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.
Regarding claim 1, applicant should clarify the structure and/or arrangement of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh electrodes relative to the first, second and third flanges. Claims 2-6 inherit the defect of the parent claim.
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.
Claim(s) 1-6, as best understood in view of the rejection under 35 USC 112 second paragraph, is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Xie et al. [CN 109036799 A].
Regarding claim 1, Xie et al. discloses an integrated coil structure [figures 1-3] comprising:
- an iron core body, wherein the iron core body comprises a first wire-winding portion [31, figures 1-3] and a second wire-winding portion [31, figures 1-3], the iron core body being provided with a first flange [32] and a second flange [33] respectively at two sides of and a third flange [34] arranged between the first flange and the second flange, the first wire-winding portion being arranged between the first flange and the third flange [figures 1-3], the second wire-winding portion being arranged between the second flange and the third flange [figures 1-3], a first electrode [40] and a second electrode [41 or 42] being arranged on the first flange, a third electrode [46] and a fourth electrode [47] being arranged on the second flange, a fifth electrode [43], a sixth electrode [45], and a seventh electrode [44] being arranged on the third flange;
- a first coil [S1] wounds around the first wire-winding portion, wherein the first coil comprises a first terminal and a second terminal [figures 1-3], where the first terminal of the first coil is electrically connected with the first electrode [40, figure 2] and the second terminal of the first coil is electrically connected with the fifth electrode [43, figure 2]
- a second coil [S2 or S3/S4] wounds around the first wire-winding portion, wherein the second coil comprises a first terminal and a second terminal [figures 1-3], where the first terminal of the second coil is electrically connected with the second electrode [42];
- a third coil [S5] wounds around the second wire-winding portion, wherein the third coil comprises a first terminal and a second terminal [figures 1-3], where the first terminal of the third coil is electrically connected with the sixth electrode [43, figures 2-3] and the second terminal of the third coil is electrically connected with the third electrode [46, figures 2-3]; and
- a fourth coil [S6] wounds around the second wire-winding portion, wherein the fourth coil comprises a first terminal and a second terminal [figures 1-3], where the first terminal of the fourth coil is electrically connected with the seventh electrode [44, figures 2-3] and the second terminal of the fourth coil is electrically connected with the fourth electrode [47, figures 2-3].
Xie et al. disclose the instant claimed invention except for the specific connection of the second terminal of the second coil relative to the electrode(s).
Xie et al. disclose the instant claimed invention except for the specific connection of the second coil relative to the terminal.
Xie et al. further disclose that the coils and terminals connections is not limited to figures 1-3 but also can make several improved and variations within the scope of the inventions.
The specific connection of the second coil relative to the terminal [electrodes] would have been an obvious design consideration for the purpose of reducing size and improving manufacturing and/or assembling.
Regarding claim 2, Xie et al. disclose the first coil and the second coil are arranged in parallel on the first wire-winding portion [figures 2-3].
Regarding claims 3-6, Xie et al. further disclose the integrated coil structure mounted on a PCB with traces/patterns [external circuits] formed thereon.
The specific traces/patterns [external circuits] arrangement and/or connections relative to the terminals/electrodes would have been an obvious design consideration based on the intended applications and/or environments.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TUYEN T NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)272-1996. The examiner can normally be reached Mon - Fri 8:30-5:30.
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, Shawki Ismail can be reached at 571-272-3985. 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.
/TUYEN T NGUYEN/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2837
Prosecution Insights