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 .
2. This office action is responsive to the application Nº 18/931,584 filed on October 30th, 2024 in which claims 1-20 are pending and ready for examination.
Information Disclosure Statement
3. Acknowledgment is made of Applicant’s Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) form PTO-1449. These IDS have been considered.
Priority
4. Receipt is acknowledged of papers submitted under 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d), which papers have been placed of record in the file.
Drawings
5. The examiner contends that the drawings submitted on 10/30/2024 are acceptable for examination proceedings.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. Claims 1-5, 8-11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a) (1) as being anticipated by Shimofuku (US Pub. Nº 2022/0288933).
9. Regarding independent claim 1: Shimofuku disclosed a liquid ejection head ([0031], line 1; also see Fig. 3, reference 404) comprising:
a laminate of
a substrate ([0034], lines 1-2; also see Fig. 3, reference 120) having a pressure chamber formed therein (Fig. 3, reference 6) that communicates with an ejection port for ejecting a liquid ([0035], lines 2-3; also see Fig. 3, reference 4),
a vibration plate that vibrates to generate pressure in the liquid in the pressure chamber (Fig. 3, reference 130),
a piezoelectric film that vibrates the vibration plate by applying a voltage to the piezoelectric film ([0039], line 1; also see Fig. 3, reference 12),
a first electrode provided on one surface of the piezoelectric film between the piezoelectric film and the vibration plate ([0039], lines 1-3; also see Fig. 3, reference 13), and
a second electrode provided on the other surface of the piezoelectric film ([0039], lines 1-3; also see Fig. 3, reference 14);
a first wiring connected to the first electrode ([0040], line 2; also see Fig. 3, reference 15) by a first contact portion (Fig. 3, the contact point between wiring 15 and the first electrode 13);
a second wiring connected to the second electrode ([0042], line 1; also see Fig. 3, reference 16) by a second contact portion (Fig. 3, the contact point between wiring 16 and the second electrode 14); and
a protective film ([0042], line 2; also see Fig. 3, reference 27) having at least a first portion covering a partial region including an end portion of the first electrode, the first contact portion, and the first wiring (Fig. 3, the portion of protective film 27 to the left of recess 152 which covers a partial region including an end portion of the first electrode 13, the first contact portion, and the first wiring 15), and a second portion covering a partial region including an end portion of the second electrode, the second contact portion, and the second wiring, at one end side and the other end side of the piezoelectric film in a longitudinal direction of the piezoelectric film within a range overlapping with the pressure chamber as seen from a direction perpendicular to the substrate (Fig. 3, the portion of protective film 27 to the right of recess 152 which covers a partial region including an end portion of the second electrode 14, the second contact portion, and the second wiring 16, in a longitudinal direction of the piezoelectric film 12 within a range overlapping with the pressure chamber 6, as seen from a direction perpendicular to the substrate (vertical direction)).
10. Regarding claim 2: Shimofuku disclosed the liquid ejection head according to claim 1, wherein as seen from the direction perpendicular to the substrate, a region without the protective film is larger than a region with the protective film in a region of the substrate overlapping with the pressure chamber (Fig. 3, as seen in the vertical direction, a region without the protective film 27 is larger than a region with the protective film in a region of the substrate overlapping with the pressure chamber 6).
11. Regarding claim 3: Shimofuku disclosed the liquid ejection head according to claim 1, wherein as seen from the direction perpendicular to the substrate, the protective film continuously covers a region overlapping a periphery of the piezoelectric film (see Fig. 3).
12. Regarding claim 4: Shimofuku disclosed the liquid ejection head according to claim 1, wherein the protective film covers both end portions of the piezoelectric film, where the first contact portion and the second contact portion are provided (see Fig. 3).
13. Regarding claim 5: Shimofuku disclosed the liquid ejection head according to claim 1, wherein the first wiring is connected to the first electrode through a relay portion (Fig. 3, reference 121).
14. Regarding claim 8: Shimofuku disclosed the liquid ejection head according to claim 4, wherein as seen from the direction perpendicular to the substrate, a boundary of the piezoelectric film between the both end portions is partially covered with a plurality of the protective films (Fig. 3, a boundary of piezoelectric film 12 is partially covered with at least the insulation film 26 and the insulation film 27).
