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 .
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 06/03/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Applicant argues that Tajima does not teach “the body has a plurality of side surfaces connecting the one surface and the other surface, and the side surfaces of the body are disposed outward of side surfaces of the external electrode and cover the side surfaces of the external electrode” as amended claim 1 and similar limitations in claim 23. Applicant asserts that the external electrode in Tajima is arranged at the edge/end region of the element body and remains laterally exposed; the body material is not disposed outward of the electrode side surface so to cover those side surfaces.
After careful consideration without passion or prejudice, the argument is found not persuasive, respectfully. As seen in FIG. 7 of Tajima, the vertical portion of each of the external electrode 30B and 40B is embedded in the side surfaces 15 and 16, respectively, of the body 10. FIG. 1 clearly shows each the side surfaces 30aa and 30ab (annotated FIG. 1 in the rejection body of claim 1) does not extend to the front surface and or the back surface of the body 10. This is further shown in FIG. 2. That is, in FIG. 2, the top three insulating layers 11 collectively covers the upper surface (which is one of the claimed “side surfaces” of the external electrode) of the top outer electrode conductive layer 43 of electrode 40. Similarly, the lower surface (which is the other of the “side surfaces” as claimed) of the bottom outer electrode conductive layer 43 is covered by the three bottom insulating layers 11. The same is true for the top surface of the top outer electrode conductor layer 33 and the lower surface of the bottom outer electrode conductor layer 33 of electrode 30. Therefore, the side surfaces 30aa and 30ab are not be exposed, contrary to applicant’s assertion. In fact, the side surfaces 30aa and 30ab are covered by insulating layers 11 of the body 10. Accordingly, Tajima teaches “the body has a plurality of side surfaces connecting the one surface and the other surface, and the side surfaces of the body are disposed outward of side surfaces of the external electrode and cover the side surfaces of the external electrode” as amended claim 1 and similar limitations in claim 23.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 06/22/2026 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
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.
Claims 1-3, 6, 7, 23 and 27 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 1102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Tajima et al. (U.S. Patent No. 10,847,307 B1, hereinafter “Tajima”).
With respect to claim 1, Tajima teaches a coil component 1B (FIG. 7) comprising:
a body 10 having one surface 17 and the other surface 18 opposing each other in one direction (vertical direction as seen in FIG. 7);
a coil portion 20 (see FIG. 2 for illustration) disposed in the body, the coil portion including a lead-out portion 31; and
an external electrode 30B disposed on the one surface of the body to be connected to the lead-out portion,
wherein an outermost surface 30B1 (annotated FIG. 7) of the external electrode is disposed inwards than the one surface of the body,
the body has a plurality of side surfaces 15 and 16 connecting the one surface and the other surface, and the side surfaces of the body are disposed outward of side surfaces 30aa and 30ab (annotated FIG. 1) of the external electrode and cover the side surfaces of the external electrode (col. 2, line 54-60, col. 3, lines 13-15 and 41-47, and col. 9, lines 53-67).
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With respect to claim 2, Tajima teaches the coil component of claim 1, wherein
the external electrode is spaced apart from the plurality of side surfaces (col. 3, lines 13-15 and 41-47).
With respect to claim 3, Tajima teaches the coil component of claim 1, wherein the external electrode includes a first metal layer 321 connected to the lead-out portion, and a second metal layer 322 covering the first metal layer (col. 4, lines 57-61).
With respect to claim 6, Tajima teaches the coil component of claim 3, wherein
the first metal layer includes nickel (Ni), and the second metal layer includes tin (Sn) (col. 4, line 65 to col. 5, line 4).
With respect to claim 7, Tajima teaches the coil component of claim 1, wherein
the coil portion further includes a coil pattern 21 having a plurality of turns, and
a central axis (A direction as shown in FIG. 2) of each turn of the coil pattern is perpendicular to the one direction (col. 3, lines 62-64 and col. 4, lines 11 and 12).
