www.uspto.gov
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and TrademarkOffice
`Address; COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`
`16/198,908
`
`11/23/2018
`
`RYOSUKE SHIOZAKI
`
`731056.444
`
`1991
`
`Seed IP Law Group LLP/Panasonic
`701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 5400
`Seattle, WA 98104
`
`HU,JENNIFER F
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`ART UNIT
`
`2845
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`05/17/2021
`
`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):
`USPTOeAction @ SeedIP.com
`
`pairlinkdktg @seedip.com
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Application No.
`16/198,908
`Examiner
`JENNIFER F HU
`
`Applicant(s)
`SHIOZAK( etal.
`Art Unit
`AIA (FITF) Status
`2845
`Yes
`
`-- The MAILING DATEofthis communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address --
`Period for Reply
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORY PERIOD FOR REPLYIS SET TO EXPIRE 3 MONTHS FROM THE MAILING
`DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensions of time may be available underthe provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(a). In no event, however, may a reply betimely filed after SIX (6) MONTHSfrom 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) MONTHSfrom 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, evenif timely filed, may reduce any earned patent term
`adjustment. See 37 CFR 1.704(b).
`
`Status
`
`1)™) Responsive to communication(s)filed on 26 April 2021.
`C) A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/werefiled on
`2a)¥) This action is FINAL.
`2b) (J This action is non-final.
`3)02 An election was madeby the applicant in responseto a restriction requirement set forth during the interview
`on
`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
`4\0) 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 Quayle, 1935 C.D. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`1-17 is/are pending in the application.
`)
`Claim(s)
`5a) Of the above claim(s) 18 is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`() Claim(s)__ is/are allowed.
`Claim(s) 1-17 is/are rejected.
`1 Claim(s)__ is/are objected to.
`C] Claim(s)
`are subjectto restriction and/or election requirement
`* If any claims have been determined allowable, you maybeeligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution Highway program at a
`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
`http:/Awww.uspto.gov/patents/init_events/pph/index.jsp or send an inquiry to PPHfeedback@uspto.gov.
`
`) ) ) )
`
`Application Papers
`10) The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11)() The drawing(s) filedon__ is/are: a)C) accepted or b)C) 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:
`cc) None ofthe:
`b)L) Some**
`a)D) All
`1.1) Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.1) Certified copies of the priority documents have beenreceived in Application No.
`3.2.) Copies of the certified copies of the priority documents have been receivedin 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)
`
`3) (J Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`(Qj Other:
`4)
`Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`2)
`
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date02/12/2021,02/24/2021.
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mail Date 20210511
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/198,908
`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 underthe
`
`first inventor to file provisions of the AJA.
`
`Response to Arguments
`
`Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1-17 have been considered but are moot
`
`because the new groundofrejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection
`
`of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
`(b) CONCLUSION.—Thespecification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing
`out anddistinctly 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 claimsparticularly pointing out and distinctly
`claiming the subject matter which the applicant regardsas his invention.
`
`Claims 9 and 10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-ATA), 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 9 recites, “wherein the housing include metal material.” The limitation contradicts
`
`amended claim 1, which recites, “wherein the dielectric lens is integrally formed with the
`
`housing.” Based on the specification which supports the amended limitation, “integrally”is
`
`interpreted to mean formed from the same material. As disclosed in the specification:
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/198,908
`Art Unit: 2845
`
`Page 3
`
`“a metal member(e.g. aluminum material) is used as material of the housing 6,
`
`for example. However, when considering more about cost and weight saving,
`
`resin may be used as the material of the housing 6, or the housing 6 and the
`
`dielectric lens 7 may be integrally formed of the sameresin material,” ({0057] of
`
`the specification).
`
`Therefore, it is unclear how the housing would be both integrally formed with the
`
`dielectric lens and made of a metal material. It appears that the applicant has combined two
`
`different embodiments of the invention that are mutually exclusive alternatives.
`
`Claim 10 recites, “wherein the housing is made of a material with higher thermal
`
`conductivity than the dielectric lens.” The limitation contradicts amended claim 1, whichrecites,
`
`“wherein the dielectric lens is integrally formed with the housing.” Based on the specification
`
`which supports the amendedlimitation, “integrally” is interpreted to mean formed from the same
`
`material (“resin may be used as the material of the housing 6, or the housing 6 andthedielectric
`
`lens 7 may be integrally formed of the sameresin material,” [0057] of the specification).
