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
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)(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, 2 and 5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a)(2) as being anticipated by Liu et al (US 12,727,085; hereinafter Liu).
Regarding claim 1, Liu discloses a flexible printed circuit (see figure 1) consisting of a flexible cable (100a), wherein a window portion (column 7 line 64-column 8 line 18; first, second and third openings) is formed in a middle of the flexible cable (100a), and a flexible die-cutting circuit (400) is electrically connected to the window portion (column 7 line 64-column 8 line 18).
Regarding claim 2, Liu discloses the flexible printed circuit (see figure 1), wherein the flexible cable (100a) is a flexible flat cable (see abstract).
Regarding claim 5, Liu discloses a battery pack, comprising the flexible printed circuit (100a; column 1 lines 13-26; battery management system).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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, 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.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claims 3 and 4 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over (US 12,727,085; hereinafter Liu).
Regarding claim 3, Liu discloses the flexible printed circuit (see figure 1), wherein the flexible die-cutting circuit (400) or a small flexible printed circuit is electrically connected to the window portion (column 7 line 64-column 8 line 18; first, second and third openings); but Liu lacks the window portion being rectangular and having a length of 4.3-8.3 mm and a width of 0.8-1.8 mm. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to make the window portion rectangular and having a length of 4.3-8.3 mm and a width of 0.8-1.8 mm , since such a modification would have involved a mere change in the shape of a component. Where the instant specification and evidence of record fail to attribute any significance (novel or unexpected results) to a particular shape, a change of shape is generally recognized as being within the level of ordinary skill in the art. In re Dailey, 357 F.2d 669, 149 USPQ 47 (CCPA 1966). Furthermore, A change in size is also generally recognized as being within the level of ordinary skill in the art. In re Rose, 105 USPQ 237 (CCPA 1955).
Regarding claim 4, the modified Liu discloses the claimed invention except for the window portion having a length of 6.3 mm and a width of 1.3 mm. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to make the window portion having a length of 6.3 mm and a width of 1.3 mm, since such a modification would have involved a mere change in the size of a component. A change in size is generally recognized as being within the level of ordinary skill in the art. In re Rose, 105 USPQ 237 (CCPA 1955).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Hanazaki (US 9,504,142), Kim et al (US 9,198,292), Castillo Garcia et al (US 7,948,762), Kumar et al (US 7,439,449), Klessing et al (US 6,822,168), Akashi et al (US 6,630,625), Wang et al (US 12,381,296), Henle et al (US 11,843,131), Goh et al (US 10,741,817), Yamamoto et al (US 5,195,908), Ueno et al (US 6,392,148) and Sato et al (US 10,347,895) disclose a flexible printed circuit board.
Any inquiry concerning this communication should be directed to Angel R. Estrada at telephone number (571) 272-1973. The Examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday (8:30am -5:00pm).
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Imani N. Hayman can be reached on (571) 270-5528. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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September 22, 2026
/ANGEL R ESTRADA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2841
