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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Group I in the reply filed on 05/11/2026 is acknowledged.
Claims 12 and 15 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected Group I, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 05/11/2026.
Drawings
The application contains drawings of Figs. 1-2 which appear to be missing or not uploaded to the application documents.
Claim Objections
Claims 2-9 and 13-14 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claims 2-9 and 13-14, line 1, recites “The component” which should be --The inductive component--.
Claim 2 recites “at least one core part” should be --at least one core part of the at least two core parts--.
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 1-11 and 13-14 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 1, line 3, recites “the core parts” is indefinite and unclear since there is “at least two core parts”.
Claim 1, lines 4-5, recites “the core parts” is indefinite and unclear since there is “at least two core parts”.
Claim 1, line 7, recites “at least one of the core parts” is indefinite and unclear regarding the term “the core parts” since there is “at least two core parts”.
Claim 1, line 9, recites “said cavity” while other claims, such as claim 2, recites “the cavity”. The examiner suggests clarifying between “the” or “said”.
Claim 2, lines 3-4, recites “a flowable heat-conducting medium” is indefinite and unclear whether “a flowable heat-conducting medium” is the same as “a heat-conducting medium” already recited in claim 1.
Claim 7, line 3, recites “the core parts” is indefinite and unclear since there is “at least two core parts”.
Claim 8, line 3, recites “the core parts” is indefinite and unclear since there is “at least two core parts”.
Claim 9, line 4, recites “the core parts” is indefinite and unclear since there is “at least two core parts”.
Claim 10, lines 1-2, recite “a component” is indefinite and unclear since claim 1 claimed an inductive component.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 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.
Claim(s) 1 and 13 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Hansen et al. [U.S. Patent No. 5,313,037].
Regarding Claim 1, Hansen et al. shows an inductive component (Figs. 1-2) comprising a coil core (10, 26) and at least one coil winding (16), wherein the coil core (10, 26) is formed by at least two core parts (10, 26) which form the coil core (see Figs. 1-2) when assembled, and the core parts (10, 26) have respective joining surfaces (bottom surface of element 12 and top surface of element 26) which are configured to face each other when the core parts (10, 26) are joined (see Figs. 1-2),
wherein at least one of the core parts (10) has a through-opening (14), which is arranged and configured to lead a heat-conducting medium (coolant or fluid, Col. 2, Lines 18-50, claim 1, see Figs. 1-2) into a cavity (a cavity formed between element 12 and element 26, see Figs. 1-2) extending between the joining surfaces (bottom surface of element 12 and top surface of element 26) and to fill said cavity with the heat-conducting medium (coolant or fluid, Col. 2, Lines 18-50, claim 1, see Figs. 1-2).
Regarding Claim 13, Hansen et al. shows the coil core (10) is a ferrite core (Col. 2, Lines 18-50).
Claim(s) 1, 6-10, and 13-14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Uryu [WO 2019/097574] (see also equivalent U.S. Pub. No. 2020/0235657 as cited by applicant).
Regarding Claim 1, Uryu shows an inductive component (Figs. 19-21 with teachings from Figs. 1-4 and Drawing 1 below) comprising a coil core (4, 5) and at least one coil winding (6a, 6b), wherein the coil core (4, 5) is formed by at least two core parts (4, 5) which form the coil core (see Figs. 19-21) when assembled, and the core parts (4, 5) have respective joining surfaces (joining surfaces JS, see Drawing 1 below, or joining surfaces at element 11) which are configured to face each other when the core parts (4, 5) are joined (see Figs. 19-21 and Drawing 1 below),
wherein at least one of the core parts (4) has a through-opening (4a), which is arranged and configured to lead a heat-conducting medium (8, see English translation) into a cavity (cavity C or gap at element 11, see English translation) extending between the joining surfaces (joining surfaces JS or joining surfaces at element 11) and to fill said cavity with the heat-conducting medium (8, see Figs. 19-21 and Drawing 1 below, element 8 fill cavity C or element 8 fill the gap at element 11, see English translation).
