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 .
This office action is a response to the amendment filed on 12/8/2025.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: The reference character “N1” has been used to designate both “a first portion” and “a second portion” as described in paragraph [0105].
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 11-14, 19, 25-31, 33 and 35-37 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Urata et al. (PGPub 2010/0097171 A1).
Urata et al. teach a process of making an inductor, as per claims 11 and 27, comprising steps of: forming a flat conductive material having a first dimension (a width) and a second dimension (a height), the first dimension being greater than the second dimension, into an inductive coil (2, Fig. 2(a), paragraph [0114]), wherein the coil forms such that a first portion of the coil and a second portion of the coil bend away from each other as shown in Figs. 2(a) and (2b); forming a first lead extending from a first end of the coil; forming a second lead extending from a second end of the coil as shown in Fig. 2(b); pressing a core body (1, Fig. 2(a)) formed from a magnetic material around at least portions of the coil, wherein the first lead, and the second lead, leaving an exposed portion of the first lead and an exposed portion of the second lead, wherein the core body includes a top and a bottom opposite the top, a height of the core body extending between the top and the bottom, wherein the bottom is configured to face a surface to which the inductor is mounted as shown in Figs. 2(a) and (2b) (see also paragraph [0114]); extending at least a portion of the exposed portion of the first lead along a portion of the bottom to form a first surface mount lead as shown in Figs. 2(a) and (2b); and extending at least a portion of the exposed portion of the second lead along a portion of the bottom to form a second surface mount lead as shown in Figs. 2(a) and (2b); wherein the coil is positioned such that the first dimension of the coil extends perpendicularly to the height of the core body, and the coil does not completely encircle a central area of the core body as shown in Figs. 2(a) and (2b).
Re. claims 12 and 29: The coil is formed by bending (equivalent with winding).
Re. claims 13 and 30: The magnetic material is pressed entirely around the coil (see also paragraph [0114]).
Re. claims 14 and 31: At least a portion of the coil curves toward the top of the core body.
Re. claims 19 and 35: A depth of the core body extends perpendicular to the height of the core body, and wherein the portion of the first lead has a width that is less than a depth of the core body, and wherein the exposed portion of the second lead has a width that is less than a depth of the body as shown in Figs. 2(a) and (2b).
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Re. claims 25 and 36: A portion of the coil extends along a curving path, and wherein an end of the portion the coil that extends along the curving path connects to a portion of the first lead adjacent a position where the first lead is exposed as shown in Figs. 2(a) and (2b).
Re. claims 26 and 37: A portion of the coil extends along a curving path, and wherein an end of the portion the coil that extends along the curving path connects to a portion of the second lead adjacent a position where the second lead is exposed as shown in Figs. 2(a) and (2b).
Re. claim 28: At least one gap in the coil is provided between the at least two opposing portions of the coil as shown in Figs. 2(a) and (2b).
Re. claim 33: A height of the core body extends between the top and the bottom wherein a depth of the core body extends perpendicular to the height of the core body, and wherein the exposed portion of the first lead has a width that is less than a depth of the core body, and wherein the exposed portion of the second lead has a width that is less than a depth of the body as shown in Figs. 2(a) and (2b).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 15, 18, 21, 23, 32 and 34 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.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 12/8/2025 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Applicant argues that the prior art of record, the Urata reference, fails to disclose the claimed invention such as the coil does not completely encircle a central area of the core body. Examiner traverses the argument. According to Figs. 2(a) and 2(b) of the Urata reference, the coil does not completely encircle a central area of the core body including an upper and a lower portions of the core. The upper and the lower portions of the core are not surrounded or encircled by the coil. Therefore, the Urata reference teaches all imitations as set forth above and examiner maintains his rejection.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PAUL D KIM whose telephone number is (571)272-4565. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday: 6:00 AM-2:00 PM.
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/PAUL D KIM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3729