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 .
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the insulating protrusion must be shown or the feature canceled from the claims. Please note that the currently protrusions shown only include a conductive/metal crosshatch. No new matter should be entered. Please note that protrusion (14) is only shown with a conductive/metallic cross-hatching, while claim 1 describes two alternative materials.
The drawings are objected to because they have elements shown in cross section which are not properly crosshatched. Insulating members shown in cross section should be properly crosshatched. It is brought to applicant’s attention that the conventional crosshatch for insulating members shown in cross section consist of lines of two different thicknesses alternatively disposed.
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Additionally, please note that proper illustration of the presented embodiment provides a clear visualization and understanding of the present invention now and when used as prior art.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
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, 7, 9-12 and 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Yoshida et al. (US 8,167,643).
Regarding claim 1, Yoshida discloses a memory card socket to which a memory card can be coupled, comprising: a first terminal (50) having a first end portion (51) that contacts a terminal of a memory card and a second end portion (53) electrically connected to a first pad provided in a first face of a first substrate; a holder (at 24, 25) provided on the first face and wrapping around a middle portion (at 24) of the terminal to fix the first terminal to the first substrate (intended use, each contact is fixed and supported inside 25); and a protrusion (30) provided on the first face, having a second face (top) that contacts a portion of the memory card that is separated from the terminal (Fig. 2), and a third face (bottom of 241, Fig. 5) in contact with the first face, wherein the protrusion includes a metal material or an insulating material, and wherein an area (at 246, Fig. 5) of the second face of the protrusion is larger than an area of the third face of the protrusion (Fig. 5).
Regarding claim 3, Yoshida discloses a first distance from the first face to the first end portion is longer than a second distance from the first face to the second face when the memory card is not coupled to the memory card socket (Fig. 2).
Regarding claim 7, Yoshida discloses a plurality of the protrusions (31-33), wherein the plurality of the protrusions are formed of a metal material, and each disposed not to contact the first pad, the first terminal, or the holder.
Regarding claim 9, Yoshida discloses an area of the second face is larger than an area of the first pad (Fig. 1).
Regarding claim 10, Yoshida discloses a lid (11) pressing the memory card toward the first substrate when the memory card is coupled to the memory card socket.
Regarding claim 11, Yoshida discloses the first substrate being a mounting substrate (90) of an electronic device.
Regarding claim 2, Yoshida discloses a memory card socket to which a memory card can be coupled, comprising: a first terminal (50) having a first end portion (51) electrically connected to a terminal of the memory card and a second end portion (53) electrically connected to a first pad provided in a first face of a first substrate; a holder (at 24, 25) provided on the first face and wrapping around a middle portion (at 24) of the terminal to fix the first terminal to the first substrate (intended use, each contact is fixed and supported inside 25); and a protrusion (30) provided on the first face, having a second face that contacts a portion of the memory card that is separated from the terminal (see Fig. 2), and a third face (bottom of 241, Fig. 5) in contact with the first face, wherein the protrusion is configured to dissipate heat from the memory card, and an area (at 246, Fig. 5) of the second face of the protrusion is larger than an area of the third face of the protrusion (Fig. 5).
Regarding claim 12, Yoshida discloses a first distance from the first face to the first end portion is longer than a second distance from the first face to the second face when the memory card is not coupled to the memory card socket (Fig. 2A).
Regarding claim 15, Yoshida discloses a plurality of the protrusions (31-33), wherein the plurality of the protrusions are formed of a metal material, and each disposed not to contact the first pad, the first terminal, or the holder.
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.
Claims 4 and 13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yoshida in view of Mullins et al. (US 8,544,745).
Regarding claims 4 and 13, Yoshida discloses the holder has a fourth face (top) opposite to the memory card when the memory card is coupled to the memory card socket, and a third distance from the first face to the fourth face being shorter than the first distance (Figs. 1 and 2A) when the memory card is not coupled to the memory card socket. Mullins teaches third distance from the first face (at 306) to the third face (at holder) being shorter than the second distance (at 108) when the memory card is not coupled to the memory card socket (Fig. 3B). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the invention was effectively filed to form the holder with a smaller height, as taught by Mullins, in order to ensure the desired contact pressure to the terminals and the heat protrusion.
Claims 5 and 14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yoshida in view of Baldwin et al. (GB 2,135,525).
Regarding claims 5 and 14, Baldwin teaches the use of a metal layer (4) connected to the third face of the protrusion (under 41) provided in the first substrate (1). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the invention was effectively filed to connect the heat protrusion to a metal layer of the substrate, as taught by Baldwin, in order to facilitate head dissipation over a larger area.
Claims 8 and 16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yoshida in view of Johnson (US 3,917,375).
Regarding claims 8 and 16, Yoshida discloses a plurality of the protrusions (31-33), and each disposed in a space where the first pad, the first terminal, or the holder is not present. Johnson teaches a heat dissipating protrusion (98) that can be made of metal or other thermally conductive material (col. 6 lines 60-65). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the invention was effectively filed to use any number of known thermally conductive materials, such as an insulating material, in order to provide the desired heat dissipation and characteristic for the protrusions.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to the claims have been considered but are moot in view of the new grounds of rejection, as applied.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FELIX O FIGUEROA whose telephone number is (571)272-2003. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9am-6pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Renee Luebke can be reached at (571)727-2009. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/FELIX O FIGUEROA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2833
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