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`13/590,423
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`Confirmation No.
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`9482
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`Aleksandar Modrag Tasic
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`August 21, 2012
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`2631
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`Khanh C. Tran
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`121973
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`23696
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`AMENDMENT
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`Application No.
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`Applicant
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`Filed
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`Art Unit
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`Examiner
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`Docket No.
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`Customer No.
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`Commissionerfor Patents
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
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`Sir:
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`In response to an Office Action dated November 14, 2013, please amend the above-
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`identified application as follows:
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`Amendmentsto the Claimsare reflected in the listing of claims which begins on page 2
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`of this paper.
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`Remarks/Arguments begin on page 7 of this paper.
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`Attorney Docket No. 121973
`Customer No. 23696
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`-1-
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`INTEL 1213
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`Serial No. 13/590,423
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`Amendmentsto the Claims:
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`Please note that all claims currently pending and under consideration in the referenced
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`application are shown below. This listing of claims will replace all prior versions andlistings of
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`claims in the application.
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`Listing of Claims:
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`1. (Currently amended) An apparatus comprising:
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`a first amplifier stage configured to receive and amplify an input radio frequency (RF)
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`signal and provide a first output RF signal to a first load circuit when the first
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`amplifier stage is enabled, the input RF signal comprising transmissions sent on
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`multiple carriers at different frequencies to a wireless device, the first output RF
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`signal including at least a first carrier of the multiple carriers; and
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`a second amplifier stage configured to receive and amplify the input RF signal and
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`provide a second output RF signal to a second load circuit when the second
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`amplifier stage is enabled, the second output RF signal including at least a second
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`carrier of the multiple carriers different than the first carrier.
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`2. (Original) The apparatus of claim 1, the first amplifier stage comprising a first gain transistor
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`coupled to a first cascode transistor, the second amplifier stage comprising a second gain
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`transistor coupled to a second cascodetransistor, and the input RF signal being provided
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`to both the first and second gain transistors.
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`3. (Original) The apparatus of claim 2, the first amplifier stage further comprisingafirst inductor
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`coupled to the first gain transistor, and the second amplifier stage further comprising a
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`second inductor coupled to the second gain transistor.
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`4. (Original) The apparatus of claim 2,
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`the first and second gain transistors having sources
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`_2-
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`coupled to circuit ground.
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`Serial No. 13/590,423
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`5. (Original) The apparatus of claim 2, the first and second amplifier stages providing the first
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`and second output RF signals in a first mode and providing the first output RF signal but
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`not the second output RF signal in a second mode,the first and second cascodetransistors
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`being enabled in the first mode, and only one of the first and second cascode transistors
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`being enabled in the second mode.
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`6. (Original) The apparatus of claim 5, the first and second gain transistors being applied the
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`input RF signal in both the first mode and the second mode, and oneof the first and
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`second gain transistors operating in a saturation region and the other one of the first and
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`second gain transistors operating in a linear region in the second mode.
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`7. (Original) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
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`a feedback circuit coupled between an output and an input ofat least one of the first and
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`second amplifier stages.
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`8. (Original) The apparatus of claim 7, the feedback circuit comprising a resistor, or a capacitor,
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`or both a resistor and a capacitor.
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`9. (Original) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
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`a first attenuation circuit coupled to the first amplifier stage and configured to receive the
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`input RF signal; and
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`a second attenuation circuit coupled to the second amplifier stage and configured to
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`receive the input RF signal.
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`10. (Original) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
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`an attenuation circuit coupled to the first and second amplifier stages and configured to
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`receive the input RF signal.
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`Serial No. 13/590,423
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`11. (Original) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
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`an input matching circuit coupled to the first and second amplifier stages and configured
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`to receive a receiver input signal and provide the input RFsignal.
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`12.
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`(Original) The apparatus of claim 11,
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`the input matching circuit being tunable and
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`comprising at least one adjustable circuit component.
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`13. (Original) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
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`a third amplifier stage configured to receive and amplify a second input RF signal and
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`provide the first output RF signal to the first load circuit when the third amplifier
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`stage is enabled; and
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`a fourth amplifier stage configured to receive and amplify the second input RF signal and
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`provide the second output RF signal to the second load circuit when the fourth
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`amplifier stage is enabled.
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`14. (Original) The apparatus of claim 1,
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`the first amplifier stage configured to receive and amplify the input RF signal or a second
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`input RF signal and providethe first output RF signal to the first load circuit when
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`the first amplifier stage is enabled, and
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`the second amplifier stage configured to receive and amplify the input RF signal or the
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`second input RF signal and provide the second output RF signal to the second
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`load circuit when the second amplifier stage is enabled.
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`15. (Original) The apparatus of claim 2, the first amplifier stage further comprising a third gain
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`transistor coupled to a third cascode transistor,
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`the second amplifier stage further
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`comprising a fourth gain transistor coupled to a fourth cascode transistor, and a second
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`input RF signal being provided to both the third and fourth gain transistors.
