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 .
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Specification
The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
The following title is suggested: A PRESSURE SENSOR DETECTING A DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE BETWEEN TWO FLUIDS.
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 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Freud et al (US 4599906 A) “hereinafter Freud”.
In regards to claim 1, Freud teaches a pressure sensor comprising a base (10, pressure receiving body) including a first fluid receiving deformation of a first diaphragm (6), a second fluid receiving deformation of a second diaphragm (11) (Column 2, lines 31-56; Figure 1), and a sensor unit (22, i.e. capacitive type transducer) detecting a pressure difference between the first fluid and the second fluid (Column 2, line 62 – Column 3, line 10); a first port (7, i.e. capillary) attached to the base (10) and including a first flow path (82, i.e. channel) through which a third fluid serving as a measurement target is introduced into the first diaphragm (6) (Column 2, lines 57-61); and a second port (8, i.e. capillary) attached to the base (10) and including a second flow path (19, i.e. channel) through which a fourth fluid serving as a measurement target lower in pressure than the third fluid is introduced into the second diaphragm (11) (Column 2, lines 57-61), wherein an outer diameter of the first port (7) is equal to an outer diameter of the second port (8), and a diameter of the first flow path (82) is smaller than a diameter of the second flow path (19) (See Figure 1).
In regards to claim 2, Freud teaches wherein the second port (19) is arranged in a direction crossing the first port (19) (wherein the arrangement in a direction crossing will be read as the offset configuration as seen in Figure 1).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 3-7 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: In the Examiner’s opinion in regards to claim 3, Freud teaches a pressure sensor comprising a base (10, pressure receiving body) including a first fluid receiving deformation of a first diaphragm (6), a second fluid receiving deformation of a second diaphragm (11) (Column 2, lines 31-56; Figure 1), and a sensor unit (22, i.e. capacitive type transducer) detecting a pressure difference between the first fluid and the second fluid (Column 2, line 62 – Column 3, line 10); a first port (7, i.e. capillary) attached to the base (10) and including a first flow path (82, i.e. channel) through which a third fluid serving as a measurement target is introduced into the first diaphragm (6) (Column 2, lines 57-61); and a second port (8, i.e. capillary) attached to the base (10) and including a second flow path (19, i.e. channel) through which a fourth fluid serving as a measurement target lower in pressure than the third fluid is introduced into the second diaphragm (11) (Column 2, lines 57-61), wherein an outer diameter of the first port (7) is equal to an outer diameter of the second port (8), and a diameter of the first flow path (82) is smaller than a diameter of the second flow path (19) (See Figure 1).
However, Freud does not teach the structural limitations of the pressure sensor further comprising the base including a first surface including a first recess, a second surface including a second recess and provided in a direction crossing the first surface wherein a first hole communicating a first bottom surface of the first recess with a second bottom surface of the second recess, and a third surface parallel to the first surface where the stated limitations are not suggested in addition to not being anticipated or taught in combination with the remaining limitations of dependent claim 3 and independent claim 1 upon overcoming the rejection under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1). The remaining claims are allowed due to their dependency.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Tokuda et al (US 11366032 B2) - The present disclosure relates to a sensor element.
Leitko et al (US 7434472 B2) - The present invention relates in general to differential pressure transducers, and more particularly to a differential pressure transducer configuration that includes a displacement sensor.
Tobita et al (US 4995266 A) - This invention relates to a differential pressure transmitter and more particularly to a differential pressure transmitter having a suitable structure for preventing damage to differential pressure detecting diaphragms even when a differential pressure to be measured between two front and rear points by orifice plates changes abruptly and substantially.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JERMAINE L JENKINS whose telephone number is (571)272-2179. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7-3 EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Peter Macchiarolo can be reached at 571-272-2375. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/J.L.J/Examiner, Art Unit 2855
/PETER J MACCHIAROLO/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2855
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