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 .
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)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-2 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Yuki et al. [JP 2019-106415A].
Regarding claims 1-2, Yuki et al. discloses a transformer [figures 1-2] comprising:
a core [122a, 122b], wherein the core comprises ferrite;
a first set of windings [N1] encircling a first region [figure 2] around the core;
a second set of windings [N2] encircling a second region [figure 2] around the core, wherein the first region and the second region are not the same [figure 2]; and
at least one insert structure [106/105] comprising low permeability materials [such as resin and ferrite] and positioned between the first set of windings and the second set of windings and thereby separating magnetic flux induced by the first set of windings and the second set of windings.
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) 3-6 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yuki et al. in view of Rainer [EP 3584813 A1].
Regarding claims 3-5, Yuki et al. discloses the use of the first and second windings for a transformer and power converter [title].
The specific use and/or arrangement of the first and second windings would have been an obvious design consideration for the purpose of intended use of the windings and/or devices.
Regarding claim 6, Yuki et al. disclose the insert structure formed of resin and ferrite magnetic material.
The specific magnetic material used for the insert structure would have been an obvious design consideration based on the intended magnetic flux/field and/or controlling different magnetic field/flux [note Rainer used 3D printed magnetic material].
Claim(s) 1-6 and 21-23 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Harrison [US 2014/0313004 A1] in view of Yuki et al. and Rainer.
Regarding claims 1-2, Harrison discloses magnetic component [figures 2-4] comprising:
a core [306, 326], wherein the core comprises ferrite;
a first set of windings [202/204] encircling a first region [figures 3-4] around the core;
a second set of windings 202/204] encircling a second region [figures 3-4] around the core, wherein the first region and the second region are not the same [figure 2]; and
at least one insert structure [312/304/324/350] positioned between the first set of windings and the second set of windings and thereby separating magnetic flux induced by the first set of windings and the second set of windings.
Harrison discloses the instant claimed invention except for the insert structure formed of low permeability materials.
Yuki et al. discloses the use of low permeability materials [resin and ferrite] for the insert structure [106/105, see above].
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to use low permeability materials for the insert structure of Harrison, as suggested by Yuki et al., for the purpose of controlling magnetic flux/field characteristics.
Regarding claims 3-5, Yuki et al. discloses the use of the first and second windings for a transformer and power converter [title].
The specific use and/or arrangement of the first and second windings would have been an obvious design consideration for the purpose of intended use of the windings and/or devices.
Regarding claim 6, Yuki et al. disclose the insert structure formed of resin and ferrite magnetic material.
The specific magnetic material used for the insert structure would have been an obvious design consideration based on the intended magnetic flux/field and/or controlling different magnetic field/flux [note Rainer used 3D printed magnetic material].
Regarding claim 21, Harrison further discloses the core positioned on a central region of a base [figure 4], the core comprising: a cylindrical shape; and a limb structure [302/322] positioned at a distal end of the base and extending horizontally away from the core, and wherein the at least one insert is formed on the base [figures 3-4].
Regarding claim 22, Harrison further discloses the at least one insert further comprises a first insert and a second insert, each comprising a semi-circular structure formed on a base of the core [figure 4].
Regarding claim 23, Harrison further discloses the core comprises: a base [figures 3-4]; and a limb structure[302, 322] positioned at a distal end of the base, wherein the second set of windings is positioned in a first region between the at least one insert and the core and wraps in a circular fashion around the first region, and wherein the first set of windings is positioned in a second region between the at least one insert and the limb structure and wraps in a circular fashion around the second region [figures 3-4].
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1-6 and 21-23 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
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.
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/TUYEN T NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2837
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