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
Claims 3-5, 8-10, 13-15, and 18-20 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to a nonelected Species II-IV, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Applicant timely traversed the restriction (election) requirement in the reply filed on 11/10/2025.
Applicant's election with traverse of Species I in the reply filed on 11/10/2025 is acknowledged. The traversal is on the ground(s) that the search and examination of the entire application could be made without serious burden. This is not found persuasive because the species of patentably indistinct species require a different field of search (for example, searching different classifications, classes/subclasses or electronic resources, or employing different search queries). The Species I-IV are different in structure and there is a search and/or examination burden for the patentably distinct species where it is necessary to search for one of the species in a manner that is not likely to result in finding art pertinent to the other species.
The requirement is still deemed proper and is therefore made FINAL.
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.
Claim 2 and 6-7 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 2 recites the terms “the second portion” and “the first portion” is indefinite and unclear which pad conductor it is corresponding to since claim 1 recited that each of the plurality of pad conductors includes a first portion and a second portion. As best understood, the examiner will interpret as one of the plurality of pad conductors for the second portion and the corresponding first portion.
Claim 6 recites the terms “the third portion”, “the second portion” and “the first portion” is indefinite and unclear which pad conductor it is corresponding to since claim 1 recited that each of the plurality of pad conductors includes a first portion and a second portion and claim 6 recited that each of the plurality of pad conductors includes a third portion. As best understood, the examiner will interpret as one of the plurality of pad conductors for the third portion corresponding to the second portion and the corresponding first portion.
Claim 7 recites “the third portion is formed to extend from the first portion in a direction in which a distance between the second portion and the coil does not decrease” is indefinite and unclear regarding the term “the second portion”. As best understood, the term “the second portion” should be --the third portion--.
Claim 7 recites the terms “the third portion” and “the first portion” is indefinite and unclear which pad conductor it is corresponding to since claims 1 and 6 recited that each of the plurality of pad conductors includes a first portion and a third portion. As best understood, the examiner will interpret as one of the plurality of pad conductors for the third portion and the corresponding first portion.
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, 6, 11, and 16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Araki et al. [U.S. Pub. No. 2021/0098181].
Regarding Claim 1, Araki et al. shows a multilayer coil component (Figs. 5A-5H with teachings from Figs. 1-4 and Drawing A or Drawing B below) comprising:
an element body (see Figs. 5A-5H, Paragraph [0093]) including a main surface (bottom surface) arranged to constitute a mounting surface (see Figs. 5A-5H and Figs. 1-4, Paragraphs [0067], [0074]);
a first external electrode (element 50 that connects with element 37) and a second external electrode (element 50 that connects with element 36) disposed on the main surface and separated from each other (see Figs. 5A-5H and Figs. 1-4);
a coil (element 30 with elements 31-35) disposed in the element body to have a coil axis along a direction intersecting the main surface (see Figs. 5A-5H and Figs. 1-4), the coil including a first end (first end is end of element 35 connecting element 37) and a second end (second end is end of element 31 connecting element 36) separated from the main surface more than the first end (see Figs. 5A-5H and Figs. 1-4, second end separated from bottom surface more than the first end);
a first connection conductor (37) connecting the first external electrode and the first end (see Figs. 5A-5H and Figs. 1-4); and
a second connection conductor (36) connecting the second external electrode and the second end (see Figs. 5A-5H and Figs. 1-4), wherein
the second connection conductor (36) includes a plurality of pad conductors (the white part of element 36) and a plurality of through-hole conductors (the black dot of element 36 and the dashed lines between elements 36) that are alternately disposed in a direction crossing the main surface and separated from the coil (see Figs. 5A-5H and Figs. 1-4),
each of the plurality of through-hole conductors includes a connection end (the black dot of element 36) connected to an adjacent pad conductor among the plurality of pad conductors (see Figs. 5A-5H and Figs. 1-4),
each of the plurality of pad conductors includes (see Drawing A or Drawing B below):
a first portion (first portion P1, see Drawing A or Drawing B below) overlapping an entire connection end included in an adjacent through-hole conductor among the plurality of through-hole conductors (see Drawing A or Drawing B below, first portion P1 overlapping an entire black dot of element 36); and
a second portion (second portion P2) that is continuous with the first portion and is separated from the coil more than the first portion (see Drawing A or Drawing B below, second portion P2 is continuous with first portion P1 and is separated from element 30 more than first portion P1).
