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 .
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 06/17/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive for the following reasons:
Applicant argues on pg. 7:
“The Action maps the claimed operation button to Schmitz finger pad 114 (Action, page 2). The Action then points to the mounting tabs 306 of Schmitz (20160317920A1) (Action, page 2-3) to teach the claimed engaging portion. However, the "mounting tabs 306 are configured to interact with the frame 120 to couple the mounting platform 112 to the game controller 100" (Schmitz 1 46). The finger pad 114 does not include the mounting tabs 306. Rather, the mounting tabs 306 are part of the platform 112 which is separate and distinct from the finger pad 114, as shown in FIG. 2 of Schmitz (copied below for easy reference). Thus, Schmitz does not anticipate at least "the operation button includes an engaging portion " because Schmitz's finger pad 114 does not include the mounting tabs 306 of the platform 112.”
Examiner responds that Schmitz shows that the directional pad is formed from both the mounting platform 112 and the finger pad 114 (para. 34). It is well known that a directional pad is considered as an operation button. Furthermore, Schmitz shows that the mounting platform can independently operate as an operation button (i.e. touch input sensor, para. 41). Therefore, the arguments are rendered unpersuasive.
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.
Claims 1 – 9 and 11 – 19, 21 and 22 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Schmitz et al. (US Pub. No. 2016/0317920 A1).
As to claim 1, Schmitz shows an input device (controller 100/finger pad 114, Figs.1 and 2 and para. 25) comprising: a main body (i.e. frame 120/mounting platform 112, Figs. 1, 2 and 9 and paras. 27 and 33) having a switch (128, for example, Fig. 9 and para. 63) and a button receiving portion attached thereto (Figs. 9 and 10 and para. 63), the button receiving portion configured to selectively push the switch (Figs. 9 and 10 and para. 63); an operation button (i.e. finger pad 114/directional pad 110) attached to the button receiving portion by magnetic force (Figs. 2, 9 and 10 and paras. 43 and 49); a first magnetic structure (i.e. magnets 506) that is provided on the button receiving portion that includes at least two magnetic poles disposed away from each other in a first direction (Fig. 7 and paras. 57 and 58); and a second magnetic structure (i.e. ferromagnetic material) that is provided on the operation button (para. 49) and that includes a magnetic body facing the at least two magnetic poles (Figs. 2, 7 and 8 and para. 49), wherein the operation button includes an engaging portion (i.e. mounting tabs 306, Fig. 3 and paras. 34, 41 and 46) that is located in a second direction crossing the first direction with respect to the at least two magnetic poles (Figs. 2, 9 and 10) and engages with the button receiving portion (Figs. 2, 9 and 10 and paras. 34, 41 and 62).
As to claim 2, Schmitz shows that the operation button is configured to be pushed down in a third direction crossing the first direction and the second direction (i.e. α in Fig. 8, Figs. 3 – 10 and paras. 30 and 54).
As to claim 3, Schmitz shows that the first magnetic structure includes the magnet (Fig. 7 and paras. 57 and 58), and the third direction is a direction in which the magnetic poles of the magnet included in the first magnetic structure are away from each other (Figs. 3 – 10 and paras. 54, 57 and 58).
As to claim 4, Schmitz shows that the operation button crosses over an outer circumferential edge of the button receiving portion in a direction opposite to a direction in which the engaging portion is located with respect to the at least two magnetic poles (Figs. 7, 9 and 10 and paras. 62 and 65).
As to claim 5, Schmitz shows that the operation button includes a first portion corresponding to a side where the engaging portion is provided with respect to the at least two magnetic poles and a second portion that is a portion corresponding to a side opposite to the first portion with respect to the at least two magnetic poles, and the second portion has a larger width in the second direction than that of the first portion (Figs. 18 and 19 and paras. 77 and 78).
As to claim 6, Schmidt shows that the first magnetic structure further includes at least one magnet (Fig. 7 and paras. 57 and 58) and at least one U-shaped magnetic body (i.e. troughs 508, Figs. 5 and 6 and paras. 56 and 61), and the at least one magnet is disposed in a recess of the at least one U-shaped magnetic body (Figs. 5 – 8).
As to claim 7, Schmitz shows that the operation button includes a fitting protrusion (Figs. 18 and 19 and paras. 77 and 78) that includes the second magnetic structure (para. 49), the button receiving portion includes a fitting recess that receives the fitting protrusion (Figs. 18 and 19 and paras. 77 and 78), and a guided slope is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the fitting protrusion (Figs. 18 and 19 and paras. 77 and 78).
As to claim 8, Schmitz shows that the fitting protrusion of the operation button includes a first fitting portion that is a protrusion protruding toward the button receiving portion or that is a recess recessed in a direction away from the button receiving portion (Figs. 18 and 19 and paras. 77 and 78), the button receiving portion includes a second fitting portion that is a protrusion fitting into the first fitting portion and protruding toward the operation button or that is a recess recessed in a direction away from the operation button (Figs. 18 and 19 and paras. 77 and 78), and an outer circumferential surface of the first fitting portion includes a perpendicular surface or a surface more perpendicular than the guided slope (Figs. 18 and 19 and paras. 77 and 78).
As to claim 9, Schmitz shows that the main body includes a cover member that has an opening through which the button receiving portion is exposed upward (Figs. 1, 2, 9 and 10), a central portion of the button receiving portion is urged upward by the switch (i.e. dome switch, para. 63), and an outer edge of the button receiving portion comes into contact with the cover member (Figs. 1, 2, 9 and 10).
