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 Objections
Claims 1 and 16 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 1 lines 13-14 cite “Printed Circuit Board”. Appropriate correction is required from “Printed Circuit Board” to “printed circuit board”.
Claim 16 lines 1 and 12 cite “Printed Circuit Board”. Appropriate correction is required from “Printed Circuit Board” to “printed circuit board”.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
Claim 1-3, 8-10, 12, 14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Vander Ploeg et al (US 20100319948; “Vander” hereinafter), in view of Robinson et al (US 4426675; “Robinson” hereinafter).
Regarding claim 1, Vander teaches: a Circuit Card Assembly (CCA) module comprising:
an electronics enclosure (16, fig. 2); and
a card cage within the electronics enclosure (perimeter defined by the Plurality of 20, fig. 2), the card cage including:
a first plurality of slide rails proximate (20, figs. 2-3), coupled to, or forming a part of a first side (44) of the electronics enclosure (¶[0033]); and
a second plurality of slide rails (20) proximate, coupled to, or forming a part of a second side (46) of the electronics enclosure (¶[0033]), the first and second sides of the electronics enclosure opposite to and parallel with one another (figs. 2-3),
wherein each of the first plurality of slide rails is aligned with a corresponding one of the second plurality of slide rails, thereby defining a card slot (21, fig. 2) spanning a span dimension therebetween, each of the plurality of card slots configured to receive a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) module therein (14, figs. 2-3, and 7), the span dimension of each of the card slots being directed along an axis (horizontal plane of fig. 7) intercepting each of the first and second sides of the electronics enclosure (fig. 7).
Vander does not explicitly disclose:
the span dimension of each of the card slots being directed along an axis intercepting each of the first and second sides of the electronics enclosure at an angle of incidence that is greater than 20 degrees from normal vectors thereto.
However, Dang teaches:
a span dimension of each of a card slots (annotated as ‘SD’ in annotated fig. 1 below) being directed along an axis intercepting each of the first and second sides (11, fig. 1) of an electronics enclosure (10 and 11, fig. 1) at an angle of incidence that is greater than 20 degrees from normal vectors thereto (as disclosed upon examination of fig. 1 and ¶[0068]).
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It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to apply Robinson’s teaching into Vander, such that the span dimension of each of the card slots being directed along an axis intercepting each of the first and second sides of the electronics enclosure at an angle of incidence that is greater than 20 degrees from normal vectors thereto, in order to fit wider printed circuit boards within the enclosure, than if the circuit boards were disposed perpendicular to the first and second side (col. 2, lines 34-37).
Regarding claim 2, Vander in view of Robinson teaches the limitations of claim 1, and Robinson further teaches:
wherein the angle of incidence is greater than 30 degrees (“the channel members can be inclined, as shown, at any convenient angle”, col. 2, lines 34-37).
Regarding claim 3, Vander in view of Robinson teaches the limitations of claim 2, and Robinson further teaches:
wherein the angle of incidence is greater than 40 degrees (“the channel members can be inclined, as shown, at any convenient angle”, col. 2, lines 34-37).
Regarding claim 8, Vander in view of Robinson teaches the limitations of claim 1, and Vander further teaches:
further comprising:
a heat sink (58 and 59) on an exterior face (50, ¶[0025]) of the first side (44) of the electronics enclosure, the heat sink opposite to and thermally coupled (¶[0053]) with the first plurality of slide rails (as disclosed upon examination of figures 5-7).
Regarding claim 9, Vander in view of Robinson teaches the limitations of claim 8, and Vander further teaches:
wherein the heat sink is a first heat sink (see annotated fig. 7 below), the electronics enclosure further comprising:
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a second heat sink (see annotated fig. 7 below) on an exterior face (50) of the second side (46) of the electronics enclosure, the second heat sink opposite to and thermally coupled with the second plurality of slide rails (as disclosed upon examination of figures 5-7).
Regarding claim 10, Vander in view of Robinson teaches the limitations of claim 9, and Vander further teaches:
wherein the side walls have recesses (where tabs 60 are located, fig. 7, ¶[0045]) within which the first and second heat sinks are located.
Regarding claim 12, Vander in view of Robinson teaches the limitations of claim 9, and Vander further teaches:
wherein first and second heat sinks extend from a bottom side of the enclosure to a top side of the enclosure (as discloses upon examination of figs. 2-3).
