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 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 and 9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chen (CN 108022713 A) in view of Brocchi et al. (US 2004/0012042), Figs 7-9.
Regarding claim 1, Chen discloses an electromagnet comprising:
a support (see the drawing below);
an electrical winding (3) comprising a plurality of turns wound around the support (see the drawing below);
an electronic circuit which comprises a flexible printed circuit board (5) on which there are arranged one or more electronic components (6-9) and which is wound, at least in part, said electrical winding (3).
Regarding claim 1, Chen teaches the claimed subject as disclosed above, however, fails to explicitly disclose the electronic circuit which comprises a printed circuit board on which there are arranged one or more electronic components and which is wound, at least in part, directly onto said electrical winding.
Brocchi discloses the device comprising:
the electronic circuit (41) which comprises a printed circuit board (43) on which there are arranged one or more electronic components (39, 39A) and which is wound, at least in part, directly onto said electrical winding (53).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to make the electronic components and which is wound, at least in part, directly onto said electrical winding for the purpose of concentrating, guiding, and enhancing the magnetic flux generated by the electric current.
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Regarding claim 9, Chen discloses:
at least one coil (3).
Claim 2 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chen (CN 108022713 A) and Brocchi et al. (US 2004/0012042) and in view of Hattori et al. (US 5,825,270).
Regarding claim 2, Chen and Brocchi disclose the claimed subject as disclosed above, however, fails to explicitly disclose the ends of the electrical winding are soldered directly onto the flexible printed circuit board.
Hatton discloses an electromagnetic solenoid comprising:
the ends of the electrical winding are soldered directly onto the flexible printed circuit board (see col. 6, lines 65-67, and col. 8, lines 1 and 2).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to solder the electrical winding directly onto the flexible printed circuit board as taught by Halton with Chen’s device for the purpose of applying the current to the exciting coil of the electromagnetic solenoid.
Claims 7 and 8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chen (CN 108022713 A) and Brocchi et al. (US 2004/0012042), and in view of Lai et al. (US 6,149,050).
Regarding claim 7, Chen and Brocchi disclose the claimed subject as disclosed above, however, fails to explicitly disclose the flexible printed circuit board is provided with or comprises a double-sided layer of adhesive tape.
Lai discloses a device comprising the comprises the temporary fixture beneath the PC board, preferably by double-sided adhesive tape, (see col. 1, lines 63-67 and col. 2, lines 1-2).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to use the double-side adhesive tape as taught by Lai with chen’s device for the purpose of saving cost and time.
Regarding claim 8, Chen and Brocchi disclose the claimed subject as disclosed above, however, fails to explicitly disclose a tape wound around the outer surface of the electrical winding.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to use the tape as taught by Lai to wound around the outer surface of Chen’s winding for the purpose of suitability of the intended use, since it has been held that rearranging parts of an invention involves only routine skill in the art. In re Japikse, 86 USPQ 70.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 2/17/26 with respect to claim 1 has been considered but are moot in view of the new ground(s) of rejection.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication should be directed to Lisa Homza whose telephone number is (571) 272-3592.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's supervisor, Shawki Ismail can be reached on (571) 272-3985. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Lisa Nhung Homza/
Patent Examiner - Art Unit 2837
February 23, 2026
/SHAWKI S ISMAIL/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2837
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