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 .
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.
Claims 1-2, 4-6, 8-14, 16-17, and 19-22 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Pope et al. (5,921,787) in view of Doi (11,721,920).
With regard to claim 1, Pope teaches, as shown in figures 1-4 and taught in column 3 lines 26-31 and column 4 lines 17-46: “An electrical connector system 10 and 11 comprising: a receptacle connector assembly 10 including a receptacle connector housing 16 holding receptacle contacts 14 and15 in a plurality of rows, the receptacle connector housing 16 having a mounting end (bottom end of 16 in figure 3) and a mating end (top end of 16 in figure 3) opposite the mounting end, the mounting end configured to be mounted to a circuit board (taught in column 3 lines 26-31), the receptacle connector housing 16 having a front wall 20 extending longitudinally between a first end (upper-left end of 16 in figure 1) and a second end (lower-right end of 16 in figure 1) of the receptacle connector housing 16, the receptacle connector housing 16 having a rear wall 21 extending longitudinally between the first end and the second end, the receptacle connector housing 16 having a central wall 19 positioned laterally between the front wall 20 and the rear wall 21 and extending parallel to the front wall 20 and the rear wall 21, the receptacle connector housing 16 having a front receptacle (where 32 is received in figure 3a) between the front wall 21 and the central wall 19, the receptacle connector housing 16 having a rear receptacle (where 34 is received in figure 3a) between the rear wall 21 and the central wall 19, the front and rear receptacles being open at the first and second ends of the receptacle connector housing 16, the receptacle contacts including front receptacle contacts 15, rear receptacle contacts 15, front central receptacle contacts 14 and rear central receptacle contacts 14, the front receptacle contacts 15 extending along the front wall 20 and exposed at the front receptacle, the rear receptacle contacts 15 extending along the rear wall 21 and exposed at the rear receptacle, the front central receptacle contacts 14 extending along a front side (lower-left side of 19 in figure 1) of the central wall 19 and exposed at the front receptacle, the rear central receptacle contacts 14 extending along a rear side (upper-right side of 19 in figure 1) of the central wall 19 and exposed at the rear receptacle, wherein the front receptacle contacts 15 and the front central receptacle contacts 14 are laterally offset on opposite sides of the front receptacle and longitudinally staggered relative to each other on opposite sides of the front receptacle (shown in figure 4 and taught in column 4 lines 17-46), and wherein the rear receptacle contacts 15 and the rear central receptacle contacts 14 are laterally offset on opposite sides of the rear receptacle and longitudinally staggered relative to each other on opposite sides of the rear receptacle (shown in figure 4 and taught in column 4 lines 17-46); a header connector 11 configured to be mated with the receptacle connector 10, the header connector 11 including a header connector housing 30 holding header contacts 14 and 15 in a plurality of rows, the header connector housing 30 having a mounting end (upper end of 30 in figure 3) and a mating end (lower end of 30 in figure 3) opposite the mounting end, the mounting end configured to be mounted to a circuit board (taught in column 3 lines 26-31), the mating end of the header connector housing 30 being mated to the mating end of the receptacle connector housing 16, the header connector housing 30 having a front outer wall 35 extending longitudinally between a first end (lower-right end of 30 in figure 2) and a second end (upper-left end of 30 in figure 2) of the header connector housing 30, the header connector housing 30 having a rear outer wall 36 extending longitudinally between the first end and the second end, the header connector housing 30 having a front inner wall 32 positioned laterally between the front outer wall 20 and the rear outer wall 21 closer to the front outer wall 35 than the rear outer wall 36, the header connector housing 30 having a rear inner wall 34 positioned laterally between the front outer wall 20 and the rear outer wall 21 closer to the rear outer wall 36 than the front outer wall 35, the header connector housing 30 having a front slot between the front outer wall 35 and the front inner wall 32, the header connector housing 30 having a rear slot between the rear outer wall 36 and the rear inner wall 34, the header connector housing 30 having a central slot between the front inner wall 32 and the rear inner wall 34, the front slot receiving the front wall 20 of the receptacle connector housing, the rear slot