IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
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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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`Commissioner for Patents
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`PO. Box 1450
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`Alexandria, VA 22313— 1450
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`Sir:
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`In response to an Office Action dated December 26, 2014, please amend the above—
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`identified application as follows:
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`Amendments to the Claims are 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 1320
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`Serial No. 13/590,423
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`Amendments to 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 and listings 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 be independently enabled or disabled, the first amplifier
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`stage further configured to receive and amplify an input radio frequency (RF) signal
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`and provide a first output RF signal to a first load circuit when the first amplifier
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`stage is enabled,
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`the input RF signal employing carrier aggregation comprising
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`transmissions sent on multiple carriers at different frequencies to a wireless device,
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`the first output RF signal including at least a first carrier of the multiple carriers; and
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`a second amplifier stage configured to be independently enabled or disabled, the second
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`amplifier stage further configured to receive and amplify the input RF signal and
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`provide a second output RF signal
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`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 cascode transistor, 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 comprising a first 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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`Serial No. 13/590,423
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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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`coupled to circuit ground.
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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 cascode transistors
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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 one of 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 of at 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 RF signal.
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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 provide the 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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`-4-
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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 when the first amplifier stage is enabled, the first amplifier
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`stage configured to be independently enabled or disabled, the first input RF signal
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`employing carrier aggregation comprising transmissions sent on multiple carriers
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`at different frequencies to a wireless device, the first output RF signal including at
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`least a first carrier of 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 amplifier stage configured to be independently enabled or
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`disabled, 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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`mode to obtain the first output RF signal but not the second output RF signal.
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`19. (Cun‘ently amended) An apparatus comprising:
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`Serial No. 13/590,423
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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, the first means for amplifying configured to be independently enabled or
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`disabled,
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`the first
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`input RF signal employing carrier aggregation comprising
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`transmissions sent on multiple carriers at different frequencies to a wireless
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`device, the second output RF signal including at least a second carrier of the
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`multiple carriers different than the first 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 means for
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`amplifying is enabled,
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`the second means for amplifying configured to be
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`independently enabled or disabled, the second output RF signal including at least
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`a second 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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`means for enabling the first and second means for 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 RF signal.
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`REMARKS
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`Serial No. 13/590,423
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`The Office Action mailed December 26, 2014, has been received and reviewed. Claims
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`1—20 are pending in the application. Claims 1, 11, l2, l4, l7 and 19 stand rejected. Claims 2—10,
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`13, 15, 16, 18 and 20 are objected to as depending from rejected base claims. Applicant proposes
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`to amend claims 1, 17, and 19, submits the following remarks, and respectfully requests
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`reconsideration of the application. No new matter has been added.
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`Examiner Interview
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`Applicant expresses appreciation to Examiner Khanh C. Tran for the telephonic
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`Examiner Interview of February 11, 2015 with Applicant’s representatives, Kevin K. Johanson
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`(Reg. No. 38,506) and Jason P. Nixon (Reg. No. 58,604). Applicant herein acknowledges the
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`substance of the Examiner Interview in compliance with MPEP § 713.04. Applicant asserts that
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`during the Examiner Interview of February 11, 2015, aoreement was reached by the Examiner
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`that the proposed amendments, now recited in the currently amended claims, overcome the
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`rejections based on the cited references.
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`35 U.S.C. § 102 Anticipation Rejections
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`Anticipation Rejection Based on Kaukovuori
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`Claims 1, 11, 12, 14 and 17 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 102(e) as being anticipated
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`by U.S. Patent No. 8,442,473 to Kaukovuori et al. (“Kaukovuori”). Applicant has amended the
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`claims and respectfully requests reconsideration of the rejection as hereinafter set forth.
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`According to MPEP §2l3l, a claim is anticipated only if each and every element as set
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`forth in the claim is found, either expressly or inherently described, in a single prior art reference
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`and the identical invention must be shown in as complete detail as is contained in the claim.
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`Specifically, “unless a reference discloses within the four corners of the document not only all of
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`the limitations claimed but also all of the limitations arranged or combined in the same way as
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`recited in the claim, it cannot be said to prove prior invention of the thing claimed and, thus,
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`cannot anticipate under 35 U.S.C. § 102.” Net MoneyIN, Inc. v. VeriSign, Inc, 545 F.3d 1359,
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`1371 (Fed. Cir. 2008) (emphasis added).
