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 . 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.
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of “Head Species IV, FIGS. 2C, 3A and 3D, and Circuit Species B, FIG. 4 which corresponds to Claims 1-6, 8, and 10-20” in the reply filed on 15 June 2026 is acknowledged.
Claims 2-6, 11, and 15-19, however, do not read on elected Head Species IV of FIGS. 2C, 3A and 3D, and elected Circuit Species B of FIG. FIG. 4 as these species do not include “disposing an insulation layer… between the trailing shield and the side shield and the leading shields” as per claims 2-6 and 18-19, “the second electrical path is formed between the first electrical contact, a first series resistor, the side shield, a conducting side gap and leading gap equivalent resistor, the main pole, and the second electrical contact” as per claim 11, “disposing a first series resistor in series with the side shield and the leading shield” as per claim 15, and “wherein the first electrical path further comprises a second series resistor disposed in series with the trailing shield” as per claims 16-17.
The limitation “disposing an insulation layer… between the trailing shield and the side shield and the leading shields” of claims 2-6 and 18-19 is directed to non-elected Head Species XIV-XXIV of FIGS. 6A-6C, 7A-7C, 8A-8C, and 9A-9C.
The limitation “the second electrical path is formed between the first electrical contact, a first series resistor, the side shield, a conducting side gap and leading gap equivalent resistor, the main pole, and the second electrical contact” as per claim 11 is directed to non-elected Circuit Species C of FIG. 10A.
The limitation “disposing a first series resistor in series with the side shield and the leading shield” as per claim 15 is directed to non-elected Circuit Species C of FIG. 10A.
The limitation “wherein the first electrical path further comprises a second series resistor disposed in series with the trailing shield” as per claims 16-17 is directed to non-elected Circuit Species D of FIG. 10B.
Accordingly, claims 2-9, 11 and 15-19 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to one or more non-elected inventions/species, there being no allowable generic or linking claim.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 21 October 2025 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement has been considered by the examiner.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(5) because they include one or more reference characters not mentioned in the description. Note, for instance, S2C (shown in FIGS. 5A and 5C)
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) and/or an amendment to the specification to add the reference character(s) in the description in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(b) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities:
a. In line 6 of paragraph [0083], “Tyt” should be changed to --TYt-- in order to be consistent with that shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B.
b. In line 2 of paragraph [00104], “first design 600A” should be changed to
--first design 600a-- in order to be consistent with that shown in FIG. 6A.
c. In line 1 of paragraph [00105], “first design 600B” should be changed to
--first design 600b-- in order to be consistent with that shown in FIG. 6B.
d. In line 1 of paragraph [00106], “first design 600C” should be changed to
--first design 600c-- in order to be consistent with that shown in FIG. 6C.
e. In line 3 of paragraph [00107], “second design 700A” should be changed to --second design 700a-- in order to be consistent with that shown in FIG. 7A.
f. In line 1 of paragraph [00108], “second design 700B” should be changed to --second design 700b-- in order to be consistent with that shown in FIG. 7B.
g. In line 1 of paragraph [00109], “second design 700C” should be changed to --second design 700c-- in order to be consistent with that shown in FIG. 7C.
h. In line 4 of paragraph [00110], “third design 800A” should be changed to
--third design 800a-- in order to be consistent with that shown in FIG. 8A.
i. In line 1 of paragraph [00111], “third design 800B” should be changed to
--third design 800b-- in order to be consistent with that shown in FIG. 8B.
j. In line 1 of paragraph [00112], “third design 800C” should be changed to
--third design 800c-- in order to be consistent with that shown in FIG. 8C.
k. In line 4 of paragraph [00113], “fourth design 900A” should be changed to --fourth design 900a-- in order to be consistent with that shown in FIG. 9A.
l. In line 1 of paragraph [00114], “fourth design 900B” should be changed to --fourth design 900b-- in order to be consistent with that shown in FIG. 9B.
m. In line 1 of paragraph [00115], “fourth design 900C” should be changed to --fourth design 900c-- in order to be consistent with that shown in FIG. 9C.
n. In line 2 of paragraph [00116], “circuit 1000A” should be changed to
--circuit 1000a-- in order to be consistent with that shown in FIG. 10A.
o. In line 5 of paragraph [00116], “circuit 1000B” should be changed to
--circuit 1000b-- in order to be consistent with that shown in FIG. 10B.
p. In line 6 of paragraph [00116], “first circuit 1000A” should be changed to
--first circuit 1000a-- in order to be consistent with that shown in FIG. 10A.
q. In line 7 of paragraph [00116], “second circuit 1000B” should be changed to --second circuit 1000b-- in order to be consistent with that shown in FIG. 10B.
r. In line 3 of paragraph [00118], “first design 1000A” should be changed to --first design 1000a-- in order to be consistent with that shown in FIG. 10A.
s. In line 3 of the abstract, “write gap(WG)” should be corrected to read
--write gap (WG)--.