receiving the rear wall 21 of the receptacle connector housing 16, the central slot receiving the central wall 19 of the receptacle connector housing 16, the header contacts including front header contacts 14, rear header contacts 14, front central header contacts 15 and rear central header contacts 16, the front header contacts 14 extending along a front side of the front inner wall 32 and exposed at the front slot, the rear header contacts 14 extending along a rear side of the rear inner wall 34 and exposed at the rear slot, the front central header contacts 15 extending along a rear side of the front inner wall 32 and exposed at the central slot, the rear central header contacts 15 extending along a front side of the rear inner wall 34 and exposed at the central slot, wherein the front header contacts 14 and the front central header contacts 15 are longitudinally staggered relative to each other on opposite sides of the front inner wall 32 (shown in figure 4 and taught in column 4 lines 17-46), and wherein the rear header contacts 14 and the rear central header contacts 15 are longitudinally staggered relative to each other on opposite sides of the rear inner wall 34 (shown in figure 4 and taught in column 4 lines 17-46); wherein the front wall 20 of the receptacle connector housing 16 is received in the front slot of the header connector housing 30, the rear wall 21 of the receptacle connector housing 16 is received in the rear slot of the header connector housing 30, and the central wall 19 of the receptacle connector housing 16 is received in the central slot of the header connector housing 30; and wherein the front receptacle contacts 15… are electrically connected with corresponding front header contacts 14… at exposed surfaces thereof, the rear receptacle contacts 15 are… electrically connected with corresponding rear header contacts 14… at exposed surfaces thereof, the front central receptacle contacts 14 are… electrically connected with corresponding front central header contacts 15… at exposed surfaces thereof, the rear central receptacle contacts 14 are… electrically connected with corresponding rear central header contacts 15… at exposed surfaces thereof”.
Pope does not teach the receptacle contacts connected to the header contacts “at multiple points of contact” or “are split into parallel mating portions at a seam that is parallel with a mating direction of the receptacle connector assembly with the header connector”.
In the same field of endeavor before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, Doi teaches, as shown in figures 1-5(B), the receptacle contacts 60 connected to the header contacts 13 “at multiple points of contact 62A” and “are split into parallel mating portions 62A at a seam that is parallel with a mating direction Z2 of the receptacle connector assembly II with the header connector I”. It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the claimed invention combine the features of Doi with the invention of Pope in order to provide a clamping effect for the connection (Doi, column 10 lines 47-67).
With regard to claim 2, Pope as modified by Doi teaches: “The electrical connector system of claim 1”, as shown above.
Pope also teaches, as shown in figures 1-4: “wherein the receptacle connector housing 16 includes a base 18 at the mounting end, the front wall20 , the rear wall 21, and the central wall 19 extending from the base 18 to the mating end, the base 18 including contact channels 22 and 24 receiving the receptacle contacts, the receptacle contacts including terminating ends 14b and 15b extending from the base 19 for termination to the circuit board, and wherein the header connector housing 30 includes a base 31 at the mounting end, the front outer wall 35, the front inner wall 32, the rear inner wall 34, and the rear outer wall 36 extending from the base 31 to the mating end, the base 31 including contact channels 22 and 24 receiving the header contacts, the header contacts including terminating ends 14b and 15b extending from the base 31 for termination to the circuit board”.
With regard to claim 4, Pope as modified by Doi teaches: “The electrical connector system of claim 1”, as shown above.
Doi also teaches, as shown in figures 1-5(B) and taught in column 10 lines 47-67: “wherein each receptacle contact 60 includes a deflectable spring beam 62A (column 10 lines 47-67 teaches the beams 62A having a clamping effect, which would mean 62A are deflectable spring beams) engaging the corresponding header contact 13, the spring beam 62A being deflectable when mated to the header contact 13”. It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the claimed invention combine the features of Doi with the invention of Pope as modified by Doi in order to provide a clamping effect for the connection (Doi, column 10 lines 47-67).
