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 .
Preliminary Amendment
Examiner acknowledges the Preliminary amendment filed 08/23/2024.
Claims
Claims 1-15 and 29-31 are pending.
Claims 16-28 and 32-34 are cancelled.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1-15 and 29-31 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Regarding claims 1 and 15, the claims recite “the plurality of slits are varied in a distance from a center of gravity of the strain generating body to one-side ends of the slits and in a distance from the center of gravity of the strain generating body to the other-side ends of the slits”. However it is unclear what the variation actually is referring to as the claim reads as it’s variation across the plurality of slits and across the plurality of slits that different slits have their one side ends at different radii and their other-side ends at a different radii. The instant specification describes that the slits are not shaped along the circumference of an imaginary circle centered on the center of gravity (g) i.e. that each respective slit has it’s two ends at different radii and are non-concentric (See Instant specification, Paragraphs 0019-0022). As further evidence claim 2 recites a circle to circle slit design, while claim 3 recites an inner and outer slit design. Therefore, claim 1 has been rendered indefinite.
Regarding claim 4, the claim recites the limitation “the inner slit” and “the outer slit”. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Regarding claim 5, the claim recites “wherein two strain gauges are positioned so as to face each other across the slit crossed by the straight line, each of the two strain gauges being the strain gauge.”. However it is unclear if the claim is introducing two new distinct strain gauges as a strain gauge is already introduced in claim 1 from which it ultimately depends. Therefore, the claim has been rendered indefinite.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-15 and 29-31 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejections under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office Action.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Prior arts made available do not teach or fairly suggest, a strain generating body including a plurality of slits each having an elongated shape and bending in a same direction; wherein the plurality of slits are varied in a distance from a center of gravity of the strain generating body to one-side ends of the slits and in a distance from the center of gravity of the strain generating body to the other-side ends of the slits as recited in claims 1 and 15.
The instant application provides the advantage of providing a slit structure that secures usable surface area on the strain generating body to mount the strain gauge/detector and allows for compressive and tensile strain to be detected simultaneously.
Conclusion
The prior art as cited on the PTO-892 is made of record and not relied upon but considered pertinent to applicant’s disclosure.
Chen et al US10343898 discloses a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) microphone is provided. The MEMS microphone includes a substrate, a backplate, a diaphragm, a first insulating protrusion and a plurality of second insulating protrusions. The backplate is disposed on a side of the substrate. The diaphragm is disposed between the substrate and the backplate and is movable relative to the backplate. The first insulating protrusion and the second insulating protrusions are formed on the side of the backplate facing the diaphragm. The first insulating protrusion is connected to and affixed to the diaphragm permanently, and an air gap is formed between the diaphragm and each of the second insulating protrusions. (Fig 1-10, Col 4 line 44 – Col 8 line 12)
Sparks et al US9386379 discloses mechanical resonating structures, as well as related devices and methods of manufacture. The mechanical resonating structures can be microphones, each including a diaphragm and a piezoelectric stack. The diaphragm can have one or more openings formed therethrough to enable the determination of an acoustic pressure being applied to the diaphragm through signals emitted by the piezoelectric stack. (Fig 1A-6, Col 4 line 22 – Col 7 line 19)
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/NIGEL H PLUMB/ Examiner, Art Unit 2855
/Eric S. McCall/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2855
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