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 .
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 27 December 2024 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Drawings
Figures 4 and 5 should be designated by a legend such as --Prior Art-- because only that which is old is illustrated. See MPEP § 608.02(g).
Corrected drawings in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. The replacement sheet(s) should be labeled “Replacement Sheet” in the page header (as per 37 CFR 1.84(c)) so as not to obstruct any portion of the drawing figures. If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Specification
The lengthy specification has not been checked to the extent necessary to determine the presence of all possible minor errors. Applicant’s cooperation is requested in correcting any errors of which applicant may become aware in the specification.
Claim Objections
Claims 1-8 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Re claim 1, claim line 1: The term – configured – should be inserted prior to the term “for” to positively recite the functionality/intended use of the package.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1-8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Re claim 1, claim line 15: It is unclear how the phrase “vicinity of the lead frame: is to be interpreted. The term “vicinity” is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite. The term “vicinity” is not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention. Specifically, the distance to this vicinity of the lead frame is unknown, such that one is unclear how far this channel can be from the lead frame and still be deemed to be in the vicinity of the lead frame. Since the metes and bounds of the term “vicinity” are unknown, the term, as well as the claim, are deemed to be indefinite.
Re claim 3, claim line 3: It is unclear how the phrase “vicinity of the lead frame: is to be interpreted. The term “vicinity” is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite. The term “vicinity” is not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention. Specifically, the distance to this vicinity of the lead frame is unknown, such that one is unclear how far this channel can be from the lead frame and still be deemed to be in the vicinity of the lead frame. Since the metes and bounds of the term “vicinity” are unknown, the term, as well as the claim, are deemed to be indefinite.
Re claim 6, claim line 3: It is unclear how the phrase “vicinity of the lead frame: is to be interpreted. The term “vicinity” is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite. The term “vicinity” is not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention. Specifically, the distance to this vicinity of the lead frame is unknown, such that one is unclear how far this channel can be from the lead frame and still be deemed to be in the vicinity of the lead frame. Since the metes and bounds of the term “vicinity” are unknown, the term, as well as the claim, are deemed to be indefinite.
Allowable Subject Matter
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Prior art was not relied upon to reject claims 1-8 because the prior art of record fails to teach and/or make obvious a semiconductor package comprising a case body having a channel formed in the bottom thereof coupling a pressure detection chamber and a pressure intake part, the channel extending from the first end of the pressure intake part and passing through a vicinity of the lead frame, to thereby guide the pressure medium from the first end of the pressure intake part to the pressure detection chamber in combination with all of the remaining limitations of the claim.
The closest prior art, WO 2017/212800, discloses a pressure sensor comprising: a case body having a pressure detection chamber; a pressure sensor chip housed in the pressure detection chamber; a lead frame insert-molded in the case body and electrically connected to the pressure sensor chip; and a pressure intake part having: a first end protruding externally from a bottom of the case body, and a second end spatially connected to the pipe. The closest prior art fails to teach that the case body has a channel formed in the bottom thereof coupling the pressure detection chamber and the pressure intake part, the channel extending from the first end of the pressure intake part and passing through a vicinity of the lead frame.
Claims 1-8 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
The prior art disclose various pressure sensors comprising : a case body having a pressure detection chamber; a pressure sensor chip housed in the pressure detection chamber; a lead frame insert-molded in the case body and electrically connected to the pressure sensor chip; and a pressure intake part having: a first end protruding externally from a bottom of the case body, and a second end spatially connected to the pipe.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DANIEL SEAN LARKIN whose telephone number is 571-272-2198. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM.
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, Laura Sweeney can be reached at 571-272-2160. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/DANIEL S LARKIN/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2855
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