`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`(cid:10)(cid:14)(cid:7)(cid:16)(cid:20)(cid:8)(cid:1)(cid:15)(cid:13)(cid:14)(cid:75)
`13/590,423
`
`(cid:25)(cid:63)(cid:62)(cid:48)(cid:67)(cid:61)(cid:40)(cid:69)(cid:55)(cid:63)(cid:62)(cid:75)(cid:32)(cid:63)(cid:5)(cid:75)
`Confirmation No.
`
`(cid:20)(cid:15)(cid:19)(cid:13)(cid:75)
`9482
`
`(cid:23)(cid:60)(cid:44)(cid:58)(cid:68)(cid:40)(cid:62)(cid:43)(cid:40)(cid:66)(cid:75)(cid:31)(cid:63)(cid:43)(cid:66)(cid:40)(cid:52)(cid:75)(cid:37)(cid:40)(cid:68)(cid:55)(cid:42)(cid:75)
`Aleksandar Modrag Tasic
`
`(cid:23)(cid:71)(cid:52)(cid:71)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:13)(cid:9)(cid:1)(cid:75)(cid:13)(cid:8)(cid:9)(cid:13)(cid:75)
`August 21, 2012
`
`(cid:13)(cid:17)(cid:14)(cid:9)(cid:75)
`2631
`
`(cid:30)(cid:54)(cid:40)(cid:62)(cid:53)(cid:75)(cid:25)(cid:4)(cid:75)(cid:37)(cid:66)(cid:40)(cid:62)(cid:75)
`Khanh C. Tran
`
`(cid:10)(cid:13)(cid:10)(cid:20)(cid:18)(cid:14)(cid:75)
`121973
`
`(cid:13)(cid:14)(cid:17)(cid:20)(cid:17)(cid:75)
`23696
`
`(cid:2)(cid:11)(cid:6)(cid:12)(cid:5)(cid:11)(cid:6)(cid:12)(cid:17)(cid:34)
`AMENDMENT
`
`(cid:23)(cid:65)(cid:65)(cid:59)(cid:55)(cid:42)(cid:40)(cid:69)(cid:55)(cid:63)(cid:62)(cid:75)(cid:32)(cid:63)(cid:4)(cid:75)
`Application No.
`
`(cid:23)(cid:65)(cid:65)(cid:59)(cid:55)(cid:42)(cid:40)(cid:62)(cid:69)(cid:75)
`Applicant
`
`(cid:28)(cid:55)(cid:59)(cid:44)(cid:43)(cid:75)
`Filed
`
`(cid:23)(cid:67)(cid:69)(cid:75)(cid:38)(cid:62)(cid:55)(cid:69)(cid:75)
`Art Unit
`
`(cid:27)(cid:74)(cid:40)(cid:61)(cid:56)(cid:62)(cid:44)(cid:67)(cid:75)
`Examiner
`
`(cid:26)(cid:63)(cid:42)(cid:58)(cid:44)(cid:69)(cid:75)(cid:32)(cid:63)(cid:5)(cid:75)
`Docket No.
`
`(cid:25)(cid:71)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:63)(cid:61)(cid:44)(cid:67)(cid:75)(cid:32)(cid:63)(cid:6)(cid:75)
`Customer No.