As to claim 11, Schmitz shows an input device (controller 100/finger pad 114, Figs.1 and 2 and para. 25) comprising: a main body (i.e. frame 120/mounting platform 112, Figs. 1, 2 and 9 and paras. 33 and 27), a set of switches mounted to the main body (128, for example, Fig. 9 and para. 63); a set of button receiving portions attached to the main body (Figs. 9 and10 and para. 63), each button receiving portion configured to selectively engage respective switch of the set of switches (Figs. 9 and 10 and para. 63); and a set of operation buttons (i.e. corresponding to finger pad 114), each attached to a respective button receiving portion by magnetic force (Figs. 2, 9 and 10 and para. 49); wherein the set of button receiving portions and the set of operation buttons define a set of pairs (Figs. 4 – 10 and para. 63), each pair comprising: a first magnetic structure (i.e. magnets 506) that is provided on a button receiving portion and an operation button of the pair, the first magnetic structure comprising at least two magnetic poles disposed away from each other in a first direction (Fig. 7 and paras. 57 and 58), and a second magnetic structure (i.e. ferromagnetic material) that is provided on the operation button of the pair (para. 49), the second magnetic structure comprising a magnetic body facing the at least two magnetic poles (Figs. 2, 7 and 8 and para. 49), wherein the operation button of the pair includes an engaging portion (i.e. mounting tabs 306, Fig. 3 and para. 46) that is located in a second direction crossing the first direction with respect to the at least two magnetic poles (Figs. 2, 9 and 10) and engages with the button receiving portion of the pair (Figs. 2, 9 and 10 and para. 62).
As to claim 12, Schmitz shows that the operation button is configured to be pushed down in a third direction crossing the first direction and the second direction (i.e. α in Fig. 8, Figs. 3 – 10 and paras. 30 and 54).
As to claim 13, Schmitz shows that the first magnetic structure includes the magnet (Fig. 7 and paras. 57 and 58), and the third direction is a direction in which the magnetic poles of the magnet included in the first magnetic structure are away from each other (Figs. 3 – 10 and paras. 54, 57 and 58).
As to claim 14, Schmitz shows that the operation button crosses over an outer circumferential edge of the button receiving portion in a direction opposite to a direction in which the engaging portion is located with respect to the at least two magnetic poles (Figs. 7, 9 and 10 and paras. 62 and 65).
As to claim 15, Schmitz shows that the operation button includes a first portion corresponding to a side where the engaging portion is provided with respect to the at least two magnetic poles and a second portion that is a portion corresponding to a side opposite to the first portion with respect to the at least two magnetic poles, and the second portion has a larger width in the second direction than that of the first portion (Figs. 18 and 19 and paras. 77 and 78).
As to claim 16, Schmidt shows that the first magnetic structure further includes at least one magnet (Fig. 7 and paras. 57 and 58) and at least one U-shaped magnetic body (i.e. troughs 508, Figs. 5 and 6 and paras. 56 and 61), and the at least one magnet is disposed in a recess of the at least one U-shaped magnetic body (Figs. 5 – 8).
As to claim 17, Schmitz shows that the operation button includes a fitting protrusion (Figs. 18 and 19 and paras. 77 and 78) that includes the second magnetic structure (para. 49), the button receiving portion includes a fitting recess that receives the fitting protrusion (Figs. 18 and 19 and paras. 77 and 78), and a guided slope is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the fitting protrusion (Figs. 18 and 19 and paras. 77 and 78).
As to claim 18, Schmitz shows an operation button (finger pad 114, Figs.1 and 2 and para. 25) attached to a main body (i.e. frame 120/mounting platform 112, Figs. 1, 2 and 9 and paras. 33 and 27) by magnetic force (Figs. 2, 9 and 10 and para. 49), the operation button comprising: a first magnetic structure (i.e. magnets 506) comprising at least two magnetic poles away from each other in a first direction (Fig. 7 and paras. 57 and 58); a second magnetic structure comprising a magnetic body facing the at least two magnetic poles (Figs. 2, 7 and 8 and para. 49); and an engaging portion (i.e. mounting tabs 306, Fig. 3 and para. 46) that is located in a second direction crossing the first direction with respect to the at least two magnetic poles (Figs. 2, 9 and 10) and engages with the main body (Figs. 2, 9 and 10 and para. 62).
As to claim 19, Schmitz shows that the operation button is configured to be pushed down in a third direction crossing the first direction and the second direction (i.e. α in Fig. 8, Figs. 3 – 10 and paras. 30 and 54), and wherein the first magnetic structure includes the magnet (Fig. 7 and paras. 57 and 58), and the third direction is a direction in which the magnetic poles of the magnet included in the first magnetic structure are away from each other (Figs. 3 – 10 and paras. 54, 57 and 58).
As to claim 21, Schmitz shows that the operation button crosses over an outer circumferential edge of the button receiving portion in a direction opposite to a direction in which the engaging portion is located with respect to the at least two magnetic poles (Figs. 7, 9 and 10 and paras. 62 and 65).
As to claim 22, Schmitz shows that the engaging portion of the operation button is configured to mechanically engage with the button receiving portion to control motion of the operation button in a third direction different than both the first direction and the second direction (i.e. diagonal, for example, paras. 40 and 52).
CONCLUSION
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CARL ADAMS whose telephone number is (571)270-7448. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday, 9AM - 5PM EST.
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/CARL ADAMS/Examiner, Art Unit 2627
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