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 .
Double Patenting
A rejection based on double patenting of the “same invention” type finds its support in the language of 35 U.S.C. 101 which states that “whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process... may obtain a patent therefor...” (Emphasis added). Thus, the term “same invention,” in this context, means an invention drawn to identical subject matter. See Miller v. Eagle Mfg. Co., 151 U.S. 186 (1894); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Ockert, 245 F.2d 467, 114 USPQ 330 (CCPA 1957).
A statutory type (35 U.S.C. 101) double patenting rejection can be overcome by canceling or amending the claims that are directed to the same invention so they are no longer coextensive in scope. The filing of a terminal disclaimer cannot overcome a double patenting rejection based upon 35 U.S.C. 101.
Claim 1, 4-8, 10, 13-15 are provisionally rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 as claiming the same invention as that of claims 1-10 of copending Application No. 19/069,354 also publication number 2025/0276521 (reference application). This is a provisional statutory double patenting rejection since the claims directed to the same invention have not in fact been patented.
Instant Application 19/068,078
Co-pending Application 19/069,354
Claim 1: A liquid ejection head comprising: a piezoelectric element having a first electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and a second electrode and a vibration plate, wherein
The first electrode, the piezoelectric layer, and the second electrode are laminated in this order in a lamination direction which is a direction directed from the vibration plate to the piezoelectric element, the piezoelectric layer is formed of a piezoelectric material containing lead as a constituent element
The first electrode has an electrode layer and a lead-containing layer which is disposed between the electrode layer and the vibration plate and contains lead, and
When, of two regions arranged in a crossing direction, which is a direction crossing the lamination direction, when seen in the lamination direction, a region farther away from a center of the first electrode is a first region and a region closer to the center of the first electrode is a second region, a first lead content percentage in the lead-containing layer in the first region is higher than a second lead content percentage in the lead-containing layer in the second region
Claim 1: A liquid ejection head comprising: a piezoelectric element having a first electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and a second electrode and a vibration plate, wherein
The first electrode, the piezoelectric layer, and the second electrode are laminated in this order in a lamination direction which is a direction directed from the vibration plate to the piezoelectric element, the piezoelectric layer is formed of a piezoelectric material containing lead as a constituent element
The first electrode has an electrode layer and a lead-containing layer which is disposed between the electrode layer and the vibration plate and contains lead, and
When, of two regions arranged in a crossing direction, which is a direction crossing the lamination direction, when seen in the lamination direction, a region farther away from a center of the first electrode is a first region and a region closer to the center of the first electrode is a second region, a first lead content percentage in the lead-containing layer in the first region is higher than a second lead content percentage in the lead-containing layer in the second region
Claim 4: wherein the first electrode has a first mixture layer which is disposed between the electrode layer and the lead-containing layer in the first region and is formed of a mixed material of lead and a material forming the electrode layer
Claim 2: wherein the first electrode has a first mixture layer disposed between the electrode layer and the lead-containing layer in the first region and formed of a mixed material of lead and a material forming the electrode layer
Claim 5: wherein the first electrode has a second mixture layer which is disposed between the electrode layer and the lead-containing layer in the second region and is formed of a mixed material of lead and a material forming the electrode layer, and thickness of the first mixture layer is thicker than thickness of the second mixture layer
Claim 3: wherein the first electrode has a second mixture layer disposed between the electrode layer and the lead-containing layer in the second region and formed of a mixed material of lead and a material forming the electrode layer, and thickness of the first mixture layer is thinner than thickness of the second mixture layer
Claim 6: wherein the piezoelectric element further has a first lead diffusion inhibition layer which is disposed between eh first electrode and the piezoelectric layer at least in the second region and which inhibits diffusion of lead from the piezoelectric layer to the first electrode
Claim 4: wherein the piezoelectric element further has a first lead diffusion inhibition layer which is disposed between the first electrode and the vibration plate in each of the first region and the second region and which inhibits diffusion of lead from the first electrode to the vibration plate
The first lead diffusion inhibition layer contains titanium, and a first titanium content percentage in the first lead diffusion inhibition layer in the first region is lower than a second titanium content percentage in the first lead diffusion inhibition layer in the second region
Claim 7: wherein the piezoelectric element further has a second lead diffusion inhibition layer which is disposed between eh first electrode and the vibration plate in each of the first region and the second region and which inhibits diffusion of lead from the first electrode to the vibration plate
The second lead diffusion inhibition layer contains titanium, and a first titanium content percentage in the second lead diffusion inhibition layer in the first region is higher than a second titanium content percentage in the second lead diffusion inhibition layer in the second region
Claim 6: wherein the piezoelectric element further has a first lead diffusion inhibition layer which is disposed between the first electrode and the vibration plate in each of the first region and the second region which inhibits diffusion of lead from the first electrode to the vibration plate
The first lead diffusion inhibition layer contains titanium oxide, and a first titanium oxide content percentage in the first lead diffusion inhibition layer in the first region is higher than a second titanium oxide content percentage in the first lead diffusion inhibition layer in the second region
Claim 8: wherein a first titanium oxide content percentage in the second lead diffusion inhibition layer in the first region is higher than a second titanium oxide content percentage in the second lead diffusion inhibition layer int eh second region
Claim 5: wherein a first titanium oxide content percentage in the first lead diffusion inhibition layer in the first region is higher than a second titanium oxide content percentage in the first lead diffusion inhibition layer in the second region
Claim 10: wherein the first lead diffusion inhibition layer is provided over a range including the first region, the second region, and a third region which is, when seen in the lamination direction, a region opposite from the second region in the crossing direction and connected to the first region, and a third titanium content percentage in the first lead diffusion inhibition layer int eh third region is higher than a first titanium content percentage in the first lead diffusion inhibition layer in the first region
Claim 7: a second lead diffusion inhibition layer containing titanium and disposed between the piezoelectric layer and the vibration plate in a third region which is, when seen in the lamination direction, a region opposite from the second region in the crossing direction and connected to the first region
Wherein a third titanium content percentage in the second lead diffusion inhibition layer in the third region is higher than the first titanium content percentage in the first lead diffusion inhibition layer in the first region
Claim 13: wherein the vibration plate has an insulating layer containing zirconium, and the insulating layer is disposed offset of a location closer to the fist electrode in a direction of thickness of the vibration plate
Claim 8: wherein the vibration plate has an insulating layer containing zirconium, and the insulating layer is disposed offset to a location closer to the first electrode in a direction of thickness of the vibration plate
Claim 14: wherein the piezoelectric layer contains at least one element selected from V, Nb, Ta, Ni, P, As, Sb, and Bi, and a first content percentage of the at least one element in the lead-containing layer in the first region is higher than a second content percentage of the at least one element in the lead-containing layer in the second region
Claim 9: wherein the piezoelectric layer contains at least one element selected from V, Nb, Ta, Ni, P, As, Sb, and Bi, and a first content percentage of the at least one element in the lead-containing layer in the first region is higher than a second content percentage of the at least one element in the lead-containing layer in the second region
Claim 15: wherein in the first region, an angle formed between a surface of the first electrode which is opposite from the vibration plate and a plate surface of the vibration plate is no less than 10 degrees and less than 60 degrees
Claim 10: wherein in the first region, an angle formed between a surface of the first electrode which is opposite from the vibration plate and a plate surface of the vibration plate is no less than 10 degrees and less than 60 degrees
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2-3, 9, 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.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JASON S UHLENHAKE whose telephone number is (571)272-5916. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Douglas X. Rodriguez can be reached at (571) 431-0716. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JASON S UHLENHAKE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2853 September 28, 2026
