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 Group I (Claims 1-9 and 12) in the reply filed on March 26, 2026 is acknowledged.
Non-elected Claim is 13 are withdrawn.
Dependent claims 10 and 11 are not withdrawn and examined since the restriction for dependent claims is withdrawn.
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 12 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Cerini Fabrizio (EP4258691A1).
As to Claim 12, Cerini Fabrizio teaches a vibration detector ( a MEMS electroacoustic transducer, abstract) comprising: a diaphragm ( membrane 13 or 313 Figures 2-5, 13, 16, 17, including a fixed end( peripheral portion 13a) forming a line segment extending in a first direction ( Figures 4, 5, 13, 16, 17) ; and a support portion( substrate 12 or 312) supporting the diaphragm( membrane 13 or 313) at the fixed end to allow the diaphragm( membrane 13 or 313) to vibrate. Regarding the following: wherein a width of the diaphragm (313 or 413) in the first direction is maximum at a position (width of a trapezoid is maximum at the center rather than the ends. See at least Figure 17, 415a) farther from the fixed end (peripheral end of diaphragm 313 attached to substrate 312, Figure 16) than a midpoint of a line segment shortest among line segments between the fixed end and an outer periphery of the diaphragm in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction (defining a trapezoidal shape), Cerini Fabrizio teaches on Figures 13-16 the perimeter of the membrane 313 coincides with the inner perimeter P of the supporting frame. The membrane 313 is therefore also of rectangular shape and is further divided into two triangular cantilever portions 313a and two trapezoidal cantilever portions 313b by diagonal slits 317 and a central slit 318. The triangular cantilever portions 313a have the shape of isosceles triangles and have the respective bases connected to respective minor sides of the inner perimeter P of the supporting frame 312. The trapezoidal cantilever portions 313b have the shape of isosceles trapezoids and have respective major bases connected to respective major sides of the inner perimeter P of the supporting frame 312. The minor bases of the trapezoidal cantilever portions 313b are adjacent to each other and are separated by the central slit 318, which extends between the vertices of the triangular cantilever portions 313a. See at least page 7, [0002].
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-11 are allowed. The independent Claim 1, identifies a uniquely distinct feature of “…a diaphragm including: a fixed end forming a line segment extending in a first direction; and a reference point farthest from the fixed end on an outer periphery of the diaphragm in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; and a support portion supporting the diaphragm at the fixed end to allow the diaphragm to vibrate, wherein the vibration detector satisfies a formula below:
PNG
media_image1.png
80
417
media_image1.png
Greyscale
The closest prior art to Cerini Fabrizio (EP 4258691A1) teaches on Figures 13-16 the perimeter of the membrane 313 coincides with the inner perimeter P of the supporting frame. The membrane 313 is therefore also of rectangular shape and is further divided into two triangular cantilever portions 313a and two trapezoidal cantilever portions 313b by diagonal slits 317 and a central slit 318. The triangular cantilever portions 313a have the shape of isosceles triangles and have the respective bases connected to respective minor sides of the inner perimeter P of the supporting frame 312. The trapezoidal cantilever portions 313b have the shape of isosceles trapezoids and have respective major bases connected to respective major sides of the inner perimeter P of the supporting frame 312. The minor bases of the trapezoidal cantilever portions 313b are adjacent to each other and are separated by the central slit 318, which extends between the vertices of the triangular cantilever portions 313a. See at least page 7, [0002]. The prior art fails to anticipate or render the independent Claim obvious.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SUNITA JOSHI whose telephone number is (571)270-7227. The examiner can normally be reached 8-3.
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, Duc Nguyen can be reached at 5712727503. 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.
/SUNITA JOSHI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2691
Prosecution Insights