`
`:
`
`:
`
`:
`
`:
`
`:
`
`:
`
`:
`
`(cid:25)(cid:63)(cid:61)(cid:61)(cid:55)(cid:68)(cid:68)(cid:55)(cid:63)(cid:62)(cid:44)(cid:67)(cid:75)(cid:47)(cid:64)(cid:66)(cid:75)(cid:34)(cid:40)(cid:70)(cid:44)(cid:62)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:75)
`Commissioner for Patents
`(cid:35)(cid:5)(cid:33)(cid:5)(cid:75)(cid:24)(cid:63)(cid:74)(cid:75)(cid:11)(cid:15)(cid:16)(cid:8)(cid:75)
`PO. Box 1450
`(cid:23)(cid:59)(cid:44)(cid:74)(cid:40)(cid:62)(cid:43)(cid:67)(cid:55)(cid:40)(cid:1)(cid:75)(cid:39)(cid:23)(cid:75)(cid:13)(cid:13)(cid:14)(cid:10)(cid:14)(cid:3)(cid:9)(cid:15)(cid:16)(cid:8)(cid:75)
`Alexandria, VA 22313—1450
`
`(cid:36)(cid:55)(cid:67)(cid:21)(cid:75)
`Sir:
`
`(cid:29)(cid:62)(cid:75)(cid:67)(cid:44)(cid:68)(cid:65)(cid:63)(cid:62)(cid:68)(cid:44)(cid:75)(cid:70)(cid:63)(cid:75)(cid:40)(cid:62)(cid:75)(cid:33)(cid:46)(cid:49)(cid:42)(cid:44)(cid:75)(cid:23)(cid:42)(cid:70)(cid:56)(cid:63)(cid:62)(cid:75)(cid:43)(cid:40)(cid:70)(cid:44)(cid:43)(cid:75)(cid:23)(cid:65)(cid:67)(cid:55)(cid:59)(cid:75)(cid:12)(cid:19)(cid:2)(cid:75)(cid:13)(cid:8)(cid:12)(cid:15)(cid:2)(cid:75)(cid:65)(cid:59)(cid:44)(cid:40)(cid:68)(cid:44)(cid:75)(cid:40)(cid:61)(cid:44)(cid:62)(cid:43)(cid:75)(cid:69)(cid:54)(cid:44)(cid:75)(cid:40)(cid:41)(cid:63)(cid:72)(cid:44)(cid:3)(cid:55)(cid:43)(cid:44)(cid:62)(cid:69)(cid:55)(cid:48)(cid:44)(cid:43)(cid:75)
`In response to an Office Action dated April 18, 2014, please amend the above-identified
`(cid:40)(cid:65)(cid:65)(cid:59)(cid:57)(cid:42)(cid:40)(cid:69)(cid:57)(cid:63)(cid:62)(cid:75)(cid:40)(cid:68)(cid:75)(cid:51)(cid:60)(cid:60)(cid:63)(cid:73)(cid:68)(cid:22)(cid:75)
`application as follows:
`(cid:2)(cid:27)(cid:21)(cid:28)(cid:20)(cid:27)(cid:21)(cid:28)(cid:32)(cid:31)(cid:34)(cid:32)(cid:29)(cid:34)(cid:32)(cid:23)(cid:21)(cid:34)(cid:4)(cid:26)(cid:19)(cid:24)(cid:27)(cid:31)(cid:34)(cid:40)(cid:66)(cid:44)(cid:75)(cid:66)(cid:44)(cid:50)(cid:44)(cid:42)(cid:70)(cid:44)(cid:43)(cid:75)(cid:55)(cid:62)(cid:75)(cid:69)(cid:54)(cid:44)(cid:75)(cid:59)(cid:55)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:55)(cid:62)(cid:52)(cid:75)(cid:63)(cid:47)(cid:75)(cid:42)(cid:59)(cid:40)(cid:55)(cid:61)(cid:68)(cid:75)(cid:73)(cid:54)(cid:55)(cid:42)(cid:54)(cid:75)(cid:41)(cid:44)(cid:52)(cid:55)(cid:62)(cid:68)(cid:75)(cid:63)(cid:62)(cid:75)(cid:65)(cid:40)(cid:52)(cid:44)(cid:75)(cid:13)(cid:75)
`Amendments to the Claims are reflected in the listing of claims which begins on page 2
`(cid:63)(cid:47)(cid:75)(cid:69)(cid:54)(cid:55)(cid:68)(cid:75)(cid:65)(cid:40)(cid:65)(cid:45)(cid:67)(cid:5)(cid:75)
`of this paper.
`(cid:15)(cid:21)(cid:27)(cid:19)(cid:30)(cid:25)(cid:31)(cid:1)(cid:34)(cid:3)(cid:30)(cid:22)(cid:33)(cid:27)(cid:21)(cid:28)(cid:32)(cid:31)(cid:34)(cid:41)(cid:44)(cid:52)(cid:56)(cid:62)(cid:75)(cid:63)(cid:62)(cid:75)(cid:65)(cid:40)(cid:52)(cid:44)(cid:75)(cid:18)(cid:75)(cid:63)(cid:47)(cid:75)(cid:69)(cid:54)(cid:55)(cid:68)(cid:75)(cid:65)(cid:40)(cid:65)(cid:44)(cid:67)(cid:5)(cid:75)
`Remarks/Arguments begin on page 7 of this paper.
