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 .
Response to Amendment
The amendment filed by the Applicant on 7/1/26 is acknowledged.
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.
Claims 1,2 and 10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
Chen (TW I716851 B, cited previously) in view of Cai (CN 201282056 Y)
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Regarding claim 1, Chen teaches a backlit circuit board (at least Fig.3B) for supporting a keycap, comprising: a substrate (first substrate 110) having a plurality of openings and a plurality of coupling members (130 and the other to the left attaching to key cap in Drawing above), the plurality of openings penetrating through the substrate to define a plurality of portions (surface indicated by 122 in Fig.3B) around the plurality of openings, the plurality of coupling members connected to the plurality of portions of the substrate, the plurality of coupling members extending adjacent to the plurality of peripheral openings toward an upper side of the substrate and configured to directly or indirectly connect the keycap 140; a lighting circuit 120 (see in Chen: and the second substrate 120 is a printed circuit board) formed on the plurality of portions of the substrate and located at the upper side of the substrate; and an illuminant 160 (light source) electrically connected to the lighting circuit and disposed on one of the plurality of bridge portions of the substrate, wherein the illuminant vertically corresponds to a light impermeable region of the keycap, and a vertical projection of the light impermeable region at least partially overlaps the plurality of portions of the substrate.
Chen does not teach the top view of the back light circuit board, wherein the plurality of openings including a plurality of peripheral openings, the plurality of portions of the substrate including a frame portion, a central island portion, and a plurality of bridge portions respectively extending in radial directions from the central island portion to the frame portion to connect the frame portion and the central island portion, the plurality of coupling members connected to the plurality of bridge portions or the frame portion of the substrate.
Kai teaches the back light circuit board, wherein the plurality of openings including a plurality of peripheral openings, the plurality of portions of the substrate including a frame portion, a central island portion, and a plurality of bridge portions respectively extending in radial directions from the central island portion to the frame portion to connect the frame portion and the central island portion, the plurality of coupling members connected to the plurality of bridge portions or the frame portion of the substrate (see arrow below, wherein the outer holes are the openings, the central area surrounding the central opening is the central island portion and the in-between area between the outer openings is the bridge portion and the outer periphery of the peripheral openings is the frame portion).
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It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the invention, to form the through holes in the base substrate as disclosed in Kai, in the device of Chen in order to harness the upper elements.
Regarding claim 2, Chen in view of Kai teaches the back light circuit board, wherein the substrate comprises a metal plate and an insulation layer at least partially covering an upper surface of the metal plate (see in Chen: the material of the first substrate 110 includes metal, plastic or a combination thereof).
Regarding claim 10, Chen in view of Kai teaches the back light circuit board, wherein the plurality of coupling members 130 extend upward relative to the plurality of portions of the substrate to be above the lighting circuit (from the teachings the coupling members that have an elongated higher portion).
Claims 1 and 11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chou (US 20020196619 A1) in view of Kai
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Regarding claim 1, Chou teaches a backlit circuit board (at least Fig.1 and 2) for supporting a keycap, comprising: a substrate (base board 1) having a plurality of openings and a plurality of coupling members (the top L shaped anchor portion 12 that attached to the key cap), the plurality of openings penetrating through the substrate to define a plurality of portions (top surface of 1) around the plurality of openings, the plurality of coupling members 12 connected to the plurality of portions of the substrate (see 11 and 1 in Fig.1), the plurality of coupling members extending adjacent to the plurality of peripheral openings toward an upper side of the substrate and configured to directly or indirectly connect the keycap 6; a lighting circuit 2 (circuit board 2 in Fig.1 and 2) formed on the plurality of portions of the substrate and located at the upper side of the substrate; and an illuminant 3 ( light element 3 in Fig.1 and 2) electrically connected to the lighting circuit and disposed on one of the plurality of bridge portions of the substrate, wherein the illuminant vertically corresponds to a light impermeable (since 3 is a plate in [0018] therefore that covers both light permeable and light impermeable portions of the key cap; [0018] The lighting element 3 is a plate type cold light board or cold cathode board and has a plurality of openings 31 and 32 of same or different shapes mating with the anchor sections 12) region of the keycap, and a vertical projection of the light impermeable region at least partially overlaps the plurality of portions of the substrate.
Chou does not teach the top view of the back light circuit board, wherein the plurality of openings including a plurality of peripheral openings, the plurality of portions of the substrate including a frame portion, a central island portion, and a plurality of bridge portions respectively extending in radial directions from the central island portion to the frame portion to connect the frame portion and the central island portion, the plurality of coupling members connected to the plurality of bridge portions or the frame portion of the substrate.