Regarding Claim 6, Uryu shows the core part (4) with the through-opening (4a) is configured as a flat plate (element 40 is a I-type core which is a flat plate, see English translation).
Regarding Claim 7, Uryu shows one of the core parts (5) is at least partially U-shaped (left leg, right leg and bottom portion is at least partially U-shaped, the specification also discloses element 5 can be UU type, see English translation), and joining surfaces (11) are configured on U-legs (see Figs. 19-21 and element 5 can be UU type, see English translation) for laminar joining of the core part (4) with the through-opening (4a).
Regarding Claim 8, Uryu shows one of the core parts (5) is E-shaped (see Figs. 19-21, see English translation) and has three legs (left, middle, and right legs, see Figs. 19-21), which respectively face in a same direction (see Figs. 19-21) and which comprise a respective joining surface (11) for laminar joining of the core part (4) with the through-opening (4a).
Regarding Claim 9, Uryu shows the component has two electrical coils (6a, 6b), which are respectively wound around one of the core parts (5, see English translation).
Regarding Claim 10, Uryu shows a contact assembly (1) comprising a heat sink (3 or 7, see English translation) having a component according to claim 1 (see claim 1 rejection above), wherein a depression (depression D1 or depression D2, see Drawing 1 below) is configured in the heat sink (3 or 7) for receiving the core part (4) with the through-opening (4a) so that heat-conducting medium (8) can flow from the depression (depression D1 or depression D2) through the through-opening (4a) into the cavity (cavity C or gap at element 11, see Figs. 19-21 and Drawing 1 below, element 8 fill cavity C or element 8 fill the gap at element 11, see English translation).
Regarding Claim 13, Uryu shows the coil core (4, 5) is a ferrite core (see English translation).
Regarding Claim 14, Uryu shows the component is a transformer (see English translation) or a transducer.
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) 3 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Hansen et al. in view of Salomaki [U.S. Pub. No. 2012/0139683].
Regarding Claim 3, Hansen et al. shows the claimed invention as applied above but does not show on a side facing away from the cavity (9, 10, 11), the core part (2) with the through- opening (12) has at least one recess (27, 28) configured to supply heat-conducting medium (20) to the through-opening (12).
Salomaki shows an inductive component (Figs. 21 and 23) teaching and suggesting on a side (top side) facing away from the cavity (see Figs. 21 and 23), the core part (36) with the through-opening (through-opening at element 10) has at least one recess (47 or 48) configured to supply heat-conducting medium (liquid, Paragraphs [0073]-[0076]) to the through-opening (see Figs. 21 and 23).
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 side facing away from the cavity, the core part with the through-opening has at least one recess configured to supply heat-conducting medium to the through-opening as taught by Salomaki for the inductive component as disclosed by Hansen et al. to facilitate heat transfer and improve heat dissipation (Paragraph [0006]).
Claim(s) 1, 6-10, and 13-14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Uryu [WO 2019/097574] (see also equivalent U.S. Pub. No. 2020/0235657 as cited by applicant) in view of Sasaki et al. [JP 2019-047105].
Regarding Claim 1, Uryu shows an inductive component (Figs. 19-21 with teachings from Figs. 1-4 and Drawing 1 below) comprising a coil core (4, 5) and at least one coil winding (6a, 6b), wherein the coil core (4, 5) is formed by at least two core parts (4, 5) which form the coil core (see Figs. 19-21) when assembled, and the core parts (4, 5) have respective joining surfaces (joining surfaces JS, see Drawing 1 below, or joining surfaces at element 11) which are configured to face each other when the core parts (4, 5) are joined (see Figs. 19-21 and Drawing 1 below),
wherein at least one of the core parts (4) has a through-opening (4a), which is arranged and configured to lead a heat-conducting medium (8, see English translation) into a cavity (cavity C or gap at element 11, see English translation) extending between the joining surfaces (joining surfaces JS or joining surfaces at element 11) and to fill said cavity with the heat-conducting medium (8, see Figs. 19-21 and Drawing 1 below, element 8 fill cavity C or element 8 fill the gap at element 11, see English translation).