`
`(cid:10)(cid:22)(cid:22)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:18)(cid:15)(cid:24)(cid:25)(cid:12)(cid:19)(cid:14)(cid:16)(cid:15)(cid:22)(cid:25)(cid:13)(cid:19)(cid:1)(cid:25)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:3)(cid:9)(cid:8)(cid:6)(cid:25)
`Attorney Docket No. 121973
`Customer No. 23696
`(cid:11)(cid:23)(cid:21)(cid:22)(cid:19)(cid:17)(cid:15)(cid:20)(cid:25)(cid:13)(cid:19)(cid:2)(cid:25)(cid:5)(cid:6)(cid:7)(cid:9)(cid:7)(cid:25)
`
`(cid:1) (cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:1)
`-1 —
`
`(cid:7)(cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:6)(cid:8)(cid:11)(cid:4)(cid:20)(cid:3)(cid:5)(cid:11)
`INTEL 1415
`
`
`
`Serial No. 13/590,423
`
`Amendments to the Claims:
`
`Please note that all claims currently pending and under consideration in the referenced
`
`application are shown below. This listing of claims will replace all prior versions and listings of
`
`claims in the application.
`
`Listing of Claims:
`
`1. (Currently amended) An apparatus comprising:
`
`a first amplifier stage configured to receive and amplify an input radio frequency (RF) signal
`
`and provide a first output RF signal to a first load circuit when the first amplifier stage
`
`is
`
`enabled,
`
`the
`
`input RF signal emploflng carrier aggregation comprising
`
`transmissions sent on multiple carriers at different frequencies to a wireless device,
`
`the first output RF signal including at least a first carrier of the multiple carriers; and
`
`a second amplifier stage configured to receive and amplify the input RF signal and
`
`provide a second output RF signal to a second load circuit when the second
`
`amplifier stage is enabled, the second output RF signal including at least a second
`
`carrier of the multiple carriers different than the first carrier.
`
`2. (Original) The apparatus of claim 1, the first amplifier stage comprising a first gain transistor
`
`coupled to a first cascode transistor, the second amplifier stage comprising a second gain
`
`transistor coupled to a second cascode transistor, and the input RF signal being provided
`
`to both the first and second gain transistors.
`
`3. (Original) The apparatus of claim 2, the first amplifier stage further comprising a first inductor
`
`coupled to the first gain transistor, and the second amplifier stage further comprising a
`
`second inductor coupled to the second gain transistor.
`
`4. (Original) The apparatus of claim 2,
`
`the first and second gain transistors having sources
`
`_2_
`
`
`
`coupled to circuit ground.
`
`Serial No. 13/590,423
`
`5. (Original) The apparatus of claim 2, the first and second amplifier stages providing the first
`
`and second output RF signals in a first mode and providing the first output RF signal but
`
`not the second output RF signal in a second mode, the first and second cascode transistors
`
`being enabled in the first mode, and only one of the first and second cascode transistors
`
`being enabled in the second mode.
`
`6. (Original) The apparatus of claim 5, the first and second gain transistors being applied the
`
`input RF signal in both the first mode and the second mode, and one of the first and
`
`second gain transistors operating in a saturation region and the other one of the first and
`
`second gain transistors operating in a linear region in the second mode.
`
`7. (Original) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
`
`a feedback circuit coupled between an output and an input of at least one of the first and
`
`second amplifier stages.
`
`8. (Original) The apparatus of claim 7, the feedback circuit comprising a resistor, or a capacitor,
`
`or both a resistor and a capacitor.
`
`9. (Original) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
`
`a first attenuation circuit coupled to the first amplifier stage and configured to receive the
`
`input RF signal; and
`
`a second attenuation circuit coupled to the second amplifier stage and configured to
`
`receive the input RF signal.
`
`10. (Original) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
`
`an attenuation circuit coupled to the first and second amplifier stages and configured to
`
`receive the input RF signal.
`
`
`
`Serial No. 13/590,423
`
`11. (Original) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
`
`an input matching circuit coupled to the first and second amplifier stages and configured
`
`to receive a receiver input signal and provide the input RF signal.
`
`12.
`
`(Original) The apparatus of claim 11,
`
`the input matching circuit being tunable and
`
`comprising at least one adjustable circuit component.
`
`13. (Original) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
`
`a third amplifier stage configured to receive and amplify a second input RF signal and
`
`provide the first output RF signal to the first load circuit when the third amplifier
`
`stage is enabled; and
`
`a fourth amplifier stage configured to receive and amplify the second input RF signal and
`
`provide the second output RF signal to the second load circuit when the fourth
`
`amplifier stage is enabled.
