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
Upon further consideration by the examiner, the restriction requirement (dated 12/19/2025) has been withdrawn. It was determined that in conducting a search for species A3/B2 or claim 7/15 there was no burden to search for other species A1-A2, A4 or B1, B3 (claims 5-6, 8 or claim 14 and 16). Therefore, claims 1-20 have been examined altogether as follows.
The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
Specification
The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
The following title is suggested: -- Chips Transfer Apparatus--.
The lengthy specification has not been checked to the extent necessary to determine the presence of all possible minor errors. Applicant’s cooperation is requested in correcting any errors of which applicant may become aware in the specification.
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 wafer positioning device (claim 19) and “a chip surface inspection device” as in claim 20 must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
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 § 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 1-20 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.
whether “a chip” (claim 1, line 4) as same as one of the” chips” in line 1 of claim 1?
“structured to” (claim 1, line 9) is unclear and confusing it is suggested the use of: -- “of the plurality of transfer head actuators” --.
“the rotatable transfer assembly” (claim 1, line 11, and line 14) lacks proper antecedent basis
“the at least one transfer head” (claim 1, line 12) lacks proper antecedent basis, it is uncertain as to whether this directed to one of the at least two transfer heads as previously cited in line 3-4 of claim 1?
“structured to be actuated” (claim 1, line 13) is unclear and confusing in that it is not known exactly what “structured” is in reference hereto. Please be more specific (e.g., the actuator element actuates).
“the at least one transfer head” (claim 2, line 2; claims 3-4, lines 1-2) lacks proper antecedent basis, (e.g., changes similar to line 12 of claim 1) is applied to all claims 2-4 above.
“the rotatable transfer assembly” (claim 3, lines 2-3) lacks proper antecedent basis.
“the number of transfer heads” (claims 5-8, line 1) lack proper antecedent basis. Also, whether or not “the number of transfer heads” in claims 5-8, line 1 actually is directed to “the at least two transfer heads” in line 4 of claim 1?
“seen in the direction” (claim 10, line 2-3) is awkwardly worded should be: --“in the direction” --.
“the actuator component of the at least one further transfer head actuator “(claim 13, lines 1-2); “the previous transfer head actuator “(claim 13, line 3) lack proper antecedent basis.
“the number of transfer head actuators (claims 14-16, respectively) lack proper antecedent basis.
“the magnet-coil drive” (claim 17, line 1) lacks proper antecedent basis.
“surrounding a coil element being mounted to the actuator component” (claim 17, lines 2-3) is awkwardly worded in that it is not known whether a coil element is a part of the actuator element or not ?
“a wafer positioning device structured to position a wafer “(claim 19, line 1) made scope of the claim unclear since the “apparatus for transfer chips” being claimed and the above directed to the wafer positioning device which directed to outside entity.
Similar to claim 19 occurrence in claim 20 where “a chip surface inspection device” is unclear as to whether this device is related to the apparatus for transferring chips or not?
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) 1-3, 5-7, 9-10, 12-14, 19-20 as best understood is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by Huybers et al (US 20190189478).
Claim 1, Huybers et al discloses the claimed apparatus for transferring chips 220 from a first position to at least a second position, the apparatus comprising:
at least one rotatable transfer assembly 126 comprising at least two transfer heads 136, each transfer head structured to pick up a chip 122 in the first position (position on 112), and to position the chip in the at least second position (another location 120) through rotation of the at least one rotatable transfer assembly about an axis of rotation (see Figs. 2-6 and discussed in ¶¶¶ [0039, 0049, 0056]);
a transfer assembly actuator 106 for driving the rotatable transfer assembly 104-1 together with the at least two transfer heads about the axis of rotation (see discussed in ¶ [0031] or [0060, lines 9-16]); and
at least a first transfer head actuator 106/108 structured to actuate at least one transfer head 136 in a radial direction relative to the axis of rotation, the at least first transfer head actuator 106 being mounted to the rotatable transfer assembly actuator 104-1 (see discussion in ¶ [0031] or ¶ [0060], lines 9-16]); and comprising an actuator element 110 coupled to the at least one transfer head (pickup device), the actuator element structured to be actuated in the direction of the axis of rotation relative to the rotatable transfer assembly actuator 104-1/104-2 (see related embodiment Fig. 1 in conjunction with Figs. 2-6), respectively.
