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 .
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.
Claim(s) 1-14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Huang (PG Pub 20080194053).
Considering claim 1, Huang (Figure 2B) teaches micromachined ultrasonic transducer (MUT) comprising: a diaphragm (210 + paragraph 0082) with substantially free edges; one or more electrodes (225 + 250 + paragraph 0082); and one or more anchors (203 + paragraph 0082) clamping the diaphragm at locations within and/or along a diaphragm periphery to a substrate (201 + paragraph 0082).
Considering claim 2, Huang teaches wherein the MUT is a pMUT comprising a piezoelectric film (paragraph 0028).
Considering claim 3, Huang (Figure 2B) teaches wherein the one or more electrodes (225 + 250 + paragraph 0082) are electrically coupled to the piezoelectric film.
Considering claim 4, Huang (Figure 2B) teaches wherein the piezoelectric film is situated opposite the one or more anchors (paragraph 0028), on a same side as the one or more anchors or between the one or more anchors.
Considering claim 5, Huang (Figure 2A) teaches wherein the diaphragm comprises a groove (215 + paragraph 0087).
Considering claim 6, Huang (Figure 2A) teaches a plurality of anchors (203m + 203 + paragraph 0082), wherein a subset of the plurality of anchors are attached to one or more vertical cantilever shells (200 + paragraph 0073).
Considering claim 7, Huang (Figure 2A) teaches wherein the diaphragm comprises a groove (215 + paragraph 0087).
Considering claim 8, Huang teaches wherein the MUT is a cMUT (paragraph 0073).
Considering claim 9, Huang (Figures 2A-2B) teaches wherein the one or more electrodes (225 + 250 + paragraph 0077) are electrically coupled to the diaphragm between a gap (260 + paragraph 0079).
Considering claim 10, Huang (Figures 2A-2B) teaches wherein the diaphragm comprises a groove (215 + paragraph 0087).
Considering claim 11, Huang (Figures 2A-2B) teaches a plurality of anchors (203m + 203 + paragraph 0082), wherein a subset of the plurality of anchors are attached to one or more vertical cantilever shells (200 + paragraph 0073).
Considering claim 12, Huang (Figures 2A-2B) teaches a plurality of anchors, wherein a subset of the plurality of anchors are attached to one or more vertical cantilever sheets, and wherein the diaphragm comprises a groove (215 + paragraph 0087).
Considering claim 13, Huang (Figures 2A-2B) teaches a micromachined ultrasonic transducer (MUT) comprising a clamped diaphragm comprising a groove (215 + paragraph 0087), wherein one or more anchors (203m + 203 + paragraph 0082) clamped the diaphragm to a substrate (201 + paragraph 0082), at least one of the one or more anchors being attached to a vertical cantilever shell (200 + paragraph 0073), the vertical cantilever shell attached to an edge of the diaphragm (210 + paragraph 0082).
Considering claim 14, Huang (Figures 2A-2B) teaches wherein the vertical cantilever shell (200 + paragraph 0073) forms a virtual pivot substantially preventing out of plane motion but allowing for rotation of the diaphragm edge while imparting a counter-torque (paragraphs 0075-0076).
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 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.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim(s) 15-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Huang (PG Pub 20080194053).
Considering claim 15, Huang disclose claimed invention except for the vertical cantilever shell has a thickness between 0.1 microns and 50 microns and wherein the vertical cantilever shell has a height between 1 and 100 times greater than its thickness. It would have been an obvious matter of design choice to have the vertical cantilever shell has a thickness between 0.1 microns and 50 microns and wherein the vertical cantilever shell has a height between 1 and 100 times greater than its thickness, since such a modification would have involved a mere change in the size of a component. A change in size is generally recognized as being within the level of ordinary skill in the art.
Considering claim 16, Huang (Figures 2A-2B) teaches wherein the vertical cantilever shell is not continuous about the diaphragm edge but has areas with no virtual pivot (200 + paragraph 0073).
Considering claim 17, Huang teaches wherein the MUT is multimodal (paragraph 0009).
Considering claim 18, Huang teaches a MUT array configured for ultrasound imaging (paragraph 0010), the array comprising a plurality of the MUTs.
Considering claim 19, Huang teaches wherein each MUT of the plurality of the MUTs is a pMUT or a cMUT (paragraphs 0021 + 0073).
Considering claim 20, Huang teaches wherein each MUT comprises a vertical cantilever shell formed from multiple etches (paragraph 0073).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BRYAN P GORDON whose telephone number is (571)272-5394. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m..
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/BRYAN P GORDON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2837
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