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 of Species I in the reply filed on 10/01/2025 is acknowledged. Because applicant did not distinctly and specifically point out the supposed errors in the restriction requirement, the election has been treated as an election without traverse (MPEP § 818.01(a)).
Claims 10, 14, and 16-19 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected Group II and Group I, Species II-IV, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 10/01/2025.
Claim Objections
Claim 22 is objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 22 recites “conducive” should be --conductive--.
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 9 and 13 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 9 recites “first to fourth side surfaces” is indefinite and unclear. The claim limitation should recite “a first surface, a second surface, a third surface, and a fourth surface”.
Claim 13 recites the limitation "the other surface" in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 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) 1-5, 9, 11-13, and 15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Ishida et al. [U.S. Pub. No. 2017/0169936].
Regarding Claim 1, Ishida et al. shows a coil component (Figs. 1-3C) comprising:
a body (see Figs. 1-2) including one surface (bottom surface) and a plurality of side surfaces (left, right, back, front surfaces) respectively connected to the one surface (see Figs. 1-2);
a coil portion (L1, L2) disposed within the body (see Figs. 1-2); and
a lead-out portion (element 34 with element 26b) disposed within the body and connected to the coil portion (see Figs. 1-2),
wherein the body includes a groove portion (Cc) disposed in a corner (see Figs. 1-2) where two adjacent side surfaces (right surface and back surface) of the plurality of side surfaces of the body are in contact with each other (see Figs. 1-2), the groove portion (Cc) having a width narrower than a width of the body (see Figs. 1-2, element Cc have a width narrower than a width of the body) and extending from a portion of the lead-out portion (see Figs. 1-2, element Cc extending from a portion of element 34 with element 26b).
Regarding Claim 2, Ishida et al. shows the groove portion (Cc) includes a first region (lower region) disposed in the one surface of the body (see Figs. 1-2) and a second region (upper region) having a greatest distance from the one surface of the body in a thickness direction (see Figs. 1-2), and the first region of the groove portion has a size larger than a size of the second region of the groove portion (see Figs. 1-2, lower region has a size larger than a size of upper region, Paragraph [0066]).
Regarding Claim 3, Ishida et al. shows the groove portion has a tapered shape in a direction away from the one surface of the body (see Figs. 1-2, element Cc has a tapered shape in a direction away from the bottom surface).
Regarding Claim 4, Ishida et al. shows the groove portion has a truncated cone shape (see Figs. 1-2, element Cc has a truncated cone shape).
Regarding Claim 5, Ishida et al. shows a plating layer (16c, 17c) disposed on at least a portion of each of the one surface (see Figs. 1-2) and a surface of the groove portion of the body (see Figs. 1-2) and being in contact with at least a portion of the lead-out portion (see Figs. 1-2, element 16c being in contact with at least a portion of element 34 with element 26b).
Regarding Claim 9, Ishida et al. shows the plurality of side surfaces of the body include first to fourth side surfaces (right, left, back, front surfaces), and the groove portion includes first (Cc) and second (Ca) groove portions respectively disposed in two opposite ends of the second side surface (front surface) of the body in a length direction (left-right direction, see Figs. 1-2), while being spaced apart from each other (see Figs. 1-2), and respectively extended to the first (left surface) and third (right surface) side surfaces of the body (see Figs. 1-2), adjacent to the second side surface (back surface, see Figs. 1-2).
Regarding Claim 11, Ishida et al. shows the groove portion (Cc) has a length shorter than a length of the body, based on a thickness direction (see Figs. 1-2, element Cc has a length shorter than a length of the body, based on a thickness up-down direction).
Regarding Claim 12, Ishida et al. shows an insulating layer (18b or 18c) covering the coil portion (L2), wherein at least a portion of the insulating layer (18b or 18c) is exposed to the groove portion (Cc, see Figs. 1-2).
Regarding Claim 13, Ishida et al. shows the coil portion includes a board (18b) and a coil pattern (L1, L2) disposed on each of one surface (top surface) and the other surface (bottom surface) of the board (18b, see Figs. 1-2).
Regarding Claim 15, Ishida et al. shows the lead-out portion includes a connection portion (element 15c with elements 16c, 17c) in contact with at least a portion of the one surface (bottom surface) of the body (see Figs. 1-2).