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`Serial No. 13/590,423
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`16. (Original) The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:
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`a third amplifier stage configured to receive and amplify a third input RF signal or a
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`fourth input RF signal and provide the first output RF signal to the first load
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`circuit when the third amplifier stage is enabled; and
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`a fourth amplifier stage configured to receive and amplify the third input RF signal or the
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`fourth input RF signal and provide the second output RF signal to the second load
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`circuit when the fourth amplifier stage is enabled.
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`17. (Currently amended) A method comprising:
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`amplifying a first input radio frequency (RF) signal with a first amplifier stage to obtain a
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`first output RF signal whenthe first amplifier stage is enabled, the first input RF
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`signal comprising transmissions sent on multiple carriers at different frequencies
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`to a wireless device, the first output RF signal including at least a first carrier of
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`the multiple carriers; and
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`amplifying the first input RF signal or a second input RF signal with a second amplifier
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`stage to obtain a second output RF signal when the second amplifier stage is
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`enabled, the second output RF signal including at least_a second carrier of the
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`multiple carriers different than the first carrier.
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`18. (Original) The method of claim 17, further comprising:
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`enabling the first and second amplifier stages in a first mode to obtain the first and second
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`output RF signals; and
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`enabling the first amplifier stage and disabling the second amplifier stage in a second
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`modeto obtain the first output RF signal but not the second output RFsignal.
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`Serial No. 13/590,423
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`19. (Currently amended) An apparatus comprising:
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`first means for amplifying configured to amplify a first input radio frequency (RF) signal
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`and provide a first output RF signal when the first means for amplifying is
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`enabled,
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`the first input RF signal comprising transmissions sent on multiple
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`carriers at different frequencies to a wireless device, the second output RF signal
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`including at least a second carrier of the multiple carriers different than the first
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`carrier; and
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`second means for amplifying configured to amplify the first input RF signal or a second
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`input RF signal and provide a second output RF signal when the second meansfor
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`amplifying is enabled, the second output RF signal including at least_a second
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`carrier of the multiple carriers different than the first carrier.
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`20. (Original) The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:
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`meansfor enabling the first and second meansfor amplifying in a first mode to obtain the
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`first and second output RF signals; and
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`means for enabling the first means for amplifying and disabling the second means for
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`amplifying in a second mode to obtain the first output RF signal but not the
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`second output RFsignal.
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`Serial No. 13/590,423
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`REMARKS
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`The Office Action mailed November 14, 2013, has been received and reviewed. Claims
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`1-20 are pending in the application. Claims 1, 7, 17 and 19 stand rejected. Claims 2-6, 8-16, 18
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`and 20 are objected to as depending from rejected base claims. Applicant has amended claims1,
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`17 and 19, submits the following remarks, and respectfully requests reconsideration of the
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`application. Support for Applicant’s claim amendments is foundin at least paragraph 0057 of
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`Applicant’s as-filed specification. No new matter has been added.
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`35 U.S.C. § 103(a) Obviousness Rejections
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`Obviousness Rejection Based on Eisenhut
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`Claims 1, 7, 17 and 19 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being unpatentable
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`over U.S. Patent No. 7,751,513 to Eisenhut et al. (Eisenhut’). Applicant has amended the
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`claims and respectfully requests reconsideration of the rejection as hereinafter set forth.
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`To establish a prima facie case of obviousness the prior art reference (or references when
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`combined) must teach or suggest all the claim limitations. In re Royka, 490 F.2d 981, 985
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`(CCPA 1974); see also MPEP § 2143.03. Additionally, there must be “a reason that would have
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`prompted a person of ordinary skill in the relevant field to combinethe [prior art] elements” in
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`the manner claimed. KSR Int’! Co. v. Teleflex Inc., 127 S. Ct. 1727, 1742, 167 L.Ed.2d 705, 75
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`USLW 4289, 82 U.S.P.Q.2d 1385 (2007). Finally, to establish a prima facie case of obviousness
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`there must be a reasonable expectation of success. In re Merck & Co., Inc., 800 F.2d 1091, 1097
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`(Fed. Cir. 1986). Furthermore, the reason that would have prompted the combination and the
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`reasonable expectation of success must be foundin the prior art, common knowledge,or the
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`nature of the problem itself, and not based on the Applicants’ disclosure. DyStar Textilfarben
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`GmbH & Co. Deutschland KG v. C. H. Patrick Co., 464 F.3d 1356, 1367 (Fed. Cir. 2006);
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`MPEP§ 2144. Underlying the obvious determination is the fact that statutorily prohibited
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`hindsight cannot be used. KSR, 127 S.Ct. at 1742; DyStar, 464 F.3d at 1367.
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`The 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) obviousness rejections of claims 1, 7, 17 and 19 are improper
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`because the elements for a prima facie case of obviousness are not met. Specifically, the
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`rejection fails to meet the criterion that the prior art reference(s) must teach or suggest all the
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`-7-
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`claimslimitations.
