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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 3/11/2025 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the examiner has considered the information disclosure statement.
Double Patenting
A rejection based on double patenting of the “same invention” type finds its support in the language of 35 U.S.C. 101 which states that “whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process... may obtain a patent therefor...” (Emphasis added). Thus, the term “same invention,” in this context, means an invention drawn to identical subject matter. See Miller v. Eagle Mfg. Co., 151 U.S. 186 (1894); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Ockert, 245 F.2d 467, 114 USPQ 330 (CCPA 1957).
A statutory type (35 U.S.C. 101) double patenting rejection can be overcome by canceling or amending the claims that are directed to the same invention so they are no longer coextensive in scope. The filing of a terminal disclaimer cannot overcome a double patenting rejection based upon 35 U.S.C. 101.
Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 as claiming the same invention as that of claims 1 & 4-20 of prior U.S. Patent No. 12,191,649. This is a statutory double patenting rejection.
18/967,541 (Claims 1-20)
18/701,146 (US Patent No. 12,191,649) (claims 1 & 4-20)
1. A feedthrough, comprising: a dielectric flange defining a first side, a second side, and an aperture extending from the first side to the second side; and a conductor disposed through the aperture and forming a contact with the dielectric flange on the first side, wherein the conductor comprises a solid of revolution having a cross-section that is rotationally symmetric about an axis of rotation and defined in part by a compound curve.
2. The feedthrough of Claim 1, wherein the dielectric flange is characterized by a minimum nondimensional thickness from about 0.1 to about 2.0, expressed as a ratio of a width of the dielectric flange.
3. The feedthrough of Claim 1, wherein
the compound curve includes a first curved segment having a first radius of curvature from about .5 mm to about 10 mm.
The feedthrough of Claim 3, wherein the compound curve further comprises a second curved segment of a second radius of curvature greater than the first radius of the first curved segment, wherein the first curved segment is nearer to the first side and the second curved segment is farther from the first side.
5. The feedthrough of Claim 4, wherein the cross-section further comprises a third segment, the first curved segment being between the third segment and the
second curved segment, and wherein the third segment is shaped to receive the dielectric flange at the first side and to form the contact.
6. The feedthrough of Claim 5, wherein the third segment defines a knife edge concentric with the aperture.
7. The feedthrough of Claim 5, wherein the first curved segment meets the third segment at an angle "α" from about 15 degrees to about 345 degrees relative to a radial axis of the dielectric flange normal to the axis of rotation.
8. The feedthrough of Claim 3, wherein the compound curve further comprises a second curved segment of a second radius of curvature equal to the first radius of the first curved segment, wherein the first curved segment is nearer to the first side and the second curved segment is farther from the first side.
9. The feedthrough of Claim 3, wherein the dielectric flange comprises a solid of revolution defined by a cross-section that is rotationally symmetric about the axis of rotation, and wherein the aperture is concentric with the axis of rotation.
10. The feedthrough of Claim 9, wherein the cross-section defines a first segment, substantially normal to the axis of rotation.
11. The feedthrough of Claim 10, wherein the first segment further defines a knife edge concentric with the aperture.
12. The feedthrough of Claim 10, wherein the cross-section defines an annular recess concentric with the aperture, the annular recess contiguous with the first segment, and wherein the annular recess defines an inner portion with a semi-circular cross-section of radius, "R."
13. The feedthrough of Claim 12, wherein the cross-section further defines a feature, contiguous with the annular recess, comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface nearer the axis of rotation than the outer surface.
14. The feedthrough of Claim 13, wherein the inner surface is oriented relative to the axis of rotation at an angle "β," from about 0 to about 90 degrees.
15. The feedthrough of Claim 13, wherein the inner surface is separated from the conductor by a non-dimensional distance from about 0.3 to about 1.0, defined as a ratio of a radius of the dielectric flange.
16. The feedthrough of Claim 13, wherein the feature is a first feature, the inner surface is a first inner surface, and the outer surface is a first outer surface, wherein the cross-section further defines a second feature comprising a second inner surface and a second outer surface, wherein the first feature is characterized by a first height, and wherein the second feature is characterized by a second height smaller than the first height.
17. The feedthrough of Claim 16, wherein a ratio of the lengths of the first inner surface and the first outer surface is from about 0.1 to about 3.0.
18. The feedthrough of Claim 16, wherein a ratio of the lengths of the first inner surface and the second inner surface is from about 0.01 to about 1.0.