15. Regarding claim 9: Shimofuku disclosed the liquid ejection head according to claim 4, wherein the both end portions are partially covered with a plurality of the protective films, and the protective films are provided radially outward from the region of the piezoelectric film (see Fig. 3, references 26 and 27).
16. Regarding claim 10: Shimofuku disclosed the liquid ejection head according to claim 9, wherein as seen from a direction perpendicular to the substrate, an area of the protective film disposed at a corner of the first electrode and the second electrode is larger than an area of the protective film disposed at other locations (Fig. 3, the protective film 27 is applied at a corner of the first and second electrode and not applied to some other locations).
17. Regarding claim 11: Shimofuku disclosed the liquid ejection head according to claim 4, wherein a thickness of the protective film covering the end portion of the piezoelectric film where the first contact portion is provided is larger than a thickness of the protective film covering the end portion of the piezoelectric film where the second contact portion is provided (Fig. 3, the thickness of the protective film 27 covering the end portion of the piezoelectric film where the first contact portion is provided is larger than a thickness of the protective film covering the end portion of the piezoelectric film where the second contact portion is provided, due to the thickness of the wiring 16 rising up to reach the second electrode (upper electrode)).
18. Claim 19 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a) (1) as being anticipated by Shimofuku (US Pub. Nº 2022/0288933).
19. Regarding independent claim 19: Shimofuku disclosed a liquid ejection head ([0031], line 1; also see Fig. 3, reference 404) comprising:
a laminate of
a substrate ([0034], lines 1-2; also see Fig. 3, reference 120) having a pressure chamber formed therein (Fig. 3, reference 6) that is communicated with an ejection port for ejecting a liquid ([0035], lines 2-3; also see Fig. 3, reference 4),
a vibration plate that vibrates to generate pressure in the liquid in the pressure chamber (Fig. 3, reference 130),
a piezoelectric film that vibrates the vibration plate by applying a voltage to the piezoelectric film ([0039], line 1; also see Fig. 3, reference 12),
a first electrode provided on one surface of the piezoelectric film between the piezoelectric film and the vibration plate ([0039], lines 1-3; also see Fig. 3, reference 13), and
a second electrode provided on the other surface of the piezoelectric film ([0039], lines 1-3; also see Fig. 3, reference 14);
a wiring layer (Fig. 3, references 15 and 16 respectively) connected to the first electrode by a first contact portion (Fig. 3, the contact point between wiring 15 and the first electrode 13) and connected to the second electrode by a second contact portion (Fig. 3, the contact point between wiring 16 and the second electrode 14); and
a protective film ([0042], line 2; also see Fig. 3, reference 27) having at least a first portion covering a partial region including an end portion of the first electrode and the first contact portion (Fig. 3, the portion of protective film 27 to the left of recess 152 which covers a partial region including an end portion of the first electrode 13 and the first contact portion) and a second portion covering a partial region including an end portion of the second electrode and the second contact portion, at one end side and the other end side of the piezoelectric film in a longitudinal direction of the piezoelectric film within a range overlapping with the pressure chamber as seen from a direction perpendicular to the substrate (Fig. 3, the portion of protective film 27 to the right of recess 152 which covers a partial region including an end portion of the second electrode 14 and the second contact portion, in a longitudinal direction of the piezoelectric film 12 within a range overlapping with the pressure chamber 6, as seen from a direction perpendicular to the substrate (vertical direction)).
20. Claim 20 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a) (1) as being anticipated by Shimofuku (US Pub. Nº 2022/0288933).
