DETAILED ACTION
1. Claims 1-9 and 11-21 of U.S. Application 18/681744 filed on February 6, 2024 are presented for examination.
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
2. The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Priority
3. Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Drawings
4. The drawings were received on February 6, 2024. These drawings are acceptable.
Information Disclosure Statement
5. The information disclosure statements (IDS) submitted on February 6, 2024 and January 8, 2025 are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statements are being considered by the examiner.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
6. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
7. Claims 17-21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Regarding claim 17, lines 5-6, “the printed circuit board includes a first path electrically connecting at least a part among the plurality of electronic components.” It is not clear to the examiner if first path is used to electrically connect the printed circuit board to the electronic components or if the first path is used to electrically connect the electronic components to each other. Based on the instant specification the examiner will interpret as -- the printed circuit board includes a first path electrically connecting at least some of the plurality of electronic components to one another --.
Regarding claim 17, lines 7-8, “the terminal includes a second path connected to the plurality of holes and electrically connecting at least a part among the plurality of electronic components.” It is not clear to the examiner if second path is used to electrically connect the terminal to the electronic components or if the second path is used to electrically connect the electronic components to each other. Based on the instant specification the examiner will interpret as -- the terminal includes a second path connected to the plurality of holes and electrically connecting at least some of the plurality of electronic components to one another --.
8. Claims 18-21 are also rejected due to dependence on claim 17.
Allowable Subject Matter
9. Claim 17 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
10. Claims 1-9 and 11-16 are allowed.
11. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Regarding claim 1, closest prior art Shimodaira (US 20210320548) teaches (see figs. 2, 6 and 8 below) a motor (title, ¶ 2) comprising:
a body (60); a busbar (70) coupled to the body (60) (¶ 31 to ¶ 33); and
wherein the body (60) includes a first open area (60a) for exposing the busbar (70) in an axial direction, and a second open area (other area 60a), wherein the second open area (60a) includes a first unit open area and a second unit open area (fig. 6; ¶ 39; ¶ 40).
Neither Shimodaira nor the cited prior art teaches a heat transfer member disposed on the body, and wherein the heat transfer member is in contact with the busbar in the first open area and is disposed between the first unit open area and the second unit open area.
Therefore, regarding claim 1 allowability resides, at least in part, with the prior art not showing or fairly teaching the specific limitations of:
-- a heat transfer member (250) disposed on the body (210, 220), and wherein the heat transfer member (250) is in contact with the busbar (260, 270, 280) in the first open area (230) and is disposed between the first unit open area (240) and the second unit open area (other 240) (figs. 4, 7 and 8 below) -- in the combination as claimed.
Claims 2-9 and 11-16 are allowed due to dependence on claim 1.
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Conclusion
12. The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
Jang (US 20170310183) teaches a motor including a stator assembly that has a stator core, an upper insulator covering and insulating an upper portion of the stator core, and a lower insulator covering and insulating a lower portion of the stator core, and a bus-bar assembly that has a bus-bar having a plurality of connecting terminals formed on a circular bus and a contact portion electrically connected to a coil, and a bus-bar housing accommodating the bus-bar therein. The contact portion has a bent portion formed by bending distal ends of the connecting terminals upward, a contact piece located to face the bent portion, and a connection piece which connects the bent portion with the contact piece, and the bus-bar housing is coupled to a bus-bar seat defined in a central portion of the upper insulator.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ALEXANDER A SINGH whose telephone number is (571)270-0243. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9am to 5pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Seye Iwarere can be reached on 571-270-5112. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ALEXANDER A SINGH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2834