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 .
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
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Claims 1-11 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-10 of U.S. Patent No. 12,215,988.
Instant Application
U.S. Patent No. 12,215,988
1. A position detection device comprising: a magnetic field generator configured to generate a magnetic field to be detected having a first direction; and
a magnetic sensor configured to detect the magnetic field to be detected and generate a detection value corresponding to a relative position of the magnetic field generator with respect to the magnetic sensor, the magnetic sensor including:
a magnetoresistive element; and
a substrate that includes a main surface and supports the magnetoresistive element, the magnetoresistive element including a first magnetic layer having first magnetization that can change in direction within a plane being oblique to the main surface,
the magnetic field to be detected received by the magnetoresistive element including an in-plane component parallel to the plane, the in-plane component having a second direction that changes with a change in the first direction, the first magnetic layer being configured such that the direction of the first magnetization changes with a change in the second direction, and
the detection value depending on the direction of the first magnetization,
wherein the magnetic field generator and the magnetic sensor are configured such that as the relative position of the magnetic field generator with respect to the magnetic sensor changes, the first direction changes within a predetermined variable range.
11. A magnetic sensor configured to detect a magnetic field generated by a magnetic field generation source and having a first direction, and generate a detection value indicating a relation of the magnetic sensor with respect to the magnetic field generation source, wherein: the magnetic sensor includes
a substrate that includes a main surface and a slope being oblique to the main surface, and
a magnetoresistive element; the magnetoresistive element is located on the slope, and includes a first magnetic layer having first magnetization that can change in direction within a plane being oblique to the main surface, with a direction of the magnetic field received by the magnetoresistive element; the magnetic field received by the magnetoresistive element includes an in- plane component parallel to the plane, the in-plane component having a second direction that changes with a change in the first direction; and the magnetic sensor is configured such that as the relation of the magnetic sensor with respect to the magnetic field generation source changes, the second direction changes within a predetermined variable range.
1. A position detection device comprising: a magnetic field generator configured to generate a magnetic field to be detected having a first direction at a reference position within a first plane; and
a magnetic sensor configured to detect the magnetic field to be detected and generate a detection value corresponding to a relative position of the magnetic field generator with respect to the magnetic sensor, the magnetic sensor including:
a magnetoresistive element
including a first magnetic layer having first magnetization that can change in direction within a second plane corresponding to the magnetoresistive element, the second plane being oblique to the first plane,
the magnetic field to be detected received by the magnetoresistive element including an in-plane component parallel to the second plane, the in-plane component having a second direction that changes with a change in the first direction, the first magnetic layer being configured such that the direction of the first magnetization changes with a change in the second direction, and
the detection value depending on the direction of the first magnetization,
wherein the magnetic field generator and the magnetic sensor are configured such that as the relative position of the magnetic field generator with respect to the magnetic sensor changes, the first direction changes within a predetermined variable range in the first plane,
the magnetic sensor further includes a substrate that supports the magnetoresistive element, the substrate includes a main surface, and the second plane is oblique to each of the first plane and the main surface.
1. A position detection device comprising: a magnetic field generator configured to generate a magnetic field to be detected having a first direction at a reference position within a first plane; and
a magnetic sensor configured to detect the magnetic field to be detected and generate a detection value corresponding to a relative position of the magnetic field generator with respect to the magnetic sensor, the magnetic sensor including:
a magnetoresistive element including a first magnetic layer having first magnetization that can change in direction within a second plane corresponding to the magnetoresistive element, the second plane being oblique to the first plane,
the magnetic field to be detected received by the magnetoresistive element including an in-plane component parallel to the second plane, the in-plane component having a second direction that changes with a change in the first direction, the first magnetic layer being configured such that the direction of the first magnetization changes with a change in the second direction, and
the detection value depending on the direction of the first magnetization,
wherein the magnetic field generator and the magnetic sensor are configured such that as the relative position of the magnetic field generator with respect to the magnetic sensor changes, the first direction changes within a predetermined variable range in the first plane,
the magnetic sensor further includes a substrate that supports the magnetoresistive element, the substrate includes a main surface, and the second plane is oblique to each of the first plane and the main surface.
