ELECTRONIC DEVICE, MAGNETIC CONNECTION MECHANISM, AND MAGNETIC ASSEMBLY THEREOF

Application No. 18/399,215

• Filed: Dec 28, 2023
• Examiner: HOMZA, LISA NHUNG
• Art Unit: 2837
• Tech Center: 2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
• Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• OA Round: 1 (Non-Final)

Office Action

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 .
Claim Objections
Claims 1 and 2 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Regarding claims 1 and 2, change the phrase “magnetic segments includes” to -- magnetic segments include --. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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.

Claims 1, 2, and 13-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Rasmussen et al (US 2022/0416590).
Regarding claim 1, Rasmussen discloses: a device comprising:
A magnetic assembly (200), including:
an annular main magnetic element (218) having a plurality of main magnetic segments (228),
wherein the polar directions of the main magnetic segments (see Figure 2B) are not exactly the same, and the angles (see Figure 2B) of the main magnetic segments are not exactly the same; and
an annular auxiliary magnetic element (226, 254, 362), movably (see para. [0049]) disposed on a side of the main magnetic element (228) and having a plurality of auxiliary magnetic segments (226, 254, 362) corresponding to the main magnetic segments (228),
wherein the polar directions of the auxiliary magnetic segments (226, 254, 362) are not exactly the same, and the angles of the auxiliary magnetic segments are not exactly the same.
Since Rasmussen discloses the device as a similar structure as the applicant’s invention, it inherently would produce the same function.
Regarding claim 2, Rasmussen discloses:
the main magnetic segments (218) include a first main magnetic segment (228) and a second main magnetic segment adjacent to each other, and
the auxiliary magnetic segments (226, 254) include a first auxiliary magnetic segment (226) and a second auxiliary magnetic segment (354) adjacent to each other.
Regarding claim 13, Rasmussen discloses:
the main magnetic element and the auxiliary magnetic element comprise magnetic alloy, magnetic oxide, or the combination thereof (see paras. [0040] - [0042]).
Regarding claim 14, Rasmussen discloses:
the main magnetic element and the auxiliary magnetic element comprise NdFeB, SmCo, AINiCo, or the combination thereof (see paras. [0040] - [0042]).
Regarding claim 15, Rasmussen discloses:
the main magnetic element and the auxiliary magnetic element comprise barium ferrite material, strontium ferrite material, lanthanum ferrite material, or the combination thereof (see paras. [0040] - [0042]).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 4-6 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 following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
The prior art does not teach or suggest the magnetic assembly comprising:
Claim 4: the main magnetic segments further includes a third main magnetic segment, a fourth main magnetic segment, a fifth main magnetic segment, and a sixth main magnetic segment, and the auxiliary magnetic segments further includes a third auxiliary magnetic segment, a fourth auxiliary magnetic segment, a fifth auxiliary magnetic segment, and a sixth auxiliary magnetic segment, wherein the angles of the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth main magnetic segments are less than the angles of the first and second main magnetic segments, and the angles of the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth auxiliary segments are less than the angles of the first and second auxiliary magnetic segments.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication should be directed to Lisa Homza whose telephone number is [phone].
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's supervisor, Shawki Ismail can be reached on [phone]. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/Lisa Nhung Homza/
Patent Examiner - Art Unit 2837
April 27, 2026

/SHAWKI S ISMAIL/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2837

Prosecution Timeline

• Dec 28, 2023: Application Filed
• May 11, 2026: Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)