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 § 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.
Claim(s) 1-3 and 7-9 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Chia-Wei (TW 202147080).
Considering claim 1, Chia-Wei (Figures 1-2) teaches a piezoelectric unit comprising: a piezoelectric element (113 + page 2 + 5th paragraph); an output part that performs an output vibrating (114a-114d + page 2 + 4-6th paragraphs) the piezoelectric element; an input part (page 2 + 6th-7th paragraphs) that receives an input of a voltage generated by the piezoelectric element (113 + page 2 + 5th paragraph) and a control part (120 + paragraph 3 + 7th paragraph) that performs switching such that the output performed by the output part and the input performed by the input part alternate with each other (page 3 + 7th paragraph).
Considering claim 2, Chia-Wei (Figures 1-2) teaches comprising an oscillation circuit that oscillates a periodic signal wherein the output performed by the output part and the input performed by the input part are switched based on the periodic signal oscillated by the oscillation circuit (120 + page 3 + 7th paragraph).
Considering claim 3, Chia-Wei (Figures 1-2) teaches wherein the output part comprises: a first oscillation circuit (HF1 + page 3 + 7th paragraph) that oscillates a first signal of a frequency; a second oscillation circuit (HF2 + page 3 + 7th paragraph) that oscillates a second signal of a second frequency different from the first frequency; and an addition circuit (HF3 + page 3 + 7th paragraph) that combines a waveform of the first signal oscillated by the first oscillating circuit and a waveform of the second signal oscillated by the second oscillating circuit and the output vibrating the piezoelectric element is an output that vibrates the piezoelectric element based on a waveform combined by the addition circuit (page 3 + 7th paragraph).
Considering claim 7, Chia-Wei (Figures 1-2) teaches wherein a housing (area between 116 and 110 + page 2 + 5th-7th paragraphs) that accommodates the piezoelectric unit (113 + page 2 + 5th paragraph) and a contact part (116 + page 2 + 6th paragraph) arranged on an outer surface of the housing, wherein the contact part outputs vibration caused by the piezoelectric element and transmits an input resulting from contact from outside to the piezoelectric element (116 + page 2 + 7th paragraph).
Considering claim 8, Chia-Wei (Figures 1-2) teaches wherein a housing (area between 116 and 110 + page 2 + 5th-7th paragraphs) that accommodates the piezoelectric unit (113 + page 2 + 5th paragraph) and a contact part (116 + page 2 + 6th paragraph) arranged on an outer surface of the housing, wherein the contact part outputs vibration caused by the piezoelectric element and transmits an input resulting from contact from outside to the piezoelectric element (116 + page 2 + 7th paragraph).
Considering claim 9, Chia-Wei (Figures 1-2) teaches wherein a housing (area between 116 and 110 + page 2 + 5th-7th paragraphs) that accommodates the piezoelectric unit (113 + page 2 + 5th paragraph) and a contact part (116 + page 2 + 6th paragraph) arranged on an outer surface of the housing, wherein the contact part outputs vibration caused by the piezoelectric element and transmits an input resulting from contact from outside to the piezoelectric element (116 + page 2 + 7th paragraph).
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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim(s) 4-6 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chia-Wei (TW 202147080).
Considering claim 4, Chia-Wei discloses the claimed invention except for wherein a difference between the first frequency and the second frequency is 1 to 50 Hz. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made to have a difference between the first frequency and the second frequency is 1 to 50 Hz, since it has been held that where the general conditions of a claim are disclosed in the prior art, discovering the optimum or working ranges involves only routine skill in the art.
Considering claim 5, Chia-Wei discloses the claimed invention except for where the first frequency and the second frequency are 50 to 500 Hz. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made to have a the first frequency and the second frequency are 50 to 500 Hz, since it has been held that where the general conditions of a claim are disclosed in the prior art, discovering the optimum or working ranges involves only routine skill in the art.
Considering claim 6, Chia-Wei discloses the claimed invention except for where the first frequency and the second frequency are 50 to 500 Hz. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made to have a the first frequency and the second frequency are 50 to 500 Hz, since it has been held that where the general conditions of a claim are disclosed in the prior art, discovering the optimum or working ranges involves only routine skill in the art.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BRYAN P GORDON whose telephone number is (571)272-5394. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m..
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/BRYAN P GORDON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2837
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