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)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
(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, 4-5, 7 and 8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Hazeyama (US 20150357870).
As to claim 1, Hazeyama discloses a rotor that is provided in a rotary electric machine, is opposed to a stator, and is rotatable about a central axis, the rotor comprising (Para 0034): magnetic pole portions arranged along a circumferential direction about the central axis (Fig. 3); and a rotor core that supports the magnetic pole portions from one radial side (Fig. 3); wherein each of the magnetic pole portions includes: a first magnet in which the radial direction is a magnetization direction (Fig. 3); and a second magnet in which a direction inclined circumferentially with respect to the radial direction is a magnetization direction (Fig. 3), the second magnets being arranged symmetrically with each other on circumferentially outer sides of the first magnet (Fig. 3); a first gap is provided between the first magnet and the second magnet in the circumferential direction (Fig. 3); a second gap is provided between the second magnets in the circumferential direction between the magnetic pole portions adjacent to each other (Fig. 3); and a maximum width of the second gap in the circumferential direction is larger than a maximum width of the first gap in the circumferential direction (Fig. 3).
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As to claim 2, Hazeyama discloses the rotor according to claim 1, wherein the maximum width of the first gap and the maximum width of the second gap increase toward outside in the radial direction (Fig. 3).
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As to claim 4, Hazeyama discloses the rotor according to claim 1, wherein the second magnet has a quadrangular cross section orthogonal to the central axis (Fig. 3).
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As to claim 5, Hazeyama discloses the rotor according to claim 1, wherein the first magnet includes a first supported surface directed radially inward (Fig. 3); the second magnet includes a second supported surface directed radially inward (Fig. 3); and the rotor core includes: a first support surface that supports the first supported surface (Fig. 3); and a second support surface that supports the second supported surface (Fig. 3).
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As to claim 7, Hazeyama discloses the rotor according to claim 5, wherein the second support surface is a plane orthogonal to the radial direction (Fig. 3); a ridge line is provided at an intersection of the second support surfaces supporting the second supported surfaces of the second magnets of the magnetic pole portions adjacent to each other (Fig. 3); and the ridge line is exposed to the second gap (Fig. 3).
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As to claim 8, Hazeyama discloses a rotary electric machine comprising: the rotor according to claim 1; and a stator opposed to the rotor (Para 0034).
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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claim 3 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Hazeyama and in view of Takahashi (JP 2020018130).
As to claim 3, Hazeyama discloses the rotor according to claim 1.
Hazeyama fails to disclose wherein the first magnet and the second magnet include portions partially in contact with each other.
Takahashi discloses wherein the first magnet and the second magnet include portions partially in contact with each other (Fig. 23).
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Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective
filing date of the claimed invention to provide the rotor of Hazeyama with the first magnet and the second magnet include portions partially in contact with each other, as disclosed by Takahashi, to optimize magnetic fields and reduce current loss.
Claim 6 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Hazeyama and in view of Hideki (CN 117280568).
As to claim 6, Hazeyama discloses the rotor according to claim 5, a first support surface, a first supported surface, an adhesive (Para 0040), a second support surface, and a second supported surface.
Hazeyama fails to disclose a first groove to be filled with an adhesive between the first support surface and the first supported surface; and a second groove to be filled with an adhesive between the second support surface and the second supported surface.
Hideki discloses a first groove to be filled with an adhesive between the first support surface and the first supported surface (Para 0040); and a second groove to be filled with an adhesive between the second support surface and the second supported surface (“The two permanent magnets M are respectively loaded and arranged in the magnet holding grooves 34 and fixed to the rotor core 24 by, for example, adhesive”).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective
filing date of the claimed invention to provide the rotor of Hazeyama with a first groove to be filled with an adhesive between the first support surface and the first supported surface; and a second groove to be filled with an adhesive between the second support surface and the second supported surface, as disclosed by Hideki, to properly secure the magnets.
Conclusion
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/ETHAN NGUYEN VO/
Examiner, Art Unit 2834
/CHRISTOPHER M KOEHLER/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2834
