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
Claims 2-3 and 6-7 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to a nonelected Species I and III, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Applicant timely traversed the restriction (election) requirement in the reply filed on 02/02/2026.
Applicant's election with traverse of Species II in the reply filed on 02/02/2026 is acknowledged. The traversal is on the ground(s) that there must be reasons and/or examples to show that there is a serious burden. This is not found persuasive because a thorough search for the subject matter of Species II would not result a search for the subject matter of the remaining species such as Species I and III. The search for the subject matter of Species II regarding the specifics of a substrate for the first coil and a substrate for the second coil would require a different field of search in different classifications and different search queries compared with other species of a multilayer printed circuit having at least four layers, the first and second coils are wound by one coil, and the specific of a capacitor for removing differential mode noise would require a search in another different classifications and another different search queries. Therefore, the search for the subject matter of Species II regarding the specifics of a substrate for the first coil and a substrate for the second coil would not yield the subject matter of other species. Hence, there is a serious burden to search and examine the other species.
The requirement is still deemed proper and is therefore made FINAL.
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 “the first coil is installed on a substrate including a first surface and a second surface that are opposed to each other, and the second coil is installed on a substrate including a third surface and a fourth surface that are opposed to each other” in claim 4 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 4-5 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.
Claim 4 recites “the first coil is installed on a substrate including a first surface and a second surface that are opposed to each other, and the second coil is installed on a substrate including a third surface and a fourth surface that are opposed to each other” is indefinite and unclear regarding the term “a substrate”. The current limitations appear to state that there is a substrate for the first coil and a substrate for the second coil. Since the figures does not show a substrate for the first coil and a substrate for the second coil, it is unclear whether there is one substrate or more than one substrate. Therefore, the examiner suggests clarification regarding the term “a substrate”.
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.
Claim(s) 1 and 4-5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jung [U.S. Pub. No. 2013/0114313] in view of Miyazaki et al. [U.S. Patent No. 6,151,228].
Regarding Claim 1, Jung shows an EMI filter device (Figs. 1-6) comprising:
a signal processor (110, 410) configured to output a predetermined signal and output a noise source generated in a circuit (100, element 110, 410 configured to output a predetermined signal and output a noise source generated in a circuit so that filter unit 120, 420 can prevent/remove the noise source, Paragraphs [0030]-[0031], [0058]-[0059]); and
a coil device (120, 420) for removing the noise source (filter unit 120, 420 can prevent/remove the noise source, Paragraphs [0030]-[0031], [0058]-[0059]),
wherein the coil device (120, 420) comprises a common mode coil (Paragraph [0031]) including a first coil and a second coil (a common mode coil inherently has a first coil and a second coil),
wherein the first coil and the second coil are electrically connected to each other (the first coil and the second coil of a common mode coil will electrically connected to each other).
Jung does not explicitly disclose having a common mode coil including a first coil and a second coil on one core.
However, having a common mode coil including a first coil and a second coil on one core would have been an obvious design choice to maintain coupling of the windings and achieve desirable operating characteristics.
Furthermore, Miyazaki et al. shows a filter apparatus (Figs. 3 and 7-11) clearly teaching and suggesting a first coil (L1) and a second coil (L3) on one core (9) and the first coil (L1) and the second coil (L3) are electrically connected to each other (see Figs. 3 and 7-11, elements L1 and L3 are electrically connected to each other).
Before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to have a first coil and a second coil on one core as taught by Miyazaki et al. for the filter device as disclosed by Jung to form a filter to remove noises with high efficiency and to detect common mode current and reliably reduce leakage current (Col. 1, Lines 50-56, Col. 5, Lines 22-30, Col. 7, Lines 44-45).
Regarding Claim 4 (see 112 rejection above), Miyazaki et al. the first coil (L1) is installed on a substrate (40pc) including a first surface (first surface for element 8a) and a second surface (second surface for element 8b) that are opposed to each other (see Figs. 3 and 7-11), and the second coil (L3) is installed on a substrate (30pc) including a third surface (third surface for element 8e) and a fourth surface (fourth surface for element 8f) that are opposed to each other (see Figs. 3 and 7-11), wherein the first coil (L1) is installed to connect the first surface and the second surface (see Figs. 3 and 7-11, element L1 is installed to connect to first surface for element 8a and second surface for element 8b), and the second coil (L3) is installed to connect the third surface and the fourth surface (see Figs. 3 and 7-11, element L3 is installed to connect to third surface for element 8e and fourth surface for element 8f).
