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 Objections
Claims 1-3 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 1, line 8, “at at least” should be --at least--.
Appropriate correction is required.
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.
Claims 2-3 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 winding portion includes a lead wire side end surface provided with the opening through which the round wires are lead out” is indefinite and unclear. Newly amended claim 1 recites “an opening through which one of the round wires is pulled out” and therefore, as shown in applicant’s figures 1-2, there should be one of the round wires is lead out. The examiner suggests clarification.
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 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Toyoda et al. [U.S. Pub. No. 2011/0187485] in view of Ono et al. [U.S. Pub. No. 2020/0182214], and Yamamori et al. [U.S. Patent No. 5,696,477].
Regarding Claim 1, Toyoda et al. shows a coil component (Figs. 2 and 8-9 and Drawing 1 below) comprising:
a plurality of coils (51, 52 or 151, 152) including round wires (see Figs. 2 and 8-9) arranged in alignment (see Figs. 2 and 8-9) and wound in multiple layers (see Figs. 2 and 8-9); and
a bobbin (20 or 120) around which the plurality of coils are wound (see Figs. 2 and 8-9),
wherein the plurality of coils (51, 52 or 151, 152) are arranged adjacently along winding axis direction (see Figs. 2 and 8-9); and
wherein the bobbin (20 or 120) comprising:
a winding portion (21 or 121) around which the plurality of coils are wound (see Figs. 2 and 8-9);
a flange portion (31, 32 or 131, 132) provided at at least one of both ends of the winding portion (21 or 121) in the winding axis direction (see Figs. 2 and 8-9); and
a wall portion (22 or 23; 122 or 123) provided between adjacent coils (51, 52 or 151, 152) and standing from the winding portion (see Figs. 2 and 8-9),
wherein the flange portion (31 or 131) comprising:
an opening (opening O, see Drawing 1 below) through which one of the round wires is pulled out (see Fig. 2 and Drawing 1 below); and
an inclined guide (inclined guide IG) spreading toward the opening (see Fig. 2 and Drawing 1 below).
Toyoda et al. does not explicitly show the winding portion comprising a groove portion in which the round wires as the first layer is fitted, a step provided between the flange portion and the groove portion and protruding from the winding portion, and wherein the wall portion includes a vertical side surface of the wall portion extending perpendicularly from the winding portion and an inclined side surface of the wall portion extending while being inclined toward the vertical side surface with respect to the direction perpendicular to the winding portion.
Ono et al. shows a bobbin (see Figs. 14-17 with teachings from Figs. 1-12) teaching and suggesting a plurality of coils (14, 19) including round wires (see Figs. 1-17, Paragraphs [0033], [0047]) arranged in alignment (see Figs. 1-17) and wound in multiple layers (see Figs. 1-17), the winding portion comprising a groove portion (9, 9a) in which the round wires (14, 19) as the first layer is fitted (see Figs. 14-17), and a step (8) provided between the flange portion (3a) and the groove portion (9) and protruding from the winding portion (see Figs. 1-12).
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 a plurality of coils including round wires arranged in alignment and wound in multiple layers, the winding portion comprising a groove portion in which the round wires as the first layer is fitted, and a step provided between the flange portion and the groove portion and protruding from the winding portion as taught by Ono et al. for the coil component as disclosed by Toyoda et al. to facilitate mechanical stability and reliability to prevent displacement of the coils for the groove and correspond to the position of the final layer where disorder in which a coil wire is wound in a overlapping manner is suppressed for the step (Paragraph [0040]).
Toyoda et al. in view of Ono et al. does not explicitly show the wall portion includes a vertical side surface of the wall portion extending perpendicularly from the winding portion and an inclined side surface of the wall portion extending while being inclined toward the vertical side surface with respect to the direction perpendicular to the winding portion.
Yamamori et al. shows a transformer (Figs. 5-6 and Drawing A below) teaching and suggesting a plurality of coils (see Figs. 5-6) including round wires (see Figs. 5-6) arranged in alignment (see Figs. 5-6) and wound in multiple layers (see Figs. 5-6) and the wall portion (14) includes a vertical side surface (vertical side surface VSS, see Drawing A below) of the wall portion extending perpendicularly from the winding portion (winding portion WP, see Drawing A below) and an inclined side surface (inclined side surface ISS) of the wall portion extending while being inclined toward the vertical side surface with respect to the direction perpendicular to the winding portion (see Drawing A below, inclined side surface ISS extending while being inclined toward vertical side surface VSS with respect to the direction perpendicular to the winding portion WP, Col. 9, Lines 29-67).
