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 .
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 04/16/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
As per claim 1, Applicant argues that the cited prior art does not teach wherein the input signal is generated without direct electrical contact between the button structure and the touch screen.
In response to applicant's argument that the references fail to show certain features of the invention, it is noted that the features upon which applicant relies (i.e., wherein the input signal is generated without direct electrical contact between the button structure and the touch screen) are not recited in the rejected claim(s). Although the claims are interpreted in light of the specification, limitations from the specification are not read into the claims. See In re Van Geuns, 988 F.2d 1181, 26 USPQ2d 1057 (Fed. Cir. 1993).
As per claim 1, Applicant further argues that Yoshida’s movable contact 254 differs from the claimed conductive rubber in both arrangement and function.
In response to applicant's arguments against the references individually, one cannot show nonobviousness by attacking references individually where the rejections are based on combinations of references. See In re Keller, 642 F.2d 413, 208 USPQ 871 (CCPA 1981); In re Merck & Co., 800 F.2d 1091, 231 USPQ 375 (Fed. Cir. 1986).
The Office respectfully submits that Yoshida’s movable contact 254 is analogous to the conductive pad of Huppi (Fig. 3, 34). Said conductive pad of Huppi is explicitly disclosed as being a conductive element (see paragraphs 70-71 of Huppi). Furthermore, Yoshida suggests wherein the conductive pad of Huppi may be made out of rubber for the purpose of ensuring proper contact on the target surface area. Therefore, Huppi and Yoshida disclose a conductive rubber disposed inside the button body, wherein the conductive rubber comprises a contact portion which can contact the capacitive touch sheet … and wherein the conductive rubber and the capacitive touch sheet are conducted to generate an input signal to the touch screen, as claimed.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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.
Claims 1-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over US 2006/0256090 to Huppi; in view of US 2022/0058355 to Yoshida.
As per claim 1, Huppi teaches a button structure of projected capacitive touch panel disposed on a touch screen, comprising:
a button body (Figs. 1 and 3, 20) disposed on the touch screen (Fig. 3, 12);
a capacitive touch sheet (Fig. 3, 70) disposed on the touch screen and positioned inside the button body (Fig. 3, 34);
a conductive pad (Fig. 3, 34, paragraph 70-71, “the contact pads 34, 44, 54 and 64 may be embodied as a conductive element … the bottom surface of the contact pads 34, 44, 54 and 64 may be configured with a pliable or wear resistant material and/or have shapes that reduce wear on the touch sensitive surface 14 when the contact pad engages the surface.”) disposed inside the button body, wherein the conductive pad comprises a contact portion which can contact the capacitive touch sheet (Fig. 3, pad 34 accommodates electrode 70); and
a button cap comprising a connecting body (Fig. 3, plug 30) and a cover body (Fig. 3, cap 32), wherein the connecting body is disposed on the conductive pad, and wherein the cover body protrudes out of the button body (Fig. 3, cover body 32 protrudes out of button body 20);
wherein the contact portion (Fig. 3, portion of 34 in contact with 70) contacts the capacitive touch sheet (Fig. 3, 70) when the button cap is pressed down, and wherein the conductive pad and the capacitive touch sheet are conducted to generate an input signal to the touch screen (paragraph 66, “When the contact pad 34 touches the touch sensing surface 14, signals are generated by the touch sensing input device 12 in the region of the touch than can be interpreted as a button down event”).
Huppi does not teach the conductive pad made out of rubber.
Yoshida suggests the conductive pad made out of rubber (Fig. 2(D), paragraph 194, “a movable contact 254 made of conductive rubber having elasticity is provided to absorb the contact interval variations of the portion where the lower side fixed contacts 614 on the circuit board”; Fig. 94, paragraph 628, “an electrically conductive spring 257 is sandwiched between the first stage electrode connection terminal 631 of the second circuit board 630 and the lower side movable contact unit 251 instead of the movable contact 256 made of conductive rubber”, in other words, an elastic material, which may be conductive rubber, is used to make electrical contact with an input surface).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, to modify the device of Huppi, so that the conductive pad is made out of rubber, such as taught by Yoshida, for the purpose of ensuring proper contact with the input receiving surface.