With regard to claim 5, Pope as modified by Doi teaches: “The electrical connector system of claim 4”, as shown above.
Pope also teaches, as shown in figures 1-3 and as modified above: “wherein the spring beams of the front receptacle contacts 15 are deflected toward the front wall 20, the spring beams of the front central receptacle contacts are deflected toward the central wall 19 (front central receptacle contacts as modified above would be deflected toward the central wall 19), the spring beams of the rear central receptacle contacts are deflected toward the central wall 19 (rear central receptacle contacts as modified above would be deflected toward the central wall 19), and the spring beams of the rear receptacle contacts 15 are deflected toward the rear wall 21”.
With regard to claim 6, Pope as modified by Doi teaches: “The electrical connector system of claim 1”, as shown above.
Doi also teaches, as shown in figures 1-5(B): “wherein the receptacle contacts 60 include deflectable spring beams 62, each deflectable spring beam 62 being split at a mating end thereof to include a first spring arm (62A furthest in the Y2 direction of each pair in figure 2(B)) having a first mating interface (where the first spring arm contacts 13 in figure 2(B)) and a second spring arm (62A furthest in the Y1 direction of each pair of 62A in figure 2(B)) having a second mating interface (where the second spring arm contacts 13 in figure 2(B))”. It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the claimed invention combine the features of Doi with the invention of Pope as modified by Doi in order to provide a clamping effect for the connection (Doi, column 1 lines 23-24).
Doi does not specifically teach: “each spring beam having multiple points of contact with the corresponding header contact”. However, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to change the shape of the spring beams so that each have multiple points of contact with the corresponding header contact in order to increase the contact area between the contacts. Also, a change in shape is generally recognized as being within the level of ordinary skill in the art. In re Dailey, 149 USPQ 47 (CCPA 1976).
With regard to claim 8, Pope as modified by Doi teaches: “The electrical connector system of claim 1”, as shown above.
Pope also teaches, as shown in figures 1-4: “wherein the front wall 20 includes front wall pockets (where 15 are received in 20 in figure 1) receiving mating ends of the front receptacle contacts 15, the rear wall 21 includes rear wall pockets (where 15 are received in 21 in figure 1) receiving mating ends of the rear receptacle contacts 15, the central wall 19 including central wall pockets (where 14 are received on either side of 19 in figure 1) on the front side and the rear side receiving mating ends of the front central receptacle contacts 14 and the rear central receptacle contacts 14, respectively”.
With regard to claim 9, Pope as modified by Doi teaches: “The electrical connector system of claim 1”, as shown above.
Pope also teaches, as shown in figures 1-4: “wherein the header connector housing 30 includes a first end wall (lower-right wall of 30 in figure 2) at the first end and a second end wall (upper-left wall of 30 in figure 2) at the second end, the first and second end walls closing the front slot, the rear slot, and the central slot”.
With regard to claim 10, Pope as modified by Doi teaches: “The electrical connector system of claim 1”, as shown above.
Pope also teaches, as shown in figures 1-4: “wherein the front header contacts 14 are centered between the front central header contacts 15 on opposite sides of the front inner wall 32, the front central header contacts 15 are centered between the front header contacts 14 on opposite sides of the front inner wall 32, the rear header contacts 14 are centered between the rear central header contacts 15 on opposite sides of the rear inner wall 34, and the rear central header contacts 15 are centered between the rear header contacts 14 on opposite sides of the rear inner wall 34”.
With regard to claim 11, Pope as modified by Doi teaches: “The electrical connector system of claim 1”, as shown above.
Pope also teaches, as shown in figures 1-4: “wherein the front receptacle contacts 15 are spaced at a receptacle contact pitch, the rear receptacle contacts 15 are spaced at the receptacle contact pitch, the front central receptacle contacts 14 are spaced at the receptacle contact pitch, and the rear central receptacle contacts 14 are spaced at the receptacle contact pitch”.