With respect to claim 23, Tajima teaches a coil component 1 (FIG. 7) comprising:
a body 10;
a coil portion 20 (see FIG. 2 for illustration) disposed in the body and including a lead-out portion 31; and
an external electrode 30B connected to the lead-out portion,
wherein opposing ends 30ac and 30ad (annotated FIG. 1 above) of the external electrode are embedded with respect to an outer surface (all outer surfaces 15-18 and front and back surfaces of the coil component) of the coil component,
wherein the body has a plurality of side surfaces 15 and 16, and
the side surfaces of the body are disposed outward of side surfaces 30aa and 30ab of the external electrode and cover the side surfaces of the external electrode. (col. 2, lines 54-60, col. 3, lines 13-15 and 41-47, and col. 9, lines 53-67).
With respect to claim 27, Tajima teaches the coil component of claim 23, wherein a magnetic material and a resin of the body provide the outer surface of the coil component (col. 3, lines 6-10).
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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claims 4, 5, 8-10, 25 and 26 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Tajima, as applied to claims 3 and 23 above, in view of Lim et al. (U.S. PG. Pub. No. 2020/0035404 A1, hereinafter “Lim”).
With respect to claims 4 and 25, Tajima teaches the coil component of claims 3 and 23, respectively. Tajima does not expressly teach a surface roughness of a surface of the lead-out portion in contact with the first metal layer is different from a surface roughness of the outermost surface of the external electrode.
Lim teaches a coil component 1000 (FIGs. 1-10), wherein a surface roughness of a surface (surface in contact with metal layer 410) of the lead-out portion 232 in contact with the first metal layer 410 is different from a surface roughness of the outermost surface (outer surface of electrode 400) of the external electrode (col. 15, lines 36-41). It would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to have the surface roughness as taught by Lim to the coil component of Tajima to improve cohesion force between the lead-out portion and the metal layer (col. 15, lines 36-41).
With respect to claims 5 and 26, Tajima in view of Lim teaches the coil component of claims 4 and 25, respectively, wherein the surface roughness of the surface of the lead-out portion in contact with the first metal layer is greater than the surface roughness of the outermost surface of the external electrode (Lim, col. 15, lines 36-41).
With respect to claim 8, Tajima teaches the coil component of claim 1. Tajima does not expressly teach
a substrate disposed in the body to support the coil portion,
wherein the coil portion further includes:
first and second coil patterns respectively disposed on one surface and the other surface of the substrate; and
a via passing through the substrate to connect inner ends of the first and second coil patterns to each other.
Lim teaches a coil component 1000 (FIGs. 1-10) comprising:
a substrate IL disposed in the body 100 to support the coil portion 200,
wherein the coil portion further includes:
first and second coil patterns 212 and 211 respectively disposed on one surface and the other surface of the substrate; and
a via 221 passing through the substrate to connect inner ends of the first and second coil patterns to each other (col. 4, lines 10-26, col. 6, lines 47-49 and 59-64).
It would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to have the substrate and via connection as taught by Lim to the coil component of Tajima to improve mechanical stability of the coil portion and to increase inductance.
With respect to claim 9, Tajima in view of Lim teaches the coil component of claim 8, wherein the lead-out portion 242 and 232 includes:
a lead-out pattern 242 disposed on the one surface of the substrate to be connected to the coil pattern; and
a sub-lead-out pattern disposed on the other surface of the substrate to be spaced apart from the first and second coil patterns (Lim, col. 6, lines 64 to col. 7, line 2).
With respect to claim 10, Tajima in view of Lim teaches the coil component of claim 9, further comprising:
a sub-via 223 passing through the substrate to connect the lead-out pattern and the sub-lead-out pattern to each other (Lim, col. 7, lines 5-13).
Claim 24 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Tajima, as applied to claim 23 above, in view of Suzuki (U.S. PG. Pub. No. 2018/0286568 A1).
With respect to claim 24, Tajima teaches the coil component of claim 23, wherein
the body has a plurality of surfaces 13-18 (annotated FIG. 1 above) (col. 3, lines 14-21). Tajima does not expressly teach the external electrode is disposed on or in only one of the plurality of surfaces.
Suzuki teaches a coil component 10 (Fig. 3), wherein the external electrode 20A or 20B is disposed on or in only one of the plurality of surfaces (surface 7a) (para. [0028]). It would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to have the electrode in only one surface as taught by Suzuki to the coil component of Tajima to facilitate manufacturing.
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 MANGTIN LIAN whose telephone number is (571)270-5729. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 0800-1700.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Shawki S. 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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/MANG TIN BIK LIAN/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2837
Prosecution Insights