DETAILED ACTION
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 March 10, 2025 lists copies of U.S. Patent applications. The applicant has provided PDF copies of the listed U.S. Patent applications. The examiner has considered the static PDF copies provided by the applicant.
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).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer.
Claims 1-13 are provisionally rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-11 and 16-17 of copending Application No. 19/015884 in view of Tsuchida (JP2009-048902). A side by side comparison of the two applications are presented below for applicant’s convenience.
Application claims
Copending claims (19/015884)
1. A proximity sensor comprising: a coil that generates a magnetic field by an excitation current; a transmission circuit that periodically applies a pulsed excitation current to the coil; and a ferrite core that guides the magnetic field generated from the coil, wherein the coil includes: a first coil; and a second coil disposed concentrically with the first coil,
the proximity sensor further comprises: a reception circuit that detects a voltage or a current generated in at least one of the first coil and the second coil by the magnetic field which is changed by a detection object; a control circuit that detects the detection object on a basis of a change in the voltage or the current
detected by the reception circuit;
and an electric shield having a bottomed cylindrical shape which is disposed
outside the second coil in a radial direction, the electric shield includes: a peripheral portion covering the second coil from an outside of the second coil in the radial direction; and a detection surface portion located on a side where the detection object is detected, a cut crossing a direction around an axis of the electric shield is formed in the detection surface portion and the peripheral portion, and the electric shield is a press-molded product of a punched thin metal plate in a sheet metal configuration.
1. A proximity sensor comprising: a coil that generates a magnetic field by an excitation current; a transmission circuit that periodically applies a pulsed excitation current to the coil; and a ferrite core that guides the magnetic field generated from the coil, wherein the coil includes: a first coil; and a second coil disposed concentrically with the first coil, the transmission circuit applies an excitation current to one of the first coil and the second coil, and the proximity sensor further comprises: a reception circuit that detects a voltage or a current generated in each of the first coil and the second coil by the magnetic field which is changed by a detection object; and a control circuit that detects the detection object on a basis of a change in the voltage or the current generated in each of the first coil and the second coil detected by the reception circuit.
11. The proximity sensor of claim 1, further comprising an electric shield that is disposed outside the second coil in a radial direction,
wherein the electric shield is formed with a cut across a direction around an axis of the electric shield.
2. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein the reception circuit detects a voltage or a current generated in each of the first coil and the second coil by the magnetic field which is changed by the detection object, and the control circuit detects the detection object on a basis of a change in the voltage or the current generated in each of the first coil and the second coil detected by the reception circuit.
[From claim 1]
a reception circuit that detects a voltage or a current generated in each of the first coil and the second coil by the magnetic field which is changed by a detection object; and a control circuit that detects the detection object on a basis of a change in the voltage or the current generated in each of the first coil and the second coil detected by the reception circuit.
3. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein the second coil is disposed outside the first coil in a radial direction, and the first coil generates the magnetic field by causing the pulsed excitation current to periodically flow from the transmission circuit.
2. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein the second coil is disposed outside the first coil in a radial direction, and the first coil generates the magnetic field by causing the pulsed excitation current to periodically flow from the transmission circuit.
4. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, further comprising a substrate on which the transmission circuit, the reception circuit, and the control circuit are provided.
3. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, further comprising a substrate on which the transmission circuit, the reception circuit, and the control circuit are provided.
5. The proximity sensor according to claim 2, wherein the reception circuit includes: a first reception circuit that detects a voltage or a current generated in the first coil; and a second reception circuit that detects a voltage or a current generated in the second coil.
4. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein the reception circuit includes: a first reception circuit that detects a voltage or a current generated in the first coil; and a second reception circuit that detects a voltage or a current generated in the second coil.
6. The proximity sensor according to claim 5, wherein the control circuit detects the detection object on a basis of a difference between the voltage or the current detected by the first reception circuit and the voltage or the current detected by the second reception circuit.
5. The proximity sensor according to claim 4, wherein the control circuit detects the detection object on a basis of a difference between the voltage or the current detected by the first reception circuit and the voltage or the current detected by the second reception circuit.
7. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein the second coil is shorter than the first coil in a direction orthogonal to a radial direction of the second coil.
6. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein the second coil is shorter than the first coil in a direction orthogonal to a radial direction of the second coil.
8. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein the second coil is located closer to a side where the detection object is detected than the first coil.
7. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein the second coil is located closer to a side where the detection object is detected than the first coil.
9. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, further comprising a core holder that holds the ferrite core, wherein the core holder positions the second coil.
8. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, further comprising a core holder that holds the ferrite core, wherein the core holder positions the second coil.
10. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, further comprising a magnetic shield that is disposed outside the second coil in a radial direction.
9. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, further comprising a magnetic shield that is disposed outside the second coil in a radial direction.
11. The proximity sensor according to claim 10, wherein the magnetic shield includes asheet member kneaded with ferromagnetic powder.
10. The proximity sensor according to claim 9, wherein the magnetic shield includes a sheet member kneaded with ferromagnetic powder.
12. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein the ferrite core has a shaft body passing through a hollow portion of the first coil, and a ratio of a width of the shaft body to an entire width of the ferrite core in a radial direction of the first coil is 30% or less.
16. The proximity sensor according to claim 12, wherein the ferrite core has a shaft body passing through a hollow portion of the first coil, and a ratio of a width of the shaft body to an entire width of the ferrite core in a radial direction of the first coil is 30% or less.
13. The proximity sensor according to claim 12, wherein a ratio of a width of the shaft body to an entire width of the ferrite core in a radial direction of the first coil is 15% or more.
17. The proximity sensor according to claim 16, wherein a ratio of a width of the shaft body to an entire width of the ferrite core in a radial direction of the first coil is 15% or more.
The reference application claims recite the features of the claimed invention except for a peripheral portion covering the second coil from an outside of the second coil in the radial direction. Tsuchida teaches that it was known to provide a peripheral portion 40B covering the second coil from an outside of the second coil in the radial direction. The applicant is directed to review figures 7-8, 10 and 13. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to utilize the features of Tsuchida for the purpose of shielding an inner circuit board.
The method of making does not change the structure as claimed.
This is a provisional nonstatutory double patenting rejection.
Claims 1 and 7-13 are provisionally rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1, 5, 7-10 and 13-14 of copending Application No. 19/015892 in view of Tsuchida (JP2009-048902). A side by side comparison of the two applications are presented below for applicant’s convenience.
Application claims
Copending claims (19/015892)
1. A proximity sensor comprising: a coil that generates a magnetic field by an excitation current; a transmission circuit that periodically applies a pulsed excitation current to the coil; and a ferrite core that guides the magnetic field generated from the coil,
wherein the coil includes:
a first coil; and a second coil disposed concentrically with the first coil, the proximity sensor further comprises:
a reception circuit that detects a voltage or a current generated in at least one of the first coil and the second coil by the magnetic field which is changed by a detection object; a control
circuit that detects the detection object on a basis of a change in the voltage or the current
detected by the reception circuit;
and an electric shield having a bottomed cylindrical shape which is disposed
outside the second coil in a radial direction, the electric shield includes: a peripheral portion covering the second coil from an outside of the second coil in the radial direction; and a detection surface portion located on a side where the detection object is detected, a cut crossing a direction around an axis of the electric shield is formed in the detection surface portion and the peripheral portion, and the electric shield is a press-molded product of a punched thin metal plate in a sheet metal configuration.
1. A proximity sensor comprising: a coil that generates a magnetic field by an excitation current; [see bold section later below]
a ferrite core that guides the magnetic field generated from the coil; a head housing that accommodates the coil and the ferrite core; and an in-head substrate that is accommodated in the head housing, wherein the coil includes:
a first coil; and a second coil disposed concentrically with the first coil, the proximity sensor further comprises: a transmission circuit that periodically applies a pulsed excitation current to the coil;
a reception circuit that detects a voltage or a current generated in at least one of the first coil and the second coil by the magnetic field which is changed by a detection object; and a control circuit that detects the detection object on a basis of a change in the voltage or the current detected by the reception circuit, and a coil wire of the first coil is electrically connected to the in-head substrate via direct bonding.
