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 of Invention I, claims 1-9 and 19-20 in the reply filed on 08 June 2026 is acknowledged. Because applicant did not distinctly and specifically point out the supposed errors in the restriction requirement, the election has been treated as an election without traverse (MPEP § 818.01(a)).
Claims 10-18 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected Invention II, there being no allowable generic or linking claim.
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 1-9 and 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.
In claim 1, the limitation “(vii) in response to determining that the portion of the first component is not contacting the opening in the portion of the second component, repeatedly performing steps (i)-(iv) until it is determined that the portion of the first component is contacting the opening in the portion of the second component.” renders claim indefinite because performing the steps (i)-(iv) is confusing. See, lines 8-9 recite “holding the portion of the first component in a holding position with a stream of air output from a nozzle of an assembly system” (emphasis added) and step (i) recites “(i) outputting the stream of air from the nozzle”. If the portion of the first component is held in a holding position with a stream of air output from a nozzle as recited in lines 8-9, it is confusing the recited “repeatedly performing steps (i)”. Would it be repeatedly performing steps (ii)-(iv)?
In claim 20, same issue is there for the limitation “(vii) in response to determining that the portion of the first component is not contacting the opening in the portion of the second component, repeatedly performing steps (i)-(iv) until it is determined that the portion of the first component is contacting the opening in the portion of the second component.”
Claims 2-9 depend on claim 1. Therefore, claims 1-9 and 20 are rejected.
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) 19 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jung (KR 20180124309) in view of Son (KR 20220069171).
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Annotated Figs.1 to 4, Jung.
Regarding claim 19, Jung teaches, a method for assembling an electronic device (assembling an actuator of a camera module, para. [0001]), the method comprising:
arranging a first component of the electronic device (cover assembly 10, see annotated Figs. 1, 2 and 3) in a first position on a first plane (see the cover jig 130, Fig. 2, cover receiving portion (131) has a shape corresponding to the outer surface of the cover assembly (10) so that the cover assembly (10) is joined without gaps, Fig. 3, para. [0029]);
arranging a second component of the electronic device (carrier assembly 20, Figs. 1, 2 and 4) in a second position on a second plane (see the carrier jig 140, Fig. 2, carrier receiving portion (141) has a shape corresponding to the outer surface of the carrier assembly (20) so that the carrier assembly (20) is joined without gaps, see Figs. 2 and 4, para. [0035]), wherein the second plane is parallel to the first plane (see Fig. 2) and separated from the first plane by a predetermined distance, wherein a position of a portion of the first component on the first plane and a position of a portion of the second component overlap along an axis perpendicular to the first plane and the second plane (see Figs. 1 and 2);
holding the portion of the first component in a holding position (tray (121) is transported along the transfer rail (120) in the Y-axis direction, and the cover jig (130) and carrier jig (140) are placed at positions corresponding to the pickup machine (160), para. [0022]); and
aligning the portion of the first component with an opening (see the carrier assembly 20, annotated Fig. 1) in the portion of the second component while the portion of the first component is held in the holding position (plurality of trays (121) may be positioned on the transfer rail (120), and a cover jig (130) and a carrier jig (140) are supplied on each tray (121), para. [0020]; combining the cover jig (130) and the carrier jig (140), the cover assembly (10) and the carrier assembly (20) are assembled, para. [0048]; when both the cover jig (130) and the carrier jig (140) located on the tray (121) on one transfer rail (120) are combined, the pickup machine (160) moves to another transfer rail (120) and can repeat the assembly process while combining the cover jig (130) and the carrier jig (140) located on the tray (121) on the other transfer rail (120), para. [0052]).