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) 3-4 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ishida et al. in view of Kido et al. [U.S. Pub. No. 2014/0139307].
Regarding Claim 3, Ishida et al. shows the claimed invention as applied above.
In addition, Kido et al. shows the groove portion has a tapered shape in a direction away from the one surface of the body (see Figs. 1-2, element Cc has a tapered shape in a direction away from the bottom surface, Paragraph [0029]).
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 groove portion has a tapered shape in a direction away from the one surface of the body as taught by Kido et al. for the coil component as disclosed by Ishida et al. to increase inductance without increasing the size of the electronic component (Paragraph [0086]).
Regarding Claim 4, Ishida et al. shows the claimed invention as applied above.
In addition, Kido et al. shows the groove portion has a truncated cone shape (see Figs. 1-2, element Cc has a truncated cone shape, Paragraph [0029]).
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 groove portion has a truncated cone shape as taught by Kido et al. for the coil component as disclosed by Ishida et al. to increase inductance without increasing the size of the electronic component (Paragraph [0086]).
Claim(s) 6 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ishida et al. in view of Annen [U.S. Pub. No. 2021/0210273].
Regarding Claim 6, Ishida et al. shows the claimed invention as applied above but does not show an external electrode in contact with at least a portion of the plating layer, and disposed on the one surface of the body.
Annen show a coil component (Figs. 1-8) teaching and suggesting an external electrode (64, 65) in contact with at least a portion of the plating layer (63, Paragraph [0065]), and disposed on the one surface (11a) of the body (see Figs. 1-8).
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 an external electrode in contact with at least a portion of the plating layer, and disposed on the one surface of the body as taught by Annen for the coil component as disclosed by Ishida et al. to facilitate electrical connection to an external circuit with stress concentration is reduced to contribute to improvement in reliability (Paragraph [0097]).
Claim(s) 7-8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ishida et al. in view of Park et al. [U.S. Pub. No. 2020/0381170].
Regarding Claim 7, Ishida et al. shows the claimed invention as applied above but does not show an insulating material disposed in the groove portion and in contact with at least a portion of the plating layer.
Park et al. shows a coil component (Figs. 8-11) teaching and suggesting an insulating material (510, Paragraph [0093]) disposed in the groove portion (see Figs. 8-11) and in contact with at least a portion of the plating layer (310).
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 an insulating material disposed in the groove portion and in contact with at least a portion of the plating layer as taught by Park et al. for the coil component as disclosed by Ishida et al. to facilitate insulation to prevent unwanted connection and short circuit (Paragraph [0105]).
Regarding Claim 8, Park et al. shows the insulating material (510) is extended to at least one of the plurality of side surfaces (left surface) of the body (see Figs. 8-11).
Claim(s) 6-8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ishida et al. in view of Lim et al. [U.S. Pub. No. 2020/0118729].
Regarding Claim 6, Ishida et al. shows the claimed invention as applied above but does not show an external electrode in contact with at least a portion of the plating layer, and disposed on the one surface of the body.
Lim et al. show a coil component (Figs. 6-7) teaching and suggesting an external electrode (720) in contact with at least a portion of the plating layer (420), and disposed on the one surface (106) of the body (see Figs. 6-7).
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 an external electrode in contact with at least a portion of the plating layer, and disposed on the one surface of the body as taught by Lim et al. for the coil component as disclosed by Ishida et al. to facilitate electrical connection to an external circuit.
Regarding Claim 7, Ishida et al. shows the claimed invention as applied above but does not show an insulating material disposed in the groove portion and in contact with at least a portion of the plating layer.
Lim et al. shows a coil component (Figs. 4-7) teaching and suggesting an insulating material (500, Paragraph [0073]) disposed in the groove portion (see Figs. 4-7) and in contact with at least a portion of the plating layer (410).
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 an insulating material disposed in the groove portion and in contact with at least a portion of the plating layer as taught by Lim et al. for the coil component as disclosed by Ishida et al. to facilitate insulation to prevent unwanted connection and short circuit (Paragraph [0087]).
