,006
`Art Unit: 2845
`
`Page 8
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`Claim Reiections - 35 USC § 103
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all
`
`obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
`
`A patent may not be obtained though the invention isnot identically disclosed or
`described asset forth in section 102 ofthistitle, ifthe differencesbetweenthe subject
`mattersought to be patented andthe priorart are such that the subject matterasa
`whole would have been obviousat the timethe invention wasmade to a person having
`ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains. Patentability shall not be
`negatived bythe mannerin which the invention wasmade.
`
`The factual inquiries set forth in Graham v. John Deere 00., 383 US. 1, 148
`
`USPQ 459 (1966), that are applied for establishing a background for
`
`determining obviousness under35 U.S.C. 103(a) are summarized as
`
`follows:
`
`1. Determining the scope and contentsofthe priorart.
`2. Ascertaining the differencesbetween the priorart and the claimsat issue.
`3. Resolving the level ofordinary skill in the pertinentart.
`4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousnessor
`nonobviousness.
`
`In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C.
`
`102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction
`
`of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if
`
`the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same
`
`under either status.
`
`Claim 5, 9-12 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Hui.
`
`Regarding claim 5, Hui teaches the limitations in the rejection above and also
`
`wherein e eeetien ef the seeend neeeiiie eien’ient eenieining the eeeene end ei
`
`the eeeenci neeeiee eieineni is eeneeiiieeiy eeneieei ie e seeiien ei the firm
`
`enienne eiei‘neni eenieihihg the eeeh end ei ihe iirsi enienhe eiei‘nehi ever e
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/990,006
`Art Unit: 2845
`
`prsttstsrrhthstt tshgth (Fig, 4};
`
`Page 9
`
`However, Hui does not explicitly teach asst whsrsirt tha raastartca sirsait
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`warhs ts shartsrt arr stastrtsat tsrtgth at ths ssssrtt‘t passive siahtsrit at tha tsurth
`
`trsassrtsy.
`
`Hui does teach the use of a reactance circuit which will inherently provide an
`
`electrical lengthening or shortening (Par. [0093])
`
`It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the
`
`effective filing date of the claimed invention to arrange these specifications, since it has
`
`been held that the general conditions of a claim are disclosed in the prior art,
`
`discovering the optimum or workable ranges involves only routine skill in the art.
`
`Regarding claim 9, Hui teaches the limitations in the rejection above and also a
`
`sastrtg havirtg a ttrst surface aria a sacarta shttasa spssstts ts sash sthsr; arid a
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`disstay prsvtttstt art the tirst shrtass st tits sasthg (Par. {0044}, [0055]).
`
`However, Hui does not explicitly teach wharsih ths sasshti ahtahha atsrhsi‘tt is
`
`stsasr ts tha ttrst surface at the sasthg than ts ths ssasrttt sartasa at tits sastrtg.
`
`It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the
`
`effective filing date of the claimed invention to arrange these specifications, since it has
`
`been held that the general conditions of a claim are disclosed in the prior art,
`
`rearrangement of parts involves only routine skill in the art.
`
`Regarding claim 10, Hui teaches the limitations in the rejection above and further
`
`teaches wharstrt ths ahtshrta shit ihstsass a that passivs aisrhsht having a that
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`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/990,006
`Art Unit: 2845
`
`Page 10
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`enrt and e eeeentt entt, the tiret heeehte eterheht hetng ttteeeeett retethte hr the
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`ttret entehne eterhertt eneh thet the tiret enet et the tiret heeehre eterhent
`
`te eteetrentegnetteetty eenetee te the ehen entt et the ttret entehne eternent
`
`ehe the eeeehtt ehtt et the tiret heeetve etethent te renteter trent the teedeetnt
`
`then the tiret ene et the ttret heeehte eternent 33, wherein the tiret heeehre eternent
`
`hee he eteetrteet eenneetten wtth the eehrhtethre grehntt htete, end the first
`
`heeehte eternent reeenetee at e thtrrt treetreney ether then the ttret enrt the
`
`eeeentt treehenetee, end wherein the ttret heeetve eternent te eteeer te the tiret
`
`ehrteee et the eeethh then te the eeeenet enrteee hi the eeethg (Fig, 4, see
`
`rejections aheve with the rejectien et cream 8}.
`
`Regarding claim 11, Hui teaches the limitations in the rejection above and further
`
`teaches wherein the entenhe tantt htetttttee e eeeene heeehre etetnent hetrtng
`
`e tiret ehtt eteetrteetty eenheetert te e eehneetten hetnt en the eehtthettve
`
`gretthtt etete and e eeeehtt entt thet te etetreeett ee he te he eteetrethegnetteetty
`
`eeehtett te the enen enet et the ttret entenne eternentga wherein the eeeehtt neeetve
`
`eterrrent te eteheeett retethte te the tiret ehtenrte eterheht eeeh thet the ttret entt et
`
`the eeeentt heeetve eternent te retheter here the teeehetht then the eeeenet ehtt et
`
`the eeeentt heeetve eternent fie, end the eeeenezt heeehre etentent reeenetee et ea
`
`tettrth treeheney ether then the ttret ehtt the eeeehtt treetrenetee,a enet whereth the
`
`eeeehrt heeetve eterheht te eteeer te the ttret ehrteee et the casing then te the
`
`eeeehtt eerteee et the eeetng (Fig. 4, see rejections eheve with the reteetien at ctairn
`
`9)"
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/990,006
`Art Unit: 2845
`
`Page 11
`
`Regarding claim 12, Hui teaches the limitations in the rejection above and further
`
`teaches wherein the antenna nhtt ineitrriee a eaeehre eten'ient having a titet enti
`
`that ie eteetrieaih,r eenneeteei tn a eenneetien neint en the eenrtnetitre
`
`grenntt niate via a reaetanee eirenit and a eeeentt enti that ie riieneeett ten are te
`
`he eieetren’iagnetieaitjyi eenntert tn the enen enti et the titet antenna eietnentg
`
`wherein the eaeehre eten'ient ie titereeeeet retattve tn the that antenna eteineht
`
`eneh that the tiret enrt et‘ the eaeeiire eiernent ie rerneter trern the teeeeetnt than
`
`the eeeenei ene et the neeeiee eiernent ta, wherein the teaetanee eirentt eahihtte
`
`high inteetianee at a thirri trenneney etherthan the first antt the eeeentt
`
`trenneneieeanri tew itneetianee at a ienrth trenneney ether than the theta the
`
`eeeentt, anti the third treeneneiee, wherein the naeehre eiernent reeenatee at the
`
`thirti antt the tenrtn treeneneiee, anti wherein the naeahre eiernent ie eteeer te the
`
`tiret enrteee et the eaeing than te the eeeenei enrtaee hi the easing (Fig. 4, see
`
`rejectiene abeve with the rejection ei eiairn 9).
`
`Conclusion
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to JAE K KIM whose telephone number is (571)272-2870.
`
`The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday, 8AM—5PM, EST.
`
`Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video
`
`conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/990,006
`Art Unit: 2845
`
`Page 12
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`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, Jessica Han can be reached on (571) 272-2078. The fax phone number for
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`the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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`MAE ii Kiiv’i/
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`Examiner, Art Unit 2845
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`,"GRAHAM P SMiTi-i/
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`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2845
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