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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 2 February 2026 has been entered.
Claim Interpretation
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
This application includes one or more claim limitations that do not use the word “means,” but are nonetheless being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, because the claim limitation(s) uses a generic placeholder that is coupled with functional language without reciting sufficient structure to perform the recited function and the generic placeholder is not preceded by a structural modifier. Such claim limitation(s) is/are: annular mount portion (Claims 1, 3-6, 8-15, 17-20), support device (Claims 6, 8-11,13-14), assembling part (Claims 6, 8-15, 17-20), transfer mechanism (Claims 6, 8-14,17,20), first image capturing device (Claims 13-14,19-20), second image capturing device (Claims 14,20), and movable portion (Claims 6, 8-14).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
Claim(s) 1, 3-6, 8-12, 15, and 17 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by J. BRITT (“Britt”).
Claim 1: substrate pickup tool (Fig. 1-4), used to pick up a substrate (22) provided with a through hole (Fig. 1), the substrate pickup tool comprising:
a gripper frame (16); and
a flexible gripper (20/etc.; all materials are flexible since they all have a modulus of elasticity), comprising
an annular mount portion (18) and
a plurality of claw portions (20),
wherein
the annular mount portion is mounted on the gripper frame (Fig. 1-4),
the plurality of claw portions are connected to the annular mount portion and each has an outer contact surface (Fig. 1-4),
the flexible gripper is used to correspond to the through hole of the substrate (Fig. 1);
wherein the flexible gripper is provided with a chamber (17/27) which is surrounded and formed by an inner wall surface of the flexible gripper (Fig. 1-4),
a central axis of the flexible gripper passes through the chamber, the annular mount portion (Fig. 1-4), and a pipe joint (at 11);
the chamber is configured for gas to pass therethrough to force the plurality of claw portions to move relative to the annular mount portion for pressing against an inner wall surface of the through hole via the outer contact surface of each of the plurality of claw portions (Fig. 1-4; col. 3, line 11-36);
Claim 3: wherein each of the plurality of claw portions comprises an inclined part and a straight part, the inclined part is connected to the annular mount portion, the straight part is connected to the inclined part, and the straight part is at an angle to the inclined part (Fig. 1-4);
Claim 4: wherein the inclined part is provided with at least one evasive inclined surface (the end of 20 is inclined to fit into the defined through holes);
Claim 5: wherein a thickness of the inclined part gradually decreases from one side of the inclined part located farther away from the straight part toward another side of the inclined part located closer to the straight part (FIG. 6,9-11);
Claim 6: substrate assembly station, used to install a substrate (22) having a through hole (Fig. 1) onto an assembling part (col. 1, lines 15-19 imply this), the substrate assembly station comprising:
a support device, comprising a support surface and a carrier, wherein the support surface and the carrier are used to support the substrate and the assembling part (col. 1, lines 15-19 imply these; col. 1, lines 15-19, manipulation; col. 1, lines 15-19, gripping device), respectively;
a transfer mechanism (col. 1, lines 15-19, manipulation), disposed on the support device and provided with a movable portion (col. 1, lines 15-19, gripping device) movable relative to the support device; and
a substrate pickup tool, comprising:
a gripper frame (16), disposed on the movable portion of the transfer mechanism; and
a flexible gripper (20/etc.; all materials are flexible since they all have a modulus of elasticity), comprising an annular mount portion (18) and a plurality of claw portions (20), wherein the annular mount portion is mounted on the gripper frame, the plurality of claw portions are connected to the annular mount portion and each has an outer contact surface, the flexible gripper is used to correspond to the through hole of the substrate (Fig. 1-4);
wherein the flexible gripper is provided with a chamber (17/27) which is surrounded and formed by an inner wall surface of the flexible gripper (Fig. 1-4),
a central axis of the flexible gripper passes through the chamber, the annular mount portion (Fig. 1-4), and a pipe joint (at 11);
the chamber is configured for gas to pass therethrough to force the plurality of claw portions to move relative to the annular mount portion and press against an inner wall surface of the through hole via the outer contact surface of each of the plurality of claw portions for picking up the substrate and moving the substrate onto the assembling part via the transfer mechanism (Fig. 1-4; col. 3, line 11-36);
Claim 8: wherein each of the plurality of claw portions comprises an inclined part and a straight part, the inclined part is connected to the annular mount portion, the straight part is connected to the inclined part, and the straight part is at an angle to the inclined part (Fig. 1-4);
Claim 9: wherein the inclined part is provided with at least one evasive inclined surface (the end of 20 is inclined to fit into the defined through holes);
Claim 10: wherein a thickness of the inclined part gradually decreases from one side of the inclined part located farther away from the straight part toward another side of the inclined part located closer to the straight part (Fig. 1-4);
Claim 11: wherein the transfer mechanism is a robotic arm (col. 1, lines 15-19, manipulation implies a robotic arm);
Claim 12: wherein the support device comprises a support frame and a conveyor (col. 1, lines 15-19 imply these; col. 1, lines 15-19, manipulation; col. 1, lines 15-19, gripping device), the support surface is located at the support frame, and the carrier is located at the conveyor (col. 1, lines 15-19);
Claim 15: holding a substrate (22) via at least one outer contact surface of a flexible gripper of a substrate pickup tool (20/etc.; all materials are flexible since they all have a modulus of elasticity);
