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 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.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to the claim(s) have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claim(s) 13-14, 17-18, & 21 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Takei et al. (US 2023/0268132) in view of Sato et al. (US 2007/0047175).
In regards to claim 13,
Takei ‘132 discloses a multilayer electronic component comprising:
a body (11 – fig. 1; [0040]) including a dielectric layer ([0050]) and an internal electrode (12 & 13 – fig. 2; [0050]) disposed alternately with the dielectric layer in a first direction, the body having first and second surfaces (M1 & M2 – fig. 2; [0042]) opposing each other in the first direction, third and fourth surfaces (S1 & S2 – fig. 1; [0042]) opposing each other in a second direction, crossing the first direction, and fifth and sixth surfaces (S3 & S4 – fig. 1 & 4; [0042]) opposing each other in a third direction, crossing the first and second directions, the body having a first edge surface (R3 – fig. 1 & 4; [0044]) connected to the first to third and fifth surfaces, a second edge surface (R2 – fig. 1 & 4; [0044]) connected to the first, second, fourth and fifth surfaces, a third edge surface (R4 – fig. 1 & 4; [0044]) connected to the first, second, fourth and sixth surfaces and opposing the first edge surface, and a fourth edge surface (R1 – fig. 1 & 4; [0044]) connected to the first, second, third and sixth surfaces and opposing the second edge surface; and
an external electrode (14 – fig. 1; [0040]) disposed on the body,
wherein the internal electrode includes a first internal electrode (13 – fig. 3 & 14) in contact with the first and third edge surfaces, and a second internal electrode (12 – fig. 2 & 14) in contact with the second and fourth edge surfaces, and
the external electrode includes first and third external electrodes (14c & 14d – fig. 3 & 14) respectively disposed on the first and third edge surfaces to be in contact with the first internal electrode, and second and fourth external electrodes (14a & 14b – fig. 2 & 14) respectively disposed on the second and fourth edge surfaces to be in contact with the second internal electrode. Takei ‘132 fails to disclose the first edge surface includes a straight portion extending between the third and fifth surfaces.
Sato ‘175 discloses a straight portion extending between the third and fifth surfaces is an alternative to a rounded portion connecting between the third and fifth surfaces (fig. 3; [0087] & [0107]).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to form the rounded portion of Takei ‘132 as a straight line portion as taught by Sato ‘175 as such a structure is a known alternative to the rounded portion as taught by Sato ‘175.
In regards to claim 14,
Takei ‘132 as modified by Sato ‘175 further discloses wherein with respect to a cross-section of the body in the second and third directions, the first to fourth edge surfaces cross the second and third directions, respectively (fig. 4 of Takei ‘132).
In regards to claim 17,
Takei ‘132 as modified by Sato ‘175 further discloses wherein the first external electrode covers a portion of the third surface and a portion of the fifth surface (fig. 1-3 & 14 of Takei ‘132),
the second external electrode covers a portion of the fourth surface and a portion of the fifth surface (fig. 1-3 & 14 of Takei ‘132),
the third external electrode covers a portion of the fourth surface and a portion of the sixth surface (fig. 1-3 & 14 of Takei ‘132), and
the fourth external electrode covers a portion of the third surface and a portion of the sixth surface (fig. 1-3 & 14 of Takei ‘132).
In regards to claim 18, Takei ‘132 discloses
A multilayer electronic component comprising:
a body (11 – fig. 1; [0040]) including a dielectric layer ([0050]) and an internal electrode (12 & 13 – fig. 2; [0050]) disposed alternately with the dielectric layer in a first direction, the body having first and second surfaces (M1 & M2 – fig. 2; [0042]) opposing each other in the first direction, third and fourth surfaces (S1 & S2 – fig. 1; [0042]) opposing each other in a second direction, crossing the first direction, and fifth and sixth surfaces (S3 & S4 – fig. 1 & 4; [0042]) opposing each other in a third direction, crossing the first and second directions, the body having a first edge surface (R3 – fig. 1 & 4; [0044]) connected to the first to third and fifth surfaces, a second edge surface (R2 – fig. 1 & 4; [0044]) connected to the first, second, fourth and fifth surfaces, a third edge surface (R4 – fig. 1 & 4; [0044]) connected to the first, second, fourth and sixth surfaces and opposing the first edge surface, and a fourth edge surface (R1 – fig. 1 & 4; [0044]) connected to the first, second, third and sixth surfaces and opposing the second edge surface; and
an external electrode (14 – fig. 1; [0040]) disposed on the body,
wherein the internal electrode includes a first internal electrode (13 – fig. 3 & 14) in contact with the first and third edge surfaces, and a second internal electrode (12 – fig. 2 & 14) in contact with the second and fourth edge surfaces, and
the external electrode includes first and third external electrodes (14c & 14d – fig. 3 & 14) respectively disposed on the first and third edge surfaces to be in contact with the first internal electrode, and second and fourth external electrodes (14a & 14b – fig. 2 & 14) respectively disposed on the second and fourth edge surfaces to be in contact with the second internal electrode. Takei ‘132 fails to disclose with respect to a cross-section of the body in the second and third directions, the body has a substantially octagonal shape.
