DETAILED ACTION
This action is in response to the RCE filed on 1/22/2026.
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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 1/22/2026 has been entered.
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(s) 1 – 12, 14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Kwon (US 8287313).
Regarding claim 1, Kwon teaches (figures 8 – 10) an electrical contact pad, comprising: a conductive component (100) including at least one surface discontinuity (see surface discontinuity near 110) configured to enhance an electrical connection therewith (i.e. surface discontinuity near 110 is capable of enhancing an electrical connection; column 5, lines 9 – 17).
Regarding claim 2, Kwon teaches (figures 8 – 10) the electrical contact pad of claim 1, wherein the conductive component (100) has a planar section (see figure 8) with the at least one surface discontinuity (surface discontinuity near 110).
Regarding claim 3, Kwon teaches (figures 8 – 10) the electrical contact pad of claim 1, wherein the at least one surface discontinuity (surface discontinuity near 110) includes one or more structurally-vulnerable portions (150) configured to serve as focused points of contact during an establishment of the electrical connection (i.e. 150 is a point of contact during establishment of the electrical connection).
Regarding claim 4, Kwon teaches (figures 8 – 10) the electrical contact pad of claim 3, wherein the one or more structurally-vulnerable portions (150) are configured to physically yield during the establishment of the electrical connection (i.e. 150 is capable of physically yielding during establishment of the electrical connection; see figure 7, showing 150 yielding towards 304).
Regarding claim 5, Kwon teaches (figures 8 – 10) the electrical contact pad of claim 1, wherein the at least one surface discontinuity (surface discontinuity near 110) includes one or more edges (see figure 8).
Regarding claim 6, Kwon teaches (figures 8 – 10) the electrical contact pad of claim 1,
wherein the at least one surface discontinuity (surface discontinuity near 110) includes a rim (see rim where 144 is extending from).
Regarding claim 7, Kwon teaches (figures 8 – 10) the electrical contact pad of claim 1, wherein the at least one surface discontinuity (surface discontinuity near 110) is a machined portion of the conductive component (100) that is configured to receive an electric current (i.e. column 22, lines 34 – 41).
Regarding claim 8, Kwon teaches (figures 8 – 10) the electrical contact pad of claim 1, wherein the at least one surface discontinuity (surface discontinuity near 110) is an opening (see opening near 110 in figure 8) in a surface of the conductive component (100).
Regarding claim 9, Kwon teaches (figures 8 – 10) the electrical contact pad of claim 8, wherein the opening (see opening near 110a in figure 10) is a recess (i.e. 120a; Definition of recess in Google “the term recess in the context of connector structures and architectural/mechanical design refers to an indentation, inset, hollow, or set-back area.”).
Regarding claim 10, Kwon teaches (figures 8 – 10) the electrical contact pad of claim 9, wherein the recess (120a) is a dimple (i.e. 120a is an upward protruding part, 134a is considered a dimple).
Regarding claim 11, Kwon teaches (figures 8 – 10) the electrical contact pad of claim 8, wherein the opening (see opening near 110 in figure 8) is a through hole (opening near 110 is a through hole) in the conductive component (100).
Regarding claim 12, Kwon teaches (figures 8 – 10) the electrical contact pad of claim 8, wherein the opening (see opening near 110 in figure 8) has a shape of a circle (see circular shape in figure 8).
Regarding claim 14, Kwon teaches (figures 8 – 10) the electrical contact pad of claim 1, wherein the at least one surface discontinuity (surface discontinuity near 110) is a chamfer (160a) on a surface of the conductive component (100).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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) 13 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kwon (US 8287313).
Regarding claim 13, Kwon teaches (figures 8 – 10) the electrical contact pad of claim 12, wherein the circle has a diameter between 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm.
Although Kwon does not expressly disclose that the circle has a diameter between 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm, it would have been obvious by one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the diameter of the circular opening in O’Neil to be between 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm as a matter of routine optimization depending on design requirements such as structural integrity. The selection of a specific dimension from a finite range of sizes would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art when the results of such modification are predictable (MPEP § 2144.05).
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to the prior art rejections of claim(s) 1 – 14 have been considered but are moot in view of the new grounds of rejection.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Carlos E. Lopez-Pagan whose telephone number is (703)756-5734. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 7:30a - 5:00p.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Tulsidas Patel can be reached at (571) 272-2098. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/CARLOS E LOPEZ-PAGAN/Examiner, Art Unit 2834
/TULSIDAS C PATEL/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2834
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