Kai teaches the back light circuit board, wherein the plurality of openings including a plurality of peripheral openings, the plurality of portions of the substrate including a frame portion, a central island portion, and a plurality of bridge portions respectively extending in radial directions from the central island portion to the frame portion to connect the frame portion and the central island portion, the plurality of coupling members connected to the plurality of bridge portions or the frame portion of the substrate (see arrow below, wherein the outer holes are the openings, the central area surrounding the central opening is the central island portion and the in-between area between the outer openings is the bridge portion and the outer periphery of the peripheral openings is the frame portion).
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It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the invention, to form the through holes in the base substrate as disclosed in Kai, in the device of Chou in order to harness the upper elements.
Regarding claim 11, Chou teaches a backlit keyswitch, (Fig.2) comprising: a keycap having a light permeable region and a light impermeable region (see in Chou: [0022]); and a backlit circuit board for supporting the keycap, the backlit circuit board comprising: a substrate 1 having a plurality of openings and a plurality of coupling members (top L shaped anchor 12), the plurality of openings penetrating through the substrate to define a plurality of portions around the plurality of openings, the plurality of coupling members connected to the plurality of bridge portions or the frame portion of the substrate, the plurality of coupling members extending adjacent to the plurality of peripheral openings toward an upper side of the substrate and configured to directly or indirectly connect the keycap; a lighting circuit 2 formed on the plurality of portions of the substrate and located at the upper side of the substrate; and an illuminant 3 electrically connected to the lighting circuit and disposed on one of the plurality of portions of the substrate, wherein the illuminant vertically corresponds to the light impermeable region of the keycap, and a vertical projection of the light impermeable region at least partially overlaps the plurality of portions of the substrate (wherein from teachings of Chou, the key cap can either be all opaque, partly transparent and full transparent, based on desired design in [0022]).
Chou does not teach the top view of the back light circuit board, wherein the plurality of openings including a plurality of peripheral openings, the plurality of portions of the substrate including a frame portion, a central island portion, and a plurality of bridge portions respectively extending in radial directions from the central island portion to the frame portion to connect the frame portion and the central island portion, the plurality of coupling members connected to the plurality of bridge portions or the frame portion of the substrate.
Kai teaches the back light circuit board, wherein the plurality of openings including a plurality of peripheral openings, the plurality of portions of the substrate including a frame portion, a central island portion, and a plurality of bridge portions respectively extending in radial directions from the central island portion to the frame portion to connect the frame portion and the central island portion, the plurality of coupling members connected to the plurality of bridge portions or the frame portion of the substrate (see arrow below, wherein the outer holes are the openings, the central area surrounding the central opening is the central island portion and the in-between area between the outer openings is the bridge portion and the outer periphery of the peripheral openings is the frame portion).
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It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the invention, to form the through holes in the base substrate as disclosed in Kai, in the device of Chou in order to harness the upper elements.
Claims 3-7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chen in Kai and further view of Liu (TW I597752 B,cited previously)
Regarding claim 3, Chen in view of Kai teaches the invention set forth in claim 1 above, but is silent regarding the configuration of the switch circuit layer.
Liu teaches a switch circuit layer (151,152 in Fig.4 corresponding to 150 in Fgi.3), wherein the switch circuit layer 150 and the lighting circuit 120 are disposed at a same side of the substrate; the switch circuit layer has a switch unit (148a and 148b and 150 shown in Fig.2B); a vertical projection of the switch unit does not overlap the illuminant.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the invention, to use the switch circuit layer as disclosed in Liu, in the device of Chen in view of Kai in order to achieve easy assembling of the light source through the switch circuit layer.
Regarding claim 4, Chen in view of Kai teaches the invention set forth in claim 1 above but is silent regarding the switch circuit layer has a first hole corresponding to the illuminant.
Liu teaches a switch circuit layer 140 (Fig.2A) has a first hole (146b) corresponding to the illuminant 180b (see in Liu: The light source holes 126a, 126b and the plurality of through holes 146a, 146b of the switch circuit layer 140 provide light energy to the light incident surface 174 of the corresponding light guide sheets 170a, 170b).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the invention, to use the switch circuit layer as disclosed in Liu, in the device of Chen in view of Kai in order to achieve easy assembling of the light source through the switch circuit layer.
Regarding claim 5, Chen in view of Kai and Liu teaches the backlit circuit board, wherein the switch circuit layer has a second hole corresponding to one of the plurality of coupling members (144a and 142a corresponding to 124a and 122a in Fig.2A of Liu).
Regarding claim 6, Chen in view of Kai and Liu teaches the back light circuit board, wherein the switch circuit layer 150 (Liu) has a switch circuit electrically connected to the switch unit 148b; vertical projections of the switch circuit and the lighting circuit 120 at least partially overlap one of the plurality of portions of the substrate (from Fig.2 of Chen, the same reason to combine art as in claim 3 applies).