In the event that Uryu does not anticipated or does not clearly show certain claim limitations, Sasaki et al. clearly shows a device (Figs. 3-4) teaching and suggesting the core parts (40a, 40b) have respective joining surfaces (bottom surface of element 46a and top surface of element 46b) which are configured to face each other when the core parts (40a, 40b) are joined (see Figs. 3-4), wherein at least one of the core parts (40b or 40a) has a through-opening (element 47 along the Z-axis, see Fig. 4), which is arranged and configured to lead a heat-conducting medium (90) into a cavity (element 47 along the Y-axis, see Fig. 3) extending between the joining surfaces (bottom surface of element 46a and top surface of element 46b) and to fill said cavity with the heat-conducting medium (90, see Fig. 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 core parts have respective joining surfaces which are configured to face each other when the core parts are joined, wherein at least one of the core parts has a through-opening, which is arranged and configured to lead a heat-conducting medium into a cavity extending between the joining surfaces and to fill said cavity with the heat-conducting medium as taught by Sasaki et al. for the inductive component as disclosed by Uryu to improve heat dissipating (Paragraph [0067]).
Regarding Claim 6, Uryu shows the core part (4) with the through-opening (4a) is configured as a flat plate (element 40 is a I-type core which is a flat plate, see English translation).
Regarding Claim 7, Uryu shows one of the core parts (5) is at least partially U-shaped (left leg, right leg and bottom portion is at least partially U-shaped, the specification also discloses element 5 can be UU type, see English translation), and joining surfaces (11) are configured on U-legs (see Figs. 19-21 and element 5 can be UU type, see English translation) for laminar joining of the core part (4) with the through-opening (4a).
Regarding Claim 8, Uryu shows one of the core parts (5) is E-shaped (see Figs. 19-21, see English translation) and has three legs (left, middle, and right legs, see Figs. 19-21), which respectively face in a same direction (see Figs. 19-21) and which comprise a respective joining surface (11) for laminar joining of the core part (4) with the through-opening (4a).
Regarding Claim 9, Uryu shows the component has two electrical coils (6a, 6b), which are respectively wound around one of the core parts (5, see English translation).
Regarding Claim 10, Uryu shows a contact assembly (1) comprising a heat sink (3 or 7, see English translation) having a component according to claim 1 (see claim 1 rejection above), wherein a depression (depression D1 or depression D2, see Drawing 1 below) is configured in the heat sink (3 or 7) for receiving the core part (4) with the through-opening (4a) so that heat-conducting medium (8) can flow from the depression (depression D1 or depression D2) through the through-opening (4a) into the cavity (cavity C or gap at element 11, see Figs. 19-21 and Drawing 1 below, element 8 fill cavity C or element 8 fill the gap at element 11, see English translation).
Sasaki et al. shows a contact assembly (10) comprising a heat sink (element 100 made of metal which can dissipate heat can be considered a heat sink, Paragraph [0063]) having a component according to claim 1 (see claim 1 rejection above), wherein a depression (depression of element 100) is configured in the heat sink (100) for receiving the core part (40b or 40a) with the through-opening (element 47 along the Z-axis, see Fig. 4) so that heat-conducting medium (90) can flow from the depression (depression of element 100) through the through-opening (element 47 along the Z-axis, see Fig. 4) into the cavity (element 47 along the Y-axis, see Fig. 3).
Regarding Claim 13, Uryu shows the coil core (4, 5) is a ferrite core (see English translation).
Regarding Claim 14, Uryu shows the component is a transformer (see English translation) or a transducer.
