DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 01/27/2026 has been entered.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see Page 4, filed 01/27/2026, with respect to the rejection of claims 10-17 under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the rejection of claims 10-17 has been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, the same ground of rejection is made in view of Perletti et al (US 20180152788 A1) for independent claim 18. The independent claim 18 presently states the “reinforcement structure of a geometrically defined shape which reinforces the membrane in a defined manner” wherein the Examiner argues that Perletti still broadly reads into claim 18 where the at least one reinforcement structure (30) of the geometrically defined shape being circular or concentric ring shape (Paragraph 0030) which reinforces the membrane (22) in a defined manner (i.e. the phrase “defined manner” is not explicitly defined in the provided results). Therefore, the Examiner believes that the claim 18 is still rejected by the prior art of record.
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.
Claim 18 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Perletti et al (US 20180152788 A1) “hereinafter Perletti” as cited in IDS filed on 03/06/2023.
In regards to claim 18, Perletti teaches a method for producing a micromechanical component comprising the following steps: providing a membrane (22) (Paragraph 0035); and forming in the membrane (22) (Paragraph 0046) in a region of at least one anchor structure (26) at least one reinforcement structure (30) of a geometrically defined shape (i.e. circular or concentric ring-shape) which reinforces the membrane (22) in a defined manner (Paragraphs 0038 & 0039).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 10-17 are allowed.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: In the Examiner’s opinion in regards to claim 10, Perletti teaches a micromechanical component comprising a membrane (22); wherein the membrane (22) includes at least one reinforcement structure (30, i.e. plate anchor region) of a geometrically defined shape (i.e. circular or concentric ring-shape; Paragraph 0030) (Paragraph 0023; Figure 5), which reinforces the membrane (22) in a defined manner, in a region of at least one anchor structure (26) (Paragraph 0028), the reinforcement structure (30) including at least one enclosed additional element (38, i.e. insulation region) in the region of the at least one anchor structure (26) (Paragraph 0030).
However, Perletti does not teach the structural limitations of the micromechanical component further comprising the reinforcement structure overlapping the at least one anchor structure in the plane of the membrane and extending laterally beyond the lateral dimensions of the at least one anchor structure wherein the reinforcement structure is configured to reduce stress at the transition between the membrane and the anchor structure where the stated limitations are not suggested in addition to not being anticipated or taught in combination with the remaining limitations of independent claim 1. The remaining claims are allowed due to their dependency.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Pinter et al (US 6462392 B1) - The present invention relates to a micromechanical cap structure and a corresponding manufacturing method, the cap structure having a substrate, in particular in the form of a wafer, having a cavity made therein, the cavity having a bottom surface and two pairs of opposite parallel sidewall sections.
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/J.L.J/Examiner, Art Unit 2855
/PETER J MACCHIAROLO/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2855