DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Species I, Figures 1-13, Claims 1-13 and 15-18 [applicant provided no argument] in the reply filed on 11/10/2025 is acknowledged.
Claim Objections
Claim 15 is objected to because of the following informalities: line 4, “boar” should be corrected as --board--. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly 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 claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1-13 and 15-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 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.
Regarding claim 1, the structure and/or arrangement of the “bobbin body” of the bobbin assembly is unclear. Figures 1-13 of the present invention focus on the structure of the terminal header/support [310] for the transformer. The structure and/or arrangement of the “transformer board” is unclear. Applicant should clarify. Claims 2-13 and 15-18 inherit the defect of the parent claim.
Claims 4-5, the meaning of “side surface” and “front surface” is not clearly specified and/or defined. Applicant should clarify the structure and/or arrangement of the flange part extend/protrude relative to the “bobbin body”.
Regarding claim 13, applicant should clarify the structure and/or arrangement of the snap protrusions relative to the “bobbin body” and the transformer board.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1, 3, 5-11, and 15-18, as best understood in view of the rejection under 112 second paragraph, is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Chen [CN 211907169 U].
Regarding claims 1, 3, 5 and 15, Chen discloses a planar transformer mounted on a main PCB [300], comprising: a transformer board [113]; a core part [111, 112] positioned at a central portion [CH] of the transformer board; a bobbin assembly provided on the transformer boar; and one or more pins connecting the transformer board and the main PCB to each other [figures 1-4], wherein the bobbin assembly comprising: a bobbin body [211, 221]; and a flange part [LS2, LS4] protruding from the bobbin body and having a lower surface mounted on an upper surface of the main PCB, wherein the bobbin body is coupled to the transformer board with the flange part extends from a front surface of the bobbin body and protrudes from the side surface of the bobbin body by a predetermined length [figures 1-2].
Regarding claim 6, Chen further discloses more pins [figures 1-6] connecting the transformer board and the main PCB to each other, wherein each of the one or more pins is fixed by the bobbin body.
Regarding claims 7 and 16-17, Chen further discloses a through hole [TH] through which each of the one or more pins penetrates is formed in the transformer board, and an end of each of the pins penetrating through the transformer board is welded, such that each of the pins is welded and coupled to the transformer board [figures 2-6], wherein each of the pins has a shape in which it is bent at least twice, and has one side coupled to the transformer board and the other side to the main PCB.
Regarding claims 8 and 18, Chen discloses each of the pins has an inverted U-shape [figures 2-6].
Regarding claims 9-10, Chen discloses a through hole through which each of the pins penetrates is formed in the bobbin body [figures 1-6], a step part formed by forming a predetermined region including a portion in which the through hole is formed so as to be lower than the other region to form a step with the other region is formed in a lower portion of the bobbin body [figures 1-6].
Regarding claim 11, Chen further discloses a guide groove in which at least a portion of a central portion of each of the pins is accommodated is formed in the bobbin body [figure 2].
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is 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 obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claim(s) 2 and 4 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chen.
Regarding claim 2, Chen further discloses heights different [H1, H2] of the flange parts can be controlled/adjusted.
It would have been an obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to adjust the flange parts to have a lower surface thereof at a higher position than a lower surface of the transformer board for the purpose of providing positioning of the transformer relative to the main board.
Regarding claim 4, as best understood in view of the rejection under 35 USC 112 second paragraph, Chen discloses the “bobbin body” including flange part protrude and/or extend in different direction [figures 1-6].
It would have been an obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to extend [and/or protrude] the flange part to the side surface [or the front surface, or the rear surface of the “bobbin body”] of Chen for the purpose of providing and/or improving support for the “bobbin assembly”.
Claim(s) 12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chen in view of Jun et al. [KR 101177061 B1].
Chen further discloses a width of the guide groove is substantially the same as a width of each of the pins.
Chen discloses the instant claimed invention except for the teaching of press-fitting of the pins.
Jun et al. discloses inverted U-shaped pins [130] press-fitted into a guiding slot/hole [123] of a coil structure [figures 5-6].
It would have been an obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to use the press-fitting teaching of Jun et al. in Chen for the purpose of improving manufacturing and/or assembling.
Claim(s) 13, as best understood in view of the rejection under 35 USC 112 second paragraph, is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chen in view of Young et al. [KR 10-2018-0000677].
Chen discloses the instant claimed invention except for one or more snap protrusions.
Young et al. discloses a transformer structure comprising:
- a transformer “board” having a coil [116, 216 figures 1-3]; and
- at least one terminal header [fixing part 300] coupled to the transformer “board”, wherein the terminal header includes at least one terminal connecting pins [310] and one or more snap protrusions [330, 340] provided for coupling with the transformer “board”.
It would have been an obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to include at least one snap protrusions to Chen bobbin assembly, as suggested by Young et al., for the purpose of providing snap-fil structure and/or improving coupling.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TUYEN T NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)272-1996. The examiner can normally be reached Mon - Fri 8:30-5:30.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Shawki Ismail can be reached at 571-272-3985. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/TUYEN T NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2837