Jung does not teach, holding with a stream of air output from a nozzle of an assembly system. However, Son teaches, a method of assembling an electronic device (camera module, para. [0004], Figs. 1 to 8), in which, a holding the portion of the first component in a holding position with a stream of air output from a nozzle of an assembly system (air-injection type jig device capable of accurately moving an inspection means to a target position using air while simultaneously controlling it with a fast response speed, para. [0010]). Therefore, in view of the teachings of Son, it would have been prima facie obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to modify for assembling an electronic device of Jung and replace the cover jig 130 of Jung with an air injection type jig device as Son taught in para. [0010] so that it enables avoiding the back and forth movement of a target support and thereby improving the assembly speed as Son disclosed in para. [0013]. Moreover, there is no indication in the instant invention that any surprising results were derived, or that any special steps were devised in holding the first component with a stream of air output from the nozzle of an assembly system. A simple substitution of a conventional jig with an air injection type jig, or an air chuck would have been done by one of ordinary skill in the art without any need for experimentation and with reasonable expectations of success.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 1 would be allowable if rewritten or amended 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. Claims 2-9 would be allowable by virtue of its dependency.
Claim 20 is 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 and 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.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for indicating allowable subject matter:
Claims 1 and 20 would be allowable for disclosing a method for assembling an electronic device, comprising: (iii) capturing, with at least one camera of the assembly system, a plurality of images, wherein each image of the plurality of images depicts the first component and the second component; (iv) determining whether the portion of the first component is contacting the opening in the portion of the second component; (vi) in response to determining that the portion of the first component is contacting the opening in the portion of the second component, securing the first component to the second component.
Though, prior art of record Jung teaches, a method for assembling an electronic device, including moving, using one or more actuators of the assembly system, Jung fails to teach, (iii) capturing, with at least one camera of the assembly system, a plurality of images, wherein each image of the plurality of images depicts the first component and the second component; (iv) determining whether the portion of the first component is contacting the opening in the portion of the second component; (vi) in response to determining that the portion of the first component is contacting the opening in the portion of the second component, securing the first component to the second component.
Prior art Son does not teach, (iii) capturing, with at least one camera of the assembly system, a plurality of images, wherein each image of the plurality of images depicts the first component and the second component; (iv) determining whether the portion of the first component is contacting the opening in the portion of the second component; (vi) in response to determining that the portion of the first component is contacting the opening in the portion of the second component, securing the first component to the second component.
Though, prior art Choi (KR 20180126106) teaches, a method for assembling an electronic device, including, arranging a first component of the electronic device in a first position; arranging a second component of the electronic device in a second position; and capturing, a plurality of images with a camera of the assembly system; and determining whether the portion of the first component is contacting the second component, Choi fails to teach, holding the portion of the first component in a holding position with a stream of air output from a nozzle of an assembly system; or outputting the stream or air from the nozzle; or aligning the portion of the first component with an opening in the portion of the second component while the portion of the first component is held in the holding position; or (iv) determining whether the portion of the first component is contacting the opening in the portion of the second component.
Therefore, claims 1 and 20 would be allowable. Claims 2-9 would be allowable by virtue of its dependency.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion
Prior art Yoon (KR 101714463) teaches, a method for assembling an electronic device, comprising: arranging a first component of the electronic device in a first position; arranging a second component of the electronic device in a second position; holding the portion of the first component in a holding position with a stream of air output from a nozzle of an assembly system; and aligning the portion of the first component with the second component while the portion of the first component is held in the holding position.
Prior art Suhara (US 20020184755) teaches a method for assembling an electronic device, including, arranging a first component of the electronic device in a first position; arranging a second component of the electronic device in a second position; and capturing, a plurality of images with a camera of the assembly system; and determining whether the portion of the first component is contacting the second component.
Prior art Choi (KR 20180124309) teaches, a method for assembling an electronic device, comprising: arranging a first component of the electronic device in a first position; arranging a second component of the electronic device in a second position; and capturing, a plurality of images with a camera of the assembly system; and determining whether the portion of the first component is contacting the second component.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JOSE K. ABRAHAM whose telephone number is (571)270-1087. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8:30-4:30 EST.
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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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/JOSE K ABRAHAM/Examiner, Art Unit 3729
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