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 § 112
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.
Claims 1-18 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.
Claim 1 recites “an undersurface side of the upper portion” in lines 4-5. However, claim in lines 7, 11 and 15 reintroduce “an undersurface side of the upper portion” to limit the location of the first protruding portion, the second protruding portion and the third protruding portion. It is unclear if the protruding portions are located to the undersurface to the upper portion or if the introduction is to another undersurface.
In claim 5, recites “the region”. It is unclear which regions are being referred to (the regions on both end face sides or the regions adjacent to the housing portion).
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the other end side" in line 10. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Following are limitations also lack antecedent basis.
Claims 4 and 13-14, “the regions” adjacent to the housing.
Claim 6, “the outside”.
Claims 9-10 and 15-18, “the number”.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-18 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
The prior art of record does not teach or suggest an electronic component having an upper surface portion made of a plate-like exterior material having a rectangular shape in planar view, and the third protruding portion formed upright on the undersurface side of the upper portion and at a position where the third protruding portion is sandwiched between the first protruding portion and the second protruding portion, while being spaced apart with a predetermined distance from each of the first protruding portion and the second protruding portion, and having a predetermined height in a vertical direction from the undersurface side, wherein each of the protruding portions is formed to extend from one part to the other end part in a widthwise direction of the undersurface side, while having a constant width in the longitudinal direction.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
US Pubs. 2017/0040239 and 2018/0160538 are close, but do not teach the claimed structures discussed above related to claim 1.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KYUNG S LEE whose telephone number is (571)272-1994. The examiner can normally be reached 7AM-3PM M-F.
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, Renee Luebke can be reached at 571-272-2009. 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.
/KYUNG S LEE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2831