19. The feedthrough of Claim 16, wherein the feature is a first feature characterized by a first height, and wherein the cross-section further defines a third feature, farther from the axis of rotation than the first feature, the third feature characterized by a third height different from the first height.
20. (Original) The feedthrough of Claim 19, wherein a difference between the first height and the third height defines an angle "γ" from about -75 degrees to about 75 degrees relative to a radial axis of the dielectric flange normal to the axis of rotation.
1. A feedthrough, comprising: a dielectric flange defining a first side, a second side, and an aperture extending from the first side to the second side; and a conductor disposed through the aperture and forming a contact with the dielectric flange on the first side, wherein the dielectric flange is characterized by a minimum nondimensional thickness from about 0.1 to about 2.0, expressed as a ratio of a width of the dielectric flange, and wherein the conductor comprises a solid of revolution having a cross-section that is rotationally symmetric about an axis of rotation and defined in part by a compound curve, the compound curve including a first curved segment having a first radius of curvature from about 0.5
mm to about 10 mm.
4. The feedthrough of Claim 1,
wherein the compound curve further comprises a second curved segment of a second radius of curvature greater than the first radius of the first curved segment, wherein the first curved segment is nearer to the first side and the second curved segment is farther from the first side.
5. The feedthrough of Claim 4, wherein the cross-section further comprises a third segment, the first curved segment being between the third segment and the
second curved segment, and wherein the third segment is shaped to receive the dielectric flange at the first side and to form the contact.
6. The feedthrough of Claim 5, wherein the third segment defines a knife edge concentric with the aperture.
7. The feedthrough of Claim 5, wherein the first curved segment meets the third segment at an angle "α" from about 15 degrees to about 345 degrees relative to a radial axis of the dielectric flange normal to the axis of rotation.
8. The feedthrough of Claim 1, wherein the compound curve further comprises a second curved segment of a second radius of curvature equal to the first radius of the first curved segment, wherein the first curved segment is nearer to the first side and the second curved segment is farther from the first side.
9. The feedthrough of Claim 1, wherein the dielectric flange comprises a solid of revolution defined by a cross-section that is rotationally symmetric about the axis of rotation, and wherein the aperture is concentric with the axis of rotation.
10. The feedthrough of Claim 9, wherein the cross-section defines a first segment, substantially normal to the axis of rotation.
11. The feedthrough of Claim 10, wherein the first segment further defines a knife edge concentric with the aperture.
12. The feedthrough of Claim 10, wherein the cross-section defines an annular recess concentric with the aperture, the annular recess contiguous with the first segment, and wherein the annular recess defines an inner portion with a semi-circular cross-section of radius, "R."
13. The feedthrough of Claim 12, wherein the cross-section further defines a feature, contiguous with the annular recess, comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface nearer the axis of rotation than the outer surface.
14. The feedthrough of Claim 13, wherein the inner surface is oriented relative to the axis of rotation at an angle "β," from about 0 to about 90 degrees.
15. The feedthrough of Claim 13, wherein the inner surface is separated from the conductor by a non-dimensional distance from about 0.3 to about 1.0, defined as a ratio of a radius of the dielectric flange.
16. The feedthrough of Claim 13, wherein the feature is a first feature, the inner surface is a first inner surface, and the outer surface is a first outer surface, wherein the cross-section further defines a second feature comprising a second inner surface and a second outer surface, wherein the first feature is characterized by a first height, and wherein the second feature is characterized by a second height smaller than the first height.
17. The feedthrough of Claim 16, wherein a ratio of the lengths of the first inner surface and the first outer surface is from about 0.1 to about 3.0.
18. The feedthrough of Claim 16, wherein a ratio of the lengths of the first inner surface and the second inner surface is from about 0.01 to about 1.0.
19. The feedthrough of Claim 16, wherein the feature is a first feature characterized by a first height, and wherein the cross-section further defines a third feature, farther from the axis of rotation than the first feature, the third feature characterized by a third height different from the first height.
20. (Original) The feedthrough of Claim 19, wherein a difference between the first height and the third height defines an angle "γ" from about -75 degrees to about 75 degrees relative to a radial axis of the dielectric flange normal to the axis of rotation.
Relevant Cited Art
The cited art in PTO-892 was found during the examiner's search, but was not relied upon for this office action. However, it is still considered pertinent to the applicant's disclosure.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to RHADAMES J ALONZO MILLER whose telephone number is (571)270-7829. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 10am-6pm PST.
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, Timothy Thompson can be reached at (571) 272-2342. 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.
/RJA/Examiner, Art Unit 2847
/TIMOTHY J THOMPSON/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2847
Prosecution Insights