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 a plurality of coils including round wires arranged in alignment and wound in multiple layers and the wall portion includes a vertical side surface of the wall portion extending perpendicularly from the winding portion and an inclined side surface of the wall portion extending while being inclined toward the vertical side surface with respect to the direction perpendicular to the winding portion as taught by Yamamori et al. for the coil component as disclosed by Toyoda et al. in view of Ono et al. to facilitate space-creepage distance to not thermally deteriorate other coils which achieves a length sufficient to satisfy safety standard requirements and coiling process can be advantageously simplified (Col. 10, Lines 1-25).
Regarding Claim 2 (see 112 rejections above), Ono et al. shows the winding portion (see Figs. 1-12) includes a lead wire side end surface (see Figs. 1-12, one end surface of element 1 as viewed from Fig. 4) provided with the opening (5 or 4) through which one of the round wires (14) are lead out (see Figs. 1-2) and the step (8) extends from the lead wire side end surface to an opposite end face of the lead wire side end surface (see Fig. 5, element 8 extends from one end surface of element 1 to an opposite end face, Paragraph [0034]).
Claim(s) 2-3 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Toyoda et al. in view of Ono et al. and Yamamori et al. as applied to claims 1-2 above, and further in view of Jones [U.S. Patent No. 1,732,937] and Kadoma [JP S50-052555] (as cited by applicant).
Regarding Claim 2, Toyoda et al. in view of Ono et al. and Yamamori et al. show the claimed invention as applied above.
Jones shows the winding portion (element A for elements P, S) includes a lead wire side end surface (an end surface as viewed from Fig. 2) provided with the opening through which the round wires are lead out (see Fig. 2).
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 the winding portion includes a lead wire side end surface provided with the opening through which the round wires are lead out as taught by Jones for the coil component as disclosed by Toyoda et al. in view of Ono et al. and Yamamori et al. to simplified design to reduce manufacturing cost and time while obtaining an improved transformer by suppressing short wave mode oscillation by eliminating leakage inductance (Page 1, Lines 78-90 to Page 2, Lines 1-18).
In addition, Kadoma shows the winding portion (see Figs. 6-7 with teachings from Figs. 1-5) includes a lead wire side end surface (top surface of element 2 as shown in Figs. 6-7) provided with the opening (4’) through which one of the round wires (7) are lead out (see Figs. 1-7) and the step (10) extends from the lead wire side end surface to an opposite end face of the lead wire side end surface (see Figs. 6-7, element 10 extends from top surface of element 2 to an opposite end face, see English translation, Page 2/3).
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 the step extends from the lead wire side end surface to an opposite end face of the lead wire side end surface as taught by Kadoma for the coil component as disclosed by Toyoda et al. in view of Ono et al., Yamamori et al., and Jones to prevent the step of the winding from being dropped and to prevent the film from being broken because the winding at the winding start portion is not bent at a right angle (see English translation, Page 2/3).
Regarding Claim 3, Kadoma shows a width of the step (10) provided on the lead wire side end surface in the winding axis direction increases as the inclined guide is approached (see Figs. 6-7, a width of element 10 provided on the top surface of element 2 in the winding axis direction increases as the inclined guide of element 4 is approached, see English translation, Page 2/3) to prevent the step of the winding from being dropped and to prevent the film from being broken because the winding at the winding start portion is not bent at a right angle (see English translation, Page 2/3).
Claim(s) 1-2 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Toyoda et al. [U.S. Pub. No. 2011/0187485] in view of Ono et al. [U.S. Pub. No. 2020/0182214], and Hsu et al. [U.S. Pub. No. 2006/0023834].