10. The proximity sensor of claim 1, further comprising an electric shield that is disposed outside the second coil in a radial direction,
wherein the electrical shield is formed with a cut across a direction around an axis of the electric shield.
7. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein the second coil is shorter than the first coil in a direction orthogonal to a radial direction of the second coil.
5. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein the second coil is shorter than the first coil in a direction orthogonal to a radial direction of the second coil.
8. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein the second coil is located closer to a side where the detection object is detected than the first coil.
7. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein the second coil is located closer to a side where the detection object is detected than the first coil.
9. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, further comprising a core holder that holds the ferrite core, wherein the core holder positions the second coil.
8. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, further comprising a core holder that holds the ferrite core, wherein the core holder positions the second coil and fixes the ferrite core to the in-head substrate.
10. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, further comprising a magnetic shield that is disposed outside the second coil in a radial direction.
9. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, further comprising a magnetic shield that is disposed outside the second coil in a radial direction, wherein the magnetic shield includes a sheet member kneaded with ferromagnetic powder.
11. The proximity sensor according to claim 10,
wherein the magnetic shield includes a sheet member kneaded with ferromagnetic
powder.
9. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, further comprising a magnetic shield that is disposed outside the second coil in a radial direction, wherein the magnetic shield includes a sheet member kneaded with ferromagnetic powder.
12. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein the ferrite core has a shaft body passing through a hollow portion of the first coil, and a ratio of a width of the shaft body to an entire width of the ferrite core in a radial direction of the first coil is 30% or less.
13. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein the ferrite core has a shaft body passing through a hollow portion of the first coil, and a ratio of a width of the shaft body to an entire width of the ferrite core in a radial direction of the first coil is 30% or less.
13. The proximity sensor according to claim 12, wherein a ratio of a width of the shaft body to an entire width of the ferrite core in a radial direction of the first coil is 15% or more.
14. The proximity sensor according to claim 13, wherein a ratio of a width of the shaft body to an entire width of the ferrite core in a radial direction of the first coil is 15% or more.
The reference application claims recite the features of the claimed invention except for a peripheral portion covering the second coil from an outside of the second coil in the radial direction. Tsuchida teaches that it was known to provide a peripheral portion 40B covering the second coil from an outside of the second coil in the radial direction. The applicant is directed to review figures 7-8, 10 and 13. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to utilize the features of Tsuchida for the purpose of shielding an inner circuit board.
The method of making does not change the structure as claimed.
This is a provisional nonstatutory double patenting rejection.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Tsuchida (JP2009-048902) teaches a proximity sensor comprising: a coil (22, 23) that generates a magnetic field by an excitation current; a transmission circuit (¶¶ 20, 36-41 ) that periodically applies a pulsed excitation current to the coil; and a ferrite core (21) that guides the magnetic field generated from the coil (¶33), wherein the coil includes: a first coil (22); and a second coil (23) disposed concentrically with the first coil (see figs 1-2), the proximity sensor further comprises: a reception circuit (40) that detects a voltage or a current generated in at least one of the first coil and the second coil by the magnetic field which is changed by a detection object (¶40); a control circuit (30) that detects the detection object on a basis of a change in the voltage or the current detected by the reception circuit (¶35); and an electric shield (40) having a bottomed cylindrical shape which is disposed outside the second coil in a radial direction (40B, 40C; also see figs. 7, 13-14), the electric shield includes: a peripheral portion (40B) covering the second coil from an outside of the second coil in the radial direction (figs 13-14). Tsuchida does not teach a detection surface portion (40C) located on a side where the detection object is detected, a cut crossing a direction around an axis of the electric shield is formed in the detection surface portion.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHRISTOPHER E MAHONEY whose telephone number is (571)272-2122. The examiner can normally be reached 9-5:30.
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/CHRISTOPHER E MAHONEY/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2852
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