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`

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`Applicant submits that Kaukovuori does not and cannot anticipate under 35 U.S.C. § 102 the
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`presently claimed invention of claims 1, 11, 12, 14 and 17, because Kaukovuori does not describe,
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`either expressly or inherently, the identical inventions in as complete detail as are contained in the
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`claims.
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`Serial No. 13/590,423
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`Regarding independent claim 1, Applicant’s independent claim 1, as proposed to be
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`amended, recites, inter alia, “a first amplifier stage configured to be independently enabled or
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`disabled, the first amplifier stage further configured to. . .provide a first output RF signal to a first
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`load circuit when the first amplifier stage is enabled. . .and a second amplifier stage configured to
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`be independently enabled or disabled, the second amplifier stage further configured to. . . provide
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`a second output RF signal to a second load circuit when the second amplifier stage is enabled,”
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`which is n_ot disclosed in Kaukovuori.
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`Regarding independent claim 17, Applicant’s independent claim 17, as proposed to be
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`amended, recites, inter alia, “amplifying a first input radio frequency (RF) signal with a first
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`amplifier stage to obtain a first output RF signal when the first amplifier stage is enabled, the first
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`amplifier stage configured to be independently enabled or disabled. . .and amplifying the first
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`input RF signal or a second input RF signal with a second amplifier stage to obtain a second
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`output RF signal when the second amplifier stage is enabled, the second amplifier stage
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`configured to be independently enabled or disabled,” which is also n_ot disclosed in Kaukovuori.
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`In contrast, Kaukovuori appears to disclose nonselective amplifiers that continuously
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`amplify. Furthermore, any ‘enabling,’ ‘selection’ or ‘reconfiguration,’ as disclosed in
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`Kaukovuori, appears to relate to modification of filter bandwidths, and not to enabling an
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`amplifier stage. Specifically, Kaukovuori discloses:
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`One potential method of receiving non—contiguous carrier aggregation signals is to
`receive separate clusters of component cairiers in separate receiver chains, each having a
`LO signal of its own. This is depicted in FIG. 15, where Clusterl and Cluster2 are each
`handled by a separate respective receiver chain, as shown in FIG. 15. (Kaukovuon', CO].
`10, lns. 23—28; emphasis added).
`When the clusters have unequal bandwidths, the choice of bandwidth (BW) setups
`for both receiver chains may be performed in order to reconfigure the receiver such that
`receiver performance is optimal. Typically, the first branch may be configured in a first
`mode to have a first bandpass filter bandwidth to give first bandpass filtered inphase and
`quadrature components, and may be configured in a second mode to have a first lowpass
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`Serial No. 13/590,423
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`filter bandwidth to give first lowpass filtered inphase and quadrature components. In the
`first mode, a second branch may be configured, for example as shown in FIG. 24 within
`the dashed lines, and for example as shown in FIG. 10 or FIG. 11, to have a second
`bandpass filter bandwidth, different from the first bandpass filter bandwidth, to give
`second bandpass filtered inphase and quadrature components. In the second mode, the
`first branch may be used as a conventional DCR receiver, for example to receive single
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`carrier or contiguous carrier signals, and t—hesecond branch, also referred to as an
`additional branch, may be not used, for example by being disconnected or turned off.
`(Kaukovuori, col. l3 , lns. 28— 46; emphasis added).
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`Applicant respectfully notes that Kaukovuori appears to disclose reconfiguring filter
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`bandwidth, which cannot anticipate Applicant’s claimed invention reciting, inter alia, “[an]
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`amplifier stage configured to be independently enabled or disabled.” Regarding Kaukovuori
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`disclosing “the second branch, also referred to as an additional branch, may be not used, for
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`example by being disconnected or tumed off,” Applicant respectfully notes that such a disclosure
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`in Kaukovuori supports the switch 81 in Figure 24 of Kaukovuori which merely disconnects the
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`already-amplified output signal from the LNA to the second Direct Conversion Receiver (DCR)
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`(shown within the dashed lines). Accordingly, such a disclosure of a switch 81 after any
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`amplification, also cannot anticipate Applicant’s claimed invention reciting, inter alia, “[an]
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`amplifier stage configured to be independently enabled or disabled,” as claimed by Applicant in
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`independent claims 1 and 17, as proposed to be amended.