As per claim 2, Huppi and Yoshida teach the button structure of projected capacitive touch panel of claim 1, wherein a top of the button body (Huppi, Figs. 1 and 3, top of 20) comprises an accommodation space, and wherein a top of the conductive rubber is positioned in the accommodation space (Yoshida, Fig. 2D, conductive rubber 254 extends upwards towards an accommodation space) when the conductive rubber is in a stretched state.
As per claim 3, Huppi and Yoshida teach the button structure of projected capacitive touch panel of claim 2, wherein when the contact portion (Huppi, Fig. 3, portion of 34 in contact with 70) contacts the capacitive touch sheet (paragraph 70, “the touch input device 12 is a capacitive sensing device”), the connecting body protrudes downward out of the accommodation space, and the top of the button body (Huppi, Figs. 1 and 3, 20) is accommodated in the cover body (Fig. 3, cap 32).
As per claim 4, Huppi and Yoshida teach the button structure of projected capacitive touch panel of claim 2, wherein a portion of the connecting body (Huppi, Fig. 3, a portion of plug 30) protrudes out of the accommodating space when the conductive rubber is in the stretched state.
As per claim 5, Huppi and Yoshida teach the button structure of projected capacitive touch panel of claim 1, wherein a slide rail structure (Huppi, Fig. 3, sidewall structure formed in 20 and accommodating the cap) is disposed between the button cap (Huppi, Fig. 3, cap 32) and the button body (Huppi, Figs. 1 and 3, 20), and wherein the button cap moves up and down along the slide rail structure (Huppi, paragraph 50, “the mechanical actuators 18 may correspond to mechanical sliders 18A that slide relative to the base 20, dials 18B that rotate relative to the base 20, buttons 18C that translate up and down relative to the base 20 or switches pivot or toggle relative to the base 20”).
As per claim 6, Huppi and Yoshida teach the button structure of projected capacitive touch panel of claim 5, wherein the slide rail structure comprises at least one track (Huppi, vertical sidewalls of 20 accommodating cap 32 and plug 20) and at least one main body (Huppi, horizontal part of 20 accommodating cap 32), and wherein the track and the main body are arranged on the connecting body (Huppi, Fig. 3, plug 30) and in an accommodating space on the top portion of the button body (Huppi, Figs. 1 and 3, 20), respectively.
As per claim 7, Huppi and Yoshida teach the button structure of projected capacitive touch panel of claim 1, further comprising a rubber mounting portion (Yoshida, Fig. 2D, portion below conductive rubber 254 configured to contact an input detection surface) disposed on the touch screen and surrounding the capacitive touch sheet, wherein a bottom portion of the conductive rubber is disposed on the rubber mounting portion.
As per claim 8, Huppi and Yoshida teach the button structure of projected capacitive touch panel of claim 1, wherein the conductive rubber is squeezed to form a compression protrusion to contact a compression contact portion on an inner wall of the button body (Yoshida, rubber 254 has elasticity and is immediately adjacent to housing sidewalls; Huppi, Fig. 3, pad 34 configured as elastic rubber, would contact the corner of the inner wall of body 20 if/when compressed) when the contact portion contacts the capacitive touch sheet.
As per claim 9, Huppi and Yoshida teach the button structure of projected capacitive touch panel of claim 1, wherein the conductive rubber comprises a stretched edge portion in a stretched state to contact a stretched contact portion on an inner wall of the button body (Yoshida, rubber 254 has elasticity and is immediately adjacent to housing sidewalls; Huppi, Fig. 3, pad 34 configured as elastic rubber, would contact the corner of the inner wall of body 20 if/when compressed).
As per claim 10, Huppi and Yoshida teach the button structure of projected capacitive touch panel of claim 1, wherein the button body is a hollow semi-conical structure (Figs. 1 and 3, circular section of 20 accommodating plunger 30 and cap 32), and wherein the conductive rubber is disposed on a bottom portion of the button body, and wherein the bottom portion of the button body surrounds the capacitive touch sheet and contacts the touch screen (Huppi, Fig. 3).
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 JOSE R SOTO LOPEZ whose telephone number is (571)270-5689. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, from 8 am - 5 pm.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Patrick Edouard can be reached at (571) 272-7603. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JOSE R SOTO LOPEZ/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2622
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