`
`Therefore, it is unclear how the housing would be both integrally formed with the dielectric lens
`
`and made a material with higher thermal conductivity than the dielectric lens.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`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 groundofrejectionif the priorart
`
`relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same undereither status.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/198,908
`Art Unit: 2845
`
`Page 4
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which formsthe basis for all obviousness
`
`rejectionsset forth in this Office action:
`
`A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed inventionis 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 obviousbefore the effective
`filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinaryskill in the art to which the claimed
`invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the mannerin which the invention was made.
`
`The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35
`
`U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
`
`1. Determining the scope and contents ofthe priorart.
`
`2. Ascertaining the differences betweenthe prior art and the claimsat issue.
`
`3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
`
`4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or
`
`nonobviousness.
`
`This application currently namesjoint inventors. In considering patentability of the
`
`claims the examiner presumesthat the subject matter of the various claims was commonly
`
`ownedasofthe effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidenceto the
`
`contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and
`
`effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly ownedasofthe effective filing date
`
`of the later invention in order for the examinerto consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C.
`
`102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
`
`Claims 1-4, 6-8 and 11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
`
`Felic et al. (US 2015/0207236 A1) in view of Shao (CN 105846043 A — cited by Applicant).
`
`Asto claim 1, Felic teaches an antenna device (Fig. 1A), comprising:
`
`a housing (120A-B, 130, Fig. 1) having a windowsurface (base of lens 110, Fig. 1);
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/198,908
`Art Unit: 2845
`
`Page 5
`
`a transmitting antenna (150, Fig. 1) that is inside the housing and configured to transmit
`
`an electromagnetic wave to outside the housing through the window surface (as shownin Fig. 5),
`
`a receiving antenna (150, Fig. 1) that is inside the housing and configured to receive a
`
`reflected wave from outside the housing through the window surface (as shownin Fig. 5), the
`
`reflected wave being the electromagnetic wavereflected at a target (“processing reflected radar
`
`signal to obtain information about one or more targets,” [0043]);
`
`a circuit board (140, Fig. 1A) that is inside the housing (120A-B, Fig. 1A) and includes a
`
`board surface (Fig. 1C), the transmitting antenna and receiving antenna (150, Fig. 1A-C) being
`
`positioned on the board surface, the electromagnetic wave being transmitted and the reflected
`
`wave being received through the window surface; and
`
`a dielectric lens (110, Fig. 1A) covering the windowsurface, the dielectric lens
`
`configured to narrow a beam ofthe electromagnetic wave transmitted from the transmitting
`
`antenna to output the beam outside the housing, and collect reflected wave inputted from outside
`
`the housing to the receiving antenna (as shownin Fig. 5),
`
`wherein the dielectric lens is integrally formed with the housing (“an improved antenna
`
`unit is provided by integrating a dielectric lens for an antennainto a lens structure formed of a
`
`dielectric material that incorporates both a lens and a support structure in a unitary body. The
`
`lens structure acts as a support (and in some embodiments as a housing) for an antenna substrate
`
`carrying radiating elements of the antenna,” [0043]).
`
`Felic does not explicitly teach the electromagnetic wave being transmitted and the
`
`reflected wave being received in a substantially horizontal direction with respect to the board
`
`surface.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/198,908
`Art Unit: 2845
`
`Page 6
`
`Shao teaches the electromagnetic wave being transmitted and the reflected wave being
`
`received in a substantially horizontal direction with respect to the board surface(i.e. the
`
`electromagnetic waveswill travel parallel to the board surface as an end-fire antenna).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the antenna
`
`device of Felic such that the electromagnetic wave being transmitted and the reflected wave
`
`being receivedis in a substantially horizontal direction with respect to the board surface, as
`
`taught by Shao. Oneofordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make the
`
`modification in order to reduce the height of the antenna device.
`
`Asto claim 2, Felic teaches the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna (150, Fig.
`
`1A) are each composedof a conductor pattern formed on the circuit board (“each of the antenna
`
`arrays 150A, 150B hasfive radiating antenna elements 321 that provide a primary radiation
`
`source for the antenna unit 100. In one example, the radiating antenna element 321 are printed on
`
`a Taconic (PTFE)substrate,” [0051]).
