UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
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`
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`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`PO. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 2231371450
`www.uspto.gov
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`15/899,678
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`02/20/2018
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`TOMOHIRO MURATA
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`731156687
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`9522
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`Seed IP Law Group LLP/Panason1e
`701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 5400
`Seattle, WA 98104
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`MUNOZ' DANIEL
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`PAPER NUMBER
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`ART UNIT
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`2845
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`NOTIFICATION DATE
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`DELIVERY MODE
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`03/21/2019
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`ELECTRONIC
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`Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding.
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`The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication.
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`Notice of the Office communication was sent electronically on above—indicated "Notification Date" to the
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`following e—mail address(es):
`US PTOeACtion @ SeedIP .Com
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`pairlinkdktg @ seedip .eom
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`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
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`

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`0/7709 A0170” Summary
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`Application No.
`15/899,678
`Examiner
`DANIEL M U N02
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`Applicant(s)
`MU RATA et al.
`Art Unit
`2845
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`AIA (FITF) Status
`Yes
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`- The MAILING DA TE of this communication appears on the cover sheet wit/7 the correspondence address -
`Period for Reply
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`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).
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`Status
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`1). Responsive to communication(s) filed on 20 February 2018.
`[:1 A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
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`2a)D This action is FINAL.
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`2b)
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`This action is non-final.
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`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.
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`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.
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`Disposition of Claims*
`5)
`Claim(s)
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`1—10 is/are pending in the application.
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`5a) Of the above claim(s)
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`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
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`E] Claim(s)
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`is/are allowed.
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`Claim(s) fl is/are rejected.
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`[:1 Claim(s) _ is/are objected to.
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`) ) ) )
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`6 7
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`8
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`
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`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
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`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
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`http://www.uspto.gov/patents/init events/pph/index.jsp or send an inquiry to PPeredback@uspto.gov.
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`Application Papers
`10)[:] The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
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`11)[:] The drawing(s) filed on
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`is/are: a)D accepted or b)l:] objected to by the Examiner.
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`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).
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`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:
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`a). All
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`b)I:I Some**
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`c)CI None of the:
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`1.. Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
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`2.[:] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
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`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)).
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`** See the attached detailed Office action for a list of the certified copies not received.
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`Attachment(s)
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`1)
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`Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
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`Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`2)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date_
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
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`3) C] Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`4) CI Other-
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`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
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`Office Action Summary
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`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20190315
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/899,678
`Art Unit: 2845
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`Page 2
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`Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
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`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first
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`inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
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`Priority
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`Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
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`Information Disclosure Statement
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`The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 20 February 2018 is in compliance with
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`the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by
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`the examiner.
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`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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`In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102
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`and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory
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`basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and
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`the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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`The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis
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`for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
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`A person shall be entitled to a patent unless —
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`(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.
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`Claims 1-3 and 9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Baheti et al.
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`(U.S. Patent No. 9935065), hereinafter known as Baheti.
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`Regarding claim 1, Baheti discloses (Fig. 6A) a dielectric substrate (23, 29) having a first surface
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`(bottom of 23 as shown in Fig. 6A) and a second surface (top of 29); a semiconductor substrate (21)
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`disposed above the first surface of the dielectric substrate (see Fig. 6A, when structure shown in Fig. 6A
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/899,678
`Art Unit: 2845
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`Page 3
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`rotated 180 degrees, 21 would be above 23 and 29) and having a third surface (surface to which 31 is
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`attached) and a fourth surface (surface to which 32 is attached) that faces the dielectric substrate (see
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`Fig. 6A); an integrated circuit (10) disposed on the fourth surface of the semiconductor substrate (10 is
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`indirectly on 21); a radiator (32, which is a feed line for elements 40) disposed on the fourth surface of
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`the semiconductor substrate (see Fig. 6A); a reflector (31) disposed at a position where projection of the
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`radiator along a radiation direction of an electromagnetic wave radiated from the radiator falls on the
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`third surface of the semiconductor substrate (see Fig. 6A); and one or more directors (43) disposed at a
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`position where projection of the radiator along the radiation direction fall on the dielectric substrate
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`(see Fig. 6A).
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`Regarding claim 2, Baheti further discloses (Fig. 6A) wherein the one or more directors comprise
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`a plurality of directors (see Fig. 6A), the plurality of directors being disposed on the dielectric substrate
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`at different positions (see Fig. 6A).
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`Regarding claim 3, Baheti further discloses (Fig. 6A) wherein a medium (22) having a relative
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`dielectric constant of 1 or higher (22 is laminate) is disposed in at least part of a space between the
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`dielectric substrate and the semiconductor substrate (see Fig. 6A).
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`Regarding claim 9, Baheti further discloses (Fig. 6A) wherein at least part of the integrated
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`circuit performs signal processing on a signal of a frequency from 50 GHz to 10 THz, inclusive (col. 8,
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`lines 58-64).