Regarding Claim 8, Lim et al. shows the insulating material (500) is extended to at least one of the plurality of side surfaces (left surface) of the body (see Figs. 4-7).
Claim(s) 7-8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ishida et al. in view of Shimizu et al. [U.S. Pub. No. 2018/0182537].
Regarding Claim 7, Ishida et al. shows the claimed invention as applied above but does not show an insulating material disposed in the groove portion and in contact with at least a portion of the plating layer.
Shimizu et al. shows a coil component (Figs. 1-7) teaching and suggesting an insulating material (41) disposed in the groove portion (see Figs. 1-7) and in contact with at least a portion of the plating layer (31).
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 an insulating material disposed in the groove portion and in contact with at least a portion of the plating layer as taught by Shimizu et al. for the coil component as disclosed by Ishida et al. to facilitate insulation to prevent unwanted connection and short circuit (Paragraph [0039]).
Regarding Claim 8, Shimizu et al. shows the insulating material (41) is extended to at least one of the plurality of side surfaces (right surface) of the body (see Figs. 1-7).
Claim(s) 13 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ishida et al. in view of Kim [U.S. Pub. No. 2019/0122807].
Regarding Claim 13, Ishida et al. shows the claimed invention as applied above.
In addition, Kim shows the coil portion includes a board (13) and a coil pattern (top and bottom elements 12) disposed on each of one surface (top surface) and the other surface (bottom surface) of the board (13, see Figs. 1-2).
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 board and a coil pattern disposed on each of one surface and the other surface of the board as taught by Kim for the coil component as disclosed by Ishida et al. to facilitate strength to suitably support the coil patterns for mechanical stability and reliability while having insulation characteristics (Paragraph [0030]).
Claim(s) 15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ishida et al. in view of Park et al. [U.S. Pub. No. 2020/0321155] (hereinafter as “Park ‘155”).
Regarding Claim 15, Ishida et al. shows the claimed invention as applied above.
In addition, Park ‘155 shows the lead-out portion includes a connection portion (410 or 420) in contact with at least a portion of the one surface (106) of the body (see Figs. 1-4).
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 lead-out portion includes a connection portion in contact with at least a portion of the one surface of the body as taught by Park ‘155 for the coil component as disclosed by Ishida et al. to achieve electrical connection to an external electrode to obtain desirable inductance and operating characteristics (Paragraph [0059]).
Claim(s) 20-25 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Annen [U.S. Pub. No. 2021/0210273] in view of Lim et al. [U.S. Pub. No. 2020/0118729].
Regarding Claim 20, Annen shows a coil component (Figs. 1-8 and 11-18) comprising:
a body (see Figs. 1-2) including one surface (bottom surface) and a plurality of side surfaces (left and right surfaces in the X-direction, back and front surfaces in the Y-direction) respectively connected to the one surface (see Figs. 1-2);
a coil portion (22a, 22b) disposed within the body (see Figs. 1-2);
a lead-out portion (32) disposed within the body (see Figs. 1-2) and connected to the coil portion (see Figs. 1-2); and
an external electrode (64, 65) disposed on the body (see Fig. 8), wherein the body includes a groove portion (15c) extending from the one surface (bottom surface) and one or more (right surface and back surface) of the plurality of side surfaces to a portion of the lead-out portion (see Figs. 1-8 and 11-18, Paragraphs [0082], [0091]),
the groove portion (15c) has a width narrower than a width of the body (see Figs. 1-2, element 15c has a width narrower than a width of the body), and
the external electrode (64, 65) is connected to the lead-out portion (32) through a conductive layer (14c) disposed on a surface of the groove portion (see Figs. 1-2) and connected to the lead-out portion (see Figs. 1-8 and Figs. 11-18).
Annen does not explicitly show the groove portion is filled with an insulating material.
Lim et al. shows a coil component (Figs. 4-7) teaching and suggesting the groove portion (see Figs. 4-7) is filled with an insulating material (500, Paragraph [0073]).
Lim et al. also shows an external electrode (720) disposed on the body (see Figs. 6-7) the external electrode (720) is connected to the lead-out portion (232) through a conductive layer (410, 420) disposed on a surface of the groove portion (see Figs. 6-7) and connected to the lead-out portion (see Figs. 6-7).
