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 .
DETAILED ACTION
Claim Interpretation
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(f):
(f) Element in Claim for a Combination. – An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The claims in this application are given their broadest reasonable interpretation using the plain meaning of the claim language in light of the specification as it would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The broadest reasonable interpretation of a claim element (also commonly referred to as a claim limitation) is limited by the description in the specification when 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is invoked.
As explained in MPEP § 2181, subsection I, claim limitations that meet the following three-prong test will be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
(A) the claim limitation uses the term “means” or “step” or a term used as a substitute for “means” that is a generic placeholder (also called a nonce term or a non-structural term having no specific structural meaning) for performing the claimed function;
(B) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is modified by functional language, typically, but not always linked by the transition word “for” (e.g., “means for”) or another linking word or phrase, such as “configured to” or “so that”; and
(C) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is not modified by sufficient structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function.
Use of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim with functional language creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites sufficient structure, material, or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Absence of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is not to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is not interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites function without reciting sufficient structure, material or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Claim limitations in this application that use the word “means” (or “step”) are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action. Conversely, claim limitations in this application that do not use the word “means” (or “step”) are not being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action.
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 1, 2, and 6-8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ishida (JP2004063299A) in view of Mizue et al. (JP2011192482A). Regarding claim 1, Ishida discloses a temperature control apparatus with a case 2 comprising an open front surface (Fig. 3, not numbered), a top surface (Fig. 3, not numbered) extending from an upper end of the front surface rearward, a bottom surface (Fig. 3, not numbered) extending from a lower end of the front surface rearward; left and right side surfaces (Fig. 3, not numbered) extending from left and right side ends of the front surface, and a rear surface 2a connecting rear ends of the top surface, the bottom surface, and the left and right side surfaces, a front cover 2 shielding the front surface, a display panel 4 disposed behind the front cover 2, and one or more terminal portions 14 electrically connected to a module board 6, wherein a circuit terminal coming into contact with a connection pin of the terminal portion 14 is formed on one side surface of a rear end portion of the module board 6, and wherein the rear end portion (Fig. 4) of the module board 6 on which the circuit terminal is formed passes through a slit 7 formed in the rear surface 2a of the case 2 and protrudes to an outside of the rear surface 2a of the case 2. Ishida does not disclose a base board coupled to a rear surface of the front panel and having a front surface on which the display panel is mounted and that the module board is coupled to a rear surface of the base board in a direction perpendicular to the base board.
Mizue et al. teaches for a temperature control apparatus with a case 23 comprising an open front surface (Fig. 2, not numbered), a top surface 36a extending from an upper end of the front surface rearward, a bottom surface 36c extending from a lower end of the front surface rearward; left and right side surfaces 36b, 36d extending from left and right side ends of the front surface, and a rear surface 24 connecting rear ends of the top surface 36a, the bottom surface 36c, and the left and right side surfaces 36b,36d, a front cover 22 shielding the front surface, a display panel 15 disposed behind the front cover 22, and one or more terminal portions (Fig. 3, 6, and 7, not numbered) and that there is (claim 1) a base board 31 coupled to a rear surface of the front panel and having a front surface on which the display panel 15 is mounted (Fig. 2, tabs on board 31, not numbered) and that the module board 17a, 17b is coupled to a rear surface of the base board 31 in a direction perpendicular to the base board 31 for the purposes of providing support to the base board and module board within the case. See Mizue et al. paragraph [0024].
Since Ishida and Mizue et al. are both in the same field of endeavor the purpose disclosed by Mizue et al. would have been recognized in the pertinent art of Ishida. It would have been obvious at a time before the invention was effectively filed to a person having ordinary skill in the art to modify the temperature control apparatus of Ishida to include a base board coupled to a rear surface of the front panel and having a front surface on which the display panel is mounted and that the module board is coupled to a rear surface of the base board in a direction perpendicular to the base board for the purposes of providing support to the base board and module board within the case.
