Detailed Action
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . See 35 U.S.C. § 100 (note).
Art Rejections
Anticipation
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 and 10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 102(a)(1), (2) as being anticipated by CN 113038347 A (published 25 June 2021) (“Quan”).
Claim 1 is drawn to “a speaker.” The following table illustrates the correspondence between the claimed invention and the Quan reference.
Claim 1
The Quan Reference
“1. A speaker, comprising:
The Quan reference similarly describes a speaker module that corresponds to the claimed speaker. Quan at p.4 ¶ 4, FIG.1.
“a frame;
Quan’s speaker includes a frame 1. Id. at p.4 ¶¶ 4–5, FIGs.1, 2.
“a vibration system fixed with the frame, the vibration system comprising:
“a diaphragm; and
“a voice coil driving the diaphragm to vibrate;
Quan’s speaker includes a vibration system 3 that includes a multi-layer diaphragm assembly (32, 34 and 35) and a voice coil 31 to drive the diaphragms. Id. at p.4 ¶ 7, FIGs.2, 3.
“a magnetic circuit system driving the vibration system to vibrate and sound;
Quan’s speaker further includes a magnetic circuit 2 that provides a magnetic field to interact with a charge moving in voice coil 31 to drive vibration system 3. Id. p. 5 ¶¶ 9–13 at FIGs.2, 5.
“a flexible circuit board fixed on a side of the diaphragm distal to the voice coil, the flexible circuit board covering and fixed with the diaphragm; and
Quan’s speaker includes a flexible circuit board 33 fixed between two layers (32, 34) of the diaphragm assembly so that circuit board 33 is distal to voice coil 31. Id. at p. 4 ¶ 6, FIGs.2, 3. In an alternative embodiment, circuit board 33 is fixed on an outside of the diaphragm assembly. Id.
“an electrical connector passing through the diaphragm to electrically connect the flexible circuit board and the voice coil.”
Flexible circuit board 33 similarly includes an electrical connector over its surface that runs from first pad 331 to second pad 333. Id. at p.4 ¶¶ 6, 8, p. 5 ¶ 3, FIGs. 3, 4. The electrical connector passes through Quan’s diaphragm assembly since it is covered by diaphragm 32 and exposed by a notch at pad 331 where it connects electrically with voice coil 31. Id.
Table 1
For the foregoing reasons, the Quan reference anticipates all limitations of the claim.
Claim 10 depends on claim 1, and further requires the following:
“wherein the speaker further comprises a front cover mounted with the frame, and the flexible circuit board is sandwiched between the front cover and the diaphragm.”
The Quan reference similarly describes a top diaphragm 35 that acts as a front cover mounted to frame 1. Quan at p.4 ¶¶ 9–10, FIGs.1, 2. Flexible circuit board 33 is likewise sandwiched between top diaphragm 35 and lower diaphragm 32. Id. For the foregoing reasons, the Quan reference anticipates all limitations of the claim.
Obviousness
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 2–5 and 7–9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as being unpatentable over the combination of Quan and US Patent Application Publication 2020/0053476 (published 13 February 2020) (“Xiao”).
Claim 6 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as being unpatentable over the combination of Quan; Xiao and CN 105681979 A (published 15 June 2016) (“Zu”).
Claim 2 depends on claim 1, and further requires the following:
“wherein the flexible circuit board comprises an inner ring portion secured with the diaphragm, an outer ring portion secured with the frame, and a connection portion connecting the inner ring portion and the outer ring portion.”
Quan’s flexible circuit board 33 does not have the same shape as the claimed flexible circuit board. Board 33 is rectangular in shape; it does not have an inner ring portion, an outer ring portion and a connection portion. Quan at FIG.4. The Xiao reference, however, teaches and suggests an alternative structure for a flexible circuit board 33 implemented with a speaker diaphragm and in electrical contact with a voice coil. Xiao at ¶¶ 31, 32, FIGs.3, 7. Moreover, Xiao’s board 33 exhibits the claimed inner ring 333, outer ring 331 and connection portion 335. Id. Outer ring 331 connects with a frame 1 and inner ring 333 connects with a voice coil 32 and a membrane/diaphragm 35. Id. Read in light of Quan, Xiao’s teachings would have reasonably suggested an alternative shape for Quan’s flexible circuit board 33. Rather than using a flat rectangle, one of ordinary skill would have reasonably substituted a double-ring structure whose outer ring connects to Quan’s frame and whose inner ring connects to Quan’s voice coil 31 and Quan’s diaphragm assembly. For the foregoing reasons, the combination of the Quan and the Xiao references makes obvious all limitations of the claim.
Claim 3 depends on claim 2, and further requires the following:
“wherein the flexible circuit board is fixed on the diaphragm by glue.”
The Quan reference fixes flexible circuit board 33 to its diaphragm assembly through hot-press welding, essentially partially melting the interfacing materials to form a glue bond. Quan at p.4 ¶ 5. For the foregoing reasons, the combination of the Quan and the Xiao references makes obvious all limitations of the claim.
Claim 4 depends on claim 2, and further requires the following:
“wherein the electrical connector locates at a junction of the inner ring portion and the connection portion.”