Appropriate correction is required.
The lengthy specification has not been checked to the extent necessary to determine the presence of all possible minor errors. Applicant’s cooperation is requested in correcting any errors of which applicant may become aware in the specification.
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.
Claim 14 is 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 line 2 of claim 14, it is indefinite as to whether “the trailing shield” refers to that set forth in line 5 of independent claim 13, or that set forth in line 6 of independent claim 13.
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, 10, 12, 13, 14 and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Le et al. (US 10,997,988).
With respect to claims 1, 10 and 12, Le et al. (US 10,997,988) teach a method for manufacturing a write head (210, see Figs. 4B and 7D, for instance), the method comprising providing a main pole (220); disposing a write gap (includes 230, for instance) adjacent to the main pole (as shown in Figs. 4B and 7D, for instance); disposing a trailing shield (240) adjacent to the write gap (as shown in Figs. 4B and 7D, for instance); and disposing a side shield (side portion of 312 in Fig. 4B) and a leading shield (lower portion of 312 in Fig. 4B labeled 206 in Fig. 7D) adjacent to the main pole (as shown in Figs. 4B and 7D, for instance) such that two electrical paths (I11 and I12) are formed in the write head (as shown in Fig. 7D, for instance), with a first electrical path (I11) formed between a set of electrical contacts (on opposite sides of 702), the main pole (220) and the trailing shield (240), and a second electrical path (I12) is formed between the set of electrical contacts, the main pole (220), the side shield (312), and the leading shield (312/206) [as per claim 1]; wherein the first electrical path is formed between a first electrical contact (upper contact of 702 in Fig. 7D, for instance), the trailing shield (240), a conducting write gap equivalent resistor (230), and the main pole (220), and a second electrical contact (lower contact of 702 in Fig. 7D, for instance) [as per claim 10]; and wherein the first electrical path is disposed in parallel with the second electrical path (as shown in Fig. 7D, for instance) [as per claim 12].
With respect to claims 13, 14 and 20, Le et al. (US 10,997,988) teach a method comprising providing a main pole (220, see Figs. 4B and 7D, for instance); connecting two electrical contacts (on opposite sides of 702 in Fig. 7D, for instance) configured to provide an electrical current (I11 and I12, for instance) to the main pole (as shown in Fig. 7D, for instance); disposing a trailing shield (240) adjacent to the main pole (as shown in Figs. 4B and 7D, for instance) to form a first electrical path (I11) between the main pole and a trailing shield (240, as shown in Fig. 7D, for instance); and disposing a side shield (side portion of 312 in Fig. 4B) and a leading shield (lower portion of 312 in Fig. 4B labeled 206 in Fig. 7D) adjacent to the main pole (as shown in Figs. 4B and 7D, for instance) to form a second electrical path (I12) between the main pole, the side shield, and the leading shield (as shown in Fig. 7D, for instance), and wherein the electrical current provided by the two electrical contacts is configured to flow along both the first electrical path and the second electrical path (as shown in Fig. 7D, for instance) [as per claim 13]; wherein the first electrical path further comprises a write gap equivalent resistor (230) disposed in series between the trailing shield and the main pole (as shown in Fig. 7D, for instance) [as per claim 14]; and wherein the first electrical path is disposed in parallel with the second electrical path (as shown in Fig. 7D, for instance) [as per claim 20].
Claim Considerations - 35 USC § 103
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Pertinent Prior Art
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. This includes le et al. (US 10,762,917), Lam (US 2023/ 0044051), Hirata et al. (US 12,073,857), and Liu et al. (US 12,236,984), which each individually teaches a write head with a first electrical path passing through a main pole and a trailing shield and a second electrical path passing through the main pole and a leading/side shield.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Craig A. Renner whose telephone number is (571) 272-7580. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9:00 AM - 7:30 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, Steven Lim can be reached at (571) 270-1210. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/CRAIG A. RENNER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2688
