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 .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
(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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-3, 6-7 and 9-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by LeBoeuf et al., U.S. Patent No. 8,888,701, patented on November 18, 2014 (LeBoeuf).
As to Claim 1, LeBoeuf discloses a wearable component [900], comprising: a carrier [901]; an electronic component [700] at least partially embedded within the carrier [901] (see Fig. 9A) and having an active surface [720]; and a flexible connection element [750] connected to the active surface [720] of the electronic component [700] (wires are connected to the surface [720]; col. 17, lines 37-42; see Figs. 7-8), wherein the carrier [901] and the electronic component [700] define a space configured for audio transmission (an audio cavity is formed between speaker [910] and opening [903]; col. 18, lines 29-31; see Fig. 9A).
As to Claim 2, LeBoeuf remains as applied above to Claim 1. LeBoeuf further discloses a plurality of electrical contacts connected to the active surface of the electronic component [700] (the active surface [720] is a PCB, which would have electrical contacts; col. 17, lines 27-29).
As to Claim 3, LeBoeuf remains as applied above to Claim 1. LeBoeuf further discloses that the flexible connection element [750] extends away from the space (see Figs 7-9A).
As to Claim 6, LeBoeuf discloses wearable component [900], comprising: a carrier [901]; and an electronic component [700] at least partially embedded within the carrier [901] (see Fig. 9A) and having an active surface [720], wherein the carrier [901] and the electronic component [700] define a space configured for audio transmission (an audio cavity is formed between speaker [910] and opening [903]; col. 18, lines 29-31; see Fig. 9A), and wherein the active surface [720] of the electronic component [700] faces away from the space (see Figs. 7-9A).
As to Claim 7, LeBoeuf remains as applied above to Claim 6. LeBoeuf further discloses that a width of the space is greater than a width of the electronic component [700] from a cross-sectional view (see Fig. 9A).
As to Claim 9, LeBoeuf remains as applied above to Claim 6. LeBoeuf further discloses that the active surface [720] of the electronic component is non-coplanar with an outer surface of the carrier [901] (see Fig. 9A).
As to Claim 10, LeBoeuf remains as applied above to Claim 6. LeBoeuf further discloses a flexible connection element [750] having a surface facing the active surface [720] of the electronic component [700] (wires are connected to the surface [720]; col. 17, lines 37-42; see Figs. 7-8).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 4-5, 8, and 11-12 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.
Claim 4 recites the unique features of the flexible connection element extending along the active surface of the electronic component and bending on a lateral surface of the electronic component. Claim 5 recites the unique features of a supporting element disposed over a backside surface of the electronic component opposite to the active surface of the electronic component. Claim 8 recites the unique feature of the active surface of the electronic component being substantially parallel to an outer surface of the carrier. Claim 11 recites the unique features of the surface of the flexible connection element bending on a lateral surface of the electronic component and configured to support a sensing element.
Claims 13-20 are allowed. The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: Claim 13 recites the unique features of a connector disposed under the carrier, and a portion of the electronic connection element being exposed from the carrier contacting the connector. The closest prior art does not disclose or suggest such features.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Ryan Robinson whose telephone number is (571) 270-3956. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's supervisor, Carolyn Edwards, can be reached on (571) 270-7136. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is (571) 273-8300.
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/RYAN ROBINSON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2694
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