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`Regarding independentclaims 1, 17 and 19, Applicant’s independent claims 1, 17 and
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`19 include claim elements not taught or suggested in the cited reference. Applicant’s
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`independent claims |, 17 and 19 eachrecite, in part, a “amplify[ing] an input radio frequency
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`Serial No. 13/590,423
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`(RF) signal and provideafirst output RF signal..., the first output RF signal includingat least
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`a first carrier of the multiple carriers; and ... amplify[ing] the input RF signal and provide a
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`second output RF signal ..., the second output RF signal including at least a second carrier of
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`the multiple carriers different than the first carrier.”
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`Applicant respectfully asserts that Eisenhut does not teach or suggest Applicant’s
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`invention as presently claimed in amended independent claims 1, 17 and 19.
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`The Office Action concedes:
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`Eisenhutet al. differs from the application claim in that Eisenhutet al. does not discloses
`the input RF signal comprising transmissionssent on multiple carriers at
`different frequencies to a wireless device as set forth in the application claim.
`(Office Action, p. 3; emphasis added)
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`Applicant concurs.
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`The Office Action then alleges:
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`Because the application claim recites the signal input being an input RFsignal, therefore,
`if would have been obviousfor one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the
`invention was madethat one recognizes Eisenhutet al. would apply to the input
`RF signal as claimed. (Office Action, p. 3)
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`Regardless of the veracity of the above-allegation, Applicant has amendedindependentclaims1,
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`17 and 19 to recite “amplify[ing] an input radio frequency (RF) signal and providea first output
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`RFsignal ..., the first output RF signal including atleasta first carrier of the multiple
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`carriers; and ... amplify[ing] the input RF signal and provide a second output RFsignal..., the
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`second output RF signal including at least a second carrier of the multiple carriers different
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`than the first carrier,” which is not taught in Eisenhut.
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`In contrast, Eisenhut teaches, with respect to Fig. 1, that the output from thefirst
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`amplifier in signal path 6 is combined with the output from the second amplifier in signal path 7.
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`-g-
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`Serial No. 13/590,423
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`Specifically, Eisenhut teaches:
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`The signal output 73 forthe digital signal of the second signal path 7, for example, leads
`to an input of a switch 10. The switch 10 can assume oneofat least two possible
`states, wherein, in a first switching state, the switch connects the output 73 to an
`input 91 of a powerdetector 9. In a second switchingstate, the switch 10
`connects the output 73 of the second signal path 7 to the input 81 of a
`demodulation device 8. Furthermore, the output 63 of the first signal path6is
`also connected to the input 81 of the demodulation device 8. (Eisenhut, col. 5,
`Ins. 35-43; emphasis added)
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`Applicant respectfully notes that output signals 63 and 73 in Eisenhutare identical in carrier
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`selection and are merely ‘power combined’at the input 81.
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`Therefore, since Eisenhut does not teach “amplify[ing] an input radio frequency (RF)
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`signal and providea first output RF signal ..., the first output RF signal including atleast a
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`first carrier of the multiple carriers; and ... amplify[ing] the input RF signal and provide a
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`second output RF signal ..., the second output RF signal including at least a second carrier of
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`the multiple carriers different than the first carrier” as claimed by Applicant, the cited
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`reference cannotrender obvious, under 35 U.S.C. §103, Applicant’s invention as presently
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`claimed. Accordingly, Applicant respectfully requests the rejections of independent claims 1, 17
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`and 19 be withdrawn.
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`Regarding dependent claim 7, the nonobviousness of independent claim 1 precludes a
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`rejection of claim 7 which depends therefrom because a dependentclaim is obvious onlyif the
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`independent claim from whichit dependsis obvious. See In re Fine, 5 U.S.P.Q.2d 1596, 1600
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`(Fed. Cir. 1988), see also MPEP § 2143.03. Therefore, Applicant requests that the Examiner
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`withdraw the 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) obviousness rejection to independent claim 1 and claim 7 which
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`dependstherefrom.
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`Objections to Claims 2-6, 8-16, 18 and 20/Allowable Subject Matter
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`Claims 2-6, 8-16, 18 and 20 stand objected to as being dependent uponrejected base
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`claims, but are indicated to contain allowable subject matter and would be allowable if placed in
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`appropriate independent form. Applicant acknowledgesthis indication with appreciation, but
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`-9-
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`respectfully asserts that the claims in their present form, along with all other claims presently
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`underconsideration, are in condition for allowance.
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`Serial No. 13/590,423
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`-10-
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`Serial No. 13/590,423
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`CONCLUSION
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`Claims 1-20 are believed to be in condition for allowance, and an early notice thereofis
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`respectfully solicited. Should the Examiner determine that additional issues remain which might
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`be resolved by a telephone conference, the Examineris respectfully invited to contact
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`Applicant’s undersigned attorney.
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`Respectfully submitted,
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`Dated: February 6, 2014
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`By:
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`/Ramin Mobarhan, Reg# 50,182/
`
`Ramin Mobarhan, Reg. No. 50,182
`(858) 658 2447
`
`QUALCOMMIncorporated
`5775 Morehouse Drive
`San Diego, California 92121
`Telephone:
`(858) 658-2447
`Facsimile:
`(858) 658-2502
`
`-ll-
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