Claims 1 and 2 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1, 11, and 12 of U.S. Patent No. 11,391,795.
Instant Application
U.S. Patent No. 11,391,795
1. A position detection device comprising: a magnetic field generator configured to generate a magnetic field to be detected having a first direction; and a magnetic sensor configured to detect the magnetic field to be detected and generate a detection value corresponding to a relative position of the magnetic field generator with respect to the magnetic sensor,
the magnetic sensor including: a magnetoresistive element; and
a substrate that includes a main surface and supports the magnetoresistive element,
the magnetoresistive element including a first magnetic layer having first magnetization that can change in direction within a plane being oblique to the main surface, the magnetic field to be detected received by the magnetoresistive element including an in-plane component parallel to the plane, the in-plane component having a second direction that changes with a change in the first direction, the first magnetic layer being configured such that the direction of the first magnetization changes with a change in the second direction, and the detection value depending on the direction of the first magnetization, wherein the magnetic field generator and the magnetic sensor are configured such that as the relative position of the magnetic field generator with respect to the magnetic sensor changes, the first direction changes within a predetermined variable range.
1. A magnetic sensor for detecting a magnetic field to be detected and generating a detection value, wherein: the magnetic field to be detected has a first direction at a reference position within a first plane, the first direction changing within a predetermined variable range in the first plane;
the magnetic sensor includes at least one magnetoresistive element;
the at least one magnetoresistive element each includes a first magnetic layer having first magnetization that can change in direction within a corresponding second plane; the first plane and the second plane intersect at a dihedral angle other than 90°; the magnetic field to be detected received by each of the at least one magnetoresistive element can be divided into an in-plane component parallel to the second plane and a perpendicular component perpendicular to the second plane; the in-plane component has a second direction that changes with a change in the first direction; the direction of the first magnetization changes with a change in the second direction; and the detection value depends on the direction of the first magnetization, and wherein the magnetic sensor further comprises a substrate that supports the at least one magnetoresistive element, wherein: the substrate includes a main surface perpendicular to the first plane and at least one slope oblique to the main surface; and the at least one magnetoresistive element is located on the at least one slope.
11. A magnetic sensor system comprising: the magnetic sensor according to claim 1; and a magnetic field generator configured to generate the magnetic field to be detected.
12. The magnetic sensor system according to claim 11, wherein the magnetic sensor and the magnetic field generator are configured such that the first direction changes as a relative position of the magnetic field generator with respect to the magnetic sensor changes.
Claims 1-3 and 8 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1, 5, 9, and 10 of U.S. Patent No. 11,428,545.
Instant Application
U.S. Patent No. 11,428,545
1. A position detection device comprising: a magnetic field generator configured to generate a magnetic field to be detected having a first direction; and
a magnetic sensor configured to detect the magnetic field to be detected and generate a detection value corresponding to a relative position of the magnetic field generator with respect to the magnetic sensor, the magnetic sensor including:
a magnetoresistive element; and
a substrate that includes a main surface and supports the magnetoresistive element, the magnetoresistive element including a first magnetic layer having first magnetization that can change in direction within a plane being oblique to the main surface, the magnetic field to be detected received by the magnetoresistive element including an in-plane component parallel to the plane, the in-plane component having a second direction that changes with a change in the first direction, the first magnetic layer being configured such that the direction of the first magnetization changes with a change in the second direction, and the detection value depending on the direction of the first magnetization, wherein the magnetic field generator and the magnetic sensor are configured such that as the relative position of the magnetic field generator with respect to the magnetic sensor changes, the first direction changes within a predetermined variable range.