`
`14. (Original) The apparatus of claim 1,
`
`the first amplifier stage configured to receive and amplify the input RF signal or a second
`
`input RF signal and provide the first output RF signal to the first load circuit when
`
`the first amplifier stage is enabled, and
`
`the second amplifier stage configured to receive and amplify the input RF signal or the
`
`second input RF signal and provide the second output RF signal to the second
`
`load circuit when the second amplifier stage is enabled.
`
`15. (Original) The apparatus of claim 2, the first amplifier stage further comprising a third gain
`
`transistor coupled to a third cascode transistor,
`
`the second amplifier stage further
`
`comprising a fourth gain transistor coupled to a fourth cascode transistor, and a second
`
`input RF signal being provided to both the third and fourth gain transistors.
`
`
`
`Serial No. 13/590,423
`
`16. (Original) The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:
`
`a third amplifier stage configured to receive and amplify a third input RF signal or a
`
`fourth input RF signal and provide the first output RF signal to the first load
`
`circuit when the third amplifier stage is enabled; and
`
`a fourth amplifier stage configured to receive and amplify the third input RF signal or the
`
`fourth input RF signal and provide the second output RF signal to the second load
`
`circuit when the fourth amplifier stage is enabled.
`
`17. (Currently amended) A method comprising:
`
`amplifying a first input radio frequency (RF) signal with a first amplifier stage to obtain a
`
`first output RF signal when the first amplifier stage is enabled, the first input RF
`
`signal employing carrier aggregation comprising transmissions sent on multiple
`
`carriers at different frequencies to a wireless device, the first output RF signal
`
`including at least a first carrier of the multiple carriers; and
`
`amplifying the first input RF signal or a second input RF signal with a second amplifier
`
`stage to obtain a second output RF signal when the second amplifier stage is
`
`enabled, the second output RF signal including at least a second carrier of the
`
`multiple carriers different than the first carrier.
`
`18. (Original) The method of claim 17, further comprising:
`
`enabling the first and second amplifier stages in a first mode to obtain the first and second
`
`output RF signals; and
`
`enabling the first amplifier stage and disabling the second amplifier stage in a second
`
`mode to obtain the first output RF signal but not the second output RF signal.
`
`
`
`Serial No. 13/590,423
`
`19. (Currently amended) An apparatus comprising:
`
`first means for amplifying configured to amplify a first input radio frequency (RF) signal
`
`and provide a first output RF signal when the first means for amplifying is
`
`enabled,
`
`the first
`
`input RF signal employing carrier aggregation comprising
`
`transmissions sent on multiple carriers at different frequencies to a wireless
`
`device, the second output RF signal including at least a second carrier of the
`
`multiple carriers different than the first carrier; and
`
`second means for amplifying configured to amplify the first input RF signal or a second
`
`input RF signal and provide a second output RF signal when the second means for
`
`amplifying is enabled, the second output RF signal including at least a second
`
`carrier of the multiple carriers different than the first carrier.
`
`20. (Original) The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:
`
`means for enabling the first and second means for amplifying in a first mode to obtain the
`
`first and second output RF signals; and
`
`means for enabling the first means for amplifying and disabling the second means for
`
`amplifying in a second mode to obtain the first output RF signal but not the
`
`second output RF signal.
`
`
`
`REMARKS
`
`Serial No. 13/590,423
`
`The Office Action mailed April 18, 2014, has been received and reviewed. Claims 1—20
`
`are pending in the application. Claims 1, 11, 12, 17 and 19 stand rejected. Claims 2—10, 13—16,
`
`18 and 20 are objected to as depending from rejected base claims. Applicant has amended claims
`
`1, 17 and 19, submits the following remarks, and respectfully requests reconsideration of the
`
`application. No new matter has been added.
`
`35 U.S.C. § 102 Anticipation Rejections
`
`Anticipation Rejection Based on Hirose
`
`Claims 1, ll, 12 and 17 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b) as being anticipated by
`
`U.S. Patent No. 7,317,894 to Hirose (“Hirose”). Applicant has amended the claims and
`
`respectfully requests reconsideration of the rejection as hereinafter set forth.
`
`A claim is anticipated only if each and every element as set forth in the claim is found,
`
`either expressly or inherently described, in a single prior art reference and the identical invention
`
`must be shown in as complete detail as is contained in the claim. Specifically, "unless a
`
`reference discloses within the four corners of the document not only all of the limitations claimed
`
`but also all of the limitations arranged or combined in the same way as recited in the claim, it
`
`cannot be said to prove prior invention of the thing claimed and, thus, cannot anticipate under 35
`
`U.S.C. § 102." Net MoneyIN, Inc. v. VeriSign, Inc., 545 F.3d 1359, 1371 (Fed. Cir. 2008)
`
`(emphasis added).
