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 .
Priority
Acknowledgment is made of applicant's claim for foreign priority based on an application filed in Japan on 3/14/2025. It is noted, however, that applicant has not filed a certified copy of the JP 2025-040761 application as required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1-18 and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
In claim 1, a number of the mathematical expressions for cases (1) and (2) have symbols, subscripts and/or exponents that are too small and blurry such that the claimed subject matter cannot be ascertained with reasonable certainty. The mathematical expressions for cases (1) and (2) must be re-presented in larger font that is sufficiently clear. Claims 2-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) by virtue of their dependence from claim 1. Similarly, in claim 4, in the mathematical expression beginning with “4.74”, the exponent of “h” is not sufficiently clear. Similarly, in the mathematical expression of claim 20, the exponents of each “10” are not sufficiently clear. Clarification is required so that the scope of the claims is clear.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1 and 20 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action. US 2014/0253115 to Ausserlechner is presently considered the closest prior art of record to the inventions of claims 1, 19 and 20. Ausserlechner relates to low-cost integrated current sensors which sense current via an associated magnetic field. With reference to Figs. 7A and 7B, for example, Ausserlechner discloses in connection with claim 1 a current sensor comprising:
at least one magnetoelectric conversion unit (sensor element 714b, which may be a Hall sensor, see, e.g., paragraph 35);
a current conductor through which a measurement current measured by the at least one magnetoelectric conversion unit flows (first sheet metal layer 702 having a void or notch 708 and contact portions 712 for a primary current);
a signal processing unit which processes a signal output from the at least one magnetoelectric conversion unit (circuitry of die 706 connected to sensor element 714b);
a conductor plate which at least partially overlaps the current conductor in plan view (second sheet metal layer 704 in a stacked configuration with a semiconductor die 706; note in Fig. 7A that second sheet metal layer 704 at least partially overlaps first sheet metal layer 702); and
a sealing portion which seals at least the at least one magnetoelectric conversion unit, the current conductor, and the signal processing unit (sensor package 720, which can be a mold body), wherein
the current conductor includes a main body portion which at least partially surrounds one magnetoelectric conversion unit of the at least one magnetoelectric conversion unit in plan view, and the main body portion includes a first portion which surrounds at least three side surfaces of the one magnetoelectric conversion unit (note notch 708 formed in main body of layer 702, with notch 708 including a first portion which surrounds at least three sides of sensor element 714b in plan view of Fig. 7A).
Further, the examiner notes in Figs. 7A-7B of Ausserlechner as applied above that a thickness of the conductor plate, a magnetic permeability of the conductor plate, an electrical conductivity of the conductor plate, a magnetic permeability of the current conductor, and an electrical conductivity of the current conductor are quantities/properties inherent in Ausserlechner’s arrangement. Likewise, a shortest distance between a center of a magnetic sensing surface of the at least one magnetoelectric conversion unit and a surface of the current conductor in plan view, a maximum width of the first portion in plan view, a shorter distance of a distance between the conductor plate and the current conductor and a distance between the conductor plate and the magnetic sensing surface of the at least one magnetoelectric conversion unit in a thickness direction, and a narrowest width in a portion, which crosses the at least one magnetoelectric conversion unit, of the conductor plate in plan view are quantities/properties inherent in Ausserlechner’s arrangement of Figs. 7A-7B. Ausserlechner taken alone or in combination with the other prior art of record, as considered and understood by the examiner, does not appear to teach or fairly suggest:
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Regarding claim 20, Ausserlechner taken alone or in combination with the other prior art of record, as considered and understood by the examiner, does not appear to teach or fairly suggest:
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Claims 2-18 would be allowable by virtue of their dependence from claim 1, subject to claim 4 being rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
Claim 19 is allowed.
Regarding claim 19, Ausserlechner taken alone or in combination with the other prior art of record, as considered and understood by the examiner, does not appear to teach or fairly suggest:
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Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
US 7,166,807 to Gagnon et al. relates to a miniaturized current sensor in an integrated circuit package; see, e.g., Fig. 7.
US 7,463,016 to Shoji relates to a current sensor capable of precisely measuring current which flows through a conductor line; see, e.g., Fig. 2.
US 2014/0167736 to Suzuki et al. relates to a current sensor substrate and a current sensor wherein a primary conductor having a U-shaped current path is provided; see, e.g., Fig. 1.
US 2015/0022196 to Hebiguchi et al. relates to a current sensor that detects magnetism generated when a current flows through a current path having a U-like shape; see, e.g., Fig. 1.
US 2021/0376227 to Latham et al. relates to a high isolation current sensor; see, e.g., Fig. 4B.
US 11,644,485 to Liu et al. relates to current sensor integrated circuits with electrical isolation structures and techniques; see, e.g., Fig. 4.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DANIEL R MILLER whose telephone number is (571)270-1964. The examiner can normally be reached 9AM-5PM EST M-F.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Lee Rodak, can be reached at 571-270-5628. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/DANIEL R MILLER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2858
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