Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/784,975

METHOD FOR FORMING VOICE COIL, VOICE COIL AND SPEAKER INCLUDING THE VOICE COIL

Non-Final OA §102§OTHER
Filed
Jul 26, 2024
Priority
Apr 08, 2024 — continuation of PCTCN2024086638
Examiner
DABNEY, PHYLESHA LARVINIA
Art Unit
2694
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
Aac Microtech (Changzhou) Co. Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
76%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
11m
Est. Remaining
91%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 76% — above average
76%
Career Allowance Rate
606 granted / 795 resolved
+14.2% vs TC avg
Moderate +15% lift
Without
With
+15.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 9m
Avg Prosecution
14 currently pending
Career history
815
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.4%
-39.6% vs TC avg
§103
65.2%
+25.2% vs TC avg
§102
26.8%
-13.2% vs TC avg
§112
1.7%
-38.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 795 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §OTHER
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 . Claims 1-12 are pending. 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) 1-9, 12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by Shao et al (CN 108566596 A; assignee: Goertek). Regarding claim 1, Shao teaches a voice coil (1) having a ring structure formed by winding wires with a through-hole formed at a middle of the ring structure; wherein a penetration direction of the through-hole (at 11, middle part) is a height direction of the voice coil; and wherein the voice coil comprises a top part (at 10) located at an end along the height direction, a bottom part (at 12) located at another end along the height direction, and a middle part (at 11 to include upper part of 12) located between the top part and the bottom part and also located at a center position in the height direction; the voice coil comprises multiple wire layers stacked along a direction from inside to outside; and each wire layer of the multiple wire layers comprises multiple wire coils stacked along the height direction (as shown in fig. 2); and the top part (at 10) comprises M wire layers, the bottom part (at 12) comprises N wire layers, and the middle part (at 11) comprises Y wire layers, where each of M and N is greater than Y, and each of M, N and Y is a natural number. Regarding claim 2, Shao teaches the voice coil as described in claim 1, wherein the multiple wire layers comprise an inner wire layer enclosing to define the through-hole (recessed part of 11) , a first outer wire layer wound on an outer side of the inner wire layer, and a second outer wire layer wound on an outer side of the first outer wire layer; wherein the middle part comprises only the inner wire layer, and the top part and/or the bottom part comprises the inner wire layer, the first outer wire layer, and the second outer wire layer; and wherein a number of wire coils of the inner wire layer is greater than a number of wire coils of the first outer wire layer, and the number of wire coils of the first outer wire layer is greater than a number of wire coils of the second outer wire layer (fig. 2; row-column directions, in the upper part of 12 which is incorporate in the middle layer includes 3 columns defining a recessed area). Regarding claim 3, Shao teaches the voice coil as described in claim 2, wherein the top part and/or the bottom part further comprises a third outer wire layer wound on an outer side of the second outer wire layer, and a number of wire coils of the third outer wire layer is less than the number of wire coils of the second outer wire layer (fig. 2; there are shown less rows in the top part with an additional column as viewed from right to left as compared to the recessed middle part). Regarding claim 4, Shao teaches the voice coil as described in claim 3, wherein the voice coil comprises at least two inner wire layers (fig. 2; at least 2 columns as viewed from right to left of coil winding). Regarding claim 5, it teaches a method corresponding to the apparatus taught in claims 1-2, respectfully. The method is inherent in that it simply provides a methodology for the logical implementation found in claims 1-2. Regarding claim 6, Shao teaches the method as described in claim5,wherein the forming the first outer wire layer by winding wires comprises: winding wires around the inner wire layer at the top part with a first preset number of turns to form the first outer wire layer at the top part, then obliquely pulling wires to the bottom part, and winding wires around the inner wire layer with a second preset number of turns to form the first outer wire layer at the bottom part (fig. 2; where looking at rows-columns winding from right to left, there are at least 2 columns are the top and bottom parts). Regarding claim 7, Shao teaches the method as described in claim 6, wherein the forming the second outer wire layer by winding wires comprises: winding wires around the first outer wire layer at the bottom part with a third preset number of turns to form the second outer wire layer at the bottom part, then obliquely pulling wires to the top part, and winding wires around the first outer wire layer with a fourth preset number of turns to form the second outer wire layer at the top part (fig. 2; where looking at rows-columns winding from right to left, there are at least 4 columns are the top and bottom parts). Regarding claim 8, Shao teaches the method as described in claim 7, wherein the third preset number of turns is less than the second preset number of turns; and the fourth preset number of turns of turns is less than the first preset number of turns where looking at rows-columns winding from right to left, there are different depths for the middle part which is consistent with the number of turns creates steps of less than the previous preset). Regarding claim 9, Shao teaches the method as described in claim 7, further comprising: forming a third outer wire layer by winding wires on an outer side of the second outer wire layer (fig. 2; where looking at rows-columns winding from right to left, there are at least 3 columns are the top and bottom parts). . Regarding claim 12, Shao teaches all the limitations of the voice coil as outlined in claim 1 above without teaching the specifics of a loudspeaker, comprising a vibration system and a magnetic circuit system. However, the Examiner takes Official Notice that is known for a loudspeaker to include a vibration system and magnetic circuity system for the production of sound. One of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention would have recognized that applying a voice coil in a loudspeaker application would have yielded a predictable result. Allowable Subject Matter Claim(s) 10-11 is/are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PHYLESHA DABNEY whose telephone number is (571)272-7494. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Wednesday and Friday 10:30-4:30PM. 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, Fan Tsang can be reached at 5712727547. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. For general questions such as application status, Monday–Friday, 8:30AM -5:00PM, inquiry to: Local: 571-272-1000 Toll-Free: 800-786-9199 TTY: 800-877-8339 Any response to this action should be mailed to: Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks P O Box 1450 Alexandria, VA 22313-1450 Or faxed to: (703) 273-8300, for formal communications intended for entry and for informal or draft communications, please label "Proposed" or "Draft" when submitting an informal amendment. Hand-delivered responses should be brought to: Customer Service Window Randolph Building 401 Dulany Street Alexandria, VA 22314 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. March 28, 2026 /PHYLESHA DABNEY/Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2694
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jul 26, 2024
Application Filed
Apr 01, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §OTHER (current)

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
76%
Grant Probability
91%
With Interview (+15.0%)
2y 9m (~11m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 795 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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