lifting up the substrate pickup tool (col. 1, lines 15-19 imply these; col. 1, lines 15-19, manipulation; col. 1, lines 15-19, gripping device); and
moving the substrate pickup tool to stack the substrate onto an assembling part (col. 1, lines 15-19 imply this);
wherein the step of holding the substrate via the at least one outer contact surface of the flexible gripper of the substrate pickup tool comprises:
inserting the flexible gripper of the substrate pickup tool into a through hole of the substrate (Fig. 1); and
allowing gas to pass through a chamber (17/27) of the flexible gripper to expand a plurality of claw portions of the flexible gripper (Fig. 1-4; col. 3, line 11-36) toward an inner wall surface of the through hole to press against the inner wall surface of the through hole via outer contact surfaces of the plurality of claw portions for holding the substrate (Fig. 1-4);
wherein a central axis of the flexible gripper passes through the chamber of the flexible gripper, an annular mount portion of the flexible gripper (Fig. 1-4), and a pipe joint (at 11);
Claim 17: wherein the step of lifting up the substrate pickup tool comprises lifting up the substrate pickup tool via a transfer mechanism (col. 1, lines 15-19, manipulation; col. 1, lines 15-19, gripping device).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
Claim(s) 13-14 and 18-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Britt in view of Declerck et al. (US 2020/0276714) (“Declerck”). Britt discloses discloses all the limitations of the claims as discussed above.
Britt does not directly show:
Claim 13: a first image capturing device, wherein the first image capturing device is disposed on the support device;
Claim 14: a second image capturing device, wherein the second image capturing device is disposed on the movable portion of the transfer mechanism;
Claim 18: before the step of moving the substrate pickup tool to stack the substrate onto the assembling part, further comprising:
conveying the assembling part via a conveyor;
Claim 19: before the step of moving the substrate pickup tool to stack the substrate onto the assembling part, further comprising:
capturing the substrate via a first image capturing device located on a support device;
Claim 20: before the step of moving the substrate pickup tool to stack the substrate onto the assembling part, further comprising:
capturing the assembling part via a second image capturing device located on a transfer mechanism for aligning the substrate with the assembling part.
Declerck shows a similar device having:
Claim 13: a first image capturing device, wherein the first image capturing device is disposed on the support device (70/72/etc.);
Claim 14: a second image capturing device, wherein the second image capturing device is disposed on the movable portion of the transfer mechanism (74/etc.);
Claim 18: before the step of moving the substrate pickup tool to stack the substrate onto the assembling part, further comprising:
conveying the assembling part via a conveyor (“In addition, multiple robots can be used for picking and placing in the same three-dimensional reference space 2.”);
Claim 19: before the step of moving the substrate pickup tool to stack the substrate onto the assembling part, further comprising:
capturing the substrate via a first image capturing device (70/72/etc.) located on a support device (4/6/20);
Claim 20: before the step of moving the substrate pickup tool to stack the substrate onto the assembling part, further comprising:
capturing the assembling part via a second image capturing device (74/etc.) located on a transfer mechanism (10/100/etc.) for aligning the substrate with the assembling part;
with a reasonable expectation of success for the purpose of performing manipulation operations on multiple substrates in the most efficient manner possible, e.g., to minimize the amount of time needed to complete the desired picking and placing of every physical substrate (para. [0065]). Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Britt as taught by Declerck and include Declerck’s similar device having:
Claim 13: a first image capturing device, wherein the first image capturing device is disposed on the support device;
Claim 14: a second image capturing device, wherein the second image capturing device is disposed on the movable portion of the transfer mechanism;
Claim 18: before the step of moving the substrate pickup tool to stack the substrate onto the assembling part, further comprising:
conveying the assembling part via a conveyor;
Claim 19: before the step of moving the substrate pickup tool to stack the substrate onto the assembling part, further comprising:
capturing the substrate via a first image capturing device located on a support device;
Claim 20: before the step of moving the substrate pickup tool to stack the substrate onto the assembling part, further comprising:
capturing the assembling part via a second image capturing device located on a transfer mechanism for aligning the substrate with the assembling part;
with a reasonable expectation of success for the purpose of performing manipulation operations on multiple substrates in the most efficient manner possible, e.g., to minimize the amount of time needed to complete the desired picking and placing of every physical substrate.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see pp. 8-10, filed 2 February 2026, with respect to the rejection(s) of claim(s) 1, 3-6, 8-15, and 17-20 under multiple prior art rejections have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the rejections have been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, a new ground(s) of rejection is made in view of Britt.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Gerald McClain whose telephone number is (571)272-7803. The examiner can normally be reached Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and at gerald.mcclain@uspto.gov (see MPEP 502.03 (II)).
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Saul Rodriguez can be reached at (571) 272-7097. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Gerald McClain/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3652