Regarding Claim 5, Miyazaki et al. shows the first surface and the second surface are located on an upper portion of the third surface and the fourth surface (see Figs. 7-8 and 11 by turning 90 degrees to the right so that first surface for element 8a and second surface for element 8b are located on an upper portion of third surface for element 8e and fourth surface for element 8f), and the second surface is electrically connected to the third surface (see Figs. 3 and 7-11, second surface for element 8b is electrically connected to third surface for element 8e).
Claim(s) 1 and 4-5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jung [U.S. Pub. No. 2013/0114313] in view of Nishizawa et al. [U.S. Pub. No. 2024/0087788].
Regarding Claim 1, Jung shows an EMI filter device (Figs. 1-6) comprising:
a signal processor (110, 410) configured to output a predetermined signal and output a noise source generated in a circuit (100, element 110, 410 configured to output a predetermined signal and output a noise source generated in a circuit so that filter unit 120, 420 can prevent/remove the noise source, Paragraphs [0030]-[0031], [0058]-[0059]); and
a coil device (120, 420) for removing the noise source (filter unit 120, 420 can prevent/remove the noise source, Paragraphs [0030]-[0031], [0058]-[0059]),
wherein the coil device (120, 420) comprises a common mode coil (Paragraph [0031]) including a first coil and a second coil (a common mode coil inherently has a first coil and a second coil),
wherein the first coil and the second coil are electrically connected to each other (the first coil and the second coil of a common mode coil will electrically connected to each other).
Jung does not explicitly disclose having a common mode coil including a first coil and a second coil on one core.
However, having a common mode coil including a first coil and a second coil on one core would have been an obvious design choice to maintain coupling of the windings and achieve desirable operating characteristics.
Furthermore, Nishizawa et al. shows a choke module (Fig. 8 with teachings from Figs. 1-5) clearly teaching and suggesting a first coil (5) and a second coil (6) on one core (4) and the first coil (5) and the second coil (6) are electrically connected to each other (see Figs. 1-5 and 8, elements 5 and 6 are electrically connected to each other).
Before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to have a first coil and a second coil on one core as taught by Nishizawa et al. for the filter device as disclosed by Jung to form a common mode choke for reducing electromagnetic interference noise and providing electromagnetic compatibility (Paragraph [0039]).
Regarding Claim 4 (see 112 rejection above), Nishizawa et al. the first coil (5) is installed on a substrate (3 or 18) including a first surface (first surface for element 7) and a second surface (second surface for element 9) that are opposed to each other (see Figs. 1-5 and 8), and the second coil (6) is installed on a substrate (26) including a third surface (third surface for element 22) and a fourth surface (fourth surface for element 24) that are opposed to each other (see Figs. 1-5 and 8), wherein the first coil (5) is installed to connect the first surface and the second surface (see Figs. 1-5 and 8, element 5 is installed to connect to first surface for element 7 and second surface for element 9), and the second coil (6) is installed to connect the third surface and the fourth surface (see Figs. 1-5 and 8, element 6 is installed to connect to third surface for element 22 and fourth surface for element 24).
Regarding Claim 5, Nishizawa et al. shows the first surface and the second surface are located on an upper portion of the third surface and the fourth surface (see Figs. 1-5 and 8, first surface for element 7 and second surface for element 9 are located on an upper portion of third surface for element 22 and fourth surface for element 24), and the second surface is electrically connected to the third surface (see Figs. 1-5 and 8, second surface for element 9 is electrically connected to third surface for element 22).
Claim(s) 1 and 4-5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jung [U.S. Pub. No. 2013/0114313] in view of Kim [KR 2019-0085303].
Regarding Claim 1, Jung shows an EMI filter device (Figs. 1-6) comprising:
a signal processor (110, 410) configured to output a predetermined signal and output a noise source generated in a circuit (100, element 110, 410 configured to output a predetermined signal and output a noise source generated in a circuit so that filter unit 120, 420 can prevent/remove the noise source, Paragraphs [0030]-[0031], [0058]-[0059]); and
a coil device (120, 420) for removing the noise source (filter unit 120, 420 can prevent/remove the noise source, Paragraphs [0030]-[0031], [0058]-[0059]),
wherein the coil device (120, 420) comprises a common mode coil (Paragraph [0031]) including a first coil and a second coil (a common mode coil inherently has a first coil and a second coil),
wherein the first coil and the second coil are electrically connected to each other (the first coil and the second coil of a common mode coil will electrically connected to each other).