`
`Asto claim 3, Felic does not explicitly teach the transmitting antenna and the receiving
`
`antenna are end-fire array antennae disposed on a front region in the board surface of the circuit
`
`board.
`
`Shao teaches the transmitting antenna and the receiving antennaare end-fire array
`
`antennae (5, Fig. 2) disposed on a front region in the board surface of the circuit board (4, Fig.
`
`1).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the antenna of
`
`Felic to be end-fire array antennae disposed on a front region in the board surface of the circuit
`
`board, as taught by Shao. Oneof ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make the
`
`modification to provide a higher gain antenna.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/198,908
`Art Unit: 2845
`
`Page 7
`
`Asto claim 4, Felic teaches any of an antenna element of the transmitting antenna and an
`
`antenna element of the receiving antenna (150, Fig. 1A) is disposed on any of two board surfaces
`
`of a front surface side and a back surface side of the circuit board (140, Fig. 1A).
`
`Asto claim 6, Felic does not explicitly teach the dielectric lens is configured to convert
`
`the electromagnetic wave transmitted from the transmitting antenna to a plane wave and output
`
`the plane waveoutside the housing.
`
`Shao teachesthe dielectric lens is configured to convert the electromagnetic wave
`
`transmitted from the transmitting antenna to a plane wave and output the plane waveoutside the
`
`housing (“the phase center of the array antenna feed 5 is located at the focus of the cylindrical
`
`dielectric lens 1 so that the incident waveofthe vertical plane of the array antenna feed 5 can be
`
`refracted through the cylindrical surface of the cylindrical dielectric lens 1, thereby the exiting
`
`wave approached the plane wave,” English translation, page5, first paragraph).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the antenna
`
`device of Felic such that the dielectric lens is configured to convert the electromagnetic wave
`
`transmitted to a plane wave, as taught by Shao. Oneofordinary skill in the art would have been
`
`motivated to make the modification in order to increase the gain and directivity of the antenna
`
`device.
`
`Asto claim 7, Felic teaches the dielectric lens (110, Fig. 1A) is composed of a convex
`
`lens that has a convex shapein a front surface side.
`
`Asto claim 8, Felic teaches a signal processor (170, Fig. 1B) configured to estimates an
`
`azimuth of the target based on the reflected wave (“a CMOSchip for generating radar signals
`
`and/or processing reflected radar signals to obtain information about one or moretargets,”
`
`[0043]).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/198,908
`Art Unit: 2845
`
`Page 8
`
`Asto claim 11, Felic does not explicitly teach when a normal direction of the board
`
`surface of the circuit board is regarded as a vertical direction, a length in the vertical direction of
`
`the housing is shorter than a length in a front-rear direction of the housing (Fig. 1, “such a
`
`structure is easy to implementa low profile,” English translation, page 4, fourth paragraph).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the device of
`
`Felic such that a normal direction of the board surface of the circuit board is regarded as a
`
`vertical direction, a length in the vertical direction of the housing is shorter than a length in a
`
`front-rear direction of the housing, as taught by Shao. Oneofordinary skill in the art would have
`
`been motivated to make the modification to provide a low profile device, which would be easier
`
`to fit in a designated space on a vehicle.
`
`Claim 5 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Felic et al. (US
`
`2015/0207236 A1) in view of Shao (CN 105846043 A — cited by Applicant), further in view
`
`of Shi (US 2016/0195612 A1).
`
`Asto claim 5, Felic in view of Shao does not teach the transmitting antenna and the
`
`receiving antenna are post-wall waveguide antennaethat are disposed so as to have apertures
`
`toward a front end side of the circuit board.
`
`Shi teaches an antenna device, wherein the transmitting antennaandthe receiving
`
`antenna are post-wall waveguide antennae (Fig. 6) that are disposed so as to have apertures
`
`toward a front end side of the circuit board.
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the slot antennas
`
`of Felic, as modified by Shao, with the post-wall waveguide antennas disclosed by Shi. One of
`
`ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make the modification so that the antenna
`
`array may havea vertical polarization, as taught by Shi, paragraph [0018].
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/198,908
`Art Unit: 2845
`
`Page 9
`
`Claim 12 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Felic et al. (US
`
`2015/0207236 A1) in view of Shao (CN 105846043 A —- cited by Applicant, further in view of
`
`Elden (WO 96/29755 — cited by Applicant).
