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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of claims 1-15 in the reply filed on 03/10/2026 is acknowledged.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
Claims 1-15 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.
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.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "a carrier ring" in line 5 and 10. Is the second instance referring back to the first instance recited in claim 5? If so please clarify.
Claims 2-15 are depended on claim 1. Thus, they carry similar deficiency and are subjected similar rejection.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
(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) 1-9, 11, 12, 14 and 15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Kobiki (US Pub. No.: 2010/0322745 A1) (hereinafter Kobiki).
Regarding claim 1, Kobiki anticipates an apparatus for handling electronic devices mounted on wafer (100) (corresponding to carrier ring) to be supplied to a wafer stage (corresponding to bonder), the apparatus comprising:
a storage bins station (302) including a plurality of bin slots, each bin slot being configured for supporting a carrier ring (100); a transfer arm (18) that is translatable alongside the plurality of bin slots so as to access the carrier rings supported by the bin slots, the transfer arm being further movable between a bin ring position and an exchange ring position, the bin ring position being located at a bin slot whereat the transfer arm is operative to pick up a carrier ring from the bin slot or to place a carrier ring into the bin slot; an exchange arm assembly (16) which is movable between the exchange ring position and a device supplying platform whereat the bonder is configured to receive the electronic devices supplied from the carrier ring, the exchange arm assembly being operative to pick up the carrier ring from or place the carrier ring onto the transfer arm at the exchange ring position, and to pick up the carrier ring from or place the carrier ring onto the device supplying platform (Fig. 5A-5C; Fig. 8A-8b; ¶0042-¶0045; ¶0049).
Regarding claim 2, Kobiki anticipates a liftable rail (corresponding to linear guide) for guiding the transfer arm while it is translated alongside the plurality of bin slots for accessing the carrier rings supported by the bin slots (¶0051).
Regarding claim 3, Kobiki anticipates the linear guide (corresponding to linear guide) is oriented vertically while the bin ring position and exchange ring position of the transfer arm are horizontally spaced apart at the exchange ring position (¶0051; Fig. 8b).
Regarding claim 4, Kobiki anticipates a standby position of the transfer arm which is situated at an intermediate position between the bin ring position and the exchange ring position, wherein the transfer arm is translated alongside the plurality of bin slots while the transfer arm is in the standby position (Fig. 8b -depicts standby position of the transfer arm which is situated at an intermediate position).
Regarding claim 5, Kobiki anticipates the transfer arm is movable between the bin ring position and the exchange ring position while being actuated to move in a rotary motion (Fig. 5A-5C). Notice the rotational movement of arm 18.
Regarding claim 6, Kobiki anticipates wherein the transfer arm includes a transfer arm ring carrier for lifting and supporting the carrier ring at the bin ring position when the transfer arm picks up the carrier ring from the bin slot (¶0041-¶0042; Fig. 5A-5B).
Regarding claim 7, Kobiki anticipates wherein the transfer arm ring carrier is located underneath the carrier ring when it is at the bin ring position for lifting the carrier ring (¶0041-¶0042).
Regarding claim 8, Kobiki anticipates wherein the bin ring positions are located at multiple heights (Fig. 8B) corresponding to heights of the plurality of bin slots, and the exchange ring position is located at a fixed height for conveyance of the carrier ring from the exchange ring position to the device supplying platform (Fig. 8B -the platform 304 is at a fixed position).
Regarding claim 9, Kobiki anticipates the exchange arm assembly includes a first exchange tool (165A) and a second exchange tool (165 B) that are located on opposite sides of a pivot point and are rotatable about the pivot point, the pivot point being situated between the exchange ring position and the device supplying platform (Fig. 5B -notice the respective pivot point of 165A and 165 B).
Regarding claim 11, Kobiki anticipates an exchange arm assembly support (Fig.5A; RC 162) on which the exchange arm assembly is mounted, and a rotary mechanism mounted on the exchange arm assembly support that is operative to rotate the first and second exchange tools about the pivot point (Fig. 5A notice the pivoting points of arms 165A, 165B).
Regarding claim 12, Kobiki anticipates the first and second exchange tools are further movable towards the transfer arm (18) for placing the carrier ring onto the transfer arm or for picking up the carrier ring from the transfer arm (Fig. 5A-5B).
Regarding claim 14, Kobiki anticipates the storage bins station (302) comprises more than eighteen stacked bin slots (Fig. 8B).
Regarding claim 15, Kobiki anticipates the apparatus (304) (corresponding to the bonder) is resting on a floor, and the storage bins station further comprises a base (Fig. 8b -notice 302 as a base) that is resting on the floor separately from the bonder for accommodating the more than eighteen stacked bin slots next to the bonder (Fig. 8B).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 10 and 13 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
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/VISHAL I PATEL/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1746
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