Jung does not explicitly disclose having a common mode coil including a first coil and a second coil on one core.
However, having a common mode coil including a first coil and a second coil on one core would have been an obvious design choice to maintain coupling of the windings and achieve desirable operating characteristics.
Furthermore, Kim shows a choke coil (Figs. 2-4) clearly teaching and suggesting a first coil (121) and a second coil (123) on one core (110) and the first coil (121) and the second coil (123) are electrically connected to each other (see Figs. 2-4, elements 121 and 123 are electrically connected to each other).
Before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to have a first coil and a second coil on one core as taught by Kim for the filter device as disclosed by Jung to form a choke coil to remove noises with high efficiency (Paragraphs [0003], [0058]).
Regarding Claim 4, Kim the first coil (121) is installed on a substrate (200) including a first surface (first surface for front element 121a) and a second surface (second surface for back element 121a, see Fig. 4) that are opposed to each other (see Figs. 2-4), and the second coil (123) is installed on a substrate (41) including a third surface (third surface for front element 123a) and a fourth surface (fourth surface for back element 123a, see Fig. 2) that are opposed to each other (see Figs. 2-4), wherein the first coil (121) is installed to connect the first surface and the second surface (see Figs. 2-4, element 121 is installed to connect to first surface for front element 121a and second surface for back element 121a), and the second coil (123) is installed to connect the third surface and the fourth surface (see Figs. 2-4, element 123 is installed to connect to third surface for front element 123a and fourth surface for back element 123a).
Regarding Claim 5, Kim shows the first surface and the second surface are located on an upper portion of the third surface and the fourth surface (see Figs. 2-4, first surface for front element 121a and second surface for back element 121a are located on an upper portion of third surface for front element 123a and fourth surface for back element 123a), and the second surface is electrically connected to the third surface (see Figs. 2-4, second surface for back element 121a is electrically connected to third surface for front element 123a).
Claim(s) 1 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jung [U.S. Pub. No. 2013/0114313] in view of Fu et al. [U.S. Pub. No. 2013/0049918].
Regarding Claim 1, Jung shows an EMI filter device (Figs. 1-6) comprising:
a signal processor (110, 410) configured to output a predetermined signal and output a noise source generated in a circuit (100, element 110, 410 configured to output a predetermined signal and output a noise source generated in a circuit so that filter unit 120, 420 can prevent/remove the noise source, Paragraphs [0030]-[0031], [0058]-[0059]); and
a coil device (120, 420) for removing the noise source (filter unit 120, 420 can prevent/remove the noise source, Paragraphs [0030]-[0031], [0058]-[0059]),
wherein the coil device (120, 420) comprises a common mode coil (Paragraph [0031]) including a first coil and a second coil (a common mode coil inherently has a first coil and a second coil),
wherein the first coil and the second coil are electrically connected to each other (the first coil and the second coil of a common mode coil will electrically connected to each other).
Jung does not explicitly disclose having a common mode coil including a first coil and a second coil on one core.
However, having a common mode coil including a first coil and a second coil on one core would have been an obvious design choice to maintain coupling of the windings and achieve desirable operating characteristics.
Furthermore, Fu et al. shows a common mode choke apparatus (Figs. 1-2) clearly teaching and suggesting a common mode coil including a first coil (204) and a second coil (206) on one core (208) and the first coil and the second coil are electrically connected to each other (see Figs. 1-2, elements 204, 206 are electrically connected to each other).
Before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to have a first coil and a second coil on one core as taught by Fu et al. for the filter device as disclosed by Jung to form a common mode choke to achieve of filtering noises (Paragraph [0027]).
Claim(s) 4-5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jung in view of Fu et al. as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Miyazaki et al. [U.S. Patent No. 6,151,228].
Regarding Claim 4 (see 112 rejections above), Jung in view of Fu et al. shows the claimed invention as applied above but does not show the first coil is installed on a substrate including a first surface and a second surface that are opposed to each other, and the second coil is installed on a substrate including a third surface and a fourth surface that are opposed to each other, wherein the first coil is installed to connect the first surface and the second surface, and the second coil is installed to connect the third surface and the fourth surface.