Huybers et al further discloses, regarding,
Claim 2, wherein the actuator element 106/108 is coupled to the at least one transfer head by a connecting mechanism (see Fig. 1 in conjunction with Fig. 2 for the connection mechanism between 106 and 104-1 to the head 136, respectively).
Claim 3, wherein the at least first transfer head actuator 104 comprises an actuator component 106 mounted to the rotatable transfer assembly actuator 104-1, and the actuator element is structured to be actuated in the direction of the axis of rotation relative to the actuator component (see discussion in ¶ [0031] or ¶ [0060], lines 9-16] for the elements above).
Claims 5-7 regarding to wherein the number of transfer heads is at least four and that as in claims 6-7 are also met by the Huybers et al (see Fig. 2-6, where number of heads 136-1-136-8 is/are at least 8).
Claims 9-10, regarding, wherein the rotatable transfer assembly is rotated in one direction (see Fig. 5 as indicated by an arrow). Regarding, claim 10, further comprising at least one further transfer head actuator 110 mounted to the at least first transfer head actuator 106 seen in the direction of the axis of rotation (see Fig. 6 by rotation arrow).
Claim 12, according to claim 3, wherein the at least first transfer head actuator comprises a guiding element interconnecting the actuator element and the actuator component (see related Fig. 7 in conjunction with ¶ [0056] of the Huybers et al).
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Claim 13, wherein the actuator component of the at least one further transfer head actuator is mounted to the actuator component (see Fig. 1 in conjunction with Fig. 2-6 which depicts the actuator component as 106/108 being mounted to further transfer head actuator 104-1).
Claim 14, wherein the number of transfer head actuators is equal to the number of transfer heads (see Fig. 1 in conjunction with Fig. 2 which depicts the number of head actuators 106 connectively attached to 104 and number of 104 assembly equal to the number of heads 136).
Claim 18, regarding, the apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the guiding element is selected from the group consisting of a membrane element, a spring element, a ball bearing, and an air bearing (see Fig. 7, in conjunction with discussion in ¶ [0056] for guiding member as reference 158/166 is/are made from spring member).
Claim 19. comprising a wafer positioning device 130 structured to position a wafer 112 with chips 122 surfaces thereof extending in a first plane in the first position, and a lead frame positioning device to position a lead frame with a bond surface thereof extending in a second plane at the second position (is also met by the above (see Fig. 2,130/120).
Claim 20 regarding, the apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising a chipsurface inspection device extending in a third plane in a third position (as best understood is met by the above reference see Fog. 2, device 116).
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) 8, 15-16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Huybers et al.
As applied to claim 8, regarding, to the number of head is at least 16 is therefore not inventive when departing from Huybers et al as advanced above and common general knowledge without exercising any inventive skills.
As applied to claim 15-16 regarding, wherein the number of transfer head actuators is equal to the number of transfer heads and/or is half of the number of transfer heads (ratio). It would have been obvious to an ordinary skill in the art at the effective filing date of the invention to modify the one to four ratio between number of the transfer head actuator 106/108 versus the transfer heads 136 of the Huybers et al to the ratio such as that as mentioned in above claims in order to perform its installation without exercising any inventive skills. Since, such modification above is considered a standard design option in area of semiconductor transfer head design.
Potential Allowable claims
Claims 4, 11, 17 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the pending claims 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 MINH N TRINH whose telephone number is (571)272-4569. The examiner can normally be reached M-TH ~5:00-3:30.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Thomas J Hong can be reached at 571-272-0993. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/MINH N TRINH/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3729 mt