`
`Applicant submits that Hirose does not and cannot anticipate under 35 U.S.C. § 102 the
`
`presently claimed invention of claims 1, 11, 12 and 17, because Hirose does not describe, either
`
`expressly or inherently, the identical inventions in as complete detail as are contained in the
`
`claims.
`
`Regarding amended independent claims 1 and 17, Applicant’s amended independent
`
`claims 1 and 17 recite, inter alia, “the [] input RF signal employing carrier aggregation,” which
`
`is n_0t disclosed in Hirose. Generally, Applicant’s claimed invention recites “carrier aggregation”
`
`which results in an increased aggregated data rate. In contrast, Hirose transmits the same signals
`
`over different paths which results in redundant data at a common data rate. Specifically, the
`
`_7_
`
`
`
`Serial No. 13/590,423
`
`Office Action alleges:
`
`receiving input RF signal (e. g. satellite wave signal and ground
`Hirose discloses
`wave signal)
`(Office Action, p. 3; emphasis added)
`
`Applicant respectfully asserts that Hirose’s “satellite wave signal and ground wave
`
`signal” do not result in “carrier aggregation” as claimed by Applicant in amended independent
`
`claims 1 and 17. As stated, Applicant’s amended independent claims 1 and 17 recite, inter alia,
`
`“the [] input RF signal employing carrier aggregation,” while Hirose discloses redundant data
`
`at a common data rate. Specifically, Hirose discloses:
`
`In an area where it is difficult to receive a radio wave from an elliptical orbit satellite or
`in an urban area where it is difficult to receive a satellite broadcast radio wave, a
`
`radio broadcast receiver receives in some cases a radio wave (ground wave) from
`a ground repeater which is controlled by a Geo stationary orbit satellite.
`Therefore, the satellite radio broadcast receiver receives three radio waves in
`
`total, two satellite waves and one ground wave, at the same time at its wide band
`
`RF amplifier. FIG. 2 shows the spectrum of radio waves to be received by the
`receiver. The center frequency of this spectrum is approximately 2.3 GHz, and the
`satellite wave and ground wave have both the band width of about 4 MHZ.
`Although the satellite wave #1 and the ground wave are received at the same
`timing, the satellite wave #2 is received at the timing delayed by several seconds,
`and so time diversity is presented
`2) Features of Reception System
`
`The receiver receives three waves containing the same contents. However, each radio
`wave has different frequency and propagation path, and a different time period
`while the same data is received. These radio waves are synthesized and
`demodulated so that the effects of frequency diversity, space diversity and time
`diversity can be obtained. (Hirose, col. 1, lns. 26—67; emphasis added)
`
`Clearly Hirose discloses “[t]he receiver receives three waves containing the same
`
`contents,” which results in frequency/time/space diversity, however, such receipt of diversity
`
`signals does n_0t disclose “carrier aggregation” as claimed by Applicant. Specifically, a
`
`disclosure in Hirose of receipt of the “same data” over “three [different] waves” does n_0t
`
`anticipate Applicant’s invention of “the [] input RF signal employing carrier aggregation” as
`
`claimed by Applicant in amended independent claims 1 and 17.
`
`Therefore, since Hirose does not disclose Applicant’s claimed invention in as complete
`
`detail as is contained in the claims as is required for a proper anticipation rejection, Hirose
`
`—8—
`
`
`
`Serial No. 13/590,423
`
`
`cannot anticipate, according to 35 U.S.C. §102, Applicant’s invention as presently claimed.
`
`Accordingly, Applicant respectfully requests the rejections of amended independent claims 1 and
`
`17 be withdrawn.
`
`Regarding dependent claims 11 and 12, dependent claims 11 and 12 are allowable as
`
`depending from now—allowable amended independent claim 1. Accordingly, Applicant
`
`respectfully requests the rejections of dependent claims 11 and 12 be withdrawn.
`
`35 U.S.C. § 103(a) Obviousness Rejections
`
`Obviousness Rejection Based on Hirose
`
`Claim 19 stands rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being unpatentable over Hirose.
`
`Applicant has amended the claim and respectfully requests reconsideration of the rejection as
`
`hereinafter set forth.
