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 .
The Art Unit location of your application in the PTO has changed. To aid in correlating any papers for this application, all further correspondence regarding this application should be directed to Group Art Unit 2691.
This communication is responsive to the preliminary amended claims filed 11/08/2024.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112(b) or (pre-AIA ), Second Paragraph
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 1-3 and 6 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 claim 1, the limitation of “a reverse magnetic field” in lines 10 or 11 is indefinite, since there are more than one “reverse magnetic field” involved.
Regarding claim 2, the limitation of “a reverse magnetic field” in lines 11 or 12 is indefinite, since there are more than one “reverse magnetic field” involved.
In claim 3, it recites the limitation of “reverse magnetic field” in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation, since there are more than one “reverse magnetic field” involved so far.
In claim 6, it recites the limitation of “reverse magnetic field” in lines 1-2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation, since there are more than one “reverse magnetic field” involved so far.
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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.
Claims 1-2 and 5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by YOSHIHIRO et al. (JP2019176333 (A)).
Regarding claim 1, YOSHIHIRO et al. disclose a vibration generating device (20), comprising:
a first magnetic circuit including a pole piece (31), a first magnet (32) that is provided at one end side, in a thickness direction, of the pole piece, and a yoke (35) that is disposed so as to be separated from the pole piece and that forms a magnetic gap between the pole piece (Figs. 2 and 4);
a second magnetic circuit including the pole piece, a second magnet (33) that is provided at another end side, in the thickness direction, of the pole piece and that repels the first magnet and the yoke (Figs. 2 and 4);
a voice coil (25) that is disposed in the magnetic gap and that vibrates while being affected by a magnetic field generated by the first magnetic circuit (Figs. 2 and 4); and
a reverse magnetic field separating portion that is provided at an outer peripheral edge of the other end side of the pole piece, and that moves a reverse magnetic field , which is formed by the second magnetic circuit and which is opposite in direction to the magnetic field, away from the magnetic field (Fig. 4) as claimed.
Regarding claim 2, Boesen et al. disclose a vibration generating device (20), comprising:
a first magnetic circuit including a pole piece (31), a yoke (35) that is provided at a thickness direction one end side of the pole piece, a top pole (34) that is disposed so as to be separated from the pole piece and that forms a magnetic gap between the pole piece, and a first magnet (33) that is provided at one end side, in a thickness direction, of the top pole (Figs. 2-7);
a second magnetic circuit including the pole piece, a second magnet (32) that is provided at another end side, in the thickness direction other end side, of the pole piece, and the top pole (Figs. 2-7);
a voice coil (25) that is disposed in the magnetic gap and that vibrates while being affected by a magnetic field generated by the first magnetic circuit (Figs. 2-7); and
a reverse magnetic field separating portion that is provided at an outer peripheral edge of the other end side of the pole piece, and that moves a reverse magnetic field, which is formed by the second magnetic circuit and which is opposite in direction to the magnetic field, away from the magnetic field (Figs. 4-5) as claimed.
Regarding claim 5, YOSHIHIRO et al. further disclose the vibration generating device, wherein a diameter, centered on an axis line of the pole piece (31, 51), of an end portion of another end side of the pole piece is substantially the same as a diameter, centered on the axis line, of the second magnet (Figs. 4-5).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 4 and 7 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
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant’s disclosure.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SUHAN NI whose telephone number is (571)272-7505. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday to Friday from 10:00 am to 6:30 pm.
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/SUHAN NI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2691
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