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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Group II in the reply filed on 06/29/2026 is acknowledged.
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) 48-50 and 59-62 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by KOMISAREK (US 3241008).
Regarding claim 48, KOMISAREK discloses an electrode (Fig. 1, 1), comprising: a sintered body (Col 1, lines 63-66), the sintered body including merged or sintered particles comprised of a valve metal (Col 1, lines 63-66); and a compound (manga-gel [Col 2, lines 25-28]) adsorbed to crack sites of the sintered body or sites of the sintered body that at least partially lack an oxide layer (Col 2, lines 32-39), the compound being configured to at least partially passivate the sites (Col 2, lines 32-39).
Regarding claim 49, KOMISAREK further discloses that the compound adsorbed to crack sites comprises molecular and/or particle-like compounds and/or composites (Col 2, lines 32-39).
Regarding claim 50, KOMISAREK further discloses, further in combination with an electrolyte and a cathode to form an electrolytic capacitor (Col 1, lines 63-70), the electrode being an anode (Col 1, lines 63-70).
Regarding claim 59, KOMISAREK further discloses that the compound is a silicon-containing compound (manga-gel [Col 2, lines 25-28]).
Regarding claim 60, KOMISAREK further discloses that the silicon-containing compound comprises molecular and/or particle-like compounds and/or composites (manga-gel [Col 2, lines 25-28]).
Regarding claim 61, KOMISAREK further discloses that the electrode is an anode, and further in combination with a cathode to form a capacitive element (Col 1, lines 63-70).
Regarding claim 62, KOMISAREK further discloses, further in combination with a housing surrounding the anode and the cathode to form a capacitor (Fig. 2, 8 housing around the capacitor).
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(s) 57-58 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over KOMISAREK (US 3241008) in view of Hu et al (US 2004/0195957).
Regarding claim 57, KOMISAREK fails to teach the claim limitations.
Hu teaches that a coating compound on an anode ([0030]), wherein the compound is a phosphor- containing compound ([0030]).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the effective filing date of the invention to combine the teachings of Hu to the invention of KOMISAREK, in order to construct the devices using known materials in the art to meet user needs based on known material properties and availability of those materials. The use of conventional materials/components to perform their known function is obvious. MPEP 2144.06.
Regarding claim 58, KOMISAREK, as modified by Hu, further teaches that the phosphor-containing compound comprises molecular and/or particle-like compounds and/or composites (a phosphor coating would contain molecular and/or particle-like compounds and/or composites).
Additional Relevant Prior Art:
Fournier et al (US 3950842) teaches relevant art in Fig. 1.
Kuzeci (US 2017/0271086) teaches relevant art in Fig. 1-5.
LI et al (US 2022/0059287) teaches relevant art in Fig. 1-4.
Hemphill et al (US 2023/0386756) teaches relevant art in Fig. 1-9.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MICHAEL P MCFADDEN whose telephone number is (571)270-5649. The examiner can normally be reached M-Thur 8am-9pm PST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Timothy Dole can be reached at (571) 272-2229. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/MICHAEL P MCFADDEN/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2847
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