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 .
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.
Claim(s) 1-5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over H250976 (hereinafter `976) in view of Japanese Patent (S62-163981) (hereinafter `981) filed in the IDS on 04/27/2024 and further in view of KR100983082 (hereinafter `082).
PNG
media_image1.png
339
1431
media_image1.png
Greyscale
Re claim 1, `976, FIG. 1 [as shown above], 2 and 5 teaches an electrode connection element comprising:
an upper connection member (14/15) formed of a conductive metal material and coming into contact with an upper surface of an electrode terminal (14) formed on a substrate (12);
a lower connection member (17) configured to support a lower surface of the substrate;
a connection member (11) configured to connect the upper connection member (14/15) and the lower connection member (17) to each other;
wherein the connection member comprises a bolt and a nut, or a rivet (11), and
the connection member (11) is inserted by passing through the upper connection member (14/15), the substrate (12), and the lower connection member (17), and
the upper connection member coming into contact with the upper surface of the electrode terminal.
`976 fails to teach the upper connection member comprises a plurality of protrusion portions protruding from a bottom surface thereof.
PNG
media_image2.png
324
1061
media_image2.png
Greyscale
`981 teaches the upper connection member (7) comprises a plurality of protrusion portions (7a/7b) protruding from a bottom surface thereof.
It would have been obvious for a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claim invention to include the above said teaching for the purpose of enhancing the manufacturing process as taught by `976.
Moreover, `976 fails to teach an electrode connection element configured to electrically connect an electrode terminal to an external drive circuit; and the upper connection member is electrically connected to a wiring line for connection with the external drive circuit through soldering.
`082 teaches an electrode connection element configured to electrically connect an electrode terminal to an external drive circuit; and the upper connection member (power pins 132a, page 4) is electrically connected to a wiring line (112) for connection with the external drive circuit (120).
It would have been obvious for a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claim invention to include the above said teaching for the purpose of improving the reliability of connection as taught by `082, page 1.
Finally, `082, one embodiment fails to teach the connection through soldering,
`082 teaches another embodiment teaches the connection through soldering (“The first connector 50a is soldered on the PCB 10 through the connector pin 51”, FIG. 1, page 1),
It would have been obvious for a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claim invention to include the above said teaching for the purpose of enhancing the connectivity as taught by `082, page 1.
Re claim 2, in the combination, `367 teaches the electrode connection element of claim 1, wherein the electrode terminal is formed of a conductive nonmetal material (13b), and
the upper connection member is formed of a conductive metal material (upper portion of 14, page 6 of 11).
Re claim 3, in the combination, `976, FIG. 1 [as shown above] teaches the electrode connection element of claim 1, wherein the connection member comprises a bolt and a nut (11),
wherein the bolt is inserted from above the upper connection member to pass through the upper connection member (14/15), the substrate, and the lower connection member (17),
wherein the nut is fastened to an end portion of the bolt (11b/11c or 35/36 of FIG. 5), which is exposed from below the lower connection member (17 or 37 of FIG. 5), to support the lower connection member (17/37).
Re claim 4, in the combination, `367 teaches the electrode connection element of claim 1, wherein the connection member comprises a rivet,
wherein the rivet is inserted from above the upper connection member to pass through the upper connection member (13b), the substrate (3/4), and the lower connection member (14c/14b/14a),
wherein an end portion of the rivet (14c) that is exposed from below the lower connection member is processed to support the lower connection member (14c/14b/14a).
Re claim 5, in the combination, `082, FIG. 4 and 6 teaches the electrode connection element of claim 1, further comprising an elastic member (111) provided between the substrate (112) and the lower connection member (135/132b/131b) and configured to maintain a contact between an upper surface of the electrode terminal and the upper connection member (132a).
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.
Claim(s) 1-5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Korean Patent No. 1020130100367 (hereinafter `367) (refer to the machine’s translation version) in view of H250976 (hereinafter `976) and further in view of `082.