21. Regarding independent claim 20: Shimofuku disclosed a piezoelectric actuator ([0028], line 1; also see Fig. 3, reference 18) for liquid ejection head ([0031], line 1; also see Fig. 3, reference 404) comprising:
a laminate of
a substrate ([0034], lines 1-2; also see Fig. 3, reference 120) having a pressure chamber formed therein (Fig. 3, reference 6) that communicates with an ejection port for ejecting a liquid ([0035], lines 2-3; also see Fig. 3, reference 4),
a vibration plate that vibrates to generate pressure in the liquid in the pressure chamber (Fig. 3, reference 130),
a piezoelectric film that vibrates the vibration plate by applying a voltage to the piezoelectric film ([0039], line 1; also see Fig. 3, reference 12),
a first electrode provided on one surface of the piezoelectric film between the piezoelectric film and the vibration plate ([0039], lines 1-3; also see Fig. 3, reference 13), and
a second electrode provided on the other surface of the piezoelectric film ([0039], lines 1-3; also see Fig. 3, reference 14);
a first wiring connected to the first electrode ([0040], line 2; also see Fig. 3, reference 15) by a first contact portion (Fig. 3, the contact point between wiring 15 and the first electrode 13);
a second wiring connected to the second electrode ([0042], line 1; also see Fig. 3, reference 16) by a second contact portion (Fig. 3, the contact point between wiring 16 and the second electrode 14); and
a protective film ([0042], line 2; also see Fig. 3, reference 27) having at least a first portion covering a partial region including an end portion of the first electrode, the first contact portion, and the first wiring (Fig. 3, the portion of protective film 27 to the left of recess 152 which covers a partial region including an end portion of the first electrode 13, the first contact portion, and the first wiring 15), and a second portion covering a partial region including an end portion of the second electrode, the second contact portion, and the second wiring, at one end side and the other end side of the piezoelectric film in a longitudinal direction of the piezoelectric film within a range overlapping with the pressure chamber as seen from a direction perpendicular to the substrate (Fig. 3, the portion of protective film 27 to the right of recess 152 which covers a partial region including an end portion of the second electrode 14, the second contact portion, and the second wiring 16, in a longitudinal direction of the piezoelectric film 12 within a range overlapping with the pressure chamber 6, as seen from a direction perpendicular to the substrate (vertical direction)).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
22. 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.
23. 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 of this title, 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.
24. Claims 12 and 13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Shimofuku (US Pub. Nº 2022/0288933).
25. Regarding claim 12: Shimofuku disclosed the liquid ejection head according to claim 3.
Shimofuku disclosed the limitations of claim 3 except wherein as seen from the direction perpendicular to the substrate, a length of the protective film protruding outward from the end portion of the first electrode is more than or equal to 5 μm and less than or equal to 10 μm.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to determine an appropriate protruding distance of the protective film outward from the end portion of the first electrode, since it has been held that where the general conditions of a claim are disclosed in the prior art, discovering the optimum or workable range involves only routine skill in the art. In re Aller, 220 F.2d 454,456, 105 USPQ 233, 235.
One would have been motivated to discover the appropriate protruding distance of the protective film outward from the end portion of the first electrode for the purpose of assuring that the end portion of the first electrode, the first contact portion and the first wiring are all protected by the protective film.
26. Regarding claim 13: Shimofuku disclosed the liquid ejection head according to claim 12.
Shimofuku disclosed the limitations of claim 12 except wherein as seen from the direction perpendicular to the substrate, the protective film covers up to a portion where the protective film invades the second electrode inward from the end portion of the second electrode by more than or equal to 5 μm and less than or equal to 10 μm.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to determine an appropriate distance by which the protective film invades the second electrode inward from the end portion of the second electrode, since it has been held that where the general conditions of a claim are disclosed in the prior art, discovering the optimum or workable range involves only routine skill in the art. In re Aller, 220 F.2d 454,456, 105 USPQ 233, 235.
One would have been motivated to discover the appropriate distance by which the protective film invades the second electrode inward from the end portion of the second electrode for the purpose of assuring that the end portion of the second electrode, the second contact portion and the second wiring are all protected by the protective film.
27. Claims 6, 7 and 18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Shimofuku (US Pub. Nº 2022/0288933), in view of Iida (US Pub. Nº 2016/0072039).
28. Regarding claim 6: Shimofuku disclosed the liquid ejection head according to claim 5.
Shimofuku is silent about wherein the first electrode is connected to the relay portion through the first contact portion, and the relay portion is connected to the first wiring through a third contact portion.
Iida disclosed a liquid ejection head (Fig. 2B, reference 1) comprising a vibration plate (Fig. 2B, reference 10A), a piezoelectric film configured to cause the vibration plate to vibrate (Fig. 2B, reference 12), a first electrode between the vibration plate and the piezoelectric film (Fig. 2B, reference 11), a second electrode on the other side of the piezoelectric film (Fig. 2B, reference 13), a first wiring connected to the first electrode (Fig. 2A, reference 18), wherein the first electrode is connected to the relay portion through the first contact portion (Fig. 2A, wiring 18 is connected to extension wiring 11B via through hole 34), and the relay portion is connected to the first wiring through a third contact portion (Fig. 2A, the extension wiring 11B is connected to electrode 11 via through hole 23).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Iida with those of Shimofuku by providing relays and through holes as needed in order to securely connect the first wiring to the lower electrode as disclosed by Iida in Fig. 2A.