Regarding claim 7, Chen in view of Kai and Liu teaches the back light circuit board, wherein the vertical projection of the switch unit 148b (Fig.2A in Liu) and a vertical projection of the illuminant 180b (in Liu) fall within a range surrounded by the plurality of coupling members (from combined teachings of Chen in view of Liu, the same reason to combine art as in claim 3 applies).
Claim 8 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chen in view of Kai and Liu and further in view of Chou2 (US 20140034467 A1, herein after Chou2)
Regarding claim 8, Chen in view of Kai and Liu teaches the invention set forth in claim 3 above, but is silent regarding a light-absorption layer disposed on the switch circuit layer to define at least one light permeable window corresponding to the keycap.
However, it is a design choice to select the extent of light absorption/emission around/below the key cap. Chou2 discloses a light-absorption layer (20 in Fig.3) disposed on the switch circuit layer to define at least one light permeable window corresponding to the keycap and it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the invention, to use the light absorption layer as disclosed in Chou2, in the device of Chen in view of Kai and Liu in order to narrow the light beam to the desired extent, emanating towards the key cap.
Claim 9 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chen in view of Kai, Liu and Chou2 and further in view of DE (DE 202011105529 U1, cited previously)
Regarding claim 9, Chen in view of Kai, Liu and Chou2 teaches the invention set forth in claim 8 above, but is silent regarding a protective layer disposed on the substrate to cover the lighting circuit; the protective layer has a reflective surface and/or a microstructure located within a vertical projection of the at least one light permeable window.
DE teaches a lighted keyboard wherein a protective layer (18,20 in Fig.5) disposed on the substrate to cover the lighting circuit; the protective layer has a reflective surface (18) (- -and/or a microstructure located within a vertical projection of the at least one light permeable window - -) and it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the invention, to use a reflective surface, as disclosed in DE, in the device of Chen in view of Kai, Liu and Chou2 in order to enhance the light by reflection.
Claims 14 and 22 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chou in view of Kai and further in view of Liu (TW I597752 B,cited previously)
Regarding claim 14, Chou in view of Kai teaches the invention set forth in claim 11 above, but is silent regarding a switch circuit layer at a same side as the lighting circuit with respect to the substrate; the switch circuit layer has a switch unit; a vertical projection of the switch unit does not overlap the illuminant.
Liu teaches a switch circuit layer (151,152 in Fig.4 corresponding to 150 in Fgi.3), wherein the switch circuit layer 150 and the lighting circuit 120 are disposed at a same side of the substrate; the switch circuit layer has a switch unit (148a and 148b and 150 shown in Fig.2B); a vertical projection of the switch unit does not overlap the illuminant.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the invention, to use the switch circuit layer as disclosed in Liu, in the device of Chou in view of Kai in order to achieve easy assembling of the light source through the switch circuit layer.
Regarding claim 22, Chou in view of Kai and Liu teaches the back light circuit board, wherein the vertical projection of the switch unit 148b (Fig.2A in Liu) and a vertical projection of the illuminant 180b (in Liu) fall within a range surrounded by the plurality of coupling members (from combined teachings of Chou in view of Liu, the same reason to combine art as in claim 3 applies).
Claim 15 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chou in view of Kai and Liu2 (US 20120048701, cited previously, hereinafter Liu2 )
Regarding claim 15, Chou in view of Kai teaches the invention set forth in claim 11 above, but is silent regarding a reflective layer at least partially covering the illuminant.
Liu2 teaches a reflective layer (33 in Fig.5 of Liu) at least partially covering the illuminant.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the invention, to use the switch circuit layer as disclosed in Liu2, in the device of Chou in view of Kai in order to enhance the light.
Claim 16 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chou in view of Kai and further in view of Chou2 (US 20140034467 A1, herein after Chou2)
Regarding claim 16, Chou in view of Kai teaches the invention set forth in claim 11 above, but is silent regarding a light-absorption layer disposed on the switch circuit layer to define at least one light permeable window corresponding to the keycap.
However, it is a design choice to select the extent of light absorption/emission around/below the key cap. Chou2 discloses a light-absorption layer (20 in Fig.3) disposed on the switch circuit layer to define at least one light permeable window corresponding to the keycap and it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the invention, to use the light absorption layer as disclosed in Chou2, in the device of Chen in view of Kai in order to narrow the light beam to the desired extent, emanating towards the key cap.
Claim 17 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chou in view of Kai and Chou2 and further in view of DE (DE 202011105529 U1, cited previously)
Regarding claim 17, Chou in view of Kai and Chou2 teaches the invention set forth in claim 16 above, but is silent regarding a protective layer disposed on the substrate and configured to cover the lighting circuit; the protective layer has a reflective surface and/or a microstructure located within a vertical projection of the at least one light permeable window.
DE teaches a lighted keyboard wherein a protective layer (18,20 in Fig.5) disposed on the substrate and configured to cover the lighting circuit; the protective layer has a reflective surface (18) (- -and/or a microstructure located within a vertical projection of the at least one light permeable window - -) and it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the invention, to use a reflective surface, as disclosed in DE, in the device of Chou in view of Kai and Chou2 in order to enhance the light by reflection.
Claim 18 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chou in view of Kai and Liu and further in view of Chen3 (US 9443674 B1, cited previously, hereinafter Chen3)
Regarding claim 18, Chou in view of Kai and Liu teaches the backlit keyswitch having a printed circuit layer, and the switch circuit layer 140 (Liu) has a first hole for accommodating the illuminant 180b (in Liu) but does not teach the switch circuit layer is a membrane switch circuit board.
However, Chen3 teaches a membrane switch circuit board 31 (Fig.10 and 9) having a multi-layered structure as disclosed below:
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and the switch circuit layer has a first hole for accommodating the illuminant 32 (Fig.9 and 10) and it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the invention, to use a membrane type of switch layer in the device of Chou in view of Kai and Liu, from the teachings of Chen3, in order to achieve a cost-effective membrane type switch layer.
Claim 19 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chou in view of Kai, Liu and Chen3 and further in view of Watanabe (US 20100097246, cited previously)
Regarding claim 19, Chou in view of Kai, Liu and Chen3 teaches the backlit keyswitch, wherein when the first hole is a blind hole (since LED 12 in Chou does not reach base board 1) but does not teach microstructures.
Watanabe teaches microstructures in the path of the light (Fig.4) such that it is attached to the membrane laminated body 20 the microstructure 28 (in Watanabe) is disposed on the at least one layer of the multi-layered structure.
From the teachings of Watanabe, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the invention, to modify the location of the microstructure in the desired path of light, in the membrane switch circuit board, in the device of Chou in view of Kai, Liu and Chen3, in order to clearly illuminate the key cap ([0082] of Watanabe).
Claims 20-21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chou in view of Kai, Liu and Chou3 and further in view of Motoki (JP 2004207166 A, cited previously)
Regarding claim 20, Chou in view of Kai, Liu and Chou3 already teaches a membrane circuit switch layer, but is silent regarding the backlit keyswitch
further comprises a glue layer disposed around the first hole and configured to adhere
the membrane switch circuit board and the backlit circuit board.
However, Chou in view of Kai, Liu and Chou3 teaches a spacer plate 4 (Liu) between the LED and switch circuit layers. And furthermore, Motoki teaches a ring like adhesive layer 9 (Fig.1 and 2) to robustly attached top and bottom keyswitch elements. And from the teachings of Motoki, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the invention, to exchangeably use a ring like adhesive element in place of the spacer plate (of Liu), for attaching top and bottom elements surrounding a illuminant element in the device of Chou in view of Kai, Liu and Chou3, from the teachings of Motoki, in order to achieve easy assembling/disassembling adhesive and easy venting through discharge holes within it (see in Motoki:
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Regarding claim 21, Chou in view of Kai, Liu, Chou3 and Motoki teaches the backlit keyswitch, wherein the glue layer is an open-ring shaped glue layer (see rejection in claim 20 above and 9 in Fig. 2 with a breach (see in Motoki: The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is provided with a vent through which the adhesive layer communicates with the outside air).
Response to Arguments
The arguments filed by the Applicant on 71/26 is acknowledged, however they are moot in light of new grounds of rejection for the amended claims.
Further, Applicant’s arguments regarding the Chen prior art that is copied below:
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It is respectfully noted that this drawing is not shown in Chen that is used in the rejection of the claim 1. It is not clear which prior art has been referred for the drawing above with a big central round opening.
Cai has been cited for the frame, bridge and central portions in the amended portions, however, other prior art also teach such openings and the portions between these openings in the base or lower support or substrate portions, in order to harness the top elements of the lighted keyboard, such as the openings shown below in:
CN 212485181 U:
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CN 201156486 Y and the openings below:
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Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Contact Information
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Fatima Farokhrooz whose telephone number is (571)-272-6043. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday- Friday, 9 am - 5 pm. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the Examiner’s Supervisor, James Greece can be reached on (571) 272-3711.
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/Fatima N Farokhrooz/
Examiner, Art Unit 2875
Prosecution Insights