`
`To establish a primafacie case of obviousness the prior art reference (or references when
`
`combined) must teach or suggest all the claim limitations. In re Royka, 490 F.2d 981, 985
`
`(CCPA 1974); see also MPEP § 2143.03. Additionally, there must be “a reason that would have
`
`prompted a person of ordinary skill in the relevant field to combine the [prior art] elements” in
`
`the manner claimed. KSR Int’l Co. v. Teleflex Inc., 127 S. Ct. 1727, 1742, 167 L.Ed.2d 705, 75
`
`USLW 4289, 82 U.S.P.Q.2d 1385 (2007). Finally, to establish aprimafacie case of obviousness
`
`there must be a reasonable expectation of success. In re Merck & C0., Inc., 800 F.2d 1091, 1097
`
`(Fed. Cir. 1986). Furthermore, the reason that would have prompted the combination and the
`
`reasonable expectation of success must be found in the prior art, common knowledge, or the
`
`nature of the problem itself, and not based on the Applicants’ disclosure. DyStar Textilfarben
`
`GmbH & C0. Deutschland KG v. C. H. Patrick C0., 464 F.3d 1356, 1367 (Fed. Cir. 2006);
`
`MPEP § 2144. Underlying the obvious determination is the fact that statutorily prohibited
`
`hindsight cannot be used. KSR, 127 S.Ct. at 1742; DyStar, 464 F.3d at 1367.
`
`The 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) obviousness rejection of claim 19 is improper because the
`
`elements for a primafacie case of obviousness are not met. Specifically, the rejection fails to
`
`meet the criterion that the prior art reference(s) must teach or suggest a_ll the claims
`
`limitations.
`
`
`
`Serial No. 13/590,423
`
`Regarding independent claim 19, Applicant’s independent claim 19 includes claim elements
`
`not taught or suggested in the cited reference. Applicant’s independent claim 19 recites, in part, “the
`
`first input RF signal employing carrier aggregation.” Applicant respectfully asserts that Hirose does
`
`not teach or suggest Applicant’s invention as presently claimed in amended independent claim 19.
`
`The Office Action alleges:
`
`Regarding claim 19, [the] claim is rejected on the same ground as for claim 1 because of
`similar scope. (Office Action, p. 6)
`
`Applicant herein affirms the above—arguments that Hirose does not teach or suggest “the first
`
`input RF signal employing carrier aggregation” as claimed by Applicant in amended
`
`independent claim 19. As stated above, Hirose teaches “ t]he receiver receives three waves
`
`containing the same contents,” which results in frequency/time/space diversity, however, such
`
`receipt of diversity signals does n_ot teach “carrier aggregation” as claimed by Applicant.
`
`Specifically, a disclosure in Hirose of receipt of the “same data” over “three [different] waves”
`
`does n_0t render obvious Applicant’s invention of “the first input RF signal employing carrier
`
`aggregation” as claimed by Applicant in amended independent claim 19.
`
`Therefore, since Hirose does not teach “the first input RF signal employing carrier
`
`aggregation” as claimed by Applicant, the cited reference cannot render obvious, under 35 U.S.C.
`
`§103, Applicant’s invention as presently claimed. Accordingly, Applicant respectfully requests the
`
`rejection of independent claim 19 be withdrawn.
`
`Objections to Claims 2-6, 8-16, 18 and 20/Allowable Subject Matter
`
`Claims 2—10, 13—16, 18 and 20 stand objected to as being dependent upon rejected base claims,
`
`but are indicated to contain allowable subject matter and would be allowable if placed in appropriate
`
`independent form. Applicant acknowledges this indication with appreciation, but respectfully asserts
`
`that the claims in their present form, along with all other claims presently under consideration, are in
`
`condition for allowance.
`
`_1()_
`
`
`
`Serial No. 13/590,423
`
`CONCLUSION
`
`Claims 1—20 are believed to be in condition for allowance, and an early notice thereof is
`
`respectfully solicited. Should the Examiner determine that additional issues remain which might
`
`be resolved by a telephone conference, the Examiner is respectfully invited to contact
`
`Applicant’s undersigned attorney.
`
`Respectfully submitted,
`
`Dated:
`
`June 6, 2014
`
`By:
`
`/Ramén Mobarhan,. Reg? 50,182/
`
`Ramin Mobarhan, Reg. No. 50,182
`(858) 658 2447
`
`QUALCOMM Incorporated
`5775 Morehouse Drive
`
`San Diego, California 92121
`Telephone:
`(858) 658—5787
`Facsimile:
`(858) 658—2502
`
`_11_
`
`