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 .
DETAILED ACTION
Acknowledgement is made of the receipt of Preliminary Amendment filed 02 September 2025.
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of papers submitted under 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d), which papers have been placed of record in the file.
Information Disclosure Statement
The references cited on a Form PTO 1449 have been considered.
Specification
The specification has been checked to the extent necessary to determine the presence of all possible minor errors. However, the applicant's cooperation is requested in correcting any errors of which applicant may become aware in the specification.
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. See 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); and, 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) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on a nonstatutory double patenting ground provided the conflicting application or patent is shown to be commonly owned with this application. See 37 CFR 1.130(b).
Effective January 1, 1994, a registered attorney or agent of record may sign a terminal disclaimer. A terminal disclaimer signed by the assignee must fully comply with 37 CFR 3.73(b).
* Claims 1-20 are rejected under the judicially created doctrine of obviousness-type double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-14 of Okushima et al. (U.S. Pat. 12319064) in view of Cruz-Uribe et al. (US Pat. 9,162,453).
Claims 1-14 of Okushima et al. disclose all the limitations of claimed invention but do not disclose “a flexible wiring board for supplying power, which is supplied from a printing apparatus to drive the printing elements, to the printing element substrate, the flexible wiring board extends in the lateral direction of the passage member as recite, wherein in the lateral direction, the flexible wiring board has a region protruding from the passage member, wherein the flexible wiring board extends from one end side of the passage row to the other end side opposite the one end side; a printed wiring board that electrically connects the printing apparatus and the flexible wiring board, wherein one end of the printed wiring board is electrically connected to the flexible wiring board, and the other end of the printed wiring board opposite to the one end is electrically connected to the printing apparatus, wherein the printed wiring board is provided in plural. wherein the printing element substrate is provided on a vertically lower side of the liquid ejection head, the printed wiring board is provided on a lateral side of the liquid ejection head, and the flexible wiring board extends vertically downward from the printed wiring board; 10 the flexible wiring board supplies power supplied from the control unit to printing elements in order to drive the printing elements, and the flexible wiring board extends toward the one endmost side of the passage array.”
Cruz-Uribe et al. disclose in Figures 1-3 an inkjet printing system comprising:
Regarding claim a part of claim 1, a flexible wiring board (212) for supplying power, which is supplied from a printing apparatus to drive the printing elements, to the printing element substrate, the flexible wiring board (212) extends in the lateral direction of the passage member (Figure 2, column 4, lines 44-53).
Regarding claim 3, wherein in the lateral direction, the flexible wiring board (212) has a region protruding from the passage member (Figure 2, column 4, lines 44-53 and column 5, lines 1-2).
Regarding claim 5, wherein the flexible wiring board (212) extends from one end side of the passage row to the other end side opposite the one end side (Figures 2-3).
Regarding claim 7, a printed wiring board (212) that electrically connects the printing apparatus and the flexible wiring board, wherein one end of the printed wiring board is electrically connected to the flexible wiring board, and the other end of the printed wiring board opposite to the one end is electrically connected to the printing apparatus (Figure 2, column 4, lines 44-53).
Regarding claim 8, wherein the printed wiring board (212) is provided in plural.
Regarding claim 9, wherein the printing element substrate (202) is provided on a vertically lower side of the liquid ejection head (200), the printed wiring board is provided on a lateral side of the liquid ejection head (200), and the flexible wiring board (212) extends vertically downward from the printed wiring board (Figure 2).
Regarding claim 10, the flexible wiring board (212) supplies power supplied from the control unit (110) to printing elements in order to drive the printing elements (actuators), and the flexible wiring board (212) extends toward the one endmost side of the passage array (Figure 2, column 4, lines 44-53).
Regarding claim 20, a printed wiring board (212) electrically connected to the control unit (110); and a flexible wiring board (212) that is electrically connected to the control unit via the printed wiring board, and the flexible wiring board supplies power supplied from the control unit to printing elements in order to drive the printing elements, and the flexible wiring board extends toward the one endmost side of the passage array (Figure 2, column 4, lines 44-53).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate the teaching of Cruz-Uribe et al. in the Okushima et al.’ s ink jet printer for the purpose of providing power to the various electrical components of inkjet printing system.
CONCLUSION
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Examiner Anh Vo whose telephone number is (571) 272-2262. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday to Friday from 9:30 A.M.to 6:00 P.M..
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner'ssupervisor, Douglas Rodriguez can be reached on (571) 431-0716. The fax phonenumber for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ANH T VO/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2853
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