Regarding Claim 6, Araki et al. shows each of the plurality of pad conductors further includes a third portion (third portion P3, see Drawing B below) that is separated from the second portion (see Drawing B below), and the third portion is continuous with the first portion and is separated from the coil more than the first portion (see Drawing B below, third portion P3 is continuous with first portion P1 and is separated from element 30 more than first portion P1 shown as distance D1 and distance D3).
Regarding Claim 11, Araki et al. show a multilayer coil component (Figs. 5A-5H with teachings from Figs. 1-4 and Drawing A or Drawing B below) comprising:
an element body (see Figs. 5A-5H, Paragraph [0093]) including a main surface (bottom surface);
a first external electrode (element 50 that connects with element 37) and a second external electrode (element 50 that connects with element 36) disposed on the main surface (see Figs. 5A-5H and Figs. 1-4);
a coil (element 30 with elements 31-35) disposed in the element body and including a plurality of turns (see Figs. 5A-5H, elements 31-35 forms a plurality of turns);
a first connection conductor (37) connecting the first external electrode and the coil (see Figs. 5A-5H and Figs. 1-4); and
a second connection conductor (36) connecting the second external electrode and the coil and opposing the plurality of turns (see Figs. 5A-5H and Figs. 1-4), wherein
the second connection conductor (36) includes a pad conductor (the white part of element 36) and a through-hole conductor (the black dot of element 36 and the dashed lines between elements 36) that are adjacent to each other (see Figs. 5A-5H and Figs. 1-4),
the through-hole conductor includes a connection end (the black dot of element 36) connected to the pad conductor (see Figs. 5A-5H and Figs. 1-4), and
the pad conductor includes (see Drawing A or Drawing B below):
a first portion (first portion P1, see Drawing A or Drawing B below) overlapping the entire connection end and having a first shortest distance from the coil (see Drawing A or Drawing B below, first portion P1 overlapping the entire black dot of element 36 and having a shortest distance D1 from element 30); and
a second portion (second portion P2) continuous with the first portion and having a second shortest distance from the coil that is larger than the first shortest distance (see Drawing A or Drawing B below, second portion P2 continuous with first portion P1 and having a shortest distance D2 from element 30 is larger than shortest distance D1).
Regarding Claim 16, Araki et al. shows the pad conductor includes a third portion (third portion P3, see Drawing B below) continuous with the first portion (see Drawing B below), separated from the second portion (see Drawing B below), and having a third shortest distance from the coil that is larger than the first shortest distance (see Drawing B below, third portion P3 continuous with first portion P1, separated from second portion P2, and having a shortest distance D3 from element 30 is larger than shortest distance D1).
Claim(s) 11-12 and 16-17 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Nishino et al. [U.S. Pub. No. 2016/0027578].
Regarding Claim 11, Nishino et al. show a multilayer coil component (Figs. 1-2A and Drawing 1 or Drawing 3 below) comprising:
an element body (see Fig. 2A) including a main surface (top surface of element 10);
a first external electrode (40B) and a second external electrode (40A) disposed on the main surface (see Fig. 1);
a coil (elements 21-24 combined form a coil) disposed in the element body and including a plurality of turns (see Fig. 1, elements 21-24 forms a plurality of turns);
a first connection conductor (40B) connecting the first external electrode and the coil (see Fig. 1); and
a second connection conductor (53, 43, 52, 42, 51, 41) connecting the second external electrode and the coil and opposing the plurality of turns (see Fig. 1), wherein
the second connection conductor (53, 43, 52, 42, 51, 41) includes a pad conductor (53 or 51) and a through-hole conductor (43 or 41) that are adjacent to each other (see Fig. 1),
the through-hole conductor includes a connection end connected to the pad conductor (see Fig. 1, element 43 or 41 includes a connection end connected to element 53 or 51), and
the pad conductor includes (see Drawing 1 or Drawing 3 below):
a first portion (first portion P1, see Drawing 1 or Drawing 3 below) overlapping the entire connection end and having a first shortest distance from the coil (see Drawing 1 or Drawing 3 below, first portion P1 overlapping the entire connection end and having a shortest distance D1 from element 23 or 21); and
a second portion (second portion P2) continuous with the first portion and having a second shortest distance from the coil that is larger than the first shortest distance (see Drawing 1 or Drawing 3 below, second portion P2 continuous with first portion P1 and having a shortest distance D2 from element 23 or 21 is larger than shortest distance D1).
Regarding Claim 12, Nishino et al. shows in the second portion, the second shortest distance at least does not decrease with increasing a distance from the first portion (see Drawing 1 or Drawing 3 below, shortest distance D2 at least does not decease with increasing a distance from first portion P1).
