B . 8 C O .
`
`Patent and Trade
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`M k
`ar Attorneys
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`European Patent Office
`D-80298 Miinchen
`Germany
`
`date 24 July 2007
`yourref
`ourref 31.32.89l 13
`
`EPO - Munich
`63
`25. Juli 2007
`
`Dear Sirs
`
`European Patent Application No. 04716928.9 (1614136)
`Regional Phase of PCT Application PCT/US2004/006456
`Zond, Inc.
`
`In reply to the Official Communication dated 15 December 2006, we enclose replacement pages
`1, 2, 2a, 3, 4, 9, 23, 26-28, 30-32 and 34-37 to replace the pages 1-4, 9, 23, 26~28, 30-32 and
`34-37 currently on file.
`
`The Examiner objected that the independent claims 1 and 15 lacked novelty over documents D1
`and D2. Amended apparatus claim 1 now includes the feature of claim 2, namely that the
`excited atom source comprises a magnet for trapping electrons proximate to the ground state
`atoms. Method claim 15 (now claim 14) has been similarly amended.
`
`In the examination report, with regard to claim 2, the Examiner referred back to the IPRP. In
`that report, the Examiner gave the opinion that claim 2 also lacked novelty over D1 and D2, but
`gave no detailed reasoning. We respectfully disagree with his objection.
`
`D1 discloses a first plasma generating means which excites atoms to a metastable state and a
`second plasma generating means for activating the gas. However, D1 does not disclose the use
`of a magnet anywhere within the apparatus. In particular, D1 does not disclose the use of a
`magnet within the firstplasma generating means for trapping electrons proximate to the ground
`state atoms as require by amended claim 1.
`
`D2 relates to a continuous plasma laser. In D2, the multiple anodes and cathodes along the
`length of the chamber excite the atoms into a metastable state to await stimulated emission back
`to the ground state. The whole apparatus of D2 therefore may be considered an excited atom
`source. However, D2 does not disclose a further anode and cathode separate from the excited
`atom source which are used together with a power supply to ionize the excited atoms.
`
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`0
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