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 .
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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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.
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(d):
(d) REFERENCE IN DEPENDENT FORMS.—Subject to subsection (e), a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, fourth paragraph:
Subject to the following paragraph [i.e., the fifth paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112], a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.
Claim 16 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(d) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, 4th paragraph, as being of improper dependent form for failing to further limit the subject matter of the claim upon which it depends, or for failing to include all the limitations of the claim upon which it depends. Claim 16 does not further limit the composition of claim 7. Applicant may cancel the claim(s), amend the claim(s) to place the claim(s) in proper dependent form, rewrite the claim(s) in independent form, or present a sufficient showing that the dependent claim(s) complies with the statutory requirements.
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) 1-4, 6-13, and 15-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Yoshida et al. (English machine translation of JP 2021-123721 A).
Regarding Claims 1-2, 4, 7, 12-13, and 16: Yoshida et al. teaches a composition comprising soft magnetic particles, a triazole (heterocyclic ring-containing compound), an epoxy compound, and a release agent such as zinc stearate (basic dispersant) ([0062], [0066]-[0067], [0124], and [0128]). While Yoshida et al. is silent as to the polarity element and hydrogen bond element of the Hansen solubility parameter of the heterocyclic ring-containing compound, Pgs. 12-13 of Applicant’s original specification indicates that in satisfying such parameters triazole compounds are preferred.
Regarding Claim 3: Yoshida et al. teaches the magnetic particles as alloys ([0060]).
Regarding Claim 6 and 15: Yoshida et al. teaches the magnetic particles having a D50 of 3.4 µm ([0131]).
Regarding Claims 8 and 17: Yoshida et al. teaches a magnetic molded body formed from the composition ([0139]).
Regarding Claims 9-10 and 18-19: Yoshida et al. teaches the material as in inductor ([0007]-[0008]).
Regarding Claims 11 and 20: While Yoshida et al. does not teach the material used as an antenna, a recitation of the intended use of the claimed invention must result in a structural difference between the claimed invention and the prior art in order to patentably distinguish the claimed invention from the prior art. If the prior art structure is capable of performing the intended use, then it meets the claim. In the present case the molded material is capable of being used as an antenna.
Claim(s) 5 and 14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Yoshida et al. (English machine translation of JP 2021-123721 A) and as evidenced by Rodriguez-Sanchez et al. (“Relating laser powder bed fusion process parameters to (micro)structure and to soft magnetic behaviour in a Fe-based bulk metallic glass” Materialia, 2024, 35, 102111).
Yoshida et al. teaches the composition of claims 1 and 7 as set forth above. Yoshida et al. teaches examples wherein the magnetic particles are KUAMET6B2 ([0131]). Rodriguez-Sanchez et al. provides evidence that such particles are spherical (Pg. 2, Col. 2).
Correspondence
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PETER F GODENSCHWAGER whose telephone number is (571)270-3302. The examiner can normally be reached 8:30-5:00, M-F EST.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Mark Eashoo can be reached at 571-272-1197. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/PETER F GODENSCHWAGER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1767 September 8, 2026
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