Regarding claim 14, Vander in view of Robinson teaches the limitations of claim 1, and Robinson further teaches:
further comprising a removable cover (42, figs. 2-3) that removably covers an opening (18) through which a CCA module(s) (68, fig. 2) can be inserted into and/or removed from the electronics enclosure (¶[0023]).
Claim 4-7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Vander Ploeg et al (US 20100319948; “Vander” hereinafter), in view of Robinson et al (US 4426675; “Robinson” hereinafter) as applied to claim 1, and further in view of Sunstein (US 4473263; “Sunstein” hereinafter).
Regarding claim 4, Vander in view of Robinson teaches the limitations of claim 1, but does not explicitly disclose:
wherein a separation distance between the first and second sides of the electronics enclosure is less than the span dimension of each of the card slots defined between corresponding ones of the first and second pluralities of slide rails.
However, Sunstein teaches:
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wherein a separation distance (see annotated fig. 2 below) between a first and a second side (see annotated fig. 2 below) of an electronics device (device of fig. 2) is less than the span dimension (see annotated fig. 2 below) of each of a card slot (space occupied by circuit board 12, fig. 2) defined between corresponding one of a first (21, fig. 2) and a second connector (235, fig. 2).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to apply Sunstein’s teaching into Vander as modified by Robinson, such that a separation distance between the first and second sides of the electronics enclosure is less than the span dimension of each of the card slots defined between corresponding ones of the first and second pluralities of slide rails, in order to allow fitment of mounting of printed circuit boards wider than a separation distance between the first and second sides of the electronics enclosure (col. 1, lines 22-24, lines 62-65), since the claim would have been obvious because the particular known technique (oblique mounting of circuit boards within enclosures) was recognized as part of the ordinary capabilities of one skilled in the art, as evidenced by Sunstein. Therefore, the claimed subject matter would have been no more than a predictable combination of known techniques according to their respective purposes within routine skill and creativity (MPEP 2143).
Regarding claim 5, Vander in view of Robinson and Sunstein teaches the limitations of claim 4, and Sunstein further discloses:
wherein a ratio of the span dimension to the separation distance between the first and second sides is greater than 120% (“For example, if the length L.sub.c of a circuit board is approximately 6 1/2 inches and its width is 4 1/2 inches, the circuit boards can be accommodated in a mounting device having a depth D of approximately five inches”, fig. 1B, col 3, lines 62-66).
Regarding claim 6, Vander in view of Robinson and Sunstein teaches the limitations of claim 5. and Sunstein further discloses:
Vander in view of Robinson and Sunstein is silent regarding:
wherein a ratio of the span dimension to the separation distance between the first and second sides is greater than 130%.
However, Sunstein discloses:
“these dimensions are a preferred set of dimensions for use in the preferred embodiment discussed below, although different-sized circuit boards and particular needs may dictate other preferred dimensions (col. 4, lines 7-10)”.
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify Vander in view of Robinson and Sunstein and set a ratio of the span dimension to the separation distance between the first and second sides is greater than 130%, since it has been held, that where the general conditions of a claim are disclosed in the prior art, discovering the optimum or workable ranges involves only routine skill in the arts (MPEP 2144.05). In re Aller, 105 USPQ 233. The modification to would allow mounting of printed circuit boards with a span dimension larger than the separation space of the enclosure.
Regarding claim 7, Vander in view of Robinson and Sunstein teaches the limitations of claim 6. and Sunstein further discloses:
Vander in view of Robinson and Sunstein is silent regarding:
wherein a ratio of the span dimension to the separation distance between the first and second sides is greater than 140%.
However, Sunstein discloses:
“these dimensions are a preferred set of dimensions for use in the preferred embodiment discussed below, although different-sized circuit boards and particular needs may dictate other preferred dimensions (col. 4, lines 7-10)”.
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify Vander in view of Robinson and Sunstein and set a ratio of the span dimension to the separation distance between the first and second sides is greater than 140%, since it has been held, that where the general conditions of a claim are disclosed in the prior art, discovering the optimum or workable ranges involves only routine skill in the arts (MPEP 2144.05). In re Aller, 105 USPQ 233. The modification to would allow mounting of printed circuit boards with a span dimension larger than the separation space of the enclosure.
Claim 11 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Vander Ploeg et al (US 20100319948; “Vander” hereinafter), in view of Robinson et al (US 4426675; “Robinson” hereinafter), as applied to claim 9, and further in view of embodiment of figure 6 of Vander Ploeg et al (US 20100319948; “Vander6” hereinafter).