PNG
media_image3.png
771
965
media_image3.png
Greyscale
Re claim 1, `367 teaches an electrode connection element comprising:
an upper connection member (13b/13d/11a, see the Abstract) coming into contact with an upper surface of an electrode terminal (13b, page 6/11, 3rd paragraph) formed on a substrate (3);
a lower connection member (14c/14b/14a) configured to support a lower surface of the substrate;
a connection member (14/11/13) configured to connect the upper connection member (13b/13b) and the lower connection member (14c/14b/14a) to each other;
wherein the connection member comprises a bolt and a nut, or a rivet (14/11/13), and
the upper connection member (13b/13d/11a) comprises a plurality of protrusion portions (at least two 13d, Fig. 24) protruding from a bottom surface thereof.
`367 fails to teach the connection member is inserted by passing through the upper connection member, the substrate, and the lower connection member, and the upper connection member coming into contact with the upper surface of the electrode terminal.
`976, FIG. 1 [as shown above], 2 and 5 teaches the connection member (11) is inserted by passing through the upper connection member (14/15), the substrate (12), and the lower connection member (17), and the upper connection member (14/15) coming into contact with the upper surface of the electrode terminal (11).
It would have been obvious for a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claim invention to include the above said teaching for the purpose of providing a different way to fasten the device layer as taught by `976.
Moreover, `976 fails to teach an electrode connection element configured to electrically connect an electrode terminal to an external drive circuit; and the upper connection member is electrically connected to a wiring line for connection with the external drive circuit through soldering.
`082 teaches an electrode connection element configured to electrically connect an electrode terminal to an external drive circuit; and the upper connection member (power pins 132a, page 4) is electrically connected to a wiring line (112) for connection with the external drive circuit (120).
It would have been obvious for a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claim invention to include the above said teaching for the purpose of improving the reliability of connection as taught by `082, page 1.
Finally, `082, one embodiment fails to teach the connection through soldering,
`082 teaches another embodiment teaches the connection through soldering (“The first connector 50a is soldered on the PCB 10 through the connector pin 51”, FIG. 1, page 1),
It would have been obvious for a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claim invention to include the above said teaching for the purpose of enhancing the connectivity as taught by `082, page 1.
Re claim 2, in the combination, `367 teaches the electrode connection element of claim 1, wherein the electrode terminal is formed of a conductive nonmetal material (13b), and
the upper connection member is formed of a conductive metal material (upper portion of 14, page 6 of 11).
Re claim 3, in the combination, `976, FIG. 1 [as shown above] teaches the electrode connection element of claim 1, wherein the connection member comprises a bolt and a nut (11),
wherein the bolt is inserted from above the upper connection member to pass through the upper connection member (14/15), the substrate, and the lower connection member (17),
wherein the nut is fastened to an end portion of the bolt (11b/11c or 35/36 of FIG. 5), which is exposed from below the lower connection member (17 or 37 of FIG. 5), to support the lower connection member (17/37).
Re claim 4, in the combination, `367 teaches the electrode connection element of claim 1, wherein the connection member comprises a rivet,
wherein the rivet is inserted from above the upper connection member to pass through the upper connection member (13b), the substrate (3/4), and the lower connection member (14c/14b/14a),
wherein an end portion of the rivet (14c) that is exposed from below the lower connection member is processed to support the lower connection member (14c/14b/14a).
Re claim 5, in the combination, `367 teaches the electrode connection element of claim 1, further comprising an elastic member (11) provided between the substrate (3/4) and the lower connection member (14c/14b/14a) and configured to maintain a contact between an upper surface of the electrode terminal and the upper connection member (13b).
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 06/25/2026 have been fully considered but they are moot due to a new ground of rejection.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TONY TRAN whose telephone number is (571)270-1749. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 8AM-5PM, 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, Britt Hanley can be reached on 571-270-3042. 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.
/TONY TRAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2893
Prosecution Insights