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`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections
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`set forth in this Office action:
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`A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is
`not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention
`and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the
`effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the
`claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention
`was made.
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/899,678
`Art Unit: 2845
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`Page 4
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`Claims 4, 5, and 10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Baheti.
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`Regarding claims 4 and 5, the Embodiment of Baheti in Fig. 6A teaches the limitations of claim
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`1, but does not teach a cavity.
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`However, the Embodiment of Baheti in Fig. 7A teaches (Fig. 7A) wherein the dielectric substrate
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`has a cavity at a position where projection of the radiator along the radiation direction falls, and
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`wherein the one or more directors are disposed inside the cavity (directors taught in Fig. 6A, combining
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`the cavity into Fig. 6A would require the directors be disposed at the top of the cavity).
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`It would have been obvious before the effective filing date of invention to one of ordinary skill in
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`the art to use the cavity of Fig. 7A of Baheti in the Embodiment of Fig. 6A because it (col. 15, lines 51-54)
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`”may also increase bandwidth of the radio frequency device.”
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`Regarding claim 10, Baheti teaches the limitations of claim 1, and further teaches varying the
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`thickness of the laminate layers (col. 7, lines 4-9), but does not teach the specific distance as claimed.
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`It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was
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`made to make an interval between the radiator and the one or more directors are from 1/8 to 1/4 of a
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`wavelength of the electromagnetic wave, since it has been held to be within the general skill of a worker
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`in the art to apply a known technique to a known device (method, or product) ready for improvement to
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`yield predictable results is obvious. KSR International Co. v Teleflex Inc., 550 U.$. 398, 415-421, 82
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`USPQZd 1385, 1395-97 (2007) In this case, providing an interval of % wavelength is a known technique
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`to provide improved parasitic coupling as is known to one of ordinary skill in the art.
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`Claims 6-8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Baheti as applied to
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`claim 1 above, and further in view of Sato et al. (U.S. Patent Application No. 20160261036),
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`hereinafter known as Sato.
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`Regarding claim 6, Baheti teaches the limitations of claim 1, but does not teach a via at the
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`location claimed.
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`Application/Control Number: 15/899,678
`Art Unit: 2845
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`Page 5
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`Sato teaches (Fig. 43) a dielectric substrate (4) and directors (21), wherein the dielectric
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`substrate has a via (either of 32) surrounding the one or more directors at a position a first distance
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`away from the one or more directors (see Fig. 43).
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`It would have been obvious before the effective filing date of invention to one of ordinary skill in
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`the art to use the via of Sato to surround the one or more directors of Baheti because ([0078]) ”the gain
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`of the array antenna can be made high.”
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`Regarding claim 7, Baheti teaches the limitations of claim 1, but does not teach a wiring.
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`Sato teaches (Fig. 43) a dielectric substrate (4) and directors (21), wherein the dielectric
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`substrate has a wiring (either of 32) extending in a short direction of the radiator (see Fig. 43).
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`It would have been obvious before the effective filing date of invention to one of ordinary skill in
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`the art to use the wiring of Sato to surround the one or more directors of Baheti because ([0078]) ”the
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`gain of the array antenna can be made high.”
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`Regarding claim 8, Baheti teaches the limitations of claim 1, but does not teach a wiring.
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`Sato teaches (Fig. 43) a dielectric substrate (4) and directors (21), wherein the dielectric
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`substrate has a wiring (either of 32) which is disposed on the first surface of the dielectric substrate (see
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`Fig. 4B), and a minimum distance between the wiring and the one or more directors are determined at
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`least based on a frequency of the electromagnetic wave ([0078] indicates sizing determined based in
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`part on the frequency).
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`It would have been obvious before the effective filing date of invention to one of ordinary skill in
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`the art to use the wiring of Sato to surround the one or more directors of Baheti because ([0078]) ”the
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`gain of the array antenna can be made high.”
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`Conclusion
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`The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's
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`disclosure.
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/899,678
`Art Unit: 2845
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`Page 6
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`0
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`0
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`Lu et al. (U.S. Patent Application No. 20110241960) teaches a stacked antenna.
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`Cavallero et al. (U.S. Patent No. 5008681) teaches an antenna with a reflector and multiple
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`directors.
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`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner
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`should be directed to DANIEL MUNOZ whose telephone number is (571)270-1957. The examiner can
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`normally be reached on M-F 9 am. - 5 pm.
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`Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a
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`USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use
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`the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
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`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor,
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`Jessica Han can be reached on 571-272-2078. The fax phone number for the organization where this
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`application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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`Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application
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`Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained
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`from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available
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`through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-
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`direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic
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`Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer
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`Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR
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`CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
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`/DANIEL MUNOZ/
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`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2845
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`