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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Species 1, Figs. 1-12, claims 1-9, 15 and 17-20 in paper dated 08/14/26 is acknowledged.
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)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-2, 9 and 17-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Pao et al. (10,103,453).
Regarding claims 1 and 18, Pao et al. disclose a cable assembly configured to be mounted on a circuit board (1, Fig. 3) which comprises a first surface (14), a first conductive pad (142) exposed to the first surface and a second conductive pad (another 142) exposed to the first surface, comprising:
at least one group of cables comprising a first cable (3) and a second cable (another 3); the first cable comprising a first core (31), a first insulator (32) circumferentially wrapped around the first core, and a first shielding layer (33) circumferentially wrapped around the first insulator; the second cable comprising a second core (another 31), a second insulator (another 32) circumferentially wrapped around the second core, and a second shielding layer (33) circumferentially wrapped around the second insulator; the first core protruding beyond the first insulator in an axial direction so as to be configured to be in contact with the first conductive pad; the second core protruding beyond the second insulator in another axial direction so as to be configured to be in contact with the second conductive pad; a gap being formed between the first insulator and the first surface of the circuit board, and between the second insulator and the first surface of the circuit board; and
a support member (2, Fig. 5) comprising a support portion (21), the support portion fills the gap and is configured to support the first insulator and the second insulator, so as to prevent the first insulator and the second insulator from being crushed (Figs. 4 and 7).
Regarding claim 2, the support member comprises a connection portion (212, Fig. 5) connected to the support portion; the connection portion is made of conductive material; the connection portion is in contact with the first shielding layer and the second shielding layer (Fig. 7).
Regarding claim 9, the support portion comprises copper.
Regarding claim 17, Fig. 3 shows a plurality of groups of cables are provided and disposed in a transverse direction; the plurality of groups of cables are fixed on one side of the circuit board by soldering or welding.
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.
Claims 19-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Pao et al. in view of Wu et al. (9,590,363).
Regarding claim 19, Pao et al. disclose the claimed invention as described above except for a first metal shielding shell and a second metal shielding shell being enclosed to form a circumferentially surrounding cavity in which the circuit board is located.
Wu et al., Fig. 9 shows a first metal shielding shell (a top part of 15) and a second metal shielding shell (a bottom part of 15) being enclosed to form a circumferentially surrounding cavity in which the circuit board is located. It would have been obvious to provide Pao et al. to have a first metal shielding shell and a second metal shielding shell being enclosed to form a circumferentially surrounding cavity in which the circuit board is located, as taught by Wu et al. for better connection.
Regarding claim 20, the support portion is annular-shaped (Fig. 5), and sleeved on the first insulator and the second insulator of a corresponding group of cables (Figs. 4 and 7).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 3-8 and 15 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to THANH TAM T LE whose telephone number is (571)272-2094. The examiner can normally be reached 9AM-6PM.
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/THANH TAM T LE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2831 09/24/26
thanh-tam.le@uspto.gov