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 groove portion is filled with an insulating material as taught by Lim et al. for the coil component as disclosed by Ishida et al. to facilitate insulation to prevent unwanted connection and short circuit (Paragraph [0087]) and to facilitate electrical connection to an external circuit.
Regarding Claim 21, Lim et al. shows the insulating material (500, Paragraph [0073]) disposed in the groove portion is different from a material (Paragraph [0039]) of the body (100).
Regarding Claim 22, Lim et al. shows the conducive/conductive layer (410) is disposed between the insulating material (500) and the body (100, see Figs. 6-7).
Regarding Claim 23, Annen shows the groove portion (15c) has a tapered shape (see Figs. 1-2, Paragraphs [0034]-[0035]) in a direction away from the one surface (bottom surface) of the body (see Figs. 1-2).
Regarding Claim 24, Lim et al. shows the insulating material (500) is extended to at least one of the plurality of side surfaces (left side) of the body (see Figs. 6-7).
Regarding Claim 25, Annen shows the groove portion (15c) is disposed at one of corners of the body (see Figs. 1-2).
Claim(s) 23 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Annen in view of Lim et al. as applied to claim 20 above, and further in view of Kido et al. [U.S. Pub. No. 2014/0139307].
Regarding Claim 23, Annen in view of Lim et al. shows the claimed invention as applied above.
In addition, Kido et al. shows the groove portion has a tapered shape in a direction away from the one surface of the body (see Figs. 1-2, element Cc has a tapered shape in a direction away from the bottom surface, Paragraph [0029]).
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 groove portion has a tapered shape in a direction away from the one surface of the body as taught by Kido et al. for the coil component as disclosed by Annen in view of Lim et al. to increase inductance without increasing the size of the electronic component (Paragraph [0086]).
Claim(s) 20-25 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Annen [U.S. Pub. No. 2021/0210273] in view of Shimizu et al. [U.S. Pub. No. 2018/0182537].
Regarding Claim 20, Annen shows a coil component (Figs. 1-8 and 11-18) comprising:
a body (see Figs. 1-2) including one surface (bottom surface) and a plurality of side surfaces (left and right surfaces in the X-direction, back and front surfaces in the Y-direction) respectively connected to the one surface (see Figs. 1-2);
a coil portion (22a, 22b) disposed within the body (see Figs. 1-2);
a lead-out portion (32) disposed within the body (see Figs. 1-2) and connected to the coil portion (see Figs. 1-2); and
an external electrode (64, 65) disposed on the body (see Fig. 8), wherein the body includes a groove portion (15c) extending from the one surface (bottom surface) and one or more (right surface and back surface) of the plurality of side surfaces to a portion of the lead-out portion (see Figs. 1-8 and 11-18, Paragraphs [0082], [0091]),
the groove portion (15c) has a width narrower than a width of the body (see Figs. 1-2, element 15c has a width narrower than a width of the body), and
the external electrode (64, 65) is connected to the lead-out portion (32) through a conductive layer (14c) disposed on a surface of the groove portion (see Figs. 1-2) and connected to the lead-out portion (see Figs. 1-8 and Figs. 11-18).
Annen does not explicitly show the groove portion is filled with an insulating material.
Shimizu et al. shows a coil component (Figs. 1-7) teaching and suggesting the groove portion (see Figs. 1-7) is filled with an insulating material (41).
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 groove portion is filled with an insulating material as taught by Shimizu et al. for the coil component as disclosed by Ishida et al. to facilitate insulation to prevent unwanted connection and short circuit (Paragraph [0039]).
Regarding Claim 21, Shimizu et al. shows the insulating material (41, Paragraph [0041]) disposed in the groove portion is different from a material (Paragraph [0023]) of the body (10).
Regarding Claim 22, Shimizu et al. shows the conducive/conductive layer (31) is disposed between the insulating material (41) and the body (10, see Figs. 1-7).
Regarding Claim 23, Annen shows the groove portion (15c) has a tapered shape (see Figs. 1-2, Paragraphs [0034]-[0035]) in a direction away from the one surface (bottom surface) of the body (see Figs. 1-2).
Regarding Claim 24, Shimizu et al. shows the insulating material (41) is extended to at least one of the plurality of side surfaces (right side) of the body (see Figs. 1-7).