Miyazaki et al. shows a filter apparatus (Figs. 3 and 7-11) teaching and suggesting the first coil (L1) is installed on a substrate (40pc) including a first surface (first surface for element 8a) and a second surface (second surface for element 8b) that are opposed to each other (see Figs. 3 and 7-11), and the second coil (L3) is installed on a substrate (30pc) including a third surface (third surface for element 8e) and a fourth surface (fourth surface for element 8f) that are opposed to each other (see Figs. 3 and 7-11), wherein the first coil (L1) is installed to connect the first surface and the second surface (see Figs. 3 and 7-11, element L1 is installed to connect to first surface for element 8a and second surface for element 8b), and the second coil (L3) is installed to connect the third surface and the fourth surface (see Figs. 3 and 7-11, element L3 is installed to connect to third surface for element 8e and fourth surface for element 8f).
Before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to have the first coil is installed on a substrate including a first surface and a second surface that are opposed to each other, and the second coil is installed on a substrate including a third surface and a fourth surface that are opposed to each other, wherein the first coil is installed to connect the first surface and the second surface, and the second coil is installed to connect the third surface and the fourth surface as taught by Miyazaki et al. for the filter device as disclosed by Jung in view of Fu et al. to easily identified the positions of the first coil and second coil and to detect common mode current and reliably reduce leakage current (Col. 1, Lines 50-56 and Col. 5, Lines 22-30).
Regarding Claim 5, Miyazaki et al. shows the first surface and the second surface are located on an upper portion of the third surface and the fourth surface (see Figs. 7-8 and 11 by turning 90 degrees to the right so that first surface for element 8a and second surface for element 8b are located on an upper portion of third surface for element 8e and fourth surface for element 8f), and the second surface is electrically connected to the third surface (see Figs. 3 and 7-11, second surface for element 8b is electrically connected to third surface for element 8e).
Claim(s) 4-5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jung in view of Fu et al. as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Nishizawa et al. [U.S. Pub. No. 2024/0087788].
Regarding Claim 4 (see 112 rejections above), Jung in view of Fu et al. shows the claimed invention as applied above but does not show the first coil is installed on a substrate including a first surface and a second surface that are opposed to each other, and the second coil is installed on a substrate including a third surface and a fourth surface that are opposed to each other, wherein the first coil is installed to connect the first surface and the second surface, and the second coil is installed to connect the third surface and the fourth surface.
Nishizawa et al. shows a choke module (Fig. 8 with teachings from Figs. 1-5) teaching and suggesting the first coil (5) is installed on a substrate (3 or 18) including a first surface (first surface for element 7) and a second surface (second surface for element 9) that are opposed to each other (see Figs. 1-5 and 8), and the second coil (6) is installed on a substrate (26) including a third surface (third surface for element 22) and a fourth surface (fourth surface for element 24) that are opposed to each other (see Figs. 1-5 and 8), wherein the first coil (5) is installed to connect the first surface and the second surface (see Figs. 1-5 and 8, element 5 is installed to connect to first surface for element 7 and second surface for element 9), and the second coil (6) is installed to connect the third surface and the fourth surface (see Figs. 1-5 and 8, element 6 is installed to connect to third surface for element 22 and fourth surface for element 24).
Before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to have the first coil is installed on a substrate including a first surface and a second surface that are opposed to each other, and the second coil is installed on a substrate including a third surface and a fourth surface that are opposed to each other, wherein the first coil is installed to connect the first surface and the second surface, and the second coil is installed to connect the third surface and the fourth surface as taught by Nishizawa et al. for the filter device as disclosed by Jung in view of Fu et al. to easily identified the positions of the first coil and second coil and to form a common mode choke for reducing electromagnetic interference noise and providing electromagnetic compatibility (Paragraph [0039]).
Regarding Claim 5, Nishizawa et al. shows the first surface and the second surface are located on an upper portion of the third surface and the fourth surface (see Figs. 1-5 and 8, first surface for element 7 and second surface for element 9 are located on an upper portion of third surface for element 22 and fourth surface for element 24), and the second surface is electrically connected to the third surface (see Figs. 1-5 and 8, second surface for element 9 is electrically connected to third surface for element 22).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TSZFUNG J CHAN whose telephone number is (571)270-7981. The examiner can normally be reached M-TH 8:00AM-6:00PM.
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/TSZFUNG J CHAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2837
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