1. A position detection device comprising: a magnetic field generator configured to generate a magnetic field to be detected having a first direction at a reference position within a first plane; and
a magnetic sensor configured to detect the magnetic field to be detected and generate a detection value corresponding to a relative position of the magnetic field generator with respect to the magnetic sensor, the magnetic sensor including:
at least one magnetoresistive element each including a first magnetic layer having first magnetization that can change in direction within a second plane corresponding to the at least one magnetoresistive element,
the first plane and the second plane intersecting at a dihedral angle other than 90°,
the magnetic field to be detected received by each of the at least one magnetoresistive element being capable of being divided into an in-plane component parallel to the second plane and a perpendicular component perpendicular to the second plane,
the in-plane component having a second direction that changes with a change in the first direction, the direction of the first magnetization changing with a change in the second direction, and the detection value depending on the direction of the first magnetization, wherein the magnetic field generator and the magnetic sensor are configured such that as the relative position of the magnetic field generator with respect to the magnetic sensor changes, the first direction changes within a predetermined variable range in the first plane.
5. The position detection device according to claim 1, wherein: the magnetic sensor further includes a substrate that supports the at least one magnetoresistive element; the substrate includes a main surface perpendicular to the first plane and at least one slope oblique to the main surface; the at least one magnetoresistive element is located on the at least one slope; and the second plane corresponding to each of the at least one magnetoresistive element is parallel to the slope on which each of the at least one magnetoresistive element is located.
Claims 1-3 and 8-10 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1, 5, 9, and 14-16 of U.S. Patent No. 11,898,886.
Instant Application
U.S. Patent No. 11,898,886
1. A position detection device comprising: a magnetic field generator configured to generate a magnetic field to be detected having a first direction; and
a magnetic sensor configured to detect the magnetic field to be detected and generate a detection value corresponding to a relative position of the magnetic field generator with respect to the magnetic sensor, the magnetic sensor including: a magnetoresistive element; and
a substrate that includes a main surface and supports the magnetoresistive element, the magnetoresistive element including a first magnetic layer having first magnetization that can change in direction within a plane being oblique to the main surface, the magnetic field to be detected received by the magnetoresistive element including an in-plane component parallel to the plane, the in-plane component having a second direction that changes with a change in the first direction, the first magnetic layer being configured such that the direction of the first magnetization changes with a change in the second direction, and the detection value depending on the direction of the first magnetization, wherein the magnetic field generator and the magnetic sensor are configured such that as the relative position of the magnetic field generator with respect to the magnetic sensor changes, the first direction changes within a predetermined variable range.
1. A position detection device comprising: a magnetic field generator configured to generate a magnetic field to be detected having a first direction at a reference position within a first plane; and
a magnetic sensor configured to detect the magnetic field to be detected and generate a detection value corresponding to a relative position of the magnetic field generator with respect to the magnetic sensor, the magnetic sensor including:
at least one magnetoresistive element each including a first magnetic layer having first magnetization that can change in direction within a second plane corresponding to the at least one magnetoresistive element, the first plane and the second plane intersecting at a dihedral angle other than 90°,
the magnetic field to be detected received by each of the at least one magnetoresistive element being capable of being divided into an in-plane component parallel to the second plane and a perpendicular component perpendicular to the second plane,
the in-plane component having a second direction that changes with a change in the first direction, the direction of the first magnetization changing with a change in the second direction, and the detection value depending on the direction of the first magnetization, wherein the magnetic field generator and the magnetic sensor are configured such that as the relative position of the magnetic field generator with respect to the magnetic sensor changes, the first direction changes within a predetermined variable range in the first plane.
5. The position detection device according to claim 1, wherein: the magnetic sensor further includes a substrate that supports the at least one magnetoresistive element; the substrate includes a main surface perpendicular to the first plane and at least one slope oblique to the main surface; the at least one magnetoresistive element is located on the at least one slope; and the second plane corresponding to each of the at least one magnetoresistive element is parallel to the slope on which each of the at least one magnetoresistive element is located.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 12 and 13 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 prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Higo et al. (US 9,331,270) discloses a magnetic memory element and memory apparatus having multiple magnetization directions. Azumi et al. (US 8,134,361) discloses a magnetic sensor including magnetic field detectors and field resistors arranged on inclined surfaces.
Contact Information
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MILTON GONZALEZ whose telephone number is (571)270-7914. The examiner can normally be reached 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM.
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/WALTER L LINDSAY JR/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2852
/M.G/Examiner, Art Unit 2852
6/27/2026
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