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 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 1-6 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.
“after being fired” (claim 1, line 3 and line 3) is vague and indefinite because it is unclear as to these cited structures being fired or not. If they are, are they being fired together (in one firing process) or separate (in different firing process). Note that the claim invention is a method, it is suggested to amend the claim to clearly claim the necessary method steps for manufacturing a coil component.
“forming a gap portion between the coil wiring and magnetic layer by melting a metal contained in the metal-containing layer” (claim 1, last two lines) is vague and indefinite because it is uncertain how the coil wiring remain floating/suspending over the magnetic layer when the metal-containing layer which supports the coil wiring been melted away. Please clarify. It appears that claim 1 lacks an essential step of forming an essential structure (i.e., another magnetic layer) on top of the coil conductive paste layer (i.e., a coil wiring) before melting the metal-containing layer.
“land-like shape and a band-like shape” (claim 4, last line) is vague and indefinite because it is unclear as to the exact configuration of land and band or their alike.
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 1-6, as best understood, are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by U.S. Patent 8,587,400 to Nakajima et al.
Regarding claim 1, Nakajima et al disclose a method for manufacturing a coil component, comprising: forming a metal-containing layer (4) on a magnetic sheet (3, see Col. 6, lines 49-50) that becomes a magnetic layer after being fired; forming, on the metal-containing layer, a coil conductive paste layer (2, see Col. 6, lines 57-60) that becomes a coil wiring after being fired; and providing a region containing a metal oxide (TiO2) on a surface of the coil wiring while forming a gap portion between the coil wiring (see Fig. 3) and the magnetic layer by melting a metal contained in the metal-containing layer by firing (see Col. 7, lines 4-8).
Regarding claim 2, Nakajima et al disclose a melting point of a metal contained in the metal oxide is 850°C or less (see Col. 7, lines 4-6).
Regarding claim 3, Nakajima et al disclose the metal oxide comprises at least one of Cu oxide, Zn oxide, Bi oxide, and Sn oxide (see Col. 7, lines 57-62).
Regarding claims 4-6, Nakajima et al disclose a shape of the region containing the metal oxide comprises at least one of a land-like shape and a band-like shape and
has an equivalent circle diameter of 0. µm or more, and a proportion of the region containing the metal oxide with respect to a surface area of the coil wiring is from 10% to 80% (inherent, because Nakajima et al disclose the methods step and material as claimed therefore the result should be the same or alike to the claimed limitations).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Cited prior art references for their general teachings of forming a coil component.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DONGHAI D NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)272-4566. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:00-5:30.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
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.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/DN/ /DONGHAI D NGUYEN/September 28, 2026 Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3729