With regard to claim 12, Pope as modified by Doi teaches: “The electrical connector system of claim 1”, as shown above.
Pope also teaches, as shown in figures 1-4: “wherein, when the receptacle connector housing 16 is mated to the header connector housing 30, the front inner wall 32 extends from the front receptacle at the first end of the receptacle connector housing 16 and extends from the front receptacle at the second end of the receptacle connector housing 16, and wherein the rear inner wall 34 extends from the rear receptacle at the first end of the receptacle connector housing 16 and extends from the rear receptacle at the second end of the receptacle connector housing 16”.
With regard to claim 13, Pope teaches, as shown in figures 1-4 and taught in column 3 lines 26-31 and column 4 lines 17-46: “A receptacle connector assembly comprising: a receptacle connector housing 16 having a mounting end (bottom end of 16 in figure 3) and a mating end (top end of 16 in figure 3) opposite the mounting end, the mounting end configured to be mounted to a circuit board (taught in column 3 lines 26-31), the mating end of the receptacle connector housing 16 configured to be mated to a header connector housing 30 the receptacle connector housing 16 having a front wall 20 extending longitudinally between a first end (upper-left end of 16 in figure 1) and a second end (lower-right end of 16 in figure 1) of the receptacle connector housing 16, the receptacle connector housing 16 having a rear wall 21 extending longitudinally between the first end and the second end, the receptacle connector housing 16 having a central wall 19 positioned laterally between the front wall 20 and the rear wall 21 and extending parallel to the front wall 20 and the rear wall 20; a front receptacle between the front wall 20 and the central wall 19, the front receptacle being open at the first and second ends of the receptacle connector housing 16; a rear receptacle between the rear wall 21 and the central wall 19, the rear receptacle being open at the first and second ends of the receptacle connector housing 16; front receptacle contacts 15 extending along the front wall 20 and exposed at the front receptacle… at exposed surfaces thereof; rear receptacle contacts 15 extending along the rear wall 21 and exposed at the rear receptacle… at exposed surfaces thereof; front central receptacle contacts 14 extending along a front side (left side of 19 in figure 3) of the central wall 19 and exposed at the front receptacle; the front receptacle contacts… at exposed surfaces thereof; and rear central receptacle contacts 14 extending along a rear side (right side of 19 in figure 3) of the central wall 19 and exposed at the rear receptacle… at exposed surfaces thereof; wherein the front receptacle contacts 15 and the front central receptacle contacts 14 are laterally offset on opposite sides of the front receptacle and longitudinally staggered relative to each other on opposite sides of the front receptacle (shown in figure 4 and taught in column 4 lines 17-46); wherein the rear receptacle contacts and the rear central receptacle contacts are laterally offset on opposite sides of the rear receptacle and longitudinally staggered relative to each other on opposite sides of the rear receptacle (shown in figure 4 and taught in column 4 lines 17-46)”.
Pope does not teach the receptacle contacts “being split into parallel mating portions at a seam that is parallel with a mating direction of the receptacle connector assembly with the header connector” or having multiple points of contact with corresponding header contacts of the header connector.
In the same field of endeavor before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, Doi teaches, as shown in figures 1-5(B), the receptacle contacts 60 “being split into parallel mating portions 62A at a seam that is parallel with a mating direction Z of the receptacle connector assembly II with the header connector I” and having multiple points of contact 62A with corresponding header contacts 13 of the header connector I. It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the claimed invention combine the features of Doi with the invention of Pope in order provide a clamping effect for the connection (Doi, column 10 lines 47-67).
With regard to claim 14, Pope as modified by Doi teaches: “The receptacle connector assembly of claim 13”, as shown above.
Pope also teaches, as shown in figures 1-4: “wherein the receptacle connector housing includes a base 18 at the mounting end, the front wall 20, the rear wall 21, and the central wall 19 extending from the base 18 to the mating end, the base 18 including contact channels 22 and 24 receiving the receptacle contacts, the receptacle contacts including terminating ends 14b and 15b extending from the base 18 for termination to the circuit board”.