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`Therefore, since Kaukovuori does not disclose Applicant’s invention in as complete
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`detail as is contained in the claims as is required for a proper anticipation rejection, Kaukovuori
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`cannot anticipate, according to 35 U.S.C. §'102, Applicant’s claimed invention, as proposed to be
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`amended. Accordingly, Applicant respectfully requests the rejections of independent claims 1
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`and 17 be withdrawn.
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`Regarding dependent claims 11, 12 and 14, dependent claims 11, 12 and 14 are
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`allowable as depending from now—allowable independent claim 1. Accordingly, Applicant
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`respectfully requests the rejections of dependent claims 11, 12 and 14 be withdrawn.
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`Obviousness Rejection Based on Kaukovuori
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`Claim 19 stands rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being unpatentable over
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`-9-
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`Serial No. 13/590,423
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`Kaukovuori. Applicant has amended the claims and respectfully requests reconsideration of the
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`rejection as hereinafter set forth.
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`Applicant respectfully submits that, as stated in the M.P.E.P. at § 2143, “The rationale to
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`support a conclusion that the claim would have been obvious is that all the claimed elements
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`were known in the prior art and one skilled in the art could have combined the elements as
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`claimed by known methods with no change in their respective functions, and the combination
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`yielded nothing more than predictable results to one of ordinary skill in the art.” KSR lnt’l Co. v.
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`Teleflex, Inc, 550 US. 398 (2007) (emphasis added).
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`The 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) obviousness rejection of claim 19 is improper because the
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`elements for a prima faeie case of obviousness are not met. Specifically, the rejection fails to
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`meet the criterion that the prior art reference(s) must teach or suggest a_ll the claims limitations.
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`Regarding independent claim 19, Applicant’s independent claim 19, as proposed to be
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`amended, includes claim elements not taught or suggested in the cited reference. Applicant’s
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`independent claim 19, as proposed to be amended, recites, inter alia, “first means for amplifying
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`configured to amplify a first input radio frequency (RF) signal and provide a first output RF
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`signal when the first means for amplifying is enabled, the first means for amplifying configured
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`to be independently enabled or disabled. . .and second means for amplifying configured to
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`amplify the first input RF signal or a second input RF signal and provide a second output RF
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`signal when the second means for amplifying is enabled, the second means for amplifying
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`configured to be independently enabled or disabled.” Applicant respectfully asserts that
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`Kaukovuori does not teach or suggest Applicant’s invention of independent claim 19, as
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`proposed to be amended.
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`Applicant herein affirms the above—arguments that Kaukovuori appears to teach
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`reconfiguring filter bandwidth and to further teach a switch 81 m the amplification. Such
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`teachings cannot render obvious Applicant’s claimed invention reciting, inter alia. “the first
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`means for amplifying configured to be independently enabled or disabled [and] the second means
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`for amplifying configured to be independently enabled or disabled,” as claimed by Applicant in
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`independent claim 19, as proposed to be amended.
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`Therefore, since Kaukovuori does not teach “the first means for amplifying configured to
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`be independently enabled or disabled [and] the second means for amplifying configured to be
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`independently enabled or disabled,” the cited reference cannot render obvious, under 35 U.S.C.
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`§103, Applicant’s claimed invention, as proposed to be amended. Accordingly, Applicant
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`respectfully requests the rejection of independent claim 19 be withdrawn.
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`Serial No. 13/590,423
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`Objections to Claims 2-10, 13-16, 18 and 20/Allowable Subject Matter
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`Claims 2—10, 13-16, 18 and 20 stand objected to as being dependent upon rejected 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 acknowledges this indication with appreciation, but
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`respectfully asserts that the claims in their present form, along with all other claims presently
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`under consideration, are in condition for allowance.
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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 thereof is
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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 Examiner is respectfully invited to contact
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`Applicant’s undersigned attorney.
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`Respectfully submitted,
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`Dated: Februaiy 25, 2015
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`By:
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`/Ramin Mobarhan, Reg? 50,182/
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`Ramin Mobarhan, Reg. No. 50,182
`(858) 658 2447
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`QUALCOMM Incmporated
`5775 Morehouse Drive
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`San Diego, California 92121
`Telephone:
`(858) 658-5787
`Facsimile:
`(858) 658—2502
`
`-12-
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