The obviousness rejection of claim 2, incorporated herein, shows the obviousness of modifying Quan’s flexible circuit board 33 to take the form of Xiao’s flexible circuit board 33. In that case, Quan’s electrical connector would run from a first pad 331 (Xiao 33A) located on an inner ring (Xiao 333) to a second pad 333 located on an outer ring (Xiao 331) and along a connection portion (Xiao 335), such that the electrical connector is located at a junction of the inner ring and connection portion. See Quan at FIGs.3, 4 (depicting the electrical elements of a flexible circuit board); Xiao at FIG.7 (depicting the shape of a flexible circuit board). For the foregoing reasons, the combination of the Quan and the Xiao references makes obvious all limitations of the claim.
Claim 5 depends on claim 2, and further requires the following:
“wherein the electrical connector comprises an upper surface close to the flexible circuit board and a lower surface away from the flexible circuit board, the upper surface electrically connected with the lower surface, the upper surface electrically connected with the flexible circuit board, the lower surface electrically connected with the voice coil, and the flexible circuit board electrically connected with an external circuit.”
Similarly, Quan’s electrical connector includes a pad 331 with an upper surface in contact with the copper of flexible circuit board 33 and a lower surface that is electrically connected to board 33 and exposed and in contact with voice coil 31. Quan at p.4 ¶ 12, p.5 ¶ 1–4, FIGs.3, 4. Board 33 is further connected with an external circuit by second pad 333. Id. For the foregoing reasons, the combination of the Quan and the Xiao references makes obvious all limitations of the claim.
Claim 6 depends on claim 5, and further requires the following:
“wherein the electrical connector is made by one or more of graphene, carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, silver powder, and liquid metal.”
Quan describes forming flexible circuit board 33 from copper, but does not describe any particular additional structures for pad 331. The Zu reference, however, teaches and suggests using the claimed materials, such as silver powder, to implement a conductive trace on a circuit board. Zu at p. 4 ¶ 10. This would have reasonably suggested implementing pad 331 in a similar manner. For the foregoing reasons, the combination of the Quan, the Xiao and the Zu references makes obvious all limitations of the claim.
Claim 7 depends on claim 5, and further requires the following:
“wherein the diaphragm comprises a dome, a plane portion arranged under the inner ring portion, a suspension arranged around the plane portion, and a fixing portion fixed with the frame, the electrical connector embedded in the plane portion.”
Quan’s diaphragm assembly further includes a ball top, or dome, 36. Quan at p.5 ¶ 6, FIGs.1, 2. Diaphragm layer 32 acts as a plane portion underneath the inner ring (Xiao 333) of Quan’s flexible circuit board 33. Compare Quan at FIG.3 with Xiao at FIG.7. Quan depicts layer 32 as including a suspension around a plane portion and a fixing portion to fix the suspension to frame 1. Quan at FIGs.2, 3. For the foregoing reasons, the combination of the Quan and the Xiao references makes obvious all limitations of the claim.
Claim 8 depends on claim 7, and further requires the following:
“wherein a number of the electrical connectors is two, and the two electrical connectors are centrosymmetric arranged around a geometric center point of the diaphragm,
“the dome comprising a first opening avoiding the electrical connector, the plane portion comprising a second opening avoiding the electrical connector, the first opening communicated with the second opening.”
Quan similarly includes two parallel electrical connectors in flexible circuit board 33. Quan at FIGs.3, 4. Quan’s diaphragm assembly further includes a ball top, or dome, 36. Id. at p.5, ¶ 6, FIGs.1, 2. However, Quan’s ball top 36 does not include an opening to avoid pad 331. Rather, ball top 36 is located on the opposite side of flexible circuit board 33, obviating any need for such an opening. The claim differs by locating the ball top, or dome, below the flexible circuit board. Merely rearranging parts, however, is an obvious design choice. MPEP § 2144.04(VI)(C). And doing so in the case of Quan would plainly require including an opening in ball top 36 to allow pad 331 to make electrical contact with voice coil 31. For the foregoing reasons, the combination of the Quan and the Xiao references makes obvious all limitations of the claim.
Claim 9 depends on claim 7, and further requires the following:
“wherein the suspension comprises four corners, and the suspension further comprises a plurality of folds disposed on each corner and arranged apart from each other, the plurality of the folds distributed radially along a direction from an inner edge to an outer edge of the suspension.”
Layer 32 includes a suspension around its outer perimeter with four corners having multiple folds (i.e., the banded portions) distributed radially along a direction from an inner edge to an outer edge. Quan at FIGs.2, 3. For the foregoing reasons, the combination of the Quan and the Xiao references makes obvious all limitations of the claim.
Summary
Claims 1–10 are rejected under at least one of 35 U.S.C. §§ 102 and 103 as being unpatentable over the cited prior art. In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. §§ 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. §§ 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to WALTER F BRINEY III whose telephone number is (571)272-7513. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8 am-4:30 pm.
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, Carolyn Edwards can be reached at 571-270-7136. 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.
/Walter F Briney III/
/CAROLYN R EDWARDS/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2692
Walter F Briney IIIPrimary ExaminerArt Unit 2692
2/10/2026