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 .
Specification
The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
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.
Claim(s) 1, 2, 5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Quaranta (US 6095874 A).
In regard to claim 1, Quaranta discloses a connection terminal 2, comprising:
an electric wire connection part 4 to which an electric wire is electrically connected by bonding, and
an electric connection part 6 integrated with the electric wire connection part 4 and electrically connected to a mating terminal, wherein
the electric connection part 6 includes a box unit (formed by 10 and 12) which is formed in a cylindrical shape by bending a plurality of bending parts 42, 43 and into which the mating terminal is capable of being inserted,
a thin-walled portion (this is inherent of the device since the bending parts 42, 43 have been disclosed in fig. 4 and it is apparent that some type of thin-wall portion must be present along the bending parts for the bending parts to work) having a thickness less than other parts of the box unit is continuously provided along each of the bending parts 42, 43, and
at least one of the thin-walled portions (43) is arranged at a distance from an end portion 18 of the box unit.
However, Quaranta does not disclose the electric wire is electrically connected by ultrasonic bonding.
Official Notice is taken that both the concept and the advantages of providing for electrically connecting a wire with a terminal which include the ultrasonic bonding are well known and expected in the art since Ultrasonic wire bonding remains a cornerstone technology in semiconductor manufacturing due to its speed, reliability, and ability to handle delicate microelectronic structures.
In regard to claim 2, Quaranta discloses the end portion 18 of the box unit arranged at a distance from the thin-walled portion is an end portion located on an opposite side of the electric wire connection part 4.
In regard to claim 5, Quaranta discloses the box unit includes a connecting wall part (between 42 and 43 as shown in fig. 4) provided with each bending part 42, 43 on both sides in a width direction, the thin-walled portion arranged at a distance from the end portion 18 of the box unit is arranged in each bending part 42, 43 of the connecting wall part.
Claim(s) 1-5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Endo (US 5897405 A).
In regard to claim 1, Endo discloses a connection terminal 11, comprising:
an electric wire connection part 13 to which an electric wire is electrically connected by bonding, and
an electric connection part 15 integrated with the electric wire connection part 13 and electrically connected to a mating terminal, wherein
the electric connection part 15 includes a box unit 91 which is formed in a cylindrical shape by bending a plurality of bending parts 61, 63, 64, 71, 73 and into which the mating terminal is capable of being inserted,
a thin-walled portion (this is inherent of the device since the bending parts 61, 63, 64, 71, 73 have been disclosed in fig. 1 and it is apparent that some type of thin-wall portion must be present along the bending parts for the bending parts to work) having a thickness less than other parts of the box unit 91 is continuously provided along each of the bending parts, and
at least one of the thin-walled portions (61) is arranged at a distance from an end portion 19 of the box unit 91 (see fig. 1).
However, Endo does not disclose the electric wire is electrically connected by ultrasonic bonding.
Official Notice is taken that both the concept and the advantages of providing for electrically connecting a wire with a terminal which include the ultrasonic bonding are well known and expected in the art since Ultrasonic wire bonding remains a cornerstone technology in semiconductor manufacturing due to its speed, reliability, and ability to handle delicate microelectronic structures.
In regard to claim 2, Endo discloses the end portion 19 of the box unit 91 arranged at a distance from the thin-walled portion is an end portion located on an opposite side of the electric wire connection part 13.
In regard to claim 3, Endo discloses the electric connection part 15 includes a spring part 45 arranged inside the box unit 91 so that the spring part 45 is capable of being elastically deformed and contacted with the mating terminal, the spring part 49 is connected to the end portion 19 of the box unit 91 and is bent toward the inside of the box unit 91 at a spring bend 63, and the thin-walled portion arranged at a distance from the end portion 19 of the box unit 91 is arranged in the bending part 61 of a wall part 33 provided with the spring bend 63 in the box unit 91.
In regard to claim 4, Endo discloses the box unit 91 includes an open wall part 45 provided with the bending part 63 on one side in a width direction and opened on the other side in the width direction, the open wall part 45 is provided with the spring bend 63, and the thin-walled portion arranged at a distance from the end portion 19 of the box unit 91 is arranged in the bending part 63 of the open wall part 45.
In regard to claim 5, Endo discloses the box unit includes a connecting wall part (adjacent 65 and 75 as shown in fig. 1) provided with each bending part 61, 64 on both sides in a width direction, the thin-walled portion arranged at a distance from the end portion 19 of the box unit 91 is arranged in each bending part of the connecting wall part.
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. See PTO-892 form.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to THO D. TA whose telephone number is (571)272-2014. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8AM-4:30PM EST.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Christopher M Koehler can be reached at (571) 272-3560. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
Tdt
5/29/2026
/THO D TA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2834
Prosecution Insights