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 .
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 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.
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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 23 June 2026 has been entered.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 23 June 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant argues that neither Cha ‘452 nor Kitada discloses wherein the protective layer overlaps the plurality of first internal electrode and the plurality of second internal electrodes.
The examiner agrees that Kitada and Cha ‘452 taken alone fail to disclose wherein the protective layer overlaps the plurality of first internal electrode and the plurality of second internal electrodes. However, the limitation is taught by the combination. Specifically Cha ‘452 discloses wherein the end part of the first internal electrode is overlapped by the second connection electrode and the end part of the second internal electrode is overlapped by the first connection electrode. Kitada discloses the protective layer extends along the first and second surface past the ends of the connection electrode and thus when the teachings of Kitada are applied to Cha ‘452 the limitation of wherein the protective layer overlaps the plurality of first internal electrode and the plurality of second internal electrodes is taught. All claims stand rejected.
Claim Objections
Claim(s) 1 & 14 is/are objected to because of the following informalities:
In regards to claim 1 and 14,
The recitation of “wherein the protective layer overlaps the plurality of first internal electrode and the plurality of second internal electrodes” should read “wherein the protective layer overlaps the plurality of first internal electrodes and the plurality of second internal electrodes”
Appropriate correction is required.
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.
Claim(s) 1, 3-11, 13-14, 16-18, & 21 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Cha et al. (US 2020/0066452) in view of Kitada et al. (US 2016/0090661).
In regards to claim 1,
Cha ‘452 discloses a multilayer ceramic capacitor, comprising:
a ceramic main body (110 – fig. 4; [0076-0077]) including a first surface and a second surface facing each other in a first direction, a third surface and a fourth surface facing each other in a second direction and connecting the first surface and the second surface, and a fifth surface and a sixth surface facing each other in a third direction and connecting the first surface and the second surface (fig. 4; [0080]);
an internal electrode (121/122 – fig. 4; [0077])) disposed inside the ceramic main body;
a connection electrode (131a/132a – fig. 4; [0111]) covering the third surface,
wherein the connection electrode comprises a first connection electrode that at least partially covers the third surface (fig. 4),
wherein the internal electrode includes a plurality of internal electrodes disposed inside the ceramic main body (fig. 4),
wherein the plurality of internal electrodes includes:
a plurality of first internal electrodes (121) that extend from the third surface of the ceramic main body (fig. 4), and
a plurality of second internal electrodes (122) that extend from a fourth surface of the ceramic main body (fig. 4),
wherein adjacent internal electrodes among the plurality of internal electrodes are electrically insulated from each other (fig. 4). Cha ‘452 fails to disclose a protective layer disposed on the third surface and the fourth surface of the ceramic main body; the connection electrode covering the protective layer, wherein the protective layer includes a first protective layer disposed on the third surface and a second protective layer disposed on the fourth surface, and has one or more openings positioned on the third surface and the fourth surface, the first connection electrode at least partially covers the first protective layer, wherein the first protective layer comprises a portion that protrudes further than the first connection electrode in a direction toward the fourth surface on the first and second surfaces of the ceramic main body, wherein the protective layer overlaps the plurality of first internal electrode and the plurality of second internal electrodes, wherein the first protective layer further comprises a portion extending to the first surface and the second surface, and the second protective layer comprises a portion extending to the first surface and the second surface, wherein the portions of the first protective layer and the second protective layer extending to the first surface and the second surface extend continuously without an opening on the first surface and the second surface.
Kitada ‘661 discloses a multilayer ceramic capacitor, comprising:
a ceramic main body (1 – fig. 1; [0057]) including a first surface and a second surface facing each other in a first direction, a third surface and a fourth surface facing each other in a second direction and connecting the first surface and the second surface, and a fifth surface and a sixth surface facing each other in a third direction and connecting the first surface and the second surface (fig. 1);
an internal electrode (2 – fig. 1; [0057])) disposed inside the ceramic main body;
a protective layer (4 – fig. 1; [0059]) disposed on the third surface and the fourth surface of the ceramic main body; and
a connection electrode (3 – fig. 1; [0058]) covering the protective layer,
wherein the protective layer includes a first protective layer disposed on the third surface and a second protective layer disposed on the fourth surface (fig. 1), and has one or more openings positioned on the third surface and the fourth surface (fig. 1 – portion that 2 extends through),
wherein the connection electrode comprises a first connection electrode that at least partially covers the first protective layer (fig. 1),
wherein the first protective layer comprises a portion (4a – fig. 1; [0060]) that protrudes further than the first connection electrode in a direction toward the fourth surface on the first and second surfaces of the ceramic main body (fig. 1),
wherein the internal electrode includes a plurality of internal electrodes disposed inside the ceramic main body (fig. 1),
wherein the plurality of internal electrodes includes a plurality of first internal electrodes that extend from the third surface of the ceramic main body (fig. 1),
wherein the protective layer extends beyond the end points of connection electrode on the first surface and the second surface (fig. 1),
wherein the first protective layer further comprises a portion extending to the first surface and the second surface, and the second protective layer comprises a portion extending to the first surface and the second surface (fig. 1),
wherein the portions of the first protective layer and the second protective layer extending to the first surface and the second surface extend continuously without an opening on the first surface and the second surface (fig. 1).
