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 .
Specification
The specification has not been checked to the extent necessary to determine the presence of all possible minor errors. Applicant’s cooperation is requested in correcting any errors of which applicant may become aware in the specification.
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election of Group I, claims #1-15 in the reply filed on 07/08/26 is acknowledged. Because applicant did not distinctly and specifically point out the supposed errors in the restriction requirement, the election has been treated as an election without traverse (MPEP § 818.01(a)).
Claims #1-15 will be further examined.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 03/29/2024 was filed in a timely manner; thus, the submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) #1-9, 11-13, are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being unpatentable by Eldridge et al., (U.S. Pub. No, 2010/0065963), hereinafter referred to as " Eldridge ".
Eldridge shows, with respect to claim #1, a capillary of a wire bonding apparatus (fig. # Ex1, Below), the capillary (Below, fig. # Ex1A, item 4344) comprising: a body (Below, fig. #Ex1A, item Bd1) having a wire hole (Below, fig. # Ex1A, item 4324) formed in an inner central region of the body and through a length of the body (paragraph 1041, 1043); and a wire discharge portion (Below, fig. # Ex1A, item Wd1) disposed at a lower end portion of the body and comprising an injection hole (Below, fig. # Ex1A, item IH1) in an outer circumference of the wire discharge portion (paragraph 1041-1043).
[AltContent: textbox (Exposed Inlet; EI1)][AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (A)][AltContent: textbox (Outer Surface; OS1)][AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (Upward Incline; UI1)][AltContent: arrow][AltContent: oval][AltContent: textbox (Gas Inlet incline; GI1)][AltContent: arrow][AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (Wire discharge; Wd1)][AltContent: oval][AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (Injection Hole; IH1)][AltContent: ][AltContent: textbox (Body; Bd1)]
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[AltContent: textbox (Ex1)][AltContent: ][AltContent: ][AltContent: ]
[AltContent: textbox (B)][AltContent: textbox (Pressing portion; PP1)]
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Eldridge shows, with respect to claim #2, a capillary of a wire bonding apparatus wherein the wire discharge portion comprises: a pressing portion (Above, fig. # Ex1B, item PP1) disposed at a lower end portion of the wire discharge portion and inclined upward toward an outward direction (Above, fig. # Ex1B, item UI1) of the wire discharge portion (Above, fig. # Ex1A, item Wd1) in at least one region; and a gas injection surface (Above, fig. # Ex1A, item 4336) extending upward from the pressing portion, wherein an outer end of the injection hole is disposed on the gas injection surface (paragraph 1041-1043).
Eldridge shows, with respect to claim #3, a capillary of a wire bonding apparatus wherein an inclination of a lower end portion (Above, fig. # Ex1A, item GI1) of the gas injection surface is greater than an inclination of the pressing portion (Above, fig. # Ex1B, item UI1) with respect to a direction orthogonal to a vertical direction (paragraph 1041-1043).
Eldridge shows, with respect to claim #4, a capillary of a wire bonding apparatus wherein a height from an outer end portion (Below, fig. # Ex2, item OH1) of the pressing portion to the injection hole is greater than a height of an inner (Below, fig. # Ex2, item IH1) end of the pressing portion (paragraph 1041-1043).
[AltContent: ][AltContent: connector][AltContent: textbox (Auxiliary Portion; AP1)][AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (Inlet Passage; IP1)][AltContent: textbox (Ex2)][AltContent: ][AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (Inner Height; IH)][AltContent: textbox (Outer Height ; OH)][AltContent: connector][AltContent: arrow][AltContent: connector][AltContent: connector]
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Eldridge shows, with respect to claim #5, a capillary of a wire bonding apparatus wherein an inner end portion of the injection hole is connected to the wire hole (paragraph 1041-1043).
Eldridge shows, with respect to claim #6, a capillary of a wire bonding further comprising an inlet flow passage (Above, fig. # Ex1A, item 4324) that passes through the body (Above, fig. # Ex1A, item Bd1) and connects the wire hole to an outer surface (fig. # 42c, item 4252) of the body (paragraph 1037, 1041-1043).
Eldridge shows, with respect to claim #7, a capillary of a wire bonding further wherein the inlet flow passage (fig. #Ex2, item 4336) is inclined downward (fig. #Ex2, item IP1) to the inner end portion of the body (paragraph 1037, 1041-1043).
Eldridge shows, with respect to claim #8, a capillary of a wire bonding wherein an inlet-side fastening auxiliary portion (Above, fig. # Ex1A, item 4336) is formed in an area in which an outer end portion (Above, fig. # Ex1A, item EI1) of the inlet flow passage is disposed on an outer surface of the body (paragraph 1043), and the inlet-side fastening auxiliary portion comprises a groove structure inwardly recessed or a protrusion structure outwardly protruding (Above, fig. #Ex1A, item EI1).
Eldridge shows, with respect to claim #11, a capillary of a wire bonding wherein the body includes an inlet flow passage (Above, fig. # Ex1A, item 4336) having a first end disposed on an outer surface (Above, fig. # Ex1A, item EI1) of the body and a second end connected to an inner end portion (Above, fig. # Ex2, item AP1) of the injection hole (paragraph 1037, 1041-1043). (fig. #Ex2, item 4336) (fig. #Ex2, item IP1).
Eldridge shows, with respect to claim #12, a capillary of a wire bonding wherein the inlet flow passage comprises: an inlet portion (Above, fig. #Ex1A, item GI1) including an outer end (Above, fig. #Ex1A, item EI1) exposed to an external space through an outer surface (Above, fig. #Ex1A, item OS1) of the body (paragraph 1043); a connection portion connected to an inner end portion (Above, fig. #Ex2, item AP1) of the inlet portion; and a distribution portion (Above, fig. #Ex2, item IP1) connected to the connection portion and an inner end portion of the injection hole (paragraph 1041-1043).