With regard to claim 16, Pope as modified by Doi teaches: “The receptacle connector assembly of claim 13”, as shown above.
Pope does not teach: “wherein each receptacle contact includes a deflectable spring beam engaging the corresponding header contact, the spring beam being deflectable when mated to the header contact, the spring beams of the front receptacle contacts being deflected toward the front wall, the spring beams of the front central receptacle contacts being deflected toward the central wall, the spring beams of the rear central receptacle contacts being deflected toward the central wall, and the spring beams of the rear receptacle contacts being deflected toward the rear wall”. However, Pope teaches each of the receptacle connector and header connector using both deflectable spring beams. It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the claimed invention to rearrange the invention o have each of the receptacle contacts be deflectable spring beams engaging corresponding header contacts in order to allow each connector to be composed with one type of mating portion. Also, it has been held that rearranging parts of an invention involves only routine skill in the art. In re Japikse, 86 USPQ 70. With this modification, the spring beams that replace the front and rear central receptacle contacts 14, as well as the front and rear receptacle contacts 15 would be deflected in the claimed directions.
With regard to claim 17, Pope as modified by Doi teaches: “The receptacle connector assembly of claim 13”, as shown above.
Doi also teaches, as shown in figures 1-5(B): “wherein the receptacle contacts 60 include deflectable spring beams 62, each deflectable spring beam 62 being split at a mating end 62A thereof to include a first spring arm (62A furthest in the Y2 direction of each pair in figure 2(B)) having a first mating interface (where the first spring arm contacts 13 in figure 2(B)) and a second spring arm (62A furthest in the Y1 direction of each pair of 62A in figure 2(B)) having a second mating interface (where the second spring arm contacts 13 in figure 2(B))”. It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the claimed invention combine the features of Doi with the invention of Pope as modified by Doi in order to provide a clamping effect for the connection (Doi, column 1 lines 23-24).
Doi does not specifically teach: “each spring beam having multiple points of contact with the corresponding header contact”. However, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to change the shape of the spring beams so that each have multiple points of contact with the corresponding header contact in order to increase the contact area between the contacts. Also, a change in shape is generally recognized as being within the level of ordinary skill in the art. In re Dailey, 149 USPQ 47 (CCPA 1976).
With regard to claim 19, Pope as modified by Doi teaches: “The receptacle connector assembly of claim 13”, as shown above.
Pope also teaches, as shown in figures 1-4: “wherein the front wall 20 includes front wall pockets (where 15 are received in 20 in figure 1) receiving mating ends of the front receptacle contacts 15, the rear wall 21 includes rear wall pockets (where 15 are received in 21 in figure 1) receiving mating ends of the rear receptacle contacts 15, the central wall 19 including central wall pockets (where 14 are received on either side of 19 in figure 1) on the front side and the rear side receiving mating ends of the front central receptacle contacts 14 and the rear central receptacle contacts 14, respectively”.
With regard to claim 20, Pope as modified by Doi teaches: “The receptacle connector assembly of claim 13”, as shown above.
Pope also teaches, as shown in figures 1-4: “wherein the front receptacle contacts 15 are centered between the front central receptacle contacts 14 on opposite sides of the front slot, the front central receptacle contacts 14 are centered between the front receptacle contacts 15 on opposite sides of the front slot, the rear receptacle contacts 15 are centered between the rear central receptacle contacts 14 on opposite sides of the rear slot, and the rear central receptacle contacts 14 are centered between the rear receptacle contacts 15 on opposite sides of the rear slot”.
With regard to claim 21, Pope as modified by Doi teaches: “The receptacle connector assembly of claim 13”, as shown above.
Pope also teaches, as shown in figures 1-4: “wherein the front receptacle contacts 15 are spaced at a receptacle contact pitch, the rear receptacle contacts 15 are spaced at the receptacle contact pitch, the front central receptacle contacts 14 are spaced at the receptacle contact pitch, and the rear central receptacle contacts 14 are spaced at the receptacle contact pitch”.
