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 .
Objection
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the recess (claim 1) must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
112(b) Rejections
Claims 1-12 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.
As to claim 1, “recess” is not consistent with the drawings, as drawings indicate that that element 32 is a straight hole in the piezo element 18. This specification employs the terms hole and recess, so there must be a distinction. Element 32 does not appear to be a recess in the drawings. As it’s unclear what the claim term “recess” is limited to, it follows that the claim is confused/indefinite. Is the recess (claim) a recess, or is the “recess” (claim) actually a hole, or is there some other version? Note that drawings are generally more powerful than written terms. What is Applicant’s position?
As to claim 1, “an electrical connection” (line 4 from last) is indefinite because such is not electrically connected to anything in the claim. As such, how can the connection be meaningfully depicted as “electrical”?
As to claim 5,”within the sensor” is confusing, as the body of the claim defines the entire sensor. What yet-to-be claimed structure is the disk “within”?
As to claim 5, “recontacting” means what? What is contacting to what (for a second time?)
As to claim 11, “the compensating elements” was never introduced. Is base claim 1 missing - - a compensating element - - ?
102/103 Rejection
Claim(s) 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a1) as anticipated by or, in the alternative, under 35 U.S.C. 103 as obvious over Lopatin CN 1729387.
Lopatin CN 1729387 teach a device comprising:
a membrane (membrane below piezo in (Figures 8-10,13-16,9,19) that can be set in vibration,
a drive unit, wherein the drive unit comprises a piezo actuator (in same Figures above) which has a piezo element and multiple an electrodes 8 (inherent, shown only in Figures 6 and 7) with an electrode surface connected to the piezo element,
an adhesive connection, with the aid of which the piezo actuator is operatively connected to the membrane in such a way that vibrations of the piezo actuator can be transmitted to the membrane
fastening may be adhesive, solder and/or solder layer and/or the screw element screwed”),
an electronic system (circuitry which leads 8 are connected to as shown in Figures 6 or 7),
an electrical connection (bolt/screw) between the electronic system and the electrode surface,
wherein the piezo element has a hole/recess (Figures 3,7-10,13-16,9,19; hole/recess occupied by bolt/screw) and the electrical connection (bolt) extends through this hole/recess.
The Reference does not state that the bolt 17 is an electrical connection through the hole/recess.
As to claims 1,3,4,10, either the bolt 17 is of conductive material, or one of ordinary skill would recognize that bolts are commonly of such material, and readily available for use, suggestive of so employing them. Either the visible conducting connection 8 (Figures 6,7) are employed to connected the electronic system to electrode, or one of ordinary skill would know to follow the connections as such are necessary. Also, the hole/recess in the piezo elements is as much a recess as claim.
As to claim 2, the lowest arrows (show below) show vibration of bottom 12; the higher arrows cause the lowest arrow to vibrate.
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As to claim 4, the piezo elements are round.
As to claim 5, the piezo are annular discs, are withing the sensor framework, and are contacting elements all around.
As to claim 6,7, the bolt is both within and connects, the head of which is on a side away from flexible elements (membrane).
As to claim 8,
“ fastening may be adhesive, solder and/or solder layer and/or the screw element screwed”. Adhesive will naturally enter some portion of the recess.
As to claims 9,11, a first portion will affect the membrane, and thus compensate as much as claimed (or in the alternative, the “FIRST PORTION” (below positions the piezo element).
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Prior Art not Applied
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Turner CN 101960272 teach a device, including: a membrane 11 that can be set in vibration, a drive unit, wherein the drive unit comprises a piezo actuator which has a piezo element (32,33,34) and an electrode 33 with an electrode surface connected to the piezo element, an vibrations of the piezo actuator can be transmitted to the membrane, an electronic system, an electrical connection 54 between the electronic system and the electrode surface,
1449
As to 1449 of 9/18/24 102019120685 was not in the electronic file; each of 3537117, 102016108553 and 102010120665 has only ABSTRACT, translation and lacked a drawing. As such, those 3 references were crossed out.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ROBERT R RAEVIS whose telephone number is (571)272-2204. The examiner can normally be reached on Mon to Fri from 8am to 4pm.
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/ROBERT R RAEVIS/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2855