29. Regarding claim 7: The combination of Shimofuku and Iida disclosed the liquid ejection head according to claim 6, further comprising: a first insulating film that insulates the relay portion from the first electrode (Iida Fig. 2B, reference 14), except for the first contact portion; and a second insulating film that insulates the relay portion from the first wiring, except for the third contact portion (Iida Fig. 2B, reference 15).
30. Regarding claim 18: Shimofuku disclosed the liquid ejection head according to claim 1.
Shimofuku is silent about wherein the protective film is made of an inorganic material and contains at least SiN, SiO` or any one of Al, Zr, and Hf.
Iida disclosed a liquid ejection head (Fig. 2B, reference 1) comprising a vibration plate (Fig. 2B, reference 10A), a piezoelectric film configured to cause the vibration plate to vibrate (Fig. 2B, reference 12), a first electrode between the vibration plate and the piezoelectric film (Fig. 2B, reference 11), a second electrode on the other side of the piezoelectric film (Fig. 2B, reference 13) and a protective film covering an end portion of the electrode and an end portion of a wiring layer connected to the electrode (Fig. 2B, reference 21), wherein the protective film is made of an inorganic material and contains at least SiN, SiO or any one of Al, Zr, and Hf ([0074], lines 3-4).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Iida with those of Shimofuku by making the protective film out of an inorganic material such as those disclosed by Iida in order to prevent degradation of characteristics of the piezoelectric film as disclosed by Iida in paragraph [0074].
31. Claims 14 and 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Shimofuku (US Pub. Nº 2022/0288933), in view of Lim et al. (JP 2010-132008).
32. Regarding claims 14 and 15: Shimofuku disclosed the liquid ejection head according to claim 1.
Shimofuku is silent about wherein as seen from the direction perpendicular to the substrate, a relationship We × 0.7 ≤ Wc1 ≤ We is satisfied, where Wc1 is a width of the first contact portion in a width direction of the piezoelectric film and We is a width of the piezoelectric film in the width direction and about as seen from the direction perpendicular to the substrate, a relationship Wa × 0.7 ≤ Wc2 ≤ Wa is satisfied, where Wc2 is a width of the second contact portion in the width direction of the piezoelectric film and Wa is a width of the piezoelectric film in the width direction.
Lim et al. disclosed a liquid ejection head (see Fig. 3), comprising a vibration plate (Fig. 3, reference 213), a piezoelectric film (Fig. 3, reference 222), a first electrode between the vibration plate and the piezoelectric film (Fig. 3, reference 221), a second electrodes in contact with an opposite side of the piezoelectric film (Fig. 3, reference 223), wherein a width of the contact between the first electrode and the piezoelectric film and the width of the contact between the second electrode and the piezoelectric film are substantially the same ([0026], lines 1-5).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Lim et al. with those of Shimofuku by giving the contact portion substantially the same width as the piezoelectric film in order to achieve a maximum piezoelectric effect as disclosed by Lim et al. in paragraph [0026].
33. Claim 17 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Shimofuku (US Pub. Nº 2022/0288933), in view of Kawakubo et al. (US Pub. Nº 2015/0062254).
34. Regarding claim 17: Shimofuku disclosed the liquid ejection head according to claim 1.
Shimofuku is silent about wherein residual stress of the protective film is within ±100 MPa.
Kawakubo et al. disclosed a liquid ejection head (Fig. 11, reference 200), comprising a piezoelectric film (Fig. 11, reference 42), a first electrode (Fig. 11, reference 41) and a second electrode on an opposite side of the piezoelectric film (Fig. 11, reference 43) and a protective film covering the piezoelectric film and the electrodes (Fig. 11, reference 30; also see Fig. 12, reference 70), wherein a residual stress of the protective film is within ±100 MPa ([0093], lines 4-5).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Kawakubo et al. with those of Shimofuku by using a protective film having an appropriate residual stress in order to improve the ejection efficiency as disclosed by Kawakubo et al. in paragraph [0102].
Allowable Subject Matter
35. Claim 16 is 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
36. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to YAOVI M. AMEH whose telephone number is (571)272-4578. The examiner can normally be reached M-F: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM.
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/YAOVI M AMEH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2853
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