Regarding Claim 25, Annen shows the groove portion (15c) is disposed at one of corners of the body (see Figs. 1-2).
Claim(s) 23 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Annen in view of Shimizu et al. as applied to claim 20 above, and further in view of Kido et al. [U.S. Pub. No. 2014/0139307].
Regarding Claim 23, Annen in view of Shimizu et al. shows the claimed invention as applied above.
In addition, Kido et al. shows the groove portion has a tapered shape in a direction away from the one surface of the body (see Figs. 1-2, element Cc has a tapered shape in a direction away from the bottom surface, Paragraph [0029]).
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 groove portion has a tapered shape in a direction away from the one surface of the body as taught by Kido et al. for the coil component as disclosed by Annen in view of Shimizu et al. to increase inductance without increasing the size of the electronic component (Paragraph [0086]).
Claim(s) 20-25 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Annen [U.S. Pub. No. 2021/0210273] in view of Park et al. [U.S. Pub. No. 2020/0381170].
Regarding Claim 20, Annen shows a coil component (Figs. 1-8 and 11-18) comprising:
a body (see Figs. 1-2) including one surface (bottom surface) and a plurality of side surfaces (left and right surfaces in the X-direction, back and front surfaces in the Y-direction) respectively connected to the one surface (see Figs. 1-2);
a coil portion (22a, 22b) disposed within the body (see Figs. 1-2);
a lead-out portion (32) disposed within the body (see Figs. 1-2) and connected to the coil portion (see Figs. 1-2); and
an external electrode (64, 65) disposed on the body (see Fig. 8), wherein the body includes a groove portion (15c) extending from the one surface (bottom surface) and one or more (right surface and back surface) of the plurality of side surfaces to a portion of the lead-out portion (see Figs. 1-8 and 11-18, Paragraphs [0082], [0091]),
the groove portion (15c) has a width narrower than a width of the body (see Figs. 1-2, element 15c has a width narrower than a width of the body), and
the external electrode (64, 65) is connected to the lead-out portion (32) through a conductive layer (14c) disposed on a surface of the groove portion (see Figs. 1-2) and connected to the lead-out portion (see Figs. 1-8 and Figs. 11-18).
Annen does not explicitly show the groove portion is filled with an insulating material.
Park et al. shows a coil component (Figs. 8-11) teaching and suggesting the groove portion (see Figs. 8-11) is filled with an insulating material (510, Paragraph [0093]).
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 groove portion is filled with an insulating material as taught by Park et al. for the coil component as disclosed by Ishida et al. to facilitate insulation to prevent unwanted connection and short circuit (Paragraph [0105]).
Regarding Claim 21, Park et al. shows the insulating material (510, Paragraph [0093]) disposed in the groove portion is different from a material (Paragraph [0039]) of the body (10).
Regarding Claim 22, Park et al. shows the conducive/conductive layer (310) is disposed between the insulating material (510) and the body (10, see Figs. 8-11).
Regarding Claim 23, Annen shows the groove portion (15c) has a tapered shape (see Figs. 1-2, Paragraphs [0034]-[0035]) in a direction away from the one surface (bottom surface) of the body (see Figs. 1-2).
Regarding Claim 24, Park et al. shows the insulating material (510) is extended to at least one of the plurality of side surfaces (left side) of the body (see Figs. 8-11).
Regarding Claim 25, Annen shows the groove portion (15c) is disposed at one of corners of the body (see Figs. 1-2).
Claim(s) 23 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Annen in view of Park et al. as applied to claim 20 above, and further in view of Kido et al. [U.S. Pub. No. 2014/0139307].
Regarding Claim 23, Annen in view of Park et al. shows the claimed invention as applied above.
In addition, Kido et al. shows the groove portion has a tapered shape in a direction away from the one surface of the body (see Figs. 1-2, element Cc has a tapered shape in a direction away from the bottom surface, Paragraph [0029]).
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 groove portion has a tapered shape in a direction away from the one surface of the body as taught by Kido et al. for the coil component as disclosed by Annen in view of Park et al. to increase inductance without increasing the size of the electronic component (Paragraph [0086]).
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