`
`Asto claim 12, Felic in view of Shao does not explicitly teach the housing includes a
`
`connection unit that thermally bonds with the circuit board or a circuit part mounted on the
`
`circuit board.
`
`Elden teaches the housing includes a connection unit that thermally bonds with the circuit
`
`board or a circuit part mounted on the circuit board (“the antenna is adhesively or thermally
`
`bonded or otherwise secured and mounted to a generally planar or flat light-transmissive antenna
`
`board or circuit board,” page 9, lines 33-36).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the antenna
`
`device of Felic, as modified by Shao, by providing a connection unit that thermally bonds with
`
`the circuit board, as taught by Elden. Oneof ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated
`
`to make the modification because thermally bonding components together is a low cost and
`
`effective method of attaching two or more components together.
`
`Claims 9-10 and 13-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
`
`Felic et al. (US 2015/0207236 A1) in view of Shao (CN 105846043 A — cited by Applicant),
`
`further in view of Suzukiet al. (US 2004/0227663 Al).
`
`Asto claim 9, Felic in view of Shao does not explicitly teach the housing includes metal
`
`material.
`
`Suzuki teaches the housing includes a metal material (“installing a metal plate... on a
`
`plane of and around the transmission/reception antenna in an antenna unit,” [0003]).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/198,908
`Art Unit: 2845
`
`Page 10
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the housing of
`
`Felic, as modified by Shao, such that the housing includes a metal material, as taught by Suzuki.
`
`Oneofordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make the modification in order to
`
`reduce sidelobes, as taught by Suzuki.
`
`Asto claim 10, Felic in view of Shao does not explicitly teach the housing is made of a
`
`material with higher thermal conductivity than the dielectric lens.
`
`Suzuki teaches the housing includes a metal material (“installing a metal plate... ona
`
`plane of and around the transmission/reception antenna in an antenna unit,” [0003]), which is
`
`well knownin the art as having a higher thermal conductivity than the plastic material of the
`
`dielectric lens.
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the housing of
`
`Felic, as modified by Shao, such that the housing is made of a material with higher thermal
`
`conductivity than the dielectric lens (i.e. a metal), as taught by Suzuki. One of ordinary skill in
`
`the art would have been motivated to make the modification in order to reduce sidelobes, as
`
`taught by Suzuki.
`
`Asto claim 13, Felic teaches the antenna device is mounted in a vehicle, but does not
`
`explicitly teach the antenna device comprising a bracketthat fixes the housing on a cover
`
`memberofthe vehicle arranged to covera front region outside the antenna device and defines a
`
`direction in which the electromagnetic wave is transmitted outside the housing.
`
`Suzuki teaches a bracket (18, Fig. 7A) that fixes the housing (1, Fig. 7A) on a cover
`
`member(14, Fig. 7A) of the vehicle arranged to cover a front region outside the antenna device
`
`and defines a direction in which the electromagnetic waveis transmitted outside the housing
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/198,908
`Art Unit: 2845
`
`Page 11
`
`(“the bumper 14 has a recessed portion 18 in its inner wall in which a millimeter waveradar | is
`
`mounted from inside the bumper 14,” [0044]).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the antenna
`
`device of Felic, as modified by Shao, by providing a bracketthat fixes the housing on the cover
`
`member,as taught by Suzuki. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to
`
`make the modification in order to adapt the radar device for a road vehicle. In particular, one of
`
`ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to provide the antenna device in the front end
`
`of a vehicle in order to detect hazards in front of the vehicle.
`
`Asto claim 14, Felic in view of Shao does not teach the bracket fixes the housing on the
`
`cover memberso as to makethe direction in which the electromagnetic waveis transmitted
`
`outside the housing horizontal to ground.
`
`Suzuki teaches the bracket fixes the housing on the cover memberso as to make the
`
`direction in which the electromagnetic wave is transmitted outside the device horizontal to a
`
`ground (main radiation beam 8, Fig. 2 is indicated a extending in a horizontal direction).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the antenna
`
`device of Felic, as modified by Shao, such that the direction of the electromagnetic waveis
`
`horizontal to a ground, as taught by Suzuki. Oneof ordinary skill in the art would have been
`
`motivated to make the modification in order to detect hazards in front of the vehicle, therefore
`
`preventing the vehicle from crashing into a hazard.