With regard to claim 22, Pope teaches, as shown in figures 1-4 and taught in column 3 lines 26-31 and column 4 lines 17-46: “A header connector assembly 11 comprising: a header connector housing 30 having a mounting end (upper end of 30 in figure 3) and a mating end (lower end of 30 in figure 3) opposite the mounting end for mating with a receptacle connector 10, the mounting end configured to be mounted to a circuit board (taught in column 3 lines 26-31), the mating end of the header connector housing 30 configured to be mated to a receptacle connector housing 16 of the receptacle connector 10, the header connector housing 30 having a front outer wall 35 extending longitudinally between a first end (lower-right end of 30 in figure 2) and a second end (upper-left end of 30 in figure 2) of the header connector housing 30, the header connector housing 30 having a rear outer wall 36 extending longitudinally between the first end and the second end, the header connector housing 30 having a front inner wall 32 positioned laterally between the front wall 35 and the rear wall 36 closer to the front outer wall 35 than the rear outer wall 36, the header connector housing 30 having a rear inner wall 34 positioned laterally between the front outer wall 35 and the rear outer wall 36 closer to the rear outer wall 36 than the front outer wall 35; a front slot between the front outer wall 35 and the front inner wall 32, the front slot configured to receive a front wall 20 of the receptacle connector housing 16; a rear slot between the rear outer wall 36 and the rear inner wall 34, the rear slot configured to receive a rear wall 21 of the receptacle connector housing 16; a central slot between the front inner wall 32 and the rear inner wall 34, the central slot configured to receive a central wall 19 of the receptacle connector housing 16; front header contacts 14 extending along a front side of the front inner wall 32 and exposed at the front slot, the front header contacts… at exposed surfaces thereof; rear header contacts 15 extending along a rear side of the rear inner wall 34 and exposed at the rear slot, the rear header contacts… at exposed surfaces thereof; front central header contacts 15 extending along a rear side of the front inner wall 32 and exposed at the central slot, the front central header contacts... at exposed surfaces thereof; and rear central header contacts 15 extending along a front side of the rear inner wall 34 and exposed at the central slot, the rear central header contacts… at exposed surfaces thereof… wherein the front header contacts 14 and the front central header 15 contacts are longitudinally staggered relative to each other on opposite sides of the front inner wall 32 (shown in figure 4 and taught in column 4 lines 17-46); and wherein the rear header contacts 14 and the rear central header contacts 15 are longitudinally staggered relative to each other on opposite sides of the rear inner wall 34 (shown in figure 4 and taught in column 4 lines 17-46)”.
Pope does not teach the receptacle contacts having multiple points of contact with corresponding header contacts of the header connector or are planar and parallel to each other”.
Doi also teaches, as shown in figures 1-5(B), the receptacle contacts 60 having multiple points of contact 62A with corresponding header contacts 13 of the header connector I and are planar and parallel to each other. It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the claimed invention combine the features of Doi with the invention of Pope as modified by Doi in order to provide a clamping effect for the connection (Doi, column 1 lines 23-24).
Claims 3 and 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Pope et al. (5,921,787) in view of Doi (11,721,920) and Chen (2021/0006017).
With regard to claim 3, Pope as modified by Doi teaches: “The electrical connector system of claim 1”, as shown above.
Neither Pope nor Doi teach: “wherein the receptacle connector assembly includes a front receptacle shield coupled to the front wall and a rear receptacle shield coupled to the rear wall to provide electrical shielding therebetween for the receptacle contacts, the header connector assembly including a front header shield coupled to the front outer wall and a rear header shield coupled to the rear outer wall to provide electrical shielding therebetween for the header contacts, the front receptacle shield engaging the front header shield, the rear receptacle shield engaging the rear header shield”.