Regarding Claim 1, Toyoda et al. shows a coil component (Figs. 2 and 8-9 and Drawing 1 below) comprising:
a plurality of coils (51, 52 or 151, 152) including round wires (see Figs. 2 and 8-9) arranged in alignment (see Figs. 2 and 8-9) and wound in multiple layers (see Figs. 2 and 8-9); and
a bobbin (20 or 120) around which the plurality of coils are wound (see Figs. 2 and 8-9),
wherein the plurality of coils (51, 52 or 151, 152) are arranged adjacently along winding axis direction (see Figs. 2 and 8-9); and
wherein the bobbin (20 or 120) comprising:
a winding portion (21 or 121) around which the plurality of coils are wound (see Figs. 2 and 8-9);
a flange portion (31, 32 or 131, 132) provided at at least one of both ends of the winding portion (21 or 121) in the winding axis direction (see Figs. 2 and 8-9); and
a wall portion (22 or 23; 122 or 123) provided between adjacent coils (51, 52 or 151, 152) and standing from the winding portion (see Figs. 2 and 8-9),
wherein the flange portion (31 or 131) comprising:
an opening (opening O, see Drawing 1 below) through which one of the round wires is pulled out (see Fig. 2 and Drawing 1 below); and
an inclined guide (inclined guide IG) spreading toward the opening (see Fig. 2 and Drawing 1 below).
Toyoda et al. does not explicitly show the winding portion comprising a groove portion in which the round wires as the first layer is fitted, a step provided between the flange portion and the groove portion and protruding from the winding portion, and wherein the wall portion includes a vertical side surface of the wall portion extending perpendicularly from the winding portion and an inclined side surface of the wall portion extending while being inclined toward the vertical side surface with respect to the direction perpendicular to the winding portion.
Ono et al. shows a bobbin (see Figs. 14-17 with teachings from Figs. 1-12) teaching and suggesting a plurality of coils (14, 19) including round wires (see Figs. 1-17, Paragraphs [0033], [0047]) arranged in alignment (see Figs. 1-17) and wound in multiple layers (see Figs. 1-17), the winding portion comprising a groove portion (9, 9a) in which the round wires (14, 19) as the first layer is fitted (see Figs. 14-17), and a step (8) provided between the flange portion (3a) and the groove portion (9) and protruding from the winding portion (see Figs. 1-12).
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 a plurality of coils including round wires arranged in alignment and wound in multiple layers, the winding portion comprising a groove portion in which the round wires as the first layer is fitted, and a step provided between the flange portion and the groove portion and protruding from the winding portion as taught by Ono et al. for the coil component as disclosed by Toyoda et al. to facilitate mechanical stability and reliability to prevent displacement of the coils for the groove and correspond to the position of the final layer where disorder in which a coil wire is wound in a overlapping manner is suppressed for the step (Paragraph [0040]).
Toyoda et al. in view of Ono et al. does not explicitly show the wall portion includes a vertical side surface of the wall portion extending perpendicularly from the winding portion and an inclined side surface of the wall portion extending while being inclined toward the vertical side surface with respect to the direction perpendicular to the winding portion.
Hsu et al. shows a transformer (Figs. 9A-9B with teaching from Figs. 1A-5B) teaching and suggesting a plurality of coils (left, right windings as shown in Figs. 1A-4B) including round wires (see Figs. 1A-4B) arranged in alignment (see Figs. 1A-4B) and wound in multiple layers (see Figs. 1A-4B, claim 1, Paragraphs [0034]-[0036]) and the wall portion (92) includes a vertical side surface (vertical side surface VSS, see Drawing B below) of the wall portion extending perpendicularly from the winding portion (91) and an inclined side surface (inclined side surface ISS) of the wall portion extending while being inclined toward the vertical side surface with respect to the direction perpendicular to the winding portion (see Drawing B below, inclined side surface ISS extending while being inclined toward vertical side surface VSS with respect to the direction perpendicular to element 91, Paragraph [0041]).
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 a plurality of coils including round wires arranged in alignment and wound in multiple layers and the wall portion includes a vertical side surface of the wall portion extending perpendicularly from the winding portion and an inclined side surface of the wall portion extending while being inclined toward the vertical side surface with respect to the direction perpendicular to the winding portion as taught by Hsu et al. for the coil component as disclosed by Toyoda et al. in view of Ono et al. to have prevention of windings of different voltages flown therein crossing and contacting with each other and thus a reduced voltage bearing ability of the transformer and the distance generated from stacking of the windings is served to increase the bearing voltage and reduce length of the transformer, enhancing stability of the transformer where the advantages of prolonged lifetime, lower cost, reduced dimension and space saving of the transformer (Paragraphs [0008], [0044]).