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Fig. 1: fig. 4 of Cha ‘452 altered to show protective layer as combined with teachings of Kitada ‘661 having the protective layer extend on the first and second surfaces past the end parts of the connection electrodes and thus overlapping both the first and second internal electrodes
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to form a protective layer as taught by Kitada ‘661 with the capacitor of Cha ‘452 thus obtaining a protective layer overlapping the plurality of first internal electrode and the plurality of second internal electrodes (see present office action figure 1 above (POA1)) to obtain a capacitor with improved short circuit protection.
In regards to claim 3,
Cha ‘452 as modified by Kitada ‘661 further discloses wherein: the plurality of internal electrodes are connected to the connection electrode through the one or more openings (fig. 1 of Kitada ‘661).
In regards to claim 4,
Cha ‘452 as modified by Kitada ‘661 further discloses wherein: the protective layer comprises silicon (Si) oxide (table 2 of Kitada ‘661).
In regards to claim 5,
Cha ‘452 as modified by Kitada ‘661 further discloses wherein: the protective layer has an electrical conductivity of less than 10-7S/cm (table 2-3 of Kitada ‘661).
In regards to claim 6,
Cha ‘452 as modified by Kitada ‘661 further discloses wherein: the protective layer further comprises sodium oxide (Na2O) (table 2-3 of Kitada ‘661).
In regards to claim 7,
Cha ‘452 as modified by Kitada ‘661 further discloses wherein: the protective layer further comprises copper (II) oxide (CuO) (table 2-3 of Kitada ‘661).
In regards to claim 8,
Cha ‘452 as modified by Kitada ‘661 further discloses wherein: the connection electrode comprises particles of the same material as the protective layer ([0059] of Kitada ‘661).
In regards to claim 9,
Cha ‘452 as modified by Kitada ‘661 further discloses wherein: the connection electrode further comprises a second connection electrode (132a) that at least partially covers the second protective layer (fig. 4 of Cha ‘452), and
the second protective layer further comprises a portion that protrudes further than the second connection electrode in a direction toward the third surface on the first and second surfaces of the ceramic main body (fig. 1 of Kitada ‘661).
In regards to claim 10,
Cha ‘452 as modified by Kitada ‘661 further discloses further comprising: a first plating electrode (131b- fig. 4; [0111] of Cha ‘452) that at least partially covers the first connection electrode and a second plating electrode (132b- fig. 4; [0111] of Cha ‘452) that at least partially covers the second connection electrode,
wherein the first protective layer further comprises a portion that protrudes further than the first plating electrode in the direction toward the fourth surface on the first and second surfaces of the ceramic main body (fig. 1; [0060-0062] of Kitada ‘661), and
the second protective layer further comprises a portion that protrudes further than the second plating electrode in the direction toward the third surface on the first and second surfaces of the ceramic main body (fig. 1; [0060-0062] of Kitada ‘661).
In regards to claim 11,
Cha ‘452 as modified by Kitada ‘661 further discloses wherein: the first protective layer and the second protective layer further comprises a portion in contact with the ceramic main body (fig. 1 of Kitada ‘661).
In regards to claim 13,
Cha ‘452 as modified by Kitada ‘661 further discloses wherein: the protective layer includes glass including sodium (Na), copper (II) (Cu), and silicon (Si) (table 2-3 of Kitada ‘661).
In regards to claim 14,
Cha ‘452 discloses a multilayer ceramic capacitor, comprising:
a ceramic main body (110 – fig. 4; [0076-0077]) including a first surface and a second surface facing each other in a first direction, a third surface and a fourth surface facing each other in a second direction and connecting the first surface and the second surface, and a fifth surface and a sixth surface facing each other in a third direction and connecting the first surface and the second surface (fig. 4; [0080]);
an internal electrode (121/122 – fig. 4; [0077])) disposed inside the ceramic main body; wherein the internal electrode includes a plurality of internal electrodes disposed inside the ceramic main body (fig. 4),
wherein the plurality of internal electrodes includes a plurality of first internal electrodes (121) that extend from the third surface of the ceramic main body, and
a plurality of second internal electrodes (122) that extend from a fourth surface of the ceramic main body (fig. 4), and
wherein adjacent internal electrodes among the plurality of internal electrodes are electrically insulated from each other (fig. 4),
a connection electrode (131a/132a – fig. 4; [0111]) covering the third surface,
wherein the connection electrode includes a portion in contact with at least one internal electrode (fig. 4). Cha ‘452 fails to disclose a protective layer disposed on a portion of the third surface and a portion of the fourth surface of the ceramic main body; and the connection electrode covering the protective layer, wherein the connection electrode includes the portion in contact with at least one internal electrode through a portion where the protective layer is not positioned on the third and fourth surfaces of the ceramic main body, wherein the protective layer comprises a portion that protrudes further than the connection electrode on the first and second surfaces of the ceramic main body, wherein the protective layer further comprises a portion extending onto the first surface and the second surface, wherein the portion of the protective layer extending to the first surface and the second surface extends continuously without an opening on the first surface and the second surface, wherein the protective layer overlaps the plurality of first internal electrode and the plurality of second internal electrodes.