Claim(s) 3 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Uryu OR Uryu in view of Sasaki et al. as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Salomaki [U.S. Pub. No. 2012/0139683].
Regarding Claim 3, Uryu OR Uryu in view of Sasaki et al. shows the claimed invention as applied above but does not show on a side facing away from the cavity (9, 10, 11), the core part (2) with the through- opening (12) has at least one recess (27, 28) configured to supply heat-conducting medium (20) to the through-opening (12).
Salomaki shows an inductive component (Figs. 21 and 23) teaching and suggesting on a side (top side) facing away from the cavity (see Figs. 21 and 23), the core part (36) with the through-opening (through-opening at element 10) has at least one recess (47 or 48) configured to supply heat-conducting medium (liquid, Paragraphs [0073]-[0076]) to the through-opening (see Figs. 21 and 23).
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 side facing away from the cavity, the core part with the through-opening has at least one recess configured to supply heat-conducting medium to the through-opening as taught by Salomaki for the inductive component as disclosed by Uryu OR Uryu in view of Sasaki et al. to facilitate heat transfer and improve heat dissipation (Paragraph [0006]).
Claim(s) 7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Uryu OR Uryu in view of Sasaki et al. as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Yamamoto et al. [U.S. Pub. No. 2019/0189339].
Regarding Claim 7, Uryu OR Uryu in view of Sasaki et al. shows the claimed inventio as applied above.
In addition, Yamamoto et al. shows one of the core parts (right element 32m and elements 31m combined) is at least partially U-shaped (see Figs. 1-5), and joining surfaces (joining surfaces at left end of elements 31m) are configured on U-legs (see Figs. 1-5) for laminar joining of the core part (left element 32m) with the through-opening (h1).
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 one of the core parts is at least partially U-shaped, and joining surfaces are configured on U-legs for laminar joining of the core part with the through-opening as taught by Yamamoto et al. for the inductive component as disclosed by Uryu OR Uryu in view of Sasaki et al. to achieve desirable operating characteristics and magnetic coupling (Paragraphs [0079]-[0080]).
Claim(s) 7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Uryu OR Uryu in view of Sasaki et al. as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Walz [U.S. Patent No. 7,164,584].
Regarding Claim 7, Uryu OR Uryu in view of Sasaki et al. shows the claimed inventio as applied above.
In addition, Walz shows one of the core parts (24) is at least partially U-shaped (see Figs. 1-6), and joining surfaces (joining surfaces at ends of elements 28, 30) are configured on U-legs (see Figs. 1-6) for laminar joining of the core part (12) with the through-opening (64).
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 one of the core parts is at least partially U-shaped, and joining surfaces are configured on U-legs for laminar joining of the core part with the through-opening as taught by Walz for the inductive component as disclosed by Uryu OR Uryu in view of Sasaki et al. to achieve desirable operating characteristics and magnetic coupling based on the application of the device (Col. 3, Lines 11-20).
Claim(s) 11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Uryu OR Uryu in view of Sasaki et al. as applied to claims 1 and 10 above, and further in view of Matsutani et al. [U.S. Pub. No. 2018/0174733].
Regarding Claim 11, Uryu OR Uryu in view of Sasaki et al. shows the contact assembly comprises the heat-conducting medium (element 8 of Uryu and element 90 of Sasaki et al.).
Uryu OR Uryu in view of Sasaki et al. does not show the heat-conducting medium (20) comprises a matrix material and ferromagnetic filling particles (31).
Matsutani et al. shows a device (Fig. 1) teaching and suggesting the heat-conducting medium (70) comprises a matrix material and ferromagnetic filling particles (Paragraph [0023]).
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 heat-conducting medium (20) comprises a matrix material and ferromagnetic filling particles (31) as taught by Matsutani et al. for the inductive component as disclosed by Uryu OR Uryu in view of Sasaki et al. to achieve high thermal conductivity and improve magnetic property (Paragraph [0023]).
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Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2 and 4-5 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
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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