Eldridge shows, with respect to claim #13, a capillary of a wire wherein the distribution portion (fig. #43B) is formed in a ring shape (paragraph 1041-1043).
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 set forth in Graham v. John Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1, 148 USPQ 459 (1966), that are applied 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 #9, 10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Eldridge et al., (U.S. Pub. No, 2010/0065963), hereinafter referred to as "Eldridge" as shown in the rejection of claim #1 above and in view of MUNAKATA et al., (U.S. Pub. No. 2024/0379613), hereinafter referred to as "Munakata".
Eldridge substantially shows the claimed invention as shown in the rejection of claim #1 above.
Eldridge fails to show, with respect to claim #9, a capillary of a wire bonding wherein the wire bonding apparatus comprises: a spool supplying a wire to the capillary; a driving member movable in a three-dimensional space and including a driving body having a fastening space in which the capillary is coupled; and a supply passage connected to the fastening space and formed in the driving body.
Munakata teaches, with respect to claim #9 a capillary of a wire bonding wherein the wire bonding apparatus comprises: a spool supplying a wire to the capillary (paragraph 0062); a driving member (fig. #1, item 100) movable in a three-dimensional space and including a driving body (paragraph 0059) having a fastening space (fig. #1, item 15) in which the capillary is coupled (paragraph 0059); and a supply passage connected to the fastening space (fig. #1, item 15a) and formed in the driving body (paragraph 0062).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, with respect to claim #9, to modified the invention of Eldridge as modified by the invention of Munakata, which teaches, a capillary of a wire bonding wherein the wire bonding apparatus comprises: a spool supplying a wire to the capillary; a driving member movable in a three-dimensional space and including a driving body having a fastening space in which the capillary is coupled; and a supply passage connected to the fastening space and formed in the driving body, to incorporate a structural condition that would allow the controlled feed of the require wire amounts and speed, as taught by Munakata.
Eldridge shows, with respect to claim #10, a capillary of a wire bonding wherein a supply-side fastening auxiliary portion (Above, fig. # Ex1A, item 4336) formed on a surface facing (Above, fig. # Ex1A, item AP1) the fastening space has a protrusion structure (Above, fig. #Ex1A, item EI1) or a groove structure corresponding to the inlet-side fastening auxiliary portion formed in the driving body (paragraph 1043).
//
Claim #14, 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Eldridge et al., (U.S. Pub. No, 2010/0065963), hereinafter referred to as "Eldridge" as shown in the rejection of claim #1 above and in view of MUNAKATA et al., (U.S. Pub. No. 2024/0379613), hereinafter referred to as "Munakata".
Eldridge shows, with respect to claim #14, a capillary of a wire bonding wire bonding apparatus comprising: a capillary for discharging a wire; a spool (fig. #2, item 206), for supplying the wire (fig. #2, item 202) to the capillary (fig. #2, item 204 and Above, fig. # Ex1, item 4344) (paragraph 0348), wherein the capillary comprises: a body (Above, fig. # Ex1, item 4344) having a wire hole (Above, fig. # Ex1, item IH1) formed in an inner central region of the body and through a length of the body (paragraph 1041), and through which the wire is discharged (paragraph 1042); and a wire discharge portion (Above, fig. #Ex1B, item PP1) disposed at a lower portion of the body, wherein the wire discharge portion comprises: a pressing portion (Above, fig. # Ex1B, item PP1) disposed at a lower end portion of the wire discharge portion (Above, fig. # Ex1B, item PP1) and inclined upward toward (Above, fig. # Ex1B, item UI1) an outward direction the wire discharge portion in at least one region; and a gas injection surface (Above, fig. # Ex1B, item 4336) extending upward from the pressing portion and having an outer circumference at which an outer end of an injection hole for spraying gas is disposed (paragraph 1041-1043).
Eldridge Substantially shows the claimed invention as shown in the rejection of claim #14 above.
Eldridge fails to show, with respect to claim #14, a capillary of a wire bonding wherein a driving member coupled to the capillary and movable in a three-dimensional space.
Munakata teaches, with respect to claim #14 a capillary of a wire bonding wherein a driving member (fig. #1, item 100) coupled to the capillary and movable in a three-dimensional space (paragraph 0059, 0062).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, with respect to claim #14, to modified the invention of Eldridge as modified by the invention of Munakata, which teaches, a capillary of a wire bonding wherein a driving member coupled to the capillary and movable in a three-dimensional space, to incorporate a structural condition that would allow the controlled feed of the require wire with respect to location, amounts and speed, as taught by Munakata.
Eldridge shows, with respect to claim #15, a capillary of a wire bonding apparatus wherein a height from an outer end portion (Above, fig. # Ex2, item OH1) of the pressing portion to the injection hole is greater than a height of an inner (Above, fig. # Ex2, item IH1) end of the pressing portion (paragraph 1041-1043).
EXAMINATION NOTE
The rejections above rely on the references for all the teachings expressed in the text of the references and/or one of ordinary skill in the art would have reasonably understood or implied from the texts of the references. To emphasize certain aspects of the prior art, only specific portions of the texts have been pointed out. Each reference as a whole should be reviewed in responding to the rejection, since other sections of the same reference and/or various combinations of the cited references may be relied on in future rejections in view of amendments.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Andre’ Stevenson whose telephone number is (571) 272 1683 (Email Address, Andre.Stevenson@USPTO.GOV). The examiner can normally be reached on Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Zandra Smith can be reached on 571-272 2429. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/Andre’ Stevenson Sr./
Art Unit 2899
07/20/2026
/Brent A. Fairbanks/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2899
Prosecution Insights