Kitada ‘661 discloses a ceramic main body (1 – fig. 1; [0057]) including a first surface and a second surface facing each other in a first direction, a third surface and a fourth surface facing each other in a second direction and connecting the first surface and the second surface, and a fifth surface and a sixth surface facing each other in a third direction and connecting the first surface and the second surface (fig. 1);
an internal electrode (2 – fig. 1; [0057])) disposed inside the ceramic main body;
wherein the internal electrode includes a plurality of internal electrodes disposed inside the ceramic main body (fig. 1),
wherein the plurality of internal electrodes includes a plurality of first internal electrodes that extend from the third surface of the ceramic main body (fig. 1), and
a protective layer (4 – fig. 1; [0059]) disposed on a portion of the third surface and a portion of the fourth surface of the ceramic main body; and
a connection electrode (3 – fig. 1; [0058]) covering the protective layer,
wherein the connection electrode includes a portion in contact with at least one internal electrode through a portion where the protective layer is not positioned on the third and fourth surfaces of the ceramic main body (fig. 1),
wherein the protective layer comprises a portion (4a – fig. 1; [0060]) that protrudes further than the connection electrode on the first and second surfaces of the ceramic main body, wherein the protective layer further comprises a portion extending onto the first surface and the second surface (fig. 1),
wherein the portion of the protective layer extending to the first surface and the second surface extends continuously without an opening on the first surface and the second surface (fig. 1),
wherein the protective layer extends beyond the end points of connection electrode on the first surface and the second surface (fig. 1).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to form a protective layer as taught by Kitada ‘661 with the capacitor of Cha ‘452 thus obtaining a protective layer overlapping the plurality of first internal electrode and the plurality of second internal electrodes (POA1) to obtain a capacitor with improved short circuit protection.
In regards to claim 16,
Cha ‘452 as modified by Kitada ‘661 further discloses wherein: an opening is disposed in the portion where the protective layer is not positioned on the third and fourth surfaces of the ceramic main body (fig. 1 of Kitada ‘661),
an end of the protective layer continuously extends on the first or second surface to another end of the protective layer positioned on one side of the opening (fig. 1-2; [0060] of Kitada ‘661).
In regards to claim 17,
Cha ‘452 as modified by Kitada ‘661 further discloses wherein: the protective layer comprises a first protective layer extending along the first surface, the third surface and the second surface, and a second protective layer extending along the first surface, the fourth surface and the second surface (fig. 1 of Kitada ‘661),
the connection electrode comprises a first connection electrode covering the first protective layer and a second connection electrode covering the second protective layer (fig. 4 of Cha ‘452 & fig. 1 of Kitada ‘661),
the first protective layer further comprises a portion that protrudes further than the first connection electrode in a direction toward the fourth surface on the first and second surfaces (fig. 1 of Kitada ‘661),
the second protective layer further comprises a portion that protrudes further than the second connection electrode in a direction toward the third surface on the first and second surfaces (fig. 1 of Kitada ‘661).
In regards to claim 18,
Cha ‘452 as modified by Kitada ‘661 further discloses further comprising: a first plating electrode (131b- fig. 4; [0111] of Cha ‘452) covering the first connection electrode and a second plating electrode (132b- fig. 4; [0111] of Cha ‘452) covering the second connection electrode,
wherein the first protective layer further comprises a portion that protrudes further than the first plating electrode in a direction toward the fourth surface on the first and second surfaces (fig. 1; [0060-0062] of Kitada ‘661),
the second protective layer further comprises a portion that protrudes further than the second plating electrode in a direction toward the third surface on the first and second surfaces (fig. 1; [0060-0062] of Kitada ‘661).
In regards to claim 21,
Cha ‘452 as modified by Kitada ‘661 further discloses wherein: the protective layer includes glass including sodium (Na), copper (II) (Cu), and silicon (Si) (table 2-3 of Kitada ‘661), and
the first connection electrode comprises a portion that protrudes further than the first plating electrode in a direction toward the fourth surface on the first and second surfaces (fig. 4 of Cha ‘452).
Communication
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DAVID M SINCLAIR whose telephone number is (571)270-5068. The examiner can normally be reached M-TH from 8AM-4PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, TIMOTHY J DOLE can be reached at (571)272-2229. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/David M Sinclair/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2847
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