In the same field of endeavor before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, Chen teaches, as shown in figures 1-7: “wherein the receptacle connector (shown in figure 6) assembly includes a front receptacle shield (left wall of upper 4 in figure 7) coupled to the front wall (left wall of 11 in figure 7) and a rear receptacle shield (right wall of upper 4 in figure 7) coupled to the rear wall (right wall of 11 in figure 7) to provide electrical shielding therebetween for the receptacle contacts (terminals 2 of the connector in figure 5), the header connector assembly (shown in figure 2) including a front header shield (left wall of lower 40 in figure 7) coupled to the front outer wall (left wall 121 in figure 7) and a rear header shield (right wall of 40 in figure 7) coupled to the rear outer wall (right 121 in figure 7) to provide electrical shielding therebetween for the header contacts (terminals 2 of the connector in figure 2), the front receptacle shield engaging the front header shield, the rear receptacle shield engaging the rear header shield”. It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the claimed invention combine the features of Chen with the invention of Pope as modified by Doi in order to provide shielding to the contacts of the receptacle connector assembly and the header connector assembly (Chen, paragraph 28).
With regard to claim 15, Pope as modified by Doi teaches: “The receptacle connector assembly of claim 13”, as shown above.
Neither Pope nor Doi teach: “wherein the receptacle connector assembly includes a front receptacle shield coupled to the front wall and a rear receptacle shield coupled to the rear wall to provide electrical shielding therebetween for the receptacle contacts”.
In the same field of endeavor before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, Chen teaches, as shown in figures 1-7: “wherein the receptacle connector assembly (shown in figure 6) includes a front receptacle shield (left wall of upper 4 in figure 7) coupled to the front wall (left wall of 11 in figure 7) and a rear receptacle shield (right wall of upper 4 in figure 7) coupled to the rear wall (right wall of 11 in figure 7) to provide electrical shielding therebetween for the receptacle contacts (upper contacts 216 in figure 11)”. It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the claimed invention combine the features of Chen with the invention of Pope as modified by Doi in order to provide shielding to the contacts of the receptacle connector assembly and the header connector assembly (Chen, paragraph 28).
Claims 7 and 18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Pope et al. (5,921,787) in view of Doi (11,721,920) and Duenas et al. (2012/0094542).
With regard to claim 7, Pope as modified by Doi teaches: “The electrical connector system of claim 1”, as shown above.
Neither Pope nor Doi teach: “wherein the receptacle connector housing includes mounting tabs at the first end and the second end, the mounting tabs configured to engage the circuit board to position the receptacle connector housing and the receptacle contacts relative to the circuit board, and wherein the header connector housing includes mounting tabs at the first end and the second end, the mounting tabs configured to engage the circuit board to position the header connector housing in the header contacts relative to the circuit board”.
In the same field of endeavor before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, Duenas teaches, as shown in figures 1-2 and taught in paragraph 26), the use of mounting tabs (shown below) on connector housings 1 for positioning connectors 100 on a circuit board (taught in paragraph 26).
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It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the claimed invention combine the features of Duenas with the invention of Pope as modified by Doi in order to position the contacts of the connectors onto the circuit board (Duenas, paragraph 26).
With regard to claim 18, Pope as modified by Doi teaches: “The receptacle connector assembly of claim 13”, as shown above.
Neither Pope nor Doi teach: “wherein the receptacle connector housing includes mounting tabs at the first end and the second end, the mounting tabs configured to engage the circuit board to position the receptacle connector housing and the receptacle contacts relative to the circuit board”.
In the same field of endeavor before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, Duenas teaches, as shown in figures 1-2 and taught in paragraph 26), the use of mounting tabs (shown below) on connector housings 1 for positioning connectors 100 on a circuit board (taught in paragraph 26).
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It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the claimed invention combine the features of Duenas with the invention of Pope as modified by Doi in order to position the contacts of the connectors onto the circuit board (Duenas, paragraph 26).
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1, 13, and 22 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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 JUSTIN M KRATT whose telephone number is (571)270-0277. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9am-6pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Abdullah A Riyami can be reached at (571)270-3119. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JUSTIN M KRATT/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2831
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