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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 12/31/25 has been entered.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims have been considered but are moot in grounds of the new rejection.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the wherein the magnetic shielding member covers a part or all of the wiring pattern in a plan view of the board and a second plate member is disposed between the second core part and the second member must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
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 1-2 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 limitations “…. a second plate member disposed between the second core part and the second member…” is vague and indefinite. The examiner is unclear on how a second plate member is disposed between the second core part and the second member when the first plate member is considered to being disposed between the second core part and the second member? Did the applicant mean a second plate member is disposed between the second core part and the third member?
Regarding claim 1, the limitations “…. a first plate member disposed between the second part and the second member…” is vague and indefinite. The examiner is unclear on wat is considered the second part? Did the applicant mean a second core part?
Claim Objections
Claim 2 is objected to because of the following informalities: Claim 2 does not have a period at the end of the claim. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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.
1. Claims 1-2 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Worthington et al. (US 2013/0207767) in view of Decristofaro et al. (US 20040085174) and Redillia (US 6,420,952.
Regarding claim 1, Worthington et al. (figures 3a-3b and para 0031-0052) discloses a core made of a soft magnetic material (see para 0032), the core being an E-I core and including: a first core part (12); including a first member that is flat (see figures 3a-3b), a second member (see figures 3a-3b), a third member (see figures 3a-3b), and a fourth member (see figures 3a-3b), wherein each of the second member, the third member, and the fourth member has a wall-like shape and rises from the first member (see figures 3a-3b); a second core part (14) being I-shaped (see figures 3a-3b); a board (32a) that has a first opening in which the first core part is inserted (see figures 3a/3b); and a magnetic shielding (28) member that is configured to shield against magnetism (see para 0036), and has a second opening in which the first core part is inserted (see figures 3a/3b) (see also para 0016/0036 disclosing wherein the shield may been designed to have a single turn winding wrapping around the core), wherein the board includes a wiring pattern (34) that wraps around the first opening (see figures 3a/3b), and wherein the magnetic shielding member covers a part or all of the wiring pattern in a plan view of the board (see figures 3a/3b), and is insulated from the wiring pattern and the core (see figures 3a/3b).
Worthington et al. (figure 3d and para 0047) discloses wherein spacers (13) may be added to the inductive device but does not expressly disclose a first plate member disposed between the second part and the second member; a second plate member disposed between the second core part and the third member; and a third plate member disposed between the second core part and the fourth member.
Decristofaro et al. (figure 7 and para 0058-0059) discloses a teaching wherein a first plate member (113) disposed between the second core part (101) and the second member (110); a second plate member (109) disposed between the second core part (101) and the third member (1106); and a third plate member (117) disposed between the second core part and the fourth member (114). Note the spacers have rectangle shape configuration which can be considered a plate member.
Worthington et al. (para 0016 and para 0036) discloses a teaching wherein the magnetic shield may form a single turn winding to wrap around the core but does expressly disclose wherein the magnetic shielding member is frame-shaped and configured to surround the second opening.
Redillia (figures 1-5 and Col 2, lines 34-65) discloses a teaching wherein the magnetic shielding (1) member is frame-shaped and configured to surround the second opening.
Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the applicant claimed invention to design a first plate member disposed between the second part and the second member; a second plate member disposed between the second core part and the third member; and a third plate member disposed between the second core part and the fourth member as taught by Decristofaro et al. to the inductive device of Worthington et al. so as to enhancing structural integrity, improving cooling efficiency, and ensuring electrical safety by managing insulation clearances.
Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the applicant claimed invention to design wherein the magnetic shielding member is frame-shaped and configured to surround the second opening as taught by Redilla to the inductive device of Worthington et al. so as to inhibit eddy currents thereby allowing the inductive device to minimizes power loss and heat generation.
Regarding claim 2, Worthington et al. (figure 3d) discloses the magnetic shielding member covers a part of the wiring pattern includes an innermost periphery of the wiring pattern. Also, designing wherein magnetic shield covers a part of the wiring pattern includes an innermost periphery of the wiring pattern have been an obvious design consideration based on intended application/environment use. Such as to save in production cost since less materials and time would be needed to make the inductive device.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to RONALD HINSON whose telephone number is (571)270-7915. The examiner can normally be reached M to F; 8 -5.
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.
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/RONALD HINSON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2837