Sato ‘175 discloses a straight portion extending between the third and fifth surfaces is an alternative to a rounded portion connecting between the third and fifth surfaces (fig. 3; [0087] & [0107]).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to form the rounded portion of Takei ‘132 as a straight line portion as taught by Sato ‘175 thus obtaining with respect to a cross-section of the body in the second and third directions, the body has a substantially octagonal shape as such a structure is a known alternative to the rounded portion as taught by Sato ‘175.
In regards to claim 21,
Takei ‘132 as modified by Sato ‘175 further discloses wherein the first external electrode covers a portion of the third surface and a portion of the fifth surface (fig. 1-3 & 14 of Takei ‘132),
the second external electrode covers a portion of the fourth surface and a portion of the fifth surface (fig. 1-3 & 14 of Takei ‘132),
the third external electrode covers a portion of the fourth surface and a portion of the sixth surface (fig. 1-3 & 14 of Takei ‘132), and
the fourth external electrode covers a portion of the third surface and a portion of the sixth surface (fig. 1-3 & 14 of Takei ‘132).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim(s) 1-2 & 4-12 is/are allowed.
Claim(s) 15-16 & 19-20 is/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:
The prior art does not teach or suggest (in combination with the other claim limitations) a multilayer electronic component comprising: a body including a dielectric layer and an internal electrode disposed alternately with the dielectric layer in a first direction, the body having first and second surfaces opposing each other in the first direction, third and fourth surfaces opposing each other in a second direction, crossing the first direction, and fifth and sixth surfaces opposing each other in a third direction, crossing the first and second directions, the body having a first edge surface connected to the first to third and fifth surfaces, a second edge surface connected to the first, second, fourth and fifth surfaces, a third edge surface connected to the first, second, fourth and sixth surfaces and opposing the first edge surface, and a fourth edge surface connected to the first, second, third and sixth surfaces and opposing the second edge surface; and wherein the internal electrode includes a first internal electrode in contact with the first and third edge surfaces, and a second internal electrode in contact with the second and fourth edge surfaces, the first internal electrode is spaced apart from the third to sixth surfaces and the second and fourth edge surfaces, and the second internal electrode is spaced apart from the third to sixth surfaces and the first and third edge surfaces (claims 1-2 & 4-12), wherein the first internal electrode is spaced apart from the third to sixth surfaces and the second and fourth edge surfaces, and the second internal electrode is spaced apart from the third to sixth surfaces and the first and third edge surfaces (claim 15), wherein with respect to a cross-section of the body in the second and third directions, a length BL of one of the first to fourth edge surfaces and a length IEL of the internal electrode in contact with the one of the first to fourth edge surfaces satisfy IEL < BL (claim 16), wherein the first internal electrode is spaced apart from the third to sixth surfaces and the second and fourth edge surfaces, and the second internal electrode is spaced apart from the third to sixth surfaces and the first and third edge surfaces (claim 19), & wherein with respect to the cross-section of the body in the second and third directions, a length BL of one of the first to fourth edge surfaces and a length IEL of the internal electrode in contact with the one of the first to fourth edge surfaces satisfy IEL < BL (claim 20).
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.
Communication
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DAVID M SINCLAIR whose telephone number is (571)270-5068. The examiner can normally be reached M-TH from 8AM-4PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, TIMOTHY J DOLE can be reached at (571)272-2229. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/David M Sinclair/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2847
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