Regarding Claim 16, Nishino et al. shows the pad conductor includes a third portion (third portion P3) continuous with the first portion, separated from the second portion, and having a third shortest distance from the coil that is larger than the first shortest distance (see Drawing 1 or Drawing 3 below, third portion P3 continuous with first portion P1, separated from second portion P2, and having a shortest distance D3 from element 23 or 21 is larger than shortest distance D1).
Regarding Claim 17, Nishino et al. shows in the third portion, the third shortest distance at least does not decrease with increasing a distance from the first portion (see Drawing 1 or Drawing 3 below, shortest distance D3 at least does not decease with increasing a distance from first portion P1).
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) 1-2 and 6-7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Nishino et al. [U.S. Pub. No. 2016/0027578] in view of Takahashi [U.S. Pub. No. 2020/0281078].
Regarding Claim 1, Nishino et al. shows a multilayer coil component (Figs. 1-2A and Drawings 1-3 below) comprising:
an element body (see Fig. 2A) including a main surface (top surface of element 10) arranged to constitute a mounting surface (top surface of element 10 can be used as a mounting surface, see Fig. 2A);
a first external electrode (40B) and a second external electrode (40A) disposed on the main surface and separated from each other (see Fig. 1);
a coil (elements 21-24 combined form a coil) disposed in the element body to have a coil axis along a direction intersecting the main surface (see Fig. 1), the coil including a first end (21B) and a second end (24B) separated from the main surface more than the first end (see Fig. 1, element 24B separated from top surface more than element 21B);
a first connection conductor (40B) connecting the first external electrode and the first end (see Fig. 1); and
a second connection conductor (53, 43, 52, 42, 51, 41) connecting the second external electrode and the second end (see Fig. 1), wherein
the second connection conductor (53, 43, 52, 42, 51, 41) includes a plurality of pad conductors (53, 52, 51) and a plurality of through-hole conductors (43, 42, 41) that are alternately disposed in a direction crossing the main surface and separated from the coil (see Fig. 1),
each of the plurality of through-hole conductors includes a connection end connected to an adjacent pad conductor among the plurality of pad conductors (see Fig. 1, each of elements 43, 42, 41 includes a connection end connected to an adjacent element 53, 52, 51),
each of the plurality of pad conductors includes (see Drawings 1-3 below):
a first portion (first portion P1, see Drawings 1-3 below) overlapping an entire connection end included in an adjacent through-hole conductor among the plurality of through-hole conductors (see Drawings 1-3 below, first portion P1 overlapping an entire connection end included in an adjacent element 43, 42, 41); and
a second portion (second portion P2) that is continuous with the first portion and is separated from the coil more than the first portion (see Drawings 1-3 below, second portion P2 is continuous with first portion P1 and is separated from elements 21-24 more than first portion P1 shown as distance D1 and distance D2).
In addition, Takahashi shows an element body (see Figs. 1A-2B) including a main surface (2) arranged to constitute a mounting surface (Paragraph [0078]).
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 element body including a main surface arranged to constitute a mounting surface as taught by Takahashi for the coil component as disclosed by Nishino et al. to facilitate mounting to an external device such as a circuit board to achieve desirable operating characteristics (Paragraph [0020]).
Regarding Claim 2 (see 112 rejection above), Nishino et al. shows the second portion is formed to extend from the first portion in a direction in which a distance between the second portion and the coil does not decrease (see Drawings 1, 2, and/or 3 below, second portion P2 is formed to extend from first portion P1 in a direction in which a distance such as distance D2 between second portion P2 and elements 21-24 does not decrease).
Regarding Claim 6 (see 112 rejection above), Nishino et al. shows each of the plurality of pad conductors further includes a third portion (third portion P3, see Drawings 1, 2, and/or 3 below) that is separated from the second portion (see Drawings 1, 2, and/or 3 below), and the third portion is continuous with the first portion and is separated from the coil more than the first portion (see Drawings 1, 2, and/or 3 below, third portion P3 is continuous with first portion P1 and is separated from elements 21-24 more than first portion P1 shown as distance D1 and distance D3).
Regarding Claim 7 (see 112 rejection above), Nishino et al. shows the third portion is formed to extend from the first portion in a direction in which a distance between the second/third portion and the coil does not decrease (see 112 rejection above, see Drawings 1, 2, and/or 3 below, third portion P3 is formed to extend from first portion P1 in a direction in which a distance such as distance D2 or distance D3 between second portion P2 or third portion D3 and elements 21-24 does not decrease).
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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.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Shawki Ismail can be reached at (571)272-3985. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/TSZFUNG J CHAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2837