Regarding claim 2, Ishida discloses that the case further comprises: a plurality of partition ribs 20 extending from the rear surface and spaced apart from each other at predetermined intervals (Fig. 5), and a terminal support portion 10 formed between two adjacent partition ribs 20 and supporting the terminal portion 10 from an outside of the rear surface, wherein the rear end portion of the module board 6 at which the circuit terminal is formed is disposed in an intermediate space formed between the rear surface 2a and the terminal support portion 10.
Regarding claim 6, Ishida discloses that the case 2 comprises an insertion guide 8 protruding upward from the bottom surface 2d.
Regarding claim 7, Ishida discloses that a board insertion hole is formed inside the insertion guide 8, wherein the board insertion hole comprises: a tapered portion extending in a direction in which a width decreases from a front end of the insertion guide 8 toward a rear side (Fig. 9), and a straight portion extending from a rear end of the tapered portion to a rear end of the insertion guide 8 in a straight line form (Fig. 9), wherein the straight portion and the slit 7 are aligned on a same vertical plane (Fig. 8,9).
Regarding claim 8, Ishida discloses that a guide rib (Fig. 8, 9, not numbered) protruding from an inner surface of the rear surface of the case corresponding to an edge of the slit.
Claims 3-5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ishida and Mizue et al., as applied to claim 2 above, further in view of Youn (KR101811407). Ishida, as modified, discloses all of the claimed subject matter except for a temperature compensation module mounted on the main coupling pin, wherein a first opening that is larger than the slit is formed on the rear surface of the case, in order to accommodate the rear end portion of the module board and at least a portion of the temperature compensation module.
Youn teaches for a temperature control apparatus with a case 201, a module board 210, and one or more terminal portions 220 electrically connected to a module board 210, and that there is (claim 3) a temperature compensation module 223 mounted on the main coupling pin 221, wherein a first opening (Fig. 7b) that is larger than the slit is formed on the rear surface of the case 201, in order to accommodate the rear end portion of the module board 210 and at least a portion of the temperature compensation module 223 for the purposes of preventing short circuiting between the main coupling pin and the sub-coupling pin. See Youn, Abstract.
Since Ishida, Mizue et al., and Youn are all in the same field of endeavor the purpose disclosed by Youn would have been recognized in the pertinent art of Ishida. It would have been obvious at a time before the invention was effectively filed to a person having ordinary skill in the art to further modify the temperature control apparatus of Ishida to include a temperature compensation module mounted on the main coupling pin, wherein a first opening that is larger than the slit is formed on the rear surface of the case, in order to accommodate the rear end portion of the module board and at least a portion of the temperature compensation module for the purposes of preventing short circuiting between the main coupling pin and the sub-coupling pin.
Regarding claim 4, Youn further teaches that the temperature compensation module 223 comprises a sensor board 222 having a bottom surface coupled to the main coupling pin 221, a compensation temperature sensor 223 mounted on one side of a top surface of the sensor board 222; and a sub-coupling pin 224 attached to the other side of the top surface of the sensor board 222 corresponding to a lower side of the compensation temperature sensor 223 and having a sub-connection pin 224 coming into contact with the circuit terminal.
Regarding claim 5, Youn further teaches that a second opening (Fig. 7b) accommodating the main coupling pin 221 and at least a portion of the temperature compensation module is formed in the terminal support portion, wherein the second opening is located right behind the first opening (Fig. 7b) .
Prior Art
Prior art made of record but not relied upon is considered pertinent to Applicant's disclosure for showing other temperature control apparatus with temperature compensation modules.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 9 and 10 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. The improvement comprises (claim 9) a board support rib protruding from an outer surface of the rear surface of the case corresponding to an edge of the slit and supporting the module board.
Claims 11-20 are allowed. The improvement comprises a board support rib protruding from the rear surface of the case.
Contact Information
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communication from the examiner should be directed to Thomas Lazo whose telephone number is (571) 272-4818. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's supervisor Nathaniel Wiehe, can be reached on (571) 272-8648. The fax phone number for this Group is (571) 273-8300.
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/THOMAS E LAZO/Primary Examiner,
Art Unit 3745
August 14, 2026
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