Regarding claim 11, Vander in view of Robinson teaches the limitations of claim 9, but does not explicitly teach:
wherein each of the first and second heat sinks and the first and second pluralities of slide rails, respectively, are formed as a unitary body.
However, Vander6 discloses:
wherein each of the first and second heat sinks and the first and second pluralities of slide rails, respectively, are formed as a unitary body (through 61, 66, and 67, as disclosed upon examination of fig. 6, and ¶[0047]-[0048]).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify Vander in view of Robinson, with Vander6 teaching, such that each of the first and second heat sinks and the first and second pluralities of slide rails, respectively, are formed as a unitary body, in order to enhance mechanical reinforcement of the slide rails (¶[0027]). Furthermore, it has been held to be within the general skill of a worker in the art to make plural parts unitary was a matter of obvious engineering choice (MPEP 2144.04). In reLarson, 340 F.2d 965, 968, 144 USPQ 347, 349 (CCPA 1965).
Claim 13 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Vander Ploeg et al (US 20100319948; “Vander” hereinafter), in view of Robinson et al (US 4426675; “Robinson” hereinafter), and embodiment of figure 6 of Vander Ploeg et al (US 20100319948; “Vander6” hereinafter) as applied to claim 11, and further in view of Tracewell et al (US 20080218980; “Tracewell” hereinafter).
Regarding claim 13, Vander in view of Robinson and Vander6 teaches the limitations of claim 11, but does not explicitly teach:
wherein each of the first and second heat sinks has a plurality of vertical fins facilitating airflow from a bottom to a top of each of the first and second heat sinks.
However, Tracewell teaches:
first and second heat sinks (256, 258, fig. 21) has a plurality of vertical fins (fig. 21) facilitating airflow from an end to an opposite end of each of the first and second heat sinks (fig. 20, “The air flow path for chassis 220 is essentially the same as that described in connection with chassis 40 in connection with FIG. 20”, ¶[0073]).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to apply Tracewell’s teaching into Vander in view of Robinson and Vander6 such that each of the first and second heat sinks has a plurality of vertical fins facilitating airflow from a bottom to a top of each of the first and second heat sinks, since the claim would have been obvious because the particular known technique (heat exchanger / transfer air flow) was recognized as part of the ordinary capabilities of one skilled in the art, as evidenced by Tracewell. Therefore, the claimed subject matter would have been no more than a predictable combination of known techniques according to their respective purposes within routine skill and creativity (MPEP 2143).
Claim 15 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Vander Ploeg et al (US 20100319948; “Vander” hereinafter), in view of Robinson et al (US 4426675; “Robinson” hereinafter) as applied to claim 14, and further in view of Kehret et al (US 20120020017; “Kehret” hereinafter).
Regarding claim 15, Vander in view of Robinson teaches the limitations of claim 14, but does not explicitly teach:
further comprising:
a backplane on a side of the electronics enclosure opposite the opening, the backplane having connectors configured to connect to any CCA module(s) inserted into the electronics enclosure and guided to a corresponding one of the connectors of the backplane by the corresponding ones of the first and second slide rails.
However, Kehret teaches:
a backplane (600, fig. 6B) on a side of an electronics enclosure (500, 508, 604 figs. 5B, 6A) opposite an opening (as disclosed upon examination of figs. 5A, 6A and 6B), the backplane having connectors (602) configured to connect to modules (100, fig. 6A-6B, ¶[0050]) inserted into the electronics enclosure and guided to a corresponding one of the connectors (602, fig. 6B) of the backplane by the corresponding ones of a first and a second slide rails (614, fig. 6B, ¶[0052]).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to include Kehret’s backplane configured to Vander in view of Robinson’s architecture, such that the backplane is on a side of the electronics enclosure opposite the opening, the backplane having connectors configured to connect to any CCA module(s) inserted into the electronics enclosure and guided to a corresponding one of the connectors of the backplane by the corresponding ones of the first and second slide rails, since the claim would have been obvious because the particular known technique (backplane as PCB / card interface) was recognized as part of the ordinary capabilities of one skilled in the art, as evidenced by Kehret. Therefore, the claimed subject matter would have been no more than a predictable combination of known techniques according to their respective purposes within routine skill and creativity (MPEP 2143).
Claims 16-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Vander Ploeg et al (US 20100319948; “Vander” hereinafter), in view of Sunstein (US 4473263; “Sunstein” hereinafter).
