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 .
This office action is a response to the amendment filed on 12/2/2025.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claims 1-4, 7, 9-12 and 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention.
Re. Claim 1: The limitations “an identification information generator configured to generate identification information to be used to distinguish the components sealed in the carrier tape of the carrier tape roll body housed in the case from components in cases other than the case” as recited in lines 11-14 were not described in the specification as originally filed and appear to be new matter.
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.
Claims 1-4, 7, 9-12 and 15 are, as best understood in view of the rejections under 112 first paragraphs, rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Maenishi et al. (PGPub 2006/0207089 A1).
Maenishi et al. teach a component mounting system (as per claim 1) and a method (as per claim 9) for performing processing of extracting a carrier tape roll body from a holding body (such as a reel) holding the carrier tape roll body and storing the carrier tape roll body in a case, the carrier tape roll body (501, Figs. 26-27) including a roll body formed by winding a carrier tape (503) in a roll shape, carrier tape sealing components (3, Fig. 27) respectively in a plurality of pockets formed in the carrier tape at regular intervals, and a memory (504, Fig. 27) that is provided on the carrier tape wound in the roll shape and allows reading and writing by wireless communication, the component mounting system comprising: an identification information generator (500 & 700, Fig. 26) configured to generate identification information (505, Fig. 27) to be used to distinguish the components sealed in the carrier tape of the carrier tape roll body housed in the case from components sealed in another carrier tape; and an identification information writing unit (500 & 700, Fig. 26) configured to write the identification information generated by the identification information generator into the memory (paragraphs [0210]-[0222]).
Re. claims 2 and 10: The memory is provided at an end part of the carrier tape wound in the roll shape, the end part being closer to center of the roll shape as shown in Fig. 27.
Re. claims 3 and 11: The identification information writing unit writes the identification information into the memory in a state where the carrier tape roll body is held by the holding body as shown in Figs. 26-27.
Re. claims 4 and 12: A component information acquisition unit (507) is configured to acquire component information that is information on the components sealed in the carrier tape and a first information storage unit (505 & 507) is configured to store the component information acquired by the component as shown in Figs. 26-27.
Re. claims 7 and 15: The component information includes at least one of a component type, a component name, a characteristic, a date of manufacture, a manufacturer, an expiration date, a number of the components, and access information for accessing pieces of information on the component type, the component name, the characteristic, the date of manufacture, the manufacturer, the expiration date, and the number of the components as shown in Fig. 27.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 12/2/2025 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Applicant argues that the prior art of record fails to disclose the claimed invention such as “an identification information generator configured to generate identification information to be used to distinguish the components sealed in the carrier tape of the carrier tape roll body housed in the case from components in cases other than the case” as recited in claim 1. Examiner traverses the argument that the limitations were not described in the specification as originally filed and appear to be new matter. Although, applicant is entitled to make up new terminologies, as so desired, please clarify what the deficiencies are so that the examiner can clearly understand and prosecute the merits of the invention by pointing out the claimed devices in the specification and the drawings in the next communication. Applicant’s full cooperation will be greatly appreciated.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PAUL D KIM whose telephone number is (571)272-4565. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday: 6:00 AM-2:00 PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Aneeta Yodichkas can be reached at 571-272-9773. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/PAUL D KIM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3729