`
`Asto claim 15, Felic in view of Shao does not teach the bracket is made of an
`
`electromagnetic wave absorberor material containing the electromagnetic wave absorber.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/198,908
`Art Unit: 2845
`
`Page 12
`
`Suzuki teaches the bracket is made of an electromagnetic wave absorber or material
`
`containing the electromagnetic wave absorber (15, Fig. 7A, “the inner wall of the bumper14 is
`
`fitted with a radio wave attenuation layer or radio wave absorbinglayer,” [0045]).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the antenna
`
`device of Felic, as modified by Shao, by including an electromagnetic wave absorberto the
`
`bracket, as taught by Suzuki. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make
`
`the modification in order to absorb sidelobes radiating from the antenna, therefore reducing
`
`unwantedtransmission of sidelobes, as taught by Suzuki (see paragraph [0032]).
`
`Claims 16-17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable overFelic et
`
`al. (US 2015/0207236 A1) in view of Shao (CN 105846043 A — cited by Applicant), further
`
`in view of Rebeiz et al. (US 2008/0048921 A1).
`
`Asto claim 16, Felic in view of Shao does not teach a reflection unit that is supported at
`
`a position facing the board surface of the circuit board to reflect a sidelobe of the electromagnetic
`
`wavetransmitted by the transmitting antennato a front direction.
`
`Rebeiz teaches a reflection unit (66, Fig. 9) that is supported at a position facing the
`
`board surface of the circuit board (26, Fig. 9) to reflect a sidelobe of the electromagnetic wave
`
`transmitted by the transmitting antennato a front direction (“Theat least one reflector 66 is
`
`adapted to reflect electromagnetic energy propagated throughthe at least one electromagnetic
`
`lens 12 after being generated by at least one of the plurality of antenna feed elements 14,”
`
`[0082]) and “The sidelobe level was about -6 dB, and comparedto the array withouta reflector,
`
`the depth of the nulls between the main beam andsidelobes was substantially increased,”
`
`[0122]).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/198,908
`Art Unit: 2845
`
`Page 13
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the antenna
`
`device of Felic, as modified by Shao, by providing a reflection unit, as taught by Rebeiz. One of
`
`ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make the modification in order to increase
`
`the gain of the antenna device.
`
`Asto claim 17, Felic in view of Shao does not teach the dielectric lens is composedof a
`
`ball lens.
`
`Rebeiz teaches the dielectric lens is composedofa ball lens (“the at least one
`
`electromagnetic lens 12 is not limited to any one particular design, and may, for example,
`
`comprise either a spherical lens, a Luneburg lens, a spherical shell lens, a hemispherical lens, an
`
`at least partially spherical lens, an at least partially spherical shell lens, an elliptical lens, a
`
`cylindrical lens, or a rotational lens,” [0069]).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the cylindrical
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`lens of Felic, as modified by Shao, with a ball or spherical lens, as taught by Rebeiz. One of
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`ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make the modification in order to achieve
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`the desired refraction pattern for the electromagnetic wave.
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`Conclusion
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`Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this
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`Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP§ 706.07(a).
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`Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
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`A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE
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`MONTHSfrom the mailing date of this action. In the eventa first reply is filed within TWO
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`MONTHSofthe mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/198,908
`Art Unit: 2845
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`Page 14
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`the end of the THREE-MONTHshortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period
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`will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any extension fee pursuant to 37
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`CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event,
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`however,will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHSfrom the date ofthis
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`final action.
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`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
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`examiner should be directed to JENNIFER F HU whosetelephone numberis (571)272-5486.
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`The examiner can normally be reached on M-F: 9:00AM-5:30PM.
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`Examinerinterviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using
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`a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicantis
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`encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR)at
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`http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
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`If attempts to reach the examinerby telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
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`supervisor, Dameon Levi can be reached on 571-272-2105. The fax phone numberfor the
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`organization where this application or proceedingis assigned is 571-273-8300.
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`Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent
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`Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications
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`maybe obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished
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`applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR
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`system, see https://ppair-my.uspto.gov/pair/PrivatePair. Should you have questions on access to
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`the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-
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`free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/198,908
`Art Unit: 2845
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`Page 15
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`the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA)or 571-272-
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`1000.
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`/DAMEONE LEVI/
`Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2845
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`/JENNIFER F HU/
`Examiner, Art Unit 2845
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`