Regarding claim 16, Vander teaches: a card cage configured to receive a plurality of Printed Circuit Board (PCB) modules therewithin, the card cage including:
a first plurality of slide rails (20, figs. 2-3) aligned with one another (element 20 are shown parallelly aligned) along a first alignment plane (defined by 44); and
a second plurality of slide rails (opposing 20, figs. 2-3) aligned with one another (element 20 are shown parallelly aligned) along a second alignment plane (defined by 46), the first and second alignment planes parallel to one another (fig. 2), wherein the first and second pluralities of slide rails are between the first and second alignment planes (as disclosed in fig. 2),
wherein each of the first plurality of slide rails is aligned with a corresponding one of the second plurality of slide rails (as disclosed in fig. 2), thereby defining a card slot (21, fig. 2) spanning a span dimension therebetween, each of the plurality of card slots configured to receive a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) module (14 and 68), therein, the span dimension being greater than a distance between the first and second alignment planes.
Vander does not explicitly disclose:
the span dimension being greater than a distance between the first and second alignment planes.
However, Sunstein teaches:
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a span dimension being greater than a distance between a first and a second alignment planes (annotated fig. 2 below discloses this limitation).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to apply Sunstein’s teaching into Vander, such that the span dimension being greater than a distance between the first and second alignment planes, in order to allow fitment of mounting of printed circuit boards having a span wider than the distance between the first and second alignment planes (col. 1, lines 22-24, lines 62-65). The claim would have been obvious because the particular known technique (oblique mounting of circuit boards within enclosures) was recognized as part of the ordinary capabilities of one skilled in the art, as evidenced by Sunstein. Therefore, the claimed subject matter would have been no more than a predictable combination of known techniques according to their respective purposes within routine skill and creativity (MPEP 2143).
Regarding claim 17, Vander in view of Sunstein teaches the limitations of claim 16, and Sunstein further discloses:
wherein a ratio of the span dimension to the distance between the first and second alignment planes is greater than 120% (“For example, if the length L.sub.c of a circuit board is approximately 6 1/2 inches and its width is 4 1/2 inches, the circuit boards can be accommodated in a mounting device having a depth D of approximately five inches”, fig. 1B, col 3, lines 62-66).
Regarding claim 18, Vander in view of Sunstein teaches the limitations of claim 17.
Vander in view of Sunstein is silent regarding:
wherein a ratio of the span dimension to the distance between the first and second alignment planes is greater than 130%.
However, Sunstein discloses:
“these dimensions are a preferred set of dimensions for use in the preferred embodiment discussed below, although different-sized circuit boards and particular needs may dictate other preferred dimensions (col. 4, lines 7-10)”.
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify Vander in view of Robinson and Sunstein and set a ratio of the span dimension to the distance between the first and second alignment planes is greater than 130%, since it has been held, that where the general conditions of a claim are disclosed in the prior art, discovering the optimum or workable ranges involves only routine skill in the arts (MPEP 2144.05). In re Aller, 105 USPQ 233. The modification to would allow mounting of printed circuit boards with a span dimension larger than a distance between the first and second alignment planes.
Regarding claim 19, Vander in view of Sunstein teaches the limitations of claim 16, and Sunstein further discloses:
wherein the span dimension (Lc, fig. 1B) is directed along an axis (depicted by the axis formed by circuit board 12) intercepting each of the first and second alignment planes (depicted by 11 and 13, fig. 1B) at an angle of incidence (alpha, fig. 1B) that is greater than 20 degrees from normal vectors thereto (fig. 1B, col. 1, lines 22-26; col. 3, lines 59-61).
Regarding claim 20, Vander in view of Sunstein teaches the limitations of claim 19, and Sunstein further discloses:
wherein the angle of incidence is greater than 30 degrees (fig. 1B, col. 1, lines 22-26; col. 3, lines 59-61).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is:
US 20110132852 A1 Card Rack System. This invention relates generally to a support rack for a substantially planar circuit board including first and second spaced apart sides. The sides define a plurality of spaced apart product receiving support surfaces where corresponding surfaces on each side are parallel to one another and spaced apart by a central region to form a U-shaped rack.
US 5982619 A Housing For Diverse Cooling Configuration Printed Circuit Cards. This invention generally relates to a housing and cooling enclosure for securely retaining and cooling a multiple types of printed circuit cards.
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/P.K./Examiner, Art Unit 2841
/SAGAR SHRESTHA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2841