Regarding Claim 2 (see 112 rejections above), Ono et al. shows the winding portion (see Figs. 1-12) includes a lead wire side end surface (see Figs. 1-12, one end surface of element 1 as viewed from Fig. 4) provided with the opening (5 or 4) through which one of the round wires (14) are lead out (see Figs. 1-2) and the step (8) extends from the lead wire side end surface to an opposite end face of the lead wire side end surface (see Fig. 5, element 8 extends from one end surface of element 1 to an opposite end face, Paragraph [0034]).
Claim(s) 2-3 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Toyoda et al. in view of Ono et al. and Hsu et al. as applied to claims 1-2 above, and further in view of Jones [U.S. Patent No. 1,732,937] and Kadoma [JP S50-052555] (as cited by applicant).
Regarding Claim 2, Toyoda et al. in view of Ono et al. and Hsu et al. show the claimed invention as applied above.
Jones shows the winding portion (element A for elements P, S) includes a lead wire side end surface (an end surface as viewed from Fig. 2) provided with the opening through which the round wires are lead out (see Fig. 2).
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 the winding portion includes a lead wire side end surface provided with the opening through which the round wires are lead out as taught by Jones for the coil component as disclosed by Toyoda et al. in view of Ono et al. and Hsu et al. to simplified design to reduce manufacturing cost and time while obtaining an improved transformer by suppressing short wave mode oscillation by eliminating leakage inductance (Page 1, Lines 78-90 to Page 2, Lines 1-18).
In addition, Kadoma shows the winding portion (see Figs. 6-7 with teachings from Figs. 1-5) includes a lead wire side end surface (top surface of element 2 as shown in Figs. 6-7) provided with the opening (4’) through which one of the round wires (7) are lead out (see Figs. 1-7) and the step (10) extends from the lead wire side end surface to an opposite end face of the lead wire side end surface (see Figs. 6-7, element 10 extends from top surface of element 2 to an opposite end face, see English translation, Page 2/3).
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 the step extends from the lead wire side end surface to an opposite end face of the lead wire side end surface as taught by Kadoma for the coil component as disclosed by Toyoda et al. in view of Ono et al., Hsu et al., and Jones to prevent the step of the winding from being dropped and to prevent the film from being broken because the winding at the winding start portion is not bent at a right angle (see English translation, Page 2/3).
Regarding Claim 3, Kadoma shows a width of the step (10) provided on the lead wire side end surface in the winding axis direction increases as the inclined guide is approached (see Figs. 6-7, a width of element 10 provided on the top surface of element 2 in the winding axis direction increases as the inclined guide of element 4 is approached, see English translation, Page 2/3) to prevent the step of the winding from being dropped and to prevent the film from being broken because the winding at the winding start portion is not bent at a right angle (see English translation, Page 2/3).
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Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1-3 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.
Applicant's arguments filed 07/08/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
In response to applicant’s arguments that Hsu et al. does not show “the wall portion includes a vertical side surface of the wall portion extending perpendicularly from the winding portion and an inclined side surface of the wall portion extending while being inclined toward the vertical side surface with respect to the direction perpendicular to the winding portion” is found not persuasive. Hsu et al. shows a transformer (Figs. 9A-9B with teaching from Figs. 1A-5B) teaching and suggesting a plurality of coils (left, right windings as shown in Figs. 1A-4B) including round wires (see Figs. 1A-4B) arranged in alignment (see Figs. 1A-4B) and wound in multiple layers (see Figs. 1A-4B, claim 1, Paragraphs [0034]-[0036]) and the wall portion (92) includes a vertical side surface (vertical side surface VSS, see Drawing B below) of the wall portion extending perpendicularly from the winding portion (91) and an inclined side surface (inclined side surface ISS) of the wall portion extending while being inclined toward the vertical side surface with respect to the direction perpendicular to the winding portion (see Drawing B below, inclined side surface ISS extending while being inclined toward vertical side surface VSS with respect to the direction perpendicular to element 91, Paragraph [0041]) in order to have prevention of windings of different voltages flown therein crossing and contacting with each other and thus a reduced voltage bearing ability of the transformer and the distance generated from stacking of the windings is served to increase the bearing voltage and reduce length of the transformer, enhancing stability of the transformer where the advantages of prolonged lifetime, lower cost, reduced dimension and space saving of the transformer (Paragraphs [0008], [0044]).
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 TSZFUNG J CHAN whose telephone number is (571)270-7981. The examiner can normally be reached M-TH